2026 Maryland State Poker Championship

$1,700 Main Event
Day: 1b
1a1b1c
Event Info
2026 Maryland State Poker Championship
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,700
Prize Pool
$500,000
Total Entries
362
Players Left
120
Average Chip Stack
120,667
Total Chips
14,480,000
Level Info
Level
9
Blinds
600 / 1,200
Ante
1,200
Players Info - Day 1b
Entries
124
Players Left
16
Players Left 120 / 362
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Schmegel Makes a "Bluff Value-Shove"

David Salituro
David Salituro
Level 5 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante
Andy Schmegel
Andy Schmegel

William Beer bet 7,500 from middle position on a flop of 8♣10♦4♦ and Michael Bohmerwald called in the cutoff. Andy Schmegel then moved all in for 22,600 in the small blind.

Beer took a minute before folding. "I would've rather you called," Bohmerwald told him as he confirmed the amount and called.

Andy Schmegel: K♠10♥ All in
Michael Bohmerwald: 10♣9♥

Both players showed top pair, while Schmegel was ahead with his king-kicker. The board ran out 6♦2♥, and Schmegel doubled up.

Beer then admitted he folded ace-ten. "How can I not put him on jacks or queens there?" he said.

"That's what you call a bluff value-shove," Schmegel joked with him.

Tags: Andy SchmegelMichael BohmerwaldWilliam Beer

Level: 5

Blinds: 300/600

Ante: 600

Mitchell Stuns Mizel on the River

David Salituro
David Salituro
Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante
Robert Mitchell
Robert Mitchell

Robert Mitchell moved all in from the button and Matthew Mizel called for 25,000 in the hijack. "I'm folding the best hand. I'm a nit," Jermaine Haughton said as he folded in the cutoff.

Matthew Mizel: A♣A♦ All in
Robert Mitchell: Q♦Q♥

It was actually Mizel who had the best hand, turning over two aces as he was a big favorite to double up. The board came K♦3♦9♠8♦, but Mitchell caught the Q♠ on the river to win the pot and send Mizel to the rail.

Tags: Jermaine HaughtonMatthew MizelRobert Mitchell

Arnwine, O'Donnell Chop Up Two

David Salituro
David Salituro
Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante
Justin Arnwine
Justin Arnwine

Jeffrey Pelkey moved all in for 7,600 in the hijack. Manus O'Donnell put in his last 10,000 from middle position, Mukala Sikyala reshoved for 18,000 in the small blind, while Justin Arnwine in the big blind had all three players covered and at risk.

Jeffrey Pelkey: 10♣10♦ All in
Manus O'Donnell: A♦Q♠ All in
Mukala Sikyala: J♣J♠ All in
Justin Arnwine: A♠Q♥

"Good luck, everybody. There's too many to choose from," tablemate David Chaput said. The flop came Q♦5♣K♣ to give O'Donnell and Arnwine the lead with a pair of queens. The rest of the board ran out 5♠4♥. Arnwine and O'Donnell chopped the main pot, while Arnwine took the side pot as Pelkey and Sikyala were both sent to the rail.

Tags: David ChaputJeffrey PelkeyJustin ArnwineMukala Sikyala

Palermino Sets Up Leost

David Salituro
David Salituro
Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

Gabriel Leost bet 5,500 from the small blind on a flop of 7♠6♥2♦ and Andy Schmegel called in the hijack. John Palermino then raised to 16,000 on the button, and only Leost called.

The turn was the 9♠ and Leost quickly got in his last 5,000. He showed K♠J♥, while Palermino had 6♦6♠ for a flopped set. The river was the 2♠, and Palermino improved to a full house to send Leost to the rail.

At another table, defending champion Lucas Vergara has moved up past 100,000.

Tags: Andy SchmegelGabriel LeostJohn Palermino

Anton Takes From Guedes

David Salituro
David Salituro
Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

Alvin Anton bet 3,200 from the hijack on a flop of 7♣3♦3♥ and James Crawford called on the button, as did Fernando Guedes in the big blind.

The turn was the 8♣ and Anton bet another 6,500. Only Guedes called this time. Both players checked down the 3♠ river, and Anton turned over A♦7♥ for a full house to win the pot.

Tags: Alvin AntonFernando GuedesJames Crawford

Beer Finds a Call Against Leost

David Salituro
David Salituro
Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante
William Beer
William Beer

Three-handed on a flop of 3♥Q♠6♠, Gabriel Leost bet 2,400 from the hijack and only William Beer called in the cutoff.

Leost bet another 6,000 on the 10♠ turn, and Beer called once more. The river was the 2♣ and Leost bet 20,000.

"You got it, huh?" Beer said as he tanked for a minute, but he eventually called. Leost turned over Q♦Q♥ for top set, but Beer had 4♠2♠ for a flush to win the big pot.

Tags: Gabriel LeostWilliam Beer

Benhart Coolers Lake For a Double

David Salituro
David Salituro
Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

Yat Wai Cheng raised to 1,000 in early position before Jeffrey Benhart three-bet to 5,200 in the hijack. Dominic Lake four-bet to 12,000 in the big blind and Cheng folded, while Benhart moved all in for 26,800. Lake snap-called.

Jeffrey Benhart: K♠K♣ All in
Dominic Lake: Q♦Q♠

Benhart had Lake dominated with his kings, and the board ran out 8♣J♥3♥9♦6♠ to earn him the double up.

Tags: Dominic LakeJeffrey BenhartYat Wai Cheng

Updated Chip Counts

David Salituro
David Salituro
Level 4 : Blinds 300/500, 500 ante

2015 WSOP Main Event champion Joe McKeehen joined the field during the break.

Level: 4

Blinds: 300/500

Ante: 500

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