Maryland Live! Summer Series of Poker Main Event saw two of poker’s finest end up with the lion’s share of the prize money after three days of amazing action.
The cream seems to be making its way to the top, more often that it evaporates and sinks to the bottom.
This time it was the dynamic duo of Christian Harder, and Brian Hastings, who managed to wade through a field of 178 players to headline the Maryland Live! Summer Series of Poker Main Event.
The pair evenly split $169,540 after three days of action saw the pot simmer down to a heads-up encounter between the pair. A sign of respect, a shake of hands, and Maryland’s own Christian Harder was allowed to keep the headlines.
The Main Event was the focal point of a 19-event schedule that took place over a 22-day period held July 7-28 at the Maryland Live! Casino. It was a $2,200 buy-in and the $250,000 Guaranteed Prize pool was easily attained.
Both players came into this event with form on their side. Harder securing a fourth place finish, from a field of 3,599 entrants, in the recent WPT500 at the Aria Resort and Casino, and Hastings was coming off a wonderful series that saw him capture a fifth, fourth and a 64th place finish in the Main Event.
The victory is Harder’s first since he took down a $3,200 heads-up title at the Borgata Poker Open back in 2011.
Final Table Standings
1st. Christian Harder – $84,270*
2nd. Brian Hastings – $84,270*
3rd. Ulises Roman – $39,555
4th. John O’Brien – $27,860
5th. Tim Bishop – $21,497
6th. John Lakatosh – $16,338
7th. Robert McLaughlin – $12,726
8th. Jonathan Ivy – $9,549
*Denotes a heads-up deal
