PokerStars on FanDuel Backs Maryland Championship With More Than $1 Million in Guarantees
The August-to-September series at Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland includes 16 trophy events, a $1,700 Main Event and an EPT package giveaway.
PokerStars Exclusively on FanDuel has taken title sponsorship of the 2026 Maryland State Poker Championship. The series is scheduled for Aug. 26 to Sept. 7 at Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland and will feature 16 trophy events with more than $1 million in guaranteed prize pools.
The headline Main Event carries a $1,700 buy-in and runs Sept. 3 to 7 with a $500,000 guarantee. Buy-ins across the series start as low as $400.
Pokerfuse said four disclosed events already account for $860,000 in guaranteed prizes, and the remaining 12 trophy events are expected to push the total guarantee well past $1 million. The sponsorship material described the 2026 edition as the most ambitious yet.
PokerStars on FanDuel is also giving away a Player’s Choice European Poker Tour package valued at €10,000. The prize includes a €5,300 EPT Main Event entry, hotel accommodations and travel expenses to an EPT festival of the winner’s choice.
The Maryland State Poker Championship has been part of the live poker calendar since 2020. PokerNews noted that PokerStars has a long history with the event and pointed to the 2024 Main Event, which drew 245 runners and was won by Ben Gazzola for $110,578. That final table also included Xiaoqiong Liu in third for $53,832, Nicholas Verderamo in fourth for $39,868 and Isiah Ditoto in fifth for $29,952.
Aaron Dugan, PokerStars general manager, said the company was excited to bring its commitment to the series following PokerStars’ launch on FanDuel in April. Christopher Angelo, director of poker for Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland, said the venue was excited to welcome PokerStars exclusively on FanDuel as title sponsor and that the event continues to draw top players and solidify its place as a marquee tournament series. Casino Life Magazine described the sponsorship as part of continued investment in growing poker communities across regulated U.S. markets and creating chances for players to connect online and in person through live events.
