2024 Maryland State Poker Championship

$2,200 Main Event
Day: 3
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 3
Entries
5
Players Left
1

Xiaoqiong Liu Leads the Way as Final Table Resumes in the $2,200 Main Event

Xiaoqiong Liu
Xiaoqiong Liu

The third and final day of the $2,200 Main Event at the 2024 Maryland State Poker Championship is set to resume at 2:15 p.m. local time at Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland. Only five players are returning from a field that started with 245 competitors. The five remaining players all have their eyes set on the $110,578 top prize out of the $500,000 prize pool, along with the two trophies.

The chip leader heading into Day 3 is Xiaoqiong Liu, who is the last woman standing in the event. Not far behind her in second is PokerStars Ambassador Parker Talbot. Sitting in third is Nicholas Verderamo, who was the Day 1b chip leader. Isiah Ditoto took down this event last year and enters the day fourth in chips, looking to go back-to-back. Rounding out the top five is Ben Gazzola, who has already locked up the biggest live cash of his career.

Day 3 Chip Counts

PlaceNameCountryChip CountBig Blinds
1Xiaoqiong LiuUnited States2,600,00065
2Parker TalbotCanada2,365,00059
3Nicholas VerderamoUnited States2,165,00054
4Isiah DitotoUnited States1,640,00041
5Ben GazzolaUnited States1,025,00027
Maryland State Poker Championship
Maryland State Poker Championship

Final Table Results and Remaining Payouts

PlacePlayerCountryPrize (USD)
1-United States$110,578
2-United States$73,719
3-United States$53,832
4-United States$39,868
5-United States$29,952
6Michael BillsUnited States$22,832
7Tim FaroUnited States$17,663
8Nicholas BanyasUnited States$13,870
9David UrbanUnited States$11,058

The winner of the Main Event, in addition to their cash prize, will win a PokerStars Gold Pass. The Gold Pass is valued at $10,000 and includes a $5,300 NAPT Las Vegas Main Event buy-in, a seven-night stay at Resorts World Las Vegas, and $1,800 for travel expenses.

Action will begin on Day 3 in Level 24 with blinds at 20,000/40,000 with a 40,000 big blind ante. Blinds will be 60-minutes in length with a 15-minute break taking place after every two levels, and a dinner break to be determined. The tournament will play down to completion, where a winner will be crowned.

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

Tags: Ben GazzolaDavid UrbanIsiah DitotoMichael BillsNicholas BanyasNicholas VerderamoParker TalbotTim FaroXiaoqiong Liu

Isiah Ditoto Eliminated in 5th Place ($29,952)

Level 24 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
Isiah Ditoto
Isiah Ditoto

Parker Talbot opened with a min-raise in the cutoff and Isiah Ditoto three-bet on the button. Talbot then four-bet all in, putting Ditoto at risk, who made the call.

Isiah Ditoto: AQ All in
Parker Talbot: 44

The board ran out 597J7 and Talbot's two pair, sevens and fours, sent Ditoto to the rail.

Player Chips Progress
Parker Talbot ca
Parker Talbot
3,965,000
1,600,000
1,600,000
Isiah Ditoto us
Isiah Ditoto
Busted

Tags: Isiah DitotoParker Talbot

Gazzola Flops Trips in Three-Bet Pot

Level 24 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
Ben Gazzola
Ben Gazzola

Ben Gazzola raised to 80,000 in the cutoff, and when it folded to the small blind Parker Talbot, he three-bet to 300,000. After the big blind folded, Gazzola made the call.

The flop came J1010 and Parker bet out 160,000, which Gazzola called.

After the 8 on the turn, Parker again fired out a bet, this time for 175,000. Gazzola called once more, to head to the river.

Both players checked after the 7 river, and Talbot showed KJ for two pair jacks and tens. But Gazzola had the winner when he tabled K10 for trip tens to take the sizable pot.

Player Chips Progress
Parker Talbot ca
Parker Talbot
3,875,000
-90,000
-90,000
Ben Gazzola us
Ben Gazzola
2,000,000
350,000
350,000

Tags: Ben GazzolaParker Talbot

Liu Wins Blind Versus Blind

Level 24 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
Xiaoqiong Liu
Xiaoqiong Liu

Xiaoqiong Liu completed in the small blind and Parker Talbot checked in the big blind.

Liu check-called a bet of 40,000 on the JQ5 flop, bringing the 8 turn.

Liu checked again, and Talbot sized up with a bet of 290,000. Liu called and the river landed the 3, bringing in the backdoor flush draw.

Both players checked and Liu tabled the winner with Q7 for a pair of queens. Talbot mucked his cards.

Player Chips Progress
Parker Talbot ca
Parker Talbot
3,525,000
-425,000
-425,000
Xiaoqiong Liu us
Xiaoqiong Liu
2,100,000
375,000
375,000
Day 2 Chip Leader

Tags: Parker TalbotXiaoqiong Liu

Gazzola Keeps Chipping Up

Level 25 : Blinds 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante
Ben Gazzola
Ben Gazzola

Xiaoqiong Liu raised to 100,000 from the cutoff, and Ben Gazzola defended the big blind.

The flop came 365 and Gazzola led out for a bet of 80,000. which Liu called.

After the 2 on the turn, Gazzola bet 140,000, which Liu again called.

The river was the 3 and Gazzola fired out a bet of 450,000, which got a quick fold from Liu to take the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Ben Gazzola us
Ben Gazzola
2,800,000
650,000
650,000
Xiaoqiong Liu us
Xiaoqiong Liu
1,600,000
-425,000
-425,000
Day 2 Chip Leader

Tags: Ben GazzolaXiaoqiong Liu

Talbot Makes Hero Call on the River

Level 25 : Blinds 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante
Parker Talbot
Parker Talbot

Parker Talbot raised to 100,000 from the button, and Ben Gazzola on the big blind made the call.

The flop came 945 and Gazzola checked to Talbot who bet out 80,000, before Gazzola raised to 225,000. Talbot made the call to head to a turn.

Both players checked after the 5 on the turn.

The river was the Q and Gazzola bet out 225,000. Talbot sat in the tank for nearly a minute before finding the call.

Gazzola tabled 76 seven high and a missed straight draw. Talbot showed K8 for king high, which was good enough to take the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Parker Talbot ca
Parker Talbot
3,700,000
525,000
525,000
Ben Gazzola us
Ben Gazzola
2,850,000
-525,000
-525,000

Tags: Ben GazzolaParker Talbot

Nicholas Verderamo Eliminated in 4th Place ($39,868)

Level 26 : 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante
Nicholas Verderamo
Nicholas Verderamo

Nicholas Verderamo raised to 135,000 on the button and Ben Gazzola three-bet to 340,000 in the small blind. Verderamo called.

The flop came 753 and Gazzola continued with a bet of 130,000. Verderamo then raised to 1,075,000, leaving himself with 60,000 behind. Gazzola moved all in, putting Verderamo at risk, who made the call.

Nicholas Verderamo: Q10 All in
Ben Gazzola: A2

The A landed on the turn, leaving Verderamo drawing dead. The meaningless 5 peeled off on the river, and Verderamo's impressive tournament run came to an end.

Player Chips Progress
Ben Gazzola us
Ben Gazzola
4,550,000
1,475,000
1,475,000
Nicholas Verderamo us
Nicholas Verderamo
Busted
Day 1B Chip Leader

Tags: Ben GazzolaNicholas Verderamo

Talbot Gets Paid on the River

Level 26 : 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante
Parker Talbot
Parker Talbot

Parker Talbot limped in the small blind and Ben Gazzola raised to 185,000 in the big blind. Talbot called.

The flop came JA6 and Talbot check-called a bet of 125,000 from Gazzola.

The 4 turn went check-check, bringing the A river. Talbot led out with a bet of 430,000 and after a moment of thought, Gazzola flicked in the call.

Talbot turned over J10 for two pair, aces and jacks, and Gazzola mucked his hand.

Player Chips Progress
Ben Gazzola us
Ben Gazzola
5,100,000
-200,000
-200,000
Parker Talbot ca
Parker Talbot
3,600,000
500,000
500,000

Tags: Ben GazzolaParker Talbot

Gazzola Goes for it All

Level 26 : 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante
Ben Gazzola
Ben Gazzola

Ben Gazzola limped in the small blind and Xiaoqiong Liu checked in the big blind.

The flop came Q8J, Gazzola bet 60,000 and Liu called.

The turn landed the 10, Gazzola bet again, this time for 150,000 and Liu called.

On the 8 river, Gazzola bet enough to put Liu all in, who had 750,000 behind.

Liu thought for a moment before tossing her cards into the muck.

Player Chips Progress
Ben Gazzola us
Ben Gazzola
5,675,000
425,000
425,000
Parker Talbot ca
Parker Talbot
3,350,000
-350,000
-350,000
Xiaoqiong Liu us
Xiaoqiong Liu
750,000
-100,000
-100,000
Day 2 Chip Leader

Tags: Ben GazzolaXiaoqiong Liu

Liu Doubles Up

Level 26 : 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante
Xiaoqiong Liu
Xiaoqiong Liu

Action folded to Ben Gazzola who raised all in from the small blind for Xiaoqiong Liu last 450,000, and she quickly made the call to put herself at risk.

Xiaoqiong Liu: A2 All in
Ben Gazzola: 98

Liu was ahead with her ace high, and after the board ran out A6A2J Liu improved to a full house aces full deuces to secure the double up.

Player Chips Progress
Ben Gazzola us
Ben Gazzola
4,950,000
-725,000
-725,000
Xiaoqiong Liu us
Xiaoqiong Liu
960,000
210,000
210,000
Day 2 Chip Leader

Tags: Ben GazzolaXiaoqiong Liu