Hadley Tops The Chip Counts Of Day 1b in The Montana State Poker Championship
Registration has closed on this year’s edition of the RPT’s Montana State Poker Championship and a total of 348 entrants got into the tournament. This created the biggest tournament prizepool in Montana state history. From the starting field of 348, a total of 58 will be present at the start of play tomorrow, with a few players making it through with double bags, ensuring a minimum cash on their smaller stack.
Leading Day 1b and the overall tournament is Montana resident Jimmy Hadley who ended their night with 648,000. Hadley is no stranger to RPT success, just recently having a career best score after winning the RPT Casino State Poker Championship for $41,000. With momentum from that win, Hadley found success on today’s bullet to bag a stack good for the flight lead as he looks to etch himself even deeper into RPT history.
Day 1b Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Chip Count |
| 1 | Jimmy Hadley | 648,000 |
| 2 | David Mize | 618,000 |
| 3 | Arlie Brandvold | 615,000 |
| 4 | Jeremy Johnson | 602,000 |
| 5 | Rick Lehman | 579,000 |
| 6 | Gary Rogge | 535,000 |
| 7 | Terran Haman | 501,000 |
| 8 | Lee Nguyen | 497,000 |
| 9 | Ryan Thorson | 483,000 |
| 10 | Chance Howell | 438,000 |
A pair of double bags round out the podium as David Mize (618,000) soared at the end of the night while former RPT player of the year Arlie Brandvold (615,000) also raked in many pots at the end of the night to rise. With the addition of Chad Himmelspach (433,000) all three of these players will be taking this stack with them into Day 2, while receiving a minimum cash for their other bag.
RPT points leader Mike Fick was unable to find any traction today. He joined the rail with others like John Magdic, Mike Williams, Mikiyo Aoki, and others whose dreams of the bracelet on their wrist remain unfulfilled.
Play ended at the conclusion of Level 15, so tomorrow blinds will return to 5,000/10,000 with a 10,000 big blind ante. Levels will last 40 minutes with play continuing until a winner is crowned.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for all updates regarding The Montana State Poker Championship.