The 2024 Maryland State Poker Championship has concluded with Ben Gazzola taking down the $2,200 Main Event for the Championship trophy, a PokerStars trophy as well as a career-best score of $110,578. Gazzola, who has been cashing live events since 2018, finished 47th for $ 11,740 in the recent WSOP Closer event. This marked his first title of 2024 and third title overall.
Aside from the trophies and prize, Gazzola also collected the coveted PokerStars Gold pass, which is worth $10,000 and includes a $5,300 NAPT Las Vegas Main Event buy-in. In addition, it also includes $1,800 for travel expenses alongside a seven-day stay at the Resort World Las Vegas.
The $2,200 Main Event at the Maryland State Poker Championship attracted a field of 245 entries. The top 32 finishers shared the guaranteed prize pool of $500,000, with the 1st place finisher taking a six-figure sum. Here is the final table recap of the 2024 MSPC Main Event.
$2,200 Main Event Final Table Recap and Standings
| Rank | Player | Prize |
| 1st | Ben Gazzola | $110,578 |
| 2nd | Parker Talbot | $73,719 |
| 3rd | Xiaoqiong Liu | $53,832 |
| 4th | Nicholas Verderamo | $39,868 |
| 5th | Isiah Ditoto | $29,952 |
| 6th | Michael Bills | $22,832 |
| 7th | Tim Faro | $17,663 |
| 8th | Nicholas Banyas | $13,870 |
| 9th | David Urban | $11,058 |
The final table was set by late Day 2, with only 5 players moving to the final Day 3. Isiah Ditoto was the first casualty among the final five. Ditoto moved all-in with A-Q against Parker Talbot’s pocket fours. Ditoto’s hand couldn’t improve, sending him out in 5th place for $29,952.
Nicholas Verderamo with Q♠︎10♠︎ raised from the button and Gazzola with A♠︎2♠︎ 3-bet from the small blind. Verderamo called, leading up to the flop.
The board came out 7♠︎5♠︎3♣︎, giving both players a flush draw. Gazzola quickly bet, with Verderamo raising. Gazzola, who has the best hand, moved all in, and Verderamo called. The turn card was A♦, and the river card was 5♦. Verderamo bowed out in 4th place ($39,868), kicking off the three-hand play.
After one hour of fourth and back battle, Gazzola knocked out final-day chip leader Xiaoqiong Liu in 3rd place ($53,832). Liu moved all-in with pocket jacks, and Gazzola called the all-in with pocket fours. The flop came out 4-7-3-A-9, ending the deep run of the female poker pro.
Heading into the heads-up Gazzola held a 2-1 chip lead against the PokerStars Canadian Pro and streamer Parker Talbot. Talbot took a short lead only for Gazzola to retake the lead after Gazzola’s K-8 beat Talbot’s J-8. Gazzola further solidified his lead, leaving Talbot short-stacked.
In the final hand of the Main Event, Talbot raised from the button with A♥︎8♥︎ and Ben Gazzola with K♦8♦ 3-bet putting Talbot in an all-in position. Talbot made the call, and the board came out 7♥︎Q♣︎K♣︎Q♣︎4♣︎. Poker Stars Ambassador Parker Talbot finishes as the runner-up walking away with $73,719.
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Content & Image Courtesy: PokerNews
