Big Sky, Big Stakes: The Montana State Poker Championship Returns
Table Of Contents
Poker players from across Big Sky Country will gather for the Montana State Poker Championship, a highlight of the Roughrider Poker Tour. Set for April 4-6, 2025, at the Billings Hotel & Convention Center, the event features a $635 buy-in and an estimated $200,000 prize pool. It’s also a key stop in the Montana Player of the Year points race.
Event Details
The tournament follows a deep stack format with a 300-big blind starting stack and a big blind ante-only structure. Players have two qualifying flights and two Super Satellites leading up to the final showdown on April 6.
Each flight runs for 15 levels or until 12.5% of the field remains. Day 2 starts from the earliest point reached in either flight. A maximum of three buy-ins is allowed, including satellite ticket entries.
Key Schedule Details
- First Super Satellite (April 4, 10 a.m.) – $160 buy-in, with seats awarded for the qualifying flights.
- Flight A (April 4, 2 p.m.) – $625 buy-in, $60,000 starting stack, with late entry and re-entry available for 12 levels.
- Second Super Satellite (April 5, 10 a.m.) – Another chance to secure a flight seat.
- Flight B (April 5, 2 p.m.) – Same structure as Flight A.
- Championship Day (April 6, 11 a.m.) – Finalists compete in 40-minute levels until a champion is crowned.
Second Chance Opportunity
For those seeking redemption or another shot at glory, a Second Chance Tournament awaits on the same day as the Championship finale. With a $250 buy-in, players can vie for a slice of the prize pool and valuable points in this open event.
PokerNews on Hand with Live Reporting
Don't miss a single hand—PokerNews will provide live coverage throughout the event, delivering real-time updates, chip counts, and key moments as they happen. Whether you're following along from the rail or tracking the action from afar, stay plugged into the latest developments as the tournament unfolds.
Registration opens early, following Tournament Directors Association (TDA) guidelines to maintain fairness. The Billings Hotel & Convention Center sets the stage for this high-stakes weekend in the heart of Big Sky Country.
Himmelspach Bags the Title in 2024
Last year, the Roughrider Poker Tour held its eighth edition of the Montana State Poker Championship.
The event drew 348 entrants, generating a record-breaking $182,700 prize pool—the largest tournament ever run in Montana. A total of 57 players returned for Day 2, with 42 making it into the money. When the dust settled, Midwestern crusher Chad Himmelspach emerged victorious, taking home $40,000
Himmelspach has a deep history with RPT, playing alongside his heads-up opponent Weston Wells and tour owner Jerry Sorrells in their early poker days. The win added to his already impressive resume, which includes a WSOP bracelet and a victory in RPT’s $1,000 Dream Chaser event the previous year.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chad Himmelspach* | Henderson, NV | $40,000 |
| 2 | Weston Wells | Bismarck, ND | $25,000 |
| 3 | John Schroer | Casper, WY | $18,100 |
| 4 | Michael Baker (MT) | Malta, MT | $13,340 |
| 5 | Kevin Chartier | Boseman, MT | $10,050 |
| 6 | Ryan Roeder | Missoula, MT | $7,700 |
| 7 | Rick Lehman | Billings, MT | $6,035 |
| 8 | Chance Howell | Great Falls, MT | $4,750 |
| 9 | Arlie Brandvold* | Carrington, ND | $3,500 |
*Denotes a double bagging bonus of $1,000.
Imagery courtesy of the Roughrider Poker Tour
