James Crawford limped under the gun, and Harry Korotki raised to 6,500 from early position. Then Brandon Mueller three-bet to 19,000 from middle position. Once action got back to Crawford, he folded, and Korotki four-bet all in, which was snap called by Mueller.
Harry Korotki: K♠K♥
Brandon Mueller: A♠A♦
It was the ultimate cooler, as Korotki's pocket kings ran right into the pocket aces of Mueller. The board ran out 9♠9♣A♣2♣6♣ and Mueller's flopped full house gave him the pot and eliminated Korotki.
Action folded around to Michael Bills in the small blind who completed. Nicholas Verderamo moved all in from the big blind, putting himself at risk, and Bills made the call.
Michael Bills: A♦4♦
Nicholas Verderamo: 2♦2♣
Verderamo was still in the lead on the Q♠3♦10♥ flop and 6♣ turn, but Bills paired his four on the 4♣ river, sending Verderamo to the rail.
Action folded to Joseph Lebrun in the small blind, and he raised all in for 58,500, and was called by the big blind Nicholas Banyas.
Joseph Lebrun: K♥4♥
Nicholas Banyas: Q♣J♦
Lebrun was at risk for his tournament life, but ahead with his king high. But after the board ran out 6♥5♦J♣Q♠8♦ Banyas improved to two pair, and knocked Lebrun out of the tournament.
Scott Latshaw limped under the gun, the player in middle position limped behind, Daniel Lim raised to 17,000 in the hijack, and Michael Bills three-bet shoved all in on the button for 123,000. Latshaw called for 86,500, middle position folded, as did Lim.
Scott Latshaw: A♠K♥
Michael Bills: A♦Q♥
Bills pulled ahead on the Q♠Q♣9♠ flop, improving to trips. The 3♠ turn and K♦ river offered no help to Latshaw, and he was sent packing.
Action folded to Michael Bills in the small blind, and he raised to 12,000. The big blind Maxwell Schrack then three-bet all in for 75,000, which was snap called by Bills.
Maxwell Schrack: A♣4♥
Michael Bills: J♠J♥
Schrack would need to improve against Bills pocket jacks, but after the board ran out 9♥3♠7♦6♠K♥ the pocket jacks were still best, and Schrack was eliminated.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
