Charles Furey Wins PokerStars Open Maryland Main Event

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Charles Furey Wins PokerStars Open Maryland Main Event

In a dramatic turn of events, Charles Furey overcame adversity to capture the title at the PokerStars Open Maryland Main Event. Rather than undergoing his scheduled neck surgery, Furey shifted his focus to the felt and emerged victorious, earning $111,976 and his first six-figure live cash. 

Charles Furey: His Final Table Run

Furey entered the final table of the $1,100 buy-in event with a strong stack and clear intention. He faced an experienced field of eight other finalists, including Melanie Hennigan, Arthur Zabronsky, Paul Lilly, Frankie Zeta and others. 

Early on, Zabronsky was eliminated in 3rd place when he shoved A♥7♦ only to be called by Hennigan’s J♥J♣. The flop gave Hennigan a set and Zabronsky’s tournament ended immediately. 

Next, Paul Lilly exited in 4th after his 8♣3♣ all-in failed to outdraw Hennigan’s K♣7♦ on a 5♣3♦7♣ flop. Furey steadily chipped up through middling pots until heads-up play. 

At that point Hennigan held more than a 2-to-1 chip lead. But Furey seized the moment when Hennigan, on the button, limped and then jammed with K♦9♦ over Furey’s raise.

Furey called with A♣Q♣, the board ran out clean, and Hennigan was eliminated in 2nd place with $70,014. Furey’s patience paid off.

In the final hand, Furey’s J♣9♦ held up to clinch the title, ending a field of 599 entries and a prize pool of $581,030. 

PSO Maryland $1,100 Main Event Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize (USD)
1 Charles Furey United States $111,976
2 Melanie Hennigan United States $70,014
3 Arthur Zabronsky United States $50,032
4 Paul Lilly United States $38,505
5 Frankie Zeta United States $29,638
6 Torsten Boker United States $22,817
7 Samuel Press United States $17,564
8 Andy Bartalone United States $13,526
9 Daniel Lim United States $10,418
A Successful PSO Event in Maryland

The PokerStars Open Maryland festival marked the return of the live series in North America under the PokerStars banner. With five starting flights, the Main Event attracted 599 entries, far exceeding the $300,000 guarantee. 

Furey had originally scheduled neck surgery for the very same weekend of the event. Instead of going under the knife, he chose to compete, and the decision proved inspired. 

He joked afterward that the six-figure prize “makes the neck thing easier.” His victory speaks not only to his technical skill, but also to his mental fortitude. 

For now, Furey steps away with the trophy, the money, and a story of defying expectations. He turned a scheduled medical absence into a headline-grabbing victory, reinforcing that in poker, timing and guts often matter as much as cards.

If Furey’s run has inspired you to take your own shot, make sure to explore our curated list of the best US online poker sites and find where the action never stops.