Tim Smith Wins The Season 31 February $10,000 Monthly Championship

One hundred ninety-three players came to the VFW here in Walpole Mass. for their shot at the $10,000 prize pool.

Tim Smith, from the Rhode Island region, won $2500 and a seat into Day 2 of the $50,000 Season Finals.

Smith, started the Final Table in 8th in chips (365,000) and quickly doubled on the first hand. With 3 limpers calling 60,000, Tim looks down and see Aces. He moved all-in and got called by James Smith who had sixes. The Aces held and gave Smith a nice stack to move forward on the table.

Tim highest placement in any Monthly was 11th and was happy to finally make the Final Table.

“I wanted to play more aggressive and not sit around waiting for my stack to be blinded off” says Smith. Tim only knocked out 3 players on this table.

He plays four to five days a week.

This was his biggest cash winning $2500 and is looking forward to the Season Finals Day 1A and Day 1B in hopes to get a double stack for Monday.

“My favorite player is Tom Dwan and I like his style of play and try to do what he does” says Smith.

He also wanted to give a “Shout out” to his friend Patrick Banyanime (last month’s) winner.

Once we got down to heads up action with Season 29 Champ Basil Congro, it only took 3 hands to finish the tournament at the blinds of 80,000/160,000.

Basil’s K♠ 9♥ was no good vs Smith’s J♣ Q♥ when a jack comes on the flop. Congro did pick up outs when the 10♥ hits the turn giving him straight possibilities. The river was the 3♦ to seal the win for Smith.

Side Notes – Another four players made their first Monthly Final Table

— Basil Congro has now qualified for a “Double Stack” for the Season Finals

We will conclude Season 31 Monthly’s on April 2nd. There we will get our last Top 8 who will qualify for Day 2.