The Maryland State Poker Championship Main Event kicks off later today, with live reporting right here on PokerNews.
The $1,700 buy-in event comes with a $500,000 guarantee, and three starting flights between today and Saturday. Held at Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland, the Championship is sponsored by PokerStars Exclusively on FanDuel.
One player who knows what it’s like to run deep in the vent is Joshua Mischel, who finished eighth in the event last year for $14,000, and has now secured victory in one of the preliminary events at this year’s festival.
Career-Best for Mischel
There were six start flights in Event #2: $600 NLHE which attracted a total of 728 entries. Mischel emerged victorious, taking home $63,400. He defeated fellow Marylander Alvin Anton heads-up, who had made back-to-back final tables after finihsing fourth in 2025.
For Mischel, it’s the second-largest cash of his career after a runner-up finish in the WSOP Circuit Baltimore Main Event last October.
“If I told you how hot I ran in this tournament you wouldn’t believe me!” Mischel posted on Instagram alongside a picture of his trophy.
Maryland State Poker Championship Results
Filippos Stavrakis won a bracelet in the $1,000 PLO back in 2018, and grabbed another Omaha title here in the $400 Mixed Omaha for $6,431.
Meanwhile, Brian Fuchs secured the second-largest cash of his career with victory in the $400 Six-Max for $13,050
| Event | Field | Winner | Payout (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Event #1: $400 H.O.R.S.E | 89 | Cameron Tahmasebi | $6,550 |
| Event #2: $600 NLHE | 728 | Joshua Mischel | $63,400 |
| Event #3: $400 Mixed Omaha | 66 | Filippos Stavrakis | $6,431 |
| Event #4: $400 5-Card PLO | 51 | Ellis Wong | $5,890 |
| Event #5: $400 R.O.S.E. | 54 | Eric Lucas | $4,665 |
| Event #6: $400 Freezeout | 66 | Eric Davies | $3,632* |
| Event #7: $400 Six-Max | 159 | Brian Fuchs | $13,050 |
| Event #8: $200 NLHE Turbo | 55 | Scott Sommer | $3,600 |
*denotes deal
Will Shillibier
Managing Editor