Queen in the Window Gives Hamid Izadi the Chip Lead on Day 1b of the RGPS Grand Prix Maryland Main Event
Hamid Izadi waited until the last possible moment to seize the chip lead on Day 1b of the $1,700 RunGood Poker Series Grand Prix Maryland Main Event.
With eight players remaining and only seven surviving to make the money and Day 2, Gintautas Putinas thought he had found a perfect time to earn a big double up. He was all in for 280,000 with two aces against Izadi’s queens and poised to take the chip lead, but Izadi spiked a set on the flop to burst the bubble as he ended the day with 722,000.
Day 1b Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hamid Izadi | United States | 722,000 | 120 |
| 2 | Charles Furey | United States | 460,000 | 77 |
| 3 | Joel Lanning | United States | 322,000 | 54 |
| 4 | Russ Dunlevy | United States | 231,000 | 39 |
| 5 | Matt Mullins | United States | 175,000 | 29 |
| 6 | Joe Crowley | United States | 135,000 | 23 |
| 7 | Zach Kates | United States | 120,000 | 20 |
*Blinds projected at 3,000/6,000 to start Day 2
The Georgia native has a lengthy poker resume that includes more than $2.3 million in live earnings. He finished runner-up in the RGPS Grand Prix Tunica Main Event last month, and has also won two WSOP Circuit Main Events, the latest coming in Southern Indiana in September.
If anyone could be said to have come into the event riding a wave of momentum, it was Charles Furey. Furey had a two-decade-long poker career before he earned his first six-figure score, taking down the PokerStars Open Maryland Main Event just a few days ago. With that accomplishment under his belt, he arrived at MGM National Harbor today and kept the hot run going, ending up in second place with 460,000.
Joel Lanning (322,000), Russ Dunlevy (231,000), Matt Mullins (175,000), Joe Crowley (135,000), and Zach Kates (120,000) were also among the seven who secured their tickets into Day 2 on Sunday.
The 54 entries recorded on the second starting flight brought the total field up to 121, with 16 players already through to Day 2. There is still one more starting flight to go tomorrow at 11:15 a.m. as the field approaches the $300,000 guaranteed prize pool.
All surviving players return for Day 2 on November 2 at 12:15 p.m. to play down to a champion. Today lasted longer than yesterday’s 15 levels, so the blinds will be pushed back unless tomorrow’s flight ends sooner.
PokerNews will be back Saturday for the final starting flight, as players take one last shot at the RGPS Main Event ring.