Last Chance to Chase the Title on Day 1c of the Maryland State Poker Championship $1,700 Main Event
The Live! Casino Maryland poker room will be packed today when the final starting flight of the Maryland State Poker Championship $1,700 Main Event begins at 11:15 a.m. local time.
Day 1c is expected to be the biggest flight yet as the total field approaches the $500,000 guaranteed prize pool. The first two opening flights attracted 187 entries, with 24 players already securing their spots on Day 2.
Matthew Zambanini remains the man to beat with 663,500, followed by Valentin Lita (656,000). Kevin Grabel (552,000), Justin Arnwine (471,000), and Jeffrey Boyd (458,500) round out the top five.
Current Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matthew Zambanini | United States | 663,500 |
| 2 | Valentin Lita | United States | 656,000 |
| 3 | Kevin Grabel | United States | 552,000 |
| 4 | Justin Arnwine | United States | 471,000 |
| 5 | Jeffrey Boyd | United States | 458,500 |
| 6 | Donovan Bates | United States | 396,000 |
| 7 | Daniel Iachan | United States | 370,000 |
| 8 | Christopher Caruso | United States | 347,000 |
| 9 | Clint Houck | United States | 344,000 |
| 10 | Vernon Baker | United States | 324,500 |
Others through to Day 2 include Daniel Iachan (370,000), Christopher Caruso (347,000), Clint Houck (344,000), Diane Zimmerman (305,500), Dominic Lake (271,500), Aaron Pinson (225,000), Brandon Mueller (160,500), and Ari Katz (159,000).
Players on Day 1c will begin with a 40,000 starting stack. Levels will be 40 minutes, with a break after every three levels and a 45-minute dinner break at the end of Level 9. Late registration remains open until the start of Level 10.
The day will conclude once 12.5 percent of the field remains. All surviving players then return for Day 2 tomorrow at 11:15 a.m. already in the money. The action on Day 2 picks up at the earliest finishing time from one of the starting flights, which currently stands at 36 minutes remaining in Level 15 with blinds of 2,500/5,000 and a 5,000 big blind ante.
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