The Main Event of the Maryland State Poker Championship ended with a three-way deal

At the Live! Casino Maryland poker room, the final table of the state championship ended with a quick deal between the three finalists. The winner was Daniel Iahan, who claimed the trophy for the first time.

The Main Event of the Maryland State Poker Championship, featuring a $1,700 buy-in and held at the Live! Casino Maryland poker room, saw its final table conclude with a surprisingly swift agreement among the top three contenders. The prize pool and trophy were distributed according to an ICM (Independent Chip Model) deal, which allocates payouts based on each player’s chip stack. Daniel Iachan was officially declared the tournament winner, earning the first live trophy of his career. Below is a detailed breakdown of the final table, the tournament’s progression, and key insights for PPPoker club players. Final Table: A Triumph of Experience and Mutual Respect The final table of the Maryland State Poker Championship Main Event brought together several notable players. Justin Arnwine, often referred to as the unofficial record holder for tournament victories, was once again among the chip leaders. Daniel Iachan, who had made deep runs in the WSOP Main Event two years in a row, was chasing his first title. Aaron Pinson, who has over $1 million in winnings for his runner-up finish in the WPT Prime Championship, had just eliminated Kevin Grabel and was closing in on his two main rivals. At the start of three-handed play, each finalist held a stack of over 80 big blinds—exceptionally deep stacks that allow for thoughtful, pressure-free play. Such a setup typically promises a long and intense battle for the top prize of $111,000 and the championship trophy. However, instead of a drawn-out contest, the players quickly agreed to an ICM deal, ending the tournament ahead of schedule. As a result of the deal, Arnwine took home the largest payout—$86,167, Iachan received $78,112 and the trophy, and Pinson earned $76,221. For Iachan, this was a particularly significant moment: in addition to a substantial payday, he claimed his first live title. Tournament Payouts: Final Table Results The final prize distribution among the Maryland State Poker Championship Main Event finalists was as follows: 1. Daniel Iachan* — $78,112 + trophy 2. Justin Arnwine* — $86,167 3. Aaron Pinson* — $76,221 4. Kevin Grabel — $39,227 5. Valentin Lita — $29,974 6. Robert Salera — $23,232 7. Boris Kravets — $18,321 8. Nicholas Verderamo — $14,691 9. Neal Liptak — $12,009 * — payouts determined by a three-way ICM deal How the Final Table Unfolded: Key Hands and Decisions On the final day, six of the strongest players from a field of 380 returned to the table after five days of competition. Daniel Iachan and Justin Arnwine entered as chip leaders. Right from the start, Arnwine set a fast pace, scoring the first knockout: his pocket kings held up against Robert Salera’s pocket tens, sending Salera out in sixth place. The next elimination was Valentin Lita, who moved all-in with A-4, but Iachan quickly called with A-Q, strengthening his position and sending Lita to a fifth-place finish. Soon after, Arnwine won a big pot against Kevin Grabel by flopping trip aces. Then Aaron Pinson played a key hand against Grabel, calling his 600,000 river bet with two pair, which reduced Grabel’s stack to under a million. A few hands later, Grabel shoved for 1,100,000 with pocket fours, but Pinson woke up with pocket eights and eliminated him in fourth place. At the start of three-handed play, the chip counts were: Justin Arnwine — 6,605,000 Daniel Iachan — 4,460,000 Aaron Pinson — 4,150,000 At this point, the players paused the tournament clock to discuss a possible deal. After negotiations, they agreed to an ICM chop, with the trophy awarded to Iachan—marking his long-awaited first title. Player Quotes and Motivation: Why They Made the Deal Daniel Iachan, who received the trophy, noted that for him, it was not just about the prize money, but also the significance of his first live tournament victory. He admitted that after two deep runs in the WSOP Main Event (17th place in 2025 and 96th this year), he gained confidence in his abilities and realized he could compete with the world’s best. According to him, the experience of playing for such high stakes helps him stay calm and make the right decisions even in high-pressure situations. Iachan also added that, despite wanting to win the trophy in open play, it was important for him to earn the respect of his opponents: “A trophy is a trophy, and I think both of my opponents respect my game. I played with Justin for almost the entire tournament—we already have some history. I’ve known Aaron for a long time too, and I don’t think either of them minded me getting my first title. Maybe they felt it was my day.” Justin Arnwine, in turn, said he had no regrets about conceding the trophy, since he already has more awards than most players. He respected Iachan’s desire to win his first title and emphasized that for him, the money and the chance to compete for a PokerStars EPT package were more important. Arnwine said that when he learned Iachan had never won a live tournament, he immediately thought he wouldn’t object to such an outcome. Arnwine also shared that his ability to build big stacks and win at final tables is largely thanks to the support of his wife Caitlyn and inspiration from fellow pro Bin Weng. According to Arnwine, after Caitlyn finished second in the 2023 Potomac Winter Poker Open Main Event, he reconsidered his approach to the game, started playing more aggressively, and took more risks to win. Meeting Bin Weng finally solidified his mindset: “If you want to win, you have to be ready to lose.” Arnwine’s personal life has also changed: this year, he and Caitlyn welcomed a daughter, and now he tries not to stay at tournaments longer than necessary: “My baby is already six months old, and she’s about to start crawling. I don’t like being away from my family longer than I have to.” Context: Series, Venue, and Participants The Maryland State Poker Championship Main Event, with a $1,700 buy-in, was held at the Live! Casino Maryland poker room, which regularly hosts major regional and national tournaments. This year, 380 players took part, and the final table featured several prominent names in American poker. Justin Arnwine is a local legend, a multiple-time tournament winner known for building big stacks and winning in all kinds of lineups. Daniel Iachan is a player who has made deep runs in the WSOP Main Event two years in a row—an achievement of global significance. Aaron Pinson is a WPT Prime Championship finalist and prize winner with total winnings exceeding $1 million. The other finalists were Kevin Grabel, Valentin Lita, Robert Salera, Boris Kravets, Nicholas Verderamo, and Neal Liptak. All of them demonstrated a high level of play, and the final table was marked by both technical skill and mutual respect among the participants. Tournament and Final Table Statistics Buy-in: $1,700 Number of entrants: 380 Prize pool: (amount not specified in the original, but over $350,000 was awarded at the final table) Tournament duration: 5 days Final table format: deep stacks, three players had over 80 BB Deal type: ICM chop among three players Winner: Daniel Iachan (trophy + $78,112) Largest payout: Justin Arnwine ($86,167) What This Means for PPPoker Club Players This story is a great example of how, even at the highest levels of tournament poker, players make pragmatic decisions—sometimes opting for an ICM deal rather than battling it out to the last hand. For PPPoker club members, this is an important lesson: you don’t always have to chase first place—sometimes a well-negotiated deal can maximize your profit and minimize risk. It’s also worth noting the psychological aspects mentioned by the finalists. Experience in major tournaments, the ability to stay calm and confident, and respect for opponents—all of these help make the right decisions both in live and online tournaments. For PPPoker club players, these qualities are especially important, since club leagues and series often feature strong regulars, and success depends not only on technical skill but also on the ability to negotiate and adapt. Finally, the example of Arnwine and Iachan shows that the path to poker success is not just about fighting for every trophy, but also about constant improvement, working on your game, and support from loved ones. In PPPoker clubs, you can not only compete for prizes, but also learn from strong players, draw on their experience, and build your own success story.