Gazzola Denies PokerStars' Talbot in Maryland State Poker Championship $2,200 Main Event
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Ben Gazzola emerged victorious in the $2,200 Main Event at the Maryland State Poker Championship, taking home a first-place prize of $110,578. From Hagerstown, MD, Gazzola outlasted PokerStars Ambassador Parker Talbot in heads-up. Talbot, known in the poker world as "tonkaaaa," secured a runner-up prize of $73,719.
Gazzola's victory marks a career milestone. His Main Event win set a new personal best and almost doubled his previous $155,555 in live tournament earnings. In addition to the cash prize, Gazzola received a much-wanted PokerStars Gold Pass, valued at $10,000. This includes a $5,300 buy-in to the NAPT Las Vegas Main Event, a seven-night stay at Resorts World Las Vegas, and $1,800 in travel expenses.
Reflecting on his success, Gazzola shared that after a summer grinding in Las Vegas and the Maryland State Poker Championship, he plans to take a break from the poker scene.
Final Table Results
| Place | Name | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ben Gazzola | United States | $110,578 |
| 2 | Parker Talbot | Canada | $73,719 |
| 3 | Xiaoqiong Liu | United States | $53,832 |
| 4 | Nicholas Verderamo | United States | $39,868 |
| 5 | Isiah Ditoto | United States | $29,952 |
| 6 | Michael Bills | United States | $22,832 |
| 7 | Tim Faro | United States | $17,663 |
| 8 | Nicholas Banyas | United States | $13,870 |
| 9 | David Urban | United States | $11,058 |
Final Day Action
The Main Event drew 245 entrants and saw just five players returning for Day 3. The first elimination of the final table was Isiah Ditoto, the defending champion from the 2023 MSPC Main Event. Ditoto lost a crucial flip with ace-queen suited against Talbot��s pocket fours.
Next to fall was Nicholas Verderamo, who happens to be Gazzola's roommate. Gazzola spoke fondly of the experience, saying, ��It was really cool,�� and noting, "Not every day you get to play a final table with one of your closest friends.�� The two clashed when they both went all-in with flush draws, but Gazzola��s superior hand prevailed, eliminating Verderamo in fourth place.
Xiaoqiong Liu secured third place but met her end after a tough beat. Liu was all-in with pocket jacks against Gazzola��s pocket fours, but Gazzola flopped a set, sending Liu to the rail.
In heads-up play, Gazzola faced off against Talbot with an almost 2-1 chip lead. However, Talbot quickly turned the tables by hitting a set of jacks in the second hand. The lead didn��t last long, though, as Gazzola clawed back after both players rivered trip eights. Talbot made a massive bet of 1,900,000 on the river, but Gazzola called and won the pot with a bigger kicker.
On the hunt for a double-up and his second live tournament win, Talbot called off his 26 big blind stack with ace-eight suited after Gazzola three-bet jammed with king-deuce suited. Gazzola paired his king on the flop to take the lead, and he held out on the turn and river to seal the victory.
