Ben Gazzola emerged victorious within the $2,200 Predominant Occasion on the Maryland State Poker Championship, taking residence a first-place prize of $110,578. From Hagerstown, MD, Gazzola outlasted PokerStars Ambassador Parker Talbot in heads-up. Talbot, identified within the poker world as “tonkaaaa,” secured a runner-up prize of $73,719.
Gazzola’s victory marks a profession milestone. His Predominant Occasion win set a brand new private finest and virtually doubled his earlier $155,555 in reside event earnings. Along with the money prize, Gazzola obtained a much-wanted PokerStars Gold Go, valued at $10,000. This features a $5,300 buy-in to the NAPT Las Vegas Predominant Occasion, a seven-night keep at Resorts World Las Vegas, and $1,800 in journey bills.
Reflecting on his success, Gazzola shared that after a summer time grinding in Las Vegas and the Maryland State Poker Championship, he plans to take a break from the poker scene.
Ultimate Desk Outcomes
Ultimate Day Motion
The Predominant Occasion drew 245 entrants and noticed simply 5 gamers returning for Day 3. The primary elimination of the ultimate desk was Isiah Ditoto, the defending champion from the 2023 MSPC Predominant Occasion. Ditoto misplaced a vital flip with ace-queen suited in opposition to Talbot’s pocket fours.
Subsequent to fall was Nicholas Verderamo, who occurs to be Gazzola’s roommate. Gazzola spoke fondly of the expertise, saying, “It was actually cool,” and noting, “Not daily you get to play a closing desk with one in all your closest associates.” The 2 clashed after they each went all-in with flush attracts, however Gazzola’s superior hand prevailed, eliminating Verderamo in fourth place.
Xiaoqiong Liu secured third place however met her finish after a tricky beat. Liu was all-in with pocket jacks in opposition to Gazzola’s pocket fours, however Gazzola flopped a set, sending Liu to the rail.
In heads-up play, Gazzola confronted off in opposition to Talbot with an virtually 2-1 chip lead. Nonetheless, Talbot shortly turned the tables by hitting a set of jacks within the second hand. The lead didn’t final lengthy, although, as Gazzola clawed again after each gamers rivered journey eights. Talbot made a large wager of 1,900,000 on the river, however Gazzola referred to as and received the pot with a much bigger kicker.
On the hunt for a double-up and his second reside event win, Talbot referred to as off his 26 huge 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 flip and river to seal the victory.
