2024 Maryland State Poker Championship

$2,200 Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info

2024 Maryland State Poker Championship

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
k2
Prize
$110,578
Event Info
Buy-in
$2,200
Prize Pool
$500,000
Entries
245
Level Info
Level
28
Blinds
50,000 / 100,000
Ante
100,000
Players Info - Day 1a
Entries
100
Players Left
13

Michael Bills Bags Massive Chip Lead in Day 1a of $2,200 Main Event

Level 16 : Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Michael Bills
Michael Bills

Action has concluded in Day 1a of the the $2,200 Main Event here at the Maryland State Poker Championship hosted by Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland. Of the 100 runners who started the day, only 13 players will return for Day 2 on Sunday, all of whom have already made the money.

Michael Bills emerged as the overwhelming chip leader of Day 1a, bagging an impressive 844,000. The Virginia native ran hot at the right time towards the end of the night, knocking out several players with just a few tables left.

Finishing Day 1a second in chips is Nicholas Banyas with 583,000. Banyas final tabled the $2,200 Main Event at the The Live! Poker Classic back in April, finishing 6th for $20,325. He will be looking to close this one out.

John Kostelac (440,000), Brandon Mueller (422,000) and Derek Sudell (306,000), who are no strangers to the East Coast tournament scene, round out the top five.

Nicholas Banyas
Nicholas Banyas

Day 1a Top 10 Chip Counts

PlacePlayerCountryChip Count
1Michael BillsUnited States844,000
2Nicholas BanyasUnited States583,000
3John KostelacUnited States440,000
4Brandon MuellerUnited States422,000
5Derek SudellUnited States306,000
6Xiaoqiong LiuUnited States296,000
7Joseph CrowleyUnited States274,000
8Tim FaroUnited States252,000
9Carlos Chadha VillamarinUnited States194,000
10Charles FureyUnited States189,000

The remaining 13 players all locked up a seat for Day 2 when Han Oh was eliminated on the stone bubble, when he was very short-stacked and all in with queen-four against pocket queens.

Han Oh
Han Oh

Day 1b will begin August 10 at 11:15 a.m. local time, with blinds starting at 100/100 with a 100 big blind ante. Play will conclude once 12.5% of the field remains, and those who bag will be in the money for Day 2.

At the end of every three levels, players will be sent on a 15-minute break. A one hour dinner break will take place after Level 9 at approximately 5:45 p.m. Day 2 will commence on Sunday, August 10 at 12:15 p.m. local time.

Be sure to follow PokerNews throughout the entirety of the $2,200 Main Event here at the Maryland State Poker Championship.

Tags: Brandon MuellerCarlos Chadha VillamarinCharles FureyDerek SudellHan OhJohn KostelacJoseph CrowleyMichael BillsNicholas BanyasTim FaroXiaoqiong Liu