RPT South Dakota Poker Terry Ketterer Wins $138K Title｜Cake Shop Owner's Comeback to Win the Championship and Set a Record

Cake shop owner Terry Ketterer wins record-breaking poker event in Deadwood, taking home $138,000

Record-breaking event marks a new milestone for South Dakota poker.

The 2026 Roughrider Poker Tour (RPT) South Dakota Poker Championship concluded successfully at the renowned Silverado Casino in Deadwood. This event attracted [number missing] participants. 671 participantsThis set a new local record and accumulated... $671,000 USD prize poolIt became one of the largest poker tournaments in South Dakota.

After fierce competition in the three starting groups, 91 players advanced to the second day of the competition, and 72 of them successfully entered the prize pool to compete for the final glory.

Terry Ketterer pulls off a stunning upset to win the championship and realize his dream showdown.

The biggest highlight of the event was undoubtedly the amateur player from Bozeman, Montana. Terry KettererThis cake shop owner, who had a pre-tournament total prize money record of approximately $35,000, led the entire tournament and ultimately won the championship. $ $138,000 jackpotAnd the "Double Pistol" trophy, a symbol of honor.

Even more dramatically, Ketterer met with his friend before the match. Mikiyo Aoki They jokingly expressed their hope to meet in the finals one-on-one, and that wish actually came true. The two fought their way through the competition to meet at the final table and face off for the championship.

Ketterer said after the match:

"This is the coolest trophy I've ever seen. I even want to build a special shelf at home to display it."

"It's really special to be able to have a one-on-one match with a good friend. If I had to choose, I would still choose to face off against Mikiyo. It's all so dreamlike."

Amateur players defeat professional players, showcasing the charm of poker.

Unlike Ketterer, the runner-up Mikiyo Aoki He was an experienced professional player who had reached the WSOP final table multiple times. This tournament, where an amateur player ultimately defeated a professional to win the championship, once again demonstrates the core appeal of poker: "skill and luck go hand in hand."

Despite winning a large sum of money, Ketterer says he will not change his lifestyle:

"I simply love poker. I will continue to bake cakes, take care of my family, and participate in tournaments whenever I have time."

This down-to-earth attitude also made him one of the most watched figures in this event.

Final table results overview

The final table standings are as follows:

• Champion: Terry Ketterer — $138,000
• Runner-up: Mikiyo Aoki — $83,000
• Third Place: Lance Schuchard — $62,000
• 4th Place: Alan Curl — $46,000
• 5th Place: Josh Matti — $35,000
• No. 6: Dave Ouellette — $26,000
• 7th Place: Preston Dean — $20,000
• 8th Place: Nicholas Hammarstrom — $16,000
• No. 9: Harold Brenden — $11,870

Day 2 Key Battle Recap

Entering the final day, Ketterer maintained a strong performance throughout. He started with a chip lead and continued to extend his advantage in several key hands:

• KK defeated JJ, eliminating Ken Lybeck.
• Heath McAllister was eliminated in three ways.
• He established an early lead by defeating his opponent KK with AA before the final table.

Once at the final table, he maintained control of the pace, including making a straight on the river to eliminate his opponent and then using AK to suppress K7 to win the pot again, steadily advancing to the heads-up stage.

In the final heads-up match, Aoki went all-in with J-10 against Ketterer's Q-6, but failed to hit the board, and Ketterer won the title.

A new chapter in the Deadwood legend.

The city of Deadwood itself is full of legends. The famous gunman "Wild Bill Hickok" was shot and killed while playing cards here, and the "Death Hand" (Ace and 8) in his hand has become a symbol of poker history.

Today, this former gold rush town has transformed into a poker and tourist destination. Ketterer's victory adds another chapter to this modern poker legend.

Stories of amateur comebacks continue to unfold.

Terry Ketterer's victory proves once again that the poker arena is not exclusively for professional players. With patience, judgment, and opportunity, every player has the potential to create miracles.

This story of going from a cake shop to the championship stage is not only a victory, but also the best portrayal of passion and dreams.

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