Flight B of the RPT Montana State Poker Championship gets underway at 2:00 p.m. local time here at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center. The tournament features a $635 buy-in with an estimated $200,000 prize pool, with the first of two starting flights having been completed yesterday.
Players who advance from each flight will combine and return for the Championship Day on Sunday, April 6, where action will play down to completion. The winner of the event will receive the lion's share of the prize pool as well as a custom RPT bracelet.
Last year's installment of the event attracted 348 entrants, breaking the record for the largest tournament in Montana state history, with a massive $182,700 prize pool. The first flight of this year's event attracted 117 entrants, 18 of which will be returning for Day 2. It will remain to be seen whether or not the record can be broken for the second year in a row.
Richard Bennett bagged the chip lead in Flight A and was the only player to reach the million chip mark after 15 levels of play.
Right on his heels is Chance Howell who amassed an impressive 881,000. He final tabled the 2024 Montana State Poker Championship and finished 8th for $4,750. He will look to leverage his stack on Sunday in search of back-to-back final tables.
Flight A Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|
| 1 | Richard Bennett | United States | 1,046,000 | 105 |
| 2 | Chance Howell | United States | 881,000 | 88 |
| 3 | John Majdic | United States | 676,000 | 68 |
| 4 | Travis Martin | United States | 629,000 | 63 |
| 5 | Austin Gates | United States | 612,000 | 61 |
| 6 | Chad Bales | United States | 450,000 | 45 |
| 7 | Willy Sou | United States | 405,000 | 41 |
| 8 | Ryan Roeder | United States | 389,000 | 39 |
| 9 | James Armstrong | United States | 358,000 | 36 |
| 10 | James Allan | United States | 327,000 | 33 |
Players will begin each starting flight with 60,000 in chips and blinds will begin at 100/200 with a 200 big blind ante. Blinds will increase every 40 minutes, with late registration and re-entries permitted through level 12. A 20-minute break will occurr at the end of every three levels and a 60-minute dinner break will take place at the conclusion of level 6 at around 6:20 p.m.
Play for Day 1 flights will conclude after the completion of level 15 or once 12.5% of the field remains, whichever happens first. Players are limited to a total of three buy-ins and those who qualify for the finals on Sunday with two stacks will receive a $2,000 double bag bonus. Only the highest qualifying stack will be permitted to continue to the Championship Day.
Remaining Schedule
| Day | Date | Time |
|---|
| Second Super Satellite | April 5 | 10:00 a.m. |
| Flight B | April 5 | 2:00 p.m. |
| Championship Day | April 6 | 11:00 a.m. |
| Second Chance Tournament | April 6 | 12:00 p.m. |
The Second Chance Tournament will feature a $250 buy-in and will be open to anyone.
Be sure to follow PokerNews all weekend long for coverage and updates of the RPT Montana State Poker Championship.
Tags:
Austin GatesChad BalesChance HowellJames AllanRichard BennettRyan RoederTravis MartinWilly Sou
