$2,200 Main Event Day 1a | 2024 Maryland State Poker Championship

08-09-2024 19:05 UTC-5

Chadha Villamarin Takes it Down on the River

Nick Becker

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Action picked up on the turn in a hand between Carlos Chadha Villamarin in the small blind and Alvin Anton in the big blind.

With 10,000 in the middle and the board reading 2♥9♥J♥8♦, Chadha Villamarin check-called a bet of 6,000 from Anton.

On the 10♠ river, Chadha Villamarin led out for 15,000 and Anton tossed his cards into the muck.

Player	Chips	Progress
Carlos Chadha Villamarin	230,000 40,500	40,500
Alvin Anton	175,000 -22,000	-22,000

Tags: Alvin Anton Carlos Chadha Villamarin

08-09-2024 19:05 UTC-5

Faro Turns a Flush to Take Huge Pot

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Tyler Boyer

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Action folded to Xiaoqiong Liu on the button who raised to 4,000. Both Tim Faro in the small blind, and the big blind Nicholas Banyas both called.

The flop came A♣8♥10♣ and both Faro and Banyas checked to Liu, who bet out 5,000. Faro called, before Banyas raised to 20,000. Liu made the call, and Faro three-bet all in for 62,700. Banyas then announced all in for Liu's remaining 45,000. After thinking over her decision, she made the fold to leave the two players heads up, with Faro at risk.

Tim Faro: Q♣9♣ All in
Nicholas Banyas: A♠2♠

Banyas was ahead with his pair of aces but would need to fade the flush draw of Faro. But when the turn was the 7♣ Faro left Banyas drawing dead. After the 8♦ on the river, Faro's flush was best and secured the double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Tim Faro	160,900 120,900	120,900

Nicholas Banyas	138,400 -106,600	-106,600
Xiaoqiong Liu	45,000 45,000	45,000

Tags: Liu Xiaoqiong Nicholas Banyas Tim Faro

08-09-2024 19:00 UTC-5

PokerStars NAPT Returning to Resorts World Las Vegas November 1-10

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Nick Becker

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Sami Bechahed, 2023 NAPT Main Event Winner

After the successful 2023 return of the North American Poker Tour (NAPT) in Las Vegas, PokerStars announced that the NAPT will be back at Resorts World Las Vegas this year for ten days of tournament poker action.

The 2024 NAPT Las Vegas festival will take place Nov. 1-10, culminating with a $5,300 buy-in NAPT Main Event — an increase from last year's $1,650 price tag — after a successful event with a strong turnout in 2023.

“Last year, the NAPT smashed all expectations, so this year, we’re going even bigger," PokerStars North America Vice President Steve Preiss said in a press release. "With a premier partner like Resorts World Las Vegas, we’re stepping up our game: bigger tournaments, buy-ins, and player-focused events.”

See Full Details Here

08-09-2024 18:55 UTC-5

Anton Knocks Out Boesel

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Nick Becker

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Kevin Boesel moved all in from middle position for 25,300, putting himself at risk. Alvin Anton made the call in the big blind.

Kevin Boesel: 4♦4♠ All in
Alvin Anton: A♣9♥

The board ran out 8♥10♣5♥5♦8♣ and Anton's two pair, tens and eights with an ace kicker, sent Boesel packing.

Player	Chips	Progress
Alvin Anton	197,000 150,000	150,000
Kevin Boesel	Busted

Tags: Alvin Anton Kevin Boesel

08-09-2024 18:48 UTC-5

Banyas' Stack Continues to Grow

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Nick Becker

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Action picked up on a flop of 2♣K♥9♠ and Scott Heiser moved all in for a little bit more than a pot-sized bet, putting himself at risk. Nicholas Banyas made the call.

Scott Heiser: A♠J♦ All in
Nicholas Banyas: K♣10♣

The board ran out 5♣, 9♦ respectively, and Banyas scooped the pot to eliminate Heiser.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nicholas Banyas	200,000 18,000	18,000
Scott Heiser	Busted

Tags: Nicholas Banyas Scott Heiser

08-09-2024 18:27 UTC-5

Win Your Way to Las Vegas with the PokerStars Path to NAPT!

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Nick Becker

Level 11 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

With the North American Poker Tour (NAPT) returning to Las Vegas this fall, PokerStars have released information about the new 'Path to NAPT', offering players the chance to win their way to Vegas for as little as $0.50.

Last year Sami Bechahed defeated Jonathan Borenstein heads-up to win the 2023 NAPT Las Vegas Main Event and $268,945. He topped a 1,095-player field to win the first NAPT Main Event title in 12 years.

Want to be part of the next one? Well here's your chance! PokerStars is planning on offering 100 chances to secure a Gold Pass worth $10,000 to the Las Vegas NAPT Main Event.

Find More Information Here

Level: 11

Blinds: 1,000/2,000

Ante: 2,000

08-09-2024 18:22 UTC-5

Lebrun Applies the Pressure

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Nick Becker

Level 10 : 800/1,600, 1,600 ante

Joseph Lebrun raised to 3,500 on the button and John Kostelac three-bet to 11,500 from the big blind. Lebrun made the call.

The flop came 7♣7♠3♣ and Kostelac continued with a bet of 10,000. Lebrun raised to 24,000 and Kostelac called.

The turn landed the Q♣ and Kostelac checked. Lebrun fired out a bet of 21,500, prompting Kostelac to go into the tank, eventually letting his hand go.

Player	Chips	Progress
John Kostelac	165,000 49,000	49,000
Joseph Lebrun	150,600 110,300	110,300

Tags: John Kostelac Joseph Lebrun

08-09-2024 18:19 UTC-5

Gazzola Finds the Double

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Nick Becker

Level 10 : Blinds 800/1,600, 1,600 ante

Action picked up on the flop in a hand between Ben Gazzola in the big blind and Nicholas Banyas on the button.

With about 10,000 in the pot and the board reading 2♣10♠4♥, Gazzola checked and Banyas bet enough to put Gazzola all in, who had 7,000 behind. Gazzola made the call.

Ben Gazzola: 10♣6♣ All in
Nicholas Banyas: K♣Q♣

The turn landed the 8♠ and the river brought the 5♠, with Gazzola's pair of tens earning him the much needed double up.