According to a photograph we received yesterday and the leaderboard at Maryland Live! the U.S. has a new baccarat champion and half a million dollar prize to try his hand whenever he chooses.

Son L. took the grand prize out of a $1,000,000 pool, beating out Runner-Up, Hui C. who landed a hundred grand in the competition.

According to the Live! website the balance of the prizes were handed out in promotional chips with third place raking in 50 grand in free chips and the ninth place winner getting $2,000 in free play.

Maryland Live! is located in Hanover, Maryland, about 50 miles from the new MGM National Harbor across the Potomac river from the nation’s capitol. Rated players have seen an increase in promotional activity from the David Cordish-owned casino as they ramp up the competition and redefine their niche in a new landscape. MGM, the number two casino operator in the world, has used their formidable reputation to draw players from around the globe.

The poker room at Maryland Live! hosts 52 tables, MGM offers a shark in a kind of beat-the-band competition not seen since Jackie Gaughan ran the room at El Cortez in downtown Las Vegas a few years ago.