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.
