$2,200 Main Event
Day 1a Completed
2024 Maryland State Poker Championship
$2,200 Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1a
2024 Maryland State Poker Championship
Buy-in
$2,200
Prize Pool
$500,000
Entries
245
Level
28
Blinds
50,000 / 100,000
Ante
100,000
Entries
100
Players Left
13
Level 16
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
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.
Day 1a Top 10 Chip Counts
| Place | Player | Country | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Bills | United States | 844,000 |
| 2 | Nicholas Banyas | United States | 583,000 |
| 3 | John Kostelac | United States | 440,000 |
| 4 | Brandon Mueller | United States | 422,000 |
| 5 | Derek Sudell | United States | 306,000 |
| 6 | Xiaoqiong Liu | United States | 296,000 |
| 7 | Joseph Crowley | United States | 274,000 |
| 8 | Tim Faro | United States | 252,000 |
| 9 | Carlos Chadha Villamarin | United States | 194,000 |
| 10 | Charles Furey | United States | 189,000 |
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.
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.
Level 16
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
844,000
89,000
|
89,000 |
|
||
|
583,000 | |
|
440,000
4,000
|
4,000 |
|
422,000
-58,000
|
-58,000 |
|
306,000
116,000
|
116,000 |
|
296,000
46,000
|
46,000 |
|
||
|
274,000
-16,000
|
-16,000 |
|
252,000
-6,000
|
-6,000 |
|
||
|
194,000
-36,000
|
-36,000 |
|
189,000
-86,000
|
-86,000 |
|
90,000
-19,600
|
-19,600 |
|
88,000
-84,000
|
-84,000 |
|
21,000
-47,300
|
-47,300 |
Level 16
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Play has concluded for the night. The final 13 players have all bagged up and will return Sunday 12:15 p.m. local time for Day 2.
Level 16
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Action folded to Derek Sudell in the cutoff, and he raised to 12,000. When it folded to the big blind Han Oh, he went all for his last 8,000 chips.
Han Oh Q♦4♥ 
Derek Sudell: Q♠Q♥
Oh would need lots of help to avoid being the bubble boy, but when the board ran out K♠9♣7♦A♣3♠, the pocket queens were still best, and Oh was eliminated.
Level 16
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
With 14 players remaining, play is now hand-for-hand. Only 13 players will bag up and return for Day 2 on Sunday.
Level 16
: Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
James Crawford raised to 18,000 in middle position and Brandon Hall three-bet shoved all in on the button, putting himself at risk. Brandon Mueller reshoved from the big blind to isolate and Crawford folded.
Brandon Hall: K♥K♦
Brandon Mueller: Q♥Q♣
Mueller spiked a queen on the 7♣5♣Q♦ flop, improving to trips. The 7♥ turn and 10♣ river offered no help to Hall, who was sent to the rail.
The next hand, Crawford moved all from middle position, putting himself at risk, and Mueller called from the small blind.
James Crawford: 8♣8♠
Brandon Mueller: A♣A♥
The board ran out 9♦Q♦K♥7♦9♥ and Mueller's pocket aces held to send Crawford packing.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
480,000
380,500
|
380,500 |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted |
Level: 16
Blinds: 3,000/6,000
Ante: 6,000
Level 15
: Blinds 2,500/5,000, 5,000 ante
The 16 remaining players have been sent on a 15-minute break. The players will play down to the final 13, and then the remaining players will bag up and return for Day 2 on Sunday.
Level 15
: Blinds 2,500/5,000, 5,000 ante
Matthew Zambanini raised to 11,000 under the gun, James Crawford flatted on the button, and David Olshan defended in the big blind.
The flop came 3♣4♦10♣, Olshan checked, Zambanini bet 21,000 and Crawford moved all in, putting himself at risk. Olshan folded and Zambanini asked for a count.
The dealer counted out Crawford's 148,000 chips, prompting Zambanini to go into the tank. Zambanini eventually folded and the pot was pushed Crawford's way.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
209,500
64,500
|
64,500 |
|
|
172,000
-7,000
|
-7,000 |