$250 Main Event | 2026 RPT Casino State Championship

Jan 04, 2026

Salander, Krause Fall

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David Salituro

Level 21 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

Tucker Salander moved all in for 400,000 on the button and Jamie Meidinger called in early position.

Tucker Salander: K♥J♥ All in
Jamie Meidinger: A♦Q♦

Meidinger hit top pair on the Q♥2♠2♥ flop, while the rest of the board ran out 9♠4♣ to send Salander to the rail.

Meanwhile, Cody Krause got in his last 200,000 in a blind versus blind battle against Steve Keplin.

Cody Krause: A♠2♠ All in
Steve Keplin: K♣6♣

The 9♣J♥5♣ flop gave Keplin a flush draw, while the 6♥ turn improved him to a pair. The river was the 8♥ and Krause was sent to the rail.

Tags: Tucker Salander Steve Keplin Jamie Meidinger Cody Krause

Jan 04, 2026

Knudson Fills Up on the River to Survive

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David Salituro

Level 21 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

With around 400,000 in the middle on a board of 10♥3♥K♥J♠, Jessica Kendall bet 100,000 from under the gun. Aaron Knudson then moved all in for 230,000 in middle position, and Kendall called.

Knudson showed K♠K♦ for top set, but Kendall had A♥Q♣ for the nut straight. The river, though, came the J♥ to give Knudson a full house and a double up.

"What are you going to do?" Kendall said.

Tags: Jessica Kendall Aaron Knudson

Jan 04, 2026

Dean Can't Shake Koenig

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David Salituro

Level 21 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

Preston Dean bet 75,000 from the small blind on a flop of 9♣4♥3♠ and Shane Koenig called in early position, as did Casey Julson in the cutoff.

Dean bet another 125,000 on the 4♠ turn, and both opponents again called. The river was the 5♣ and Dean bet 175,000. Only Koenig called this time.

Dean showed A♣10♣, while Koenig had A♠9♠ for two pair to win the pot.

Tags: Casey Julson Preston Dean Shane Koenig

Jan 04, 2026

Bustouts Coming Fast

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David Salituro

Level 21 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

Basim Habib moved all in for 150,000 under the gun and Chris Salveson called in middle position. Dayton Gehrig then reshoved in the big blind, and Salveson called for 345,000.

Basim Habib: A♠4♠ All in
Chris Salveson: A♦K♣ All in
Dayton Gehrig: 9♦9♠

The flop came A♥J♥3♠ and Salveson took the lead with top pair, king-kicker. The rest of the board ran out 10♦5♠ and he scooped the pot, earning a double up while sending Habib to the rail.

At another table, Eric Nordstrom shoved for 310,000 on the button and Kevin Selby called in the hijack.

Eric Nordstrom: 4♠4♥ All in
Kevin Selby: A♥K♦

The flop came Q♠10♣10♥, while Selby hit two pair on the A♦ turn to take the lead. The A♠ river improved Selby to a full house, and Nordstrom was eliminated.

Tags: Basim Habib Chris Salveson Dayton Gehrig Eric Nordstrom Kevin Selby

Jan 04, 2026

Gehrig Cracks Kings For a Massive Double

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David Salituro

Level 21 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

Basim Habib and Dayton Gehrig built a pot of around 500,000 as they went heads-up to the 4♠9♦2♠ flop. Habib then bet 200,000 from middle position, Gehrig moved all in for 890,000 in early position, and Habib snap-called.

Dayton Gehrig: 4♣4♥ All in
Basim Habib: K♥K♣

Habib showed two kings, but Gehrig had flopped a set to take the lead in a pot worth more than 2,000,000. The rest of the board ran out 9♣8♠ and Gehrig earned the massive double up.

Tags: Dayton Gehrig Basim Habib

Level: 21

Blinds: 20,000/40,000

Ante: 40,000

Jan 04, 2026

Anderson Makes a Big Call Against Westerman; Wells Hits the Turn to Double Off Wierson

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David Salituro

Level 20 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

With around 200,000 in the middle on a flop of 6♠3♠A♥, Wilfred Westerman bet 110,000 from early position and Richard Anderson called in the big blind.

Both players checked the 4♥ turn. Westerman then bet 225,000 on the 7♠ river, and Anderson took a few minutes before calling.

Westerman could only show 10♦8♣ for a bluff, while Anderson pumped his fist and turned over J♠J♥ to win the pot.

"It wasn't easy," he said.

At another table, Weston Wells moved all in for 220,000 in the big blind and Cameron Wierson called in early position.

Weston Wells: K♣9♣ All in
Cameron Wierson: A♠J♥

Wierson hit top pair on the J♦5♣4♣ flop, while Wells picked up a flush draw. The A♣ fell on the turn to give Wells his flush.

"I can still hit a boat," Wierson reminded Wells, but the river Q♦ was safe for Wells to earn the double up.

Tags: Cameron Wierson Richard Anderson Weston Wells Wilfred Westerman

Jan 04, 2026

Keleher Ends Maras' Reign

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David Salituro

Level 20 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Kamden Keleher raised to 65,000 on the button, Jon Maras moved all in for 475,000 in the big blind, and Keleher called.

Jon Maras: K♥Q♦ All in
Kamden Keleher: A♠9♥

The 7♥J♠8♥3♦3♣ board offered no help to Maras, and the defending champion was sent to the rail.

Tags: Jon Maras Kamden Keleher

Jan 04, 2026

All-In Madness at Table #5

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David Salituro

Level 20 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Riley Vareberg and Tyson Tame saw a flop of 7♣2♠9♠ when Tame got in his last 500,000 from the big blind. Vareberg put him at risk from the cutoff.

Tyson Tame: J♣J♥ All in
Riley Vareberg: 9♦9♥

Vareberg had outflopped Tame's jacks with top set, and the board ran out Q♣8♦ to send Tame to the rail.

That pot, though, paled in comparison to what would happen the next hand at this table. It started when Shane Koenig opened to 60,000 in early position. Vareberg called in the hijack, and Terence Reid shoved for 800,000 in the big blind. Koenig called, and Vareberg folded.

Terence Reid: 10♣10♦ All in
Shane Koenig: A♦A♥

Koenig was poised to win the massive pot, but Reid spiked a set on the 10♠6♥9♥ flop. The turn was the 7♠ to leave him a card away from a double until Koenig found the A♣ on the river.

"That was exciting," Reid, still smiling despite taking that brutal beat, said on his way to the rail.

Tags: Riley Vareberg Shane Koenig Terence Reid Tyson Tame

Jan 04, 2026