Rising triumphantly against PokerStars Ambassador Parker Talbot, Ben Gazzola won first place in the $2,200 Main Event at the Maryland State Poker Championship. Gazzola’s victory was a turning point in his poker career and a sizable monetary award.
Ben Gazzola: Victory and Professional Development Milestone
From Hagerstown, MD, Ben Gazzola won the Main Event first-place prize of $110,678. Notable is his victory over Parker Talbot, sometimes known in the poker scene as “tonkaaaa,” who came in runner-up with a $73,719 reward. This triumph marks a turning point in his career for Gazzola and sets a new personal best. With this victory, his whole live tournament earnings almost doubled, adding to his prior $155,555 in profits.
Apart from the monetary award, Ben Gazzola got a sought-after $10,000 worth of PokerStars Gold Pass. Along with $1,800 in travel fees, this pass comprises a $5,300 buy-in to the NAPT Las Vegas Main Event and a seven-night stay at Resorts World Las Vegas. When considering his success, Ben Gazzola noted intentions to pause poker following a hectic summer in Las Vegas and the Maryland State Poker Championship.
Final Table Notes
International and local athletes mixed at the $2,200 Main Event final table. The outcomes are as follows:
- 1st Place: Ben Gazzola (United States) – $110,578
- 2nd Place: Parker Talbot (Canada) – $73,719
- 3rd Place: Xiaoqiong Liu (United States) – $53,832
- 4th Place: Nicholas Verderamo (United States) – $39,868
- 5th Place: Isiah Ditoto (United States) – $29,952
- 6th Place: Michael Bills (United States) – $22,832
- 7th Place: Tim Faro (United States) – $17,663
- 8th Place: Nicholas Banyas (United States) – $13,870
- 9th Place: David Urban (United States) – $11,058
Final Day Action Of
There were 245 attendees for the Main Event; just five players made it to Day 3. There were many thrilling moments throughout the last table action. The first elimination featured 2023 MSPC Main Event reigning champion Isiah Ditoto. Ditoto dropped an essential hand with ace-queen matched against Talbot’s pocket fours.
Ben Gazzola’s flatmate Nicholas Verderamo was the second to be cut off. Playing with one of his close pals at the last table thrilled Gazzola. Both going all-in with flush draws, the two faced off; Gazzola’s hand was better, so sending Verderamo fourth place.
Third-place finist Xiaoqiong Liu was knocked out following a hard beat. Liu was all in with pocket jacks against the fours of Gazzola. Gazzola flopped a set, which resulted in Liu leaving the tournament.
Heads-Up Conflict Of Ben Gazzola
Gazzola faced Talbot in the heads-up phase with a roughly 2-1 chip lead. Still, Talbot soon acquired an advantage by striking a set of jacks in the second hand. Gazzola nevertheless made a comeback, though. Both players rivered trip eights, and Talbot placed an enormous 1,900,000 river gamble. Gazzola called and won the pot with a better kicker. Seeking a double-up and his second live tournament victory, Talbot opted to call off his 26 large blind stacks with ace-eight suited after Gazzola three-bet jammed with king-deuce suited. Gazzola matched his king on the flop to lock his lead. Holding on through the turn and river, he claimed the victory.
In summary
In his poker career, Ben Gazzola’s victory at the $2,200 Main Event of the Maryland State Poker Championship marks a significant triumph. Along with a PokerStars Gold Pass, defeating a talented player like Parker Talbot and capturing the top prize marks a unique experience for Gazzola. Exciting gameplay and calculated moves abound on the last day, which resulted in Gazzola’s justifiable triumph.
