$635 Main Event
Day 2 Completed
2025 RPT Montana State Poker Championship
$635 Main Event
Day: 2
Event Info
2025 RPT Montana State Poker Championship
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
Buy-in
$635
Entries
283
Level
27
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
200,000
Entries
41
Players Left
1
Players Left 1 / 283
Filter
Level 27
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
After three days of action on the felt here in beautiful Billings, Montana the 2025 RPT Montana State Poker Championship has officially come to an end with Dan Burcham claiming victory to capture his career-best score of $29,000 along with the RPT bracelet.
The ninth edition of the tournament attracted 283 entries, generating a prize pool of $148,575. Burcham defeated Andrew Hilleren in a back-and-forth heads-up match to win the title, something that meant more to him than the money.
"The money is nice, I'm not going to lie," Burcham told PokerNews following his win. "I get a lot of my self worth from my peers thinking I did well at something. This is a lot of validation that I can hang with the best players in Montana. It means a lot to me".
2025 RPT Montana State Poker Championship Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dan Burcham | United States | $29,000* |
| 2 | Andrew Hilleren | United States | $27,000* |
| 3 | Richard Bennett (MT) | United States | $14,000 |
| 4 | Austin Gates | United States | $10,075 |
| 5 | John Majdic | United States | $8,000 |
| 6 | Shane Broesder | United States | $6,000 |
| 7 | Pat Brunelle | United States | $4,500 |
| 8 | Will Anderson | United States | $3,700 |
| 9 | Rob Hium | United States | $3,000 |
| 10 | Aaron Fanuzzi | United States | $2,400 |
* Denotes heads-up deal
Navigating Variance
When asked how he was feeling coming off the biggest win of his life, Burchman responded, "Pretty surreal actually, its been a one I wanted to win for a couple of years. I've been having some run bad, actually kind of emotional."
He went on to talk about dealing with the ups and downs of tournament poker. Leading up to this weekend he had been experiencing a really tough string of run bad and was considering taking some time off after this event.
He mentioned taking "bad beat after bad beat, kind of beating me down, making me wonder if I was actually even good at the game. I started to question it, but just kept trudging along and studying and trying to get better. So the validation does a lot for me."
Hometown Hero
Burcham was surrounded by friends on the rail who were eager to greet him as the final card fell on the river in what proved to be an exciting heads-up duel. He has been a part of the Montana poker scene for a long time, which is a very tight-knit community.
"I grew up here, little town called Hardin about an hour away. I grew up there until I was 18, moved to Billings for college and just been here ever since."
Burcham was asked if it was extra special to win an event like this in his home state surrounded by his peers. He replied, "Absolutely, I mean Wade he owns the Seat Open locally so he came down to support. I have all my friends that came over just to rail for me. It's a little small local thing but they came down and spent the time so it means a lot to me".
Not only was the recognition from his group of friends and acquaintances important, but it was a personal redemption story as well. "Two years ago I got third at the same event for $14,000. This is my biggest score by a lot".
In regards to whether or not he was still thinking about taking some time off, Burcham commented, "Maybe not now, might parlay this and go down to the World Series of Poker. I've never played poker outside of Billings before. So I might go try something there".
That wraps up coverage of the RPT Montana State Poker Championship here at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center. Be sure to follow PokerNews for future events all around the globe.
Level 27
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Dan Burcham and Andrew Hilleren got it all in preflop, with Burcham looking to end it for a second time in the match.
Andrew Hilleren: A♠2♣ 
Dan Burcham: A♥Q♦
The flop came 9♠3♠7♣ with Burcham still out in the lead. The 7♠ turn gave Hilleren additional outs to the nut flush draw, but the J♥ river was a blank, ending Hilleren's impressive tournament run.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
18,600,000
7,650,000
|
7,650,000 |
|
Busted |
Level 27
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Action picked up on the flop of J♠7♥6♣ where the money quickly went in with Andrew Hilleren having Dan Burcham covered.
Dan Burcham: 5♣4♥
Andrew Hilleren: A♦A♥
Hilleren just needed his pocket aces to hold to take down the tournament, but Burcham had outs with an open-ended straight draw.
The 3♣ fell on the turn, completing the straight for Burcham, earning him the double up to retake the lead in the match.
The meaningless 2♠ landed on the river.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
10,950,000
2,100,000
|
2,100,000 |
|
|
7,650,000
2,100,000
|
2,100,000 |
Level 27
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
After starting heads-up play nearly even in chips, Dan Burcham had won several small pots to take nearly a 2:1 chip lead in the match over Andrew Hilleren.
Looking to end it, all the money went in preflop with Burcham in the lead.
Andrew Hilleren: A♦8♣
Dan Burcham: A♥J♠
The flop came 9♠A♠A♣ with both players improving to trips. The turn landed the 4♠ and Burcham was one card away from winning the tournament.
That was until the 8♦ fell on the river, keeping Hilleren's tournament hopes alive. He has now taken a slight lead here in heads-up play.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
9,750,000
550,000
|
550,000 |
|
|
8,850,000
550,000
|
550,000 |
Level 27
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Prior to the start of heads-up play, Dan Burcham and Andrew Hilleren agreed to a deal.
Burcham will take home $29,000, while Hilleren will get $27,000.
They are still playing for the title and the RPT bracelet.
Level 27
: Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Action picked up on the flop of K♥Q♦7♥ in a hand between Dan Burcham in the small blind and Richard Bennett in the big blind.
Burcham check-raised all in over Bennett's bet of 450,000 to put him at risk and Bennett made the call.
Richard Bennett: Q♠9♦
Dan Burcham: K♦8♥
Burcham's top pair held as the board ran out 4♦, 2♣ and Bennett was sent to the payout desk.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
9,400,000
2,225,000
|
2,225,000 |
|
|
9,200,000
2,700,000
|
2,700,000 |
|
Busted | |
|
||
Level 27
: 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Andrew Hilleren moved all in from the small blind to put Austin Gates at risk. Gates was down to about five big blinds and elected to make the call.
Austin Gates: Q♦4♦
Andrew Hilleren: Q♠2♦
The flop came 4♠5♠3♦, with Gates pairing his four and Hilleren picking up an open-ended straight draw.
The A♠ landed on the turn, giving Hilleren the wheel and the 5♦ rolled off on the river to end Gates' tournament run.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
6,500,000
1,325,000
|
1,325,000 |
|
Busted |
Level 27
: 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Dan Burcham raised to 350,000 in the cutoff, Andrew Hilleren flatted in the small blind, and John Majdic defended in the big blind.
The flop came 10♠7♣5♥ and Majdic moved all in for 775,000 to put himself at risk. Burcham folded and Hilleren made the call.
John Majdic: 9♦8♥
Andrew Hilleren: 9♠9♥
Majdic would need a jack or a six to stay alive but was unable to get there when the board ran out Q♠, 2♦.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
5,175,000
2,925,000
|
2,925,000 |
|
Busted |
Level: 27
Blinds: 100,000/200,000
Ante: 200,000
