In Maryland’s first major series, Maryland Live Casino hosted its inaugural $1 Million Live Poker Classic, culminating in the $400K guarantee main event, which Kevin Elia of Baltimore captured after there was a final-table chop.
Elia took home $56,370 after besting 130 players in the $3,500 event, which was part of the nine-tournament series. Minho Choe was runner-up, earning $49K.
But there was another event on March 24-25 that grabbed a lot of attention at this series, Poker Night In America, which featured a mix of pros and locals in a TV cash game, which debuted April 27 on Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic and other cable outlets.
Several notables were on the felt, including local hero and 2012 world champ Greg Merson, Gavin Smith, David “ODB” Baker, Matt Glantz, Tom Schneider, Christian Harder, Jason Somerville and Danielle Andersen. Local favorites Darvin Moon, who finished second in the 2009 WSOP, and Steve Dannenmann, who finished second in the 2005 WSOP, played, too.
Avi Rubin, a professor at Johns Hopkins and one of the foremost authorities on software security and hacking, sat in with the pros and managed to make a profit.
“I had an incredible time,” Rubin said. “I hope to do it again.”
HPO: Hollywood Casino Perryville is giving away two seats to the Hollywood Poker Open in Las Vegas at the M Resort in June. Play 80 hours between April 1-May 31 and you earn a free entry into the qualifying tournament on June 4.
If you don’t have enough hours, you can buy in for $125. First and second place in the tournament will get a seat in the HPO tournament valued at $2,500 and $1K spending money. Third place and beyond will be paid based on size of prize pool from the $125 buy-ins.
ANTE UP CRUISE: Dover Downs Hotel & Casino in Dover, Del., will award an Ante Up Poker Cruise package to the winner of a $59 buy-in tournament on May 14. The tournament begins at 6:15 p.m., with late registration open through 8:15. Players start with 7,500 units and levels last 20 minutes.
First place wins an Ante Up Poker Cruise oceanview package for up to two people on the July 28 sailing out of Port Canaveral, Fla.
Second place is guaranteed $300 and players placing third through seventh are guaranteed $100. Additional positions may be paid based on the size of the prize pool.
On May 3, Dover Downs will give everyone playing in the poker room a $10 ticket for the Kentucky Derby. Ten players will receive a $100 ticket.
ROCKY GAP: The poker room has added $45 tournaments Monday-Friday at 10:15 a.m. On the last Saturday of the month at 10:15 a.m., there will be a $180 tournament.
— Email Michael Young at anteupmike@gmail.com.
