The Maryland State Poker Championship has delivered a significant turnaround after reducing the buy-in for its Main Event, with the overall festival generating almost $1.5 million in prize money.
The PokerStars exclusively on FanDuel-sponsored series attracted 3,032 entries across 16 trophy events at Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland. A total of $1,491,760 was awarded, almost 40% more than the roughly $1.1 million guaranteed across the festival.
Main Event Jumps From 228 to 380 Entries
Much of the improvement could be seen in the $500,000-guaranteed Main Event. Organizers reduced the buy-in from $2,200 in 2025 to $1,700 this year, helping the tournament attract 380 entries and generate a $570,000 prize pool.
That represented a 14% increase over the guarantee and a sharp reversal from the previous edition. The 2025 Main Event attracted only 228 entries and failed to generate enough buy-ins to cover its $500,000 guarantee.
The comparison means the field increased by more than 66% year-on-year following the $500 reduction in the entry fee. While the lower buy-in was not necessarily the only factor behind the increase, the result gave organizers a considerably healthier Main Event in 2026.
Daniel Iachan Takes Trophy After Three-Way Deal
The tournament eventually ended with Daniel Iachan, Justin Arnwine and Aaron Pinson agreeing to a three-way ICM deal.
Arnwine held the largest stack when the deal was made and collected the biggest payout of $86,167. Iachan received $78,112 and the Main Event trophy, while Pinson walked away with $76,221.
The result gave Iachan his first live tournament trophy after two notable performances in the WSOP Main Event. The Maryland player finished 17th in the 2025 WSOP Main Event before returning this summer and making another deep run in 96th place.
PokerStars on FanDuel Continues US Push
The successful live series comes during a period of expansion for PokerStars’ FanDuel-branded operation in North America.
PokerStars is also preparing to launch its $3.5 million Dynasty Series on September 12, with 100 tournaments planned for players on the shared Michigan, New Jersey and Pennsylvania network. A separate 61-event schedule will run in Ontario.
The Maryland State Poker Championship gives the partnership a positive result away from the online tables. It also comes as the PokerStars and FanDuel integration continues to reshape how the operator approaches regulated poker markets in North America.
For the Maryland series itself, the most striking comparison remains the Main Event. Twelve months after a 228-entry field failed to cover the guarantee, 380 entries were enough to take the prize pool $70,000 beyond it.
