$1,700 Main Event Day 1a | 2026 Maryland State Poker Championship

Sep 03, 2026

Dolezal Shows Rippy Aces

David Salituro

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

Melanie Hennigan limped in from the cutoff before Jeffrey Dolezal raised to 1,600 in the small blind. Hennigan called, and they went heads-up to the A♥J♣9♠ flop.

Dolezal then bet 2,200 and Hennigan called. Dolezal bet another 4,000 on the 4♥ turn, and Hennigan folded.

The next hand, Dolezal bet 2,000 from the button on a flop of 3♦K♣7♦ and Arthur Rippy raised to 5,000. Dolezal then moved all in and Rippy, with around 25,000 behind, took a minute before flipping over the K♠ and tossing it into the muck. Dolezal flashed A♣A♥ as he took the pot.

Tags: Arthur Rippy Jeffrey Dolezal Melanie Hennigan

Sep 03, 2026

Houck Calls Down Hudson

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David Salituro

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

Derek Hudson raised to 1,500 under the gun before Clint Houck three-bet to 3,500 in the hijack. Hudson then four-bet to 7,500, and Houck called.

Hudson checked the A♥K♥3♠ flop, and Houck bet 5,000. Hudson called, and they both checked the 6♦ turn.

Hudson then led out for 7,000 on the K♣ river, and Houck called. "You're good," Hudson said as he turned over Q♥Q♣, while Houck had A♠9♠ for two pair to win the pot.

Tags: Clint Houck Derek Hudson

Sep 03, 2026

Karle Raises With Enthusiasm

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David Salituro

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

Russ Dunlevy bet 2,000 from the big blind on a board of K♣3♣4♣6♥ before Thomas Karle, kneeling on his chair, announced a raise to 5,000.

"I like the enthusiasm," Dunlevy told him.

"I'm always enthusiastic. I love playing poker," Karle replied.

Dunlevy called and checked to Karle on the 9♠ river. "Just in case you have a flush. I have the nut straight," Karle said as he checked behind and turned over 7♦5♥. Dunlevy sent his cards into the muck.

"Wait a second," Dunlevy joked as he pretended to look back at his cards.

Tags: Russ Dunlevy Thomas Karle

Sep 03, 2026

The Biggest Pot in High Stakes Poker History Just Happened | PokerNews Podcast #1,005

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Chad Holloway

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

In the 1,005th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, which is sponsored by WPT Global, Chad Holloway and Mike Holtz are back to talk the latest and greatest from the poker world. That includes a week full of High Stakes Poker live stream action, and some record-breaking pots played by the likes of Eric Wasserson, Texas Mike Moncek, and Andrew Robl. See two hands that set records for largest pots in the 20-year history of High Stakes Poker!

Speaking of live streams, Daniel Negreanu ventured into the cash game streets by making his Hustler Casino Live (HCL) debut, where he played a fascinating hand against Sam "Señor Tilt" Kiki. From there, Mike and Chad discuss cheating in LA poker rooms and how a ban on phones has been suggested as a possible solution. But is that a good idea?

Other stories include a look ahead to the WPT Seoul, recapping Talking Stick's 20th Annual Arizona State Poker Championship, winners from the EPT Barcelona, and remembering poker greats Pierre Neuville and Brent Carter. Check out those stories and more in the latest episode of the PokerNews Podcast!

Be sure to check out the audio version of the PokerNews Podcast that is available on all major podcasting platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and SoundCloud.

A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode!

Click here to listen to the new PN Podcast!

Sep 03, 2026

Kuntz Picks Off MIan

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David Salituro

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

Marcia Kuntz bet 2,000 from under the gun on a flop of 6♦8♣5♣ and Waleed Mian called in the small blind.

Kuntz bet another 4,000 on the Q♦ turn, and Mian again called. The river was the 7♣ and Mian led out for 10,000. Kuntz quickly called and turned over 8♥7♥ for two pair, and Mian mucked 7♠6♥.

Tags: Marcia Kuntz Waleed Mian

Sep 03, 2026

Updated Chip Counts

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David Salituro

Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

Level: 4

Blinds: 300/500

Ante: 500

Sep 03, 2026

Poker Player Wins 5,000 Buy-Ins, Biggest Payout in PokerStars FanDuel History

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David Salituro

Level 3 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante

PokerStars Exclusively on FanDuel recently paid out the single largest payout in the operator's short history, and it left one Pennsylvania poker player a quarter-million dollars richer.

The massive payout of $250,000 was awarded in a $50 buy-in Spin & Go, a hyper-turbo sit & go format where prizes are randomized and can range from 2x to 10,000x the buy-in. The six-figure prize went to "Jesuz1zBlac", who claimed the entire prize thanks to the winner-take-all format.

Find Full Details Here

Sep 03, 2026

First Break

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David Salituro

Level 3 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante

Players are going on the first 15-minute break of the day.

Sep 03, 2026

Zambanini Makes Short Work of Mian

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David Salituro

Level 3 : Blinds 200/400, 400 ante

After a few limps in front of him, Waleed Mian raised to 3,000 in the small blind and only Matthew Zambanini called on the button.

The flop came 7♣2♥J♦ and Mian continued for 2,600. Zambanini then raised to 10,500, and Mian moved all in for 23,000. Zambanini called.

Waleed Mian: 8♦8♥ All in
Matthew Zambanini: Q♥J♥

Zambanini was ahead with top pair, and the 7♥Q♦ board improved him to two pair to send Mian, who had only just taken his seat a few minutes earlier, to the rail.

Tags: Matthew Zambanini Waleed Mian