The PokerStars Open Maryland festival at Live! Casino kicked off with five initial flights of the Main Event. Player interest exceeded expectations with a total of 599 entries, boosting the prize pool to $581,030. A total of 91 players advanced to Day 2, each guaranteed a min-cash of $1,650.
New Stars Emerge
The opening rounds drew several well-known figures in the poker world, including PS ambassadors Jen Shahade and Arlie Shaban, as well as 2015 WSOP Main Event champion Joe McKeehen. Despite their presence, none made a significant run, allowing new names to shine in the tournament.
On Sunday, 91 players entered Day 2 with their sights set on the iconic PS trophy and a six-figure payday. Collin Calloway burst the final table bubble, exiting in 10th place for $8,065, leaving nine players to contend for the final table.
Charles Furey's Winning Run
The final table promised excitement. Among the contenders was Melanie Hennigan, the sole female player, who previously had minimal results but delivered a career-best performance in Maryland. She joined primarily local players, including seasoned Frankie Zeta (2024 Mid-Atlantic Poker Open winner), along with local regulars Andy Bartalone and Samuel Press. Charles Furey entered the final table as the chipleader, setting the pace.
The finale began intensely – the two shortest stacks, Andy Bartalone and Samuel Press, exited early, followed by a stretch with no eliminations. Melanie Hennigan drew attention by knocking out Paul Lilly in 4th place and shortly after, dispatching Arthur Zabronsky.
Heading into the heads-up, Hennigan was buoyed by her back-to-back eliminations, while Charles Furey faced the daunting task of disrupting her momentum. Initially, Melanie took control, stripping away Furey's smaller pots and securing a slight lead. However, a key hand arose – Furey found A c Q c and confidently moved all-in. Melanie called with K d 9 d. The board favored the better hand, doubling Furey's stack and leaving Hennigan with just a single big blind. Although she managed one double-up, she could not rally further, cementing Furey's victory.
Melanie Hennigan claimed an outstanding second place with a $70,014 prize, far surpassing her previous tournament earnings. Charles Furey secured $111,976 for his victory, becoming the first-ever PokerStars Open champion on American soil. For the 31-year-old American, this marks a career-defining achievement and his first major live tournament title.
Final Table Results:
| Position | Player | Country | Prize |
| 1. | Charles Furey | USA | 111,976$ |
| 2. | Melanie Hennigan | USA | 70,014$ |
| 3. | Arthur Zabronsky | USA | 50,032$ |
| 4. | Paul Lilly | USA | 38,505$ |
| 5. | Frankie Zeta | USA | 29,638$ |
| 6. | Gregory Bowling | USA | 22,817$ |
| 7. | Samuel Press | USA | 17,564$ |
| 8. | Andy Bartalone | USA | 13,526$ |
Sources – PokerNews, PSlive, Flickr
