Rules question

[WinBig]

Home tourney paying the top five and there are six players left. Two players start the hand with 12,500 in chips. One posts the big blind of 1,000 and the other is in MP. MP goes all-in and is called by the chipleader in the SB and the BB as well (the other 12,500 stack). The SB chipleader eliminates both players and since they both had the same amount of chips before the blinds were posted I had them split 5th place money.

Was this correct? Does the player that has to post the blind technically start the hand with a smaller stack - 11,500 vs 12,500? Are the posted blinds counted as part of your stack or since they are considered part of the pot would the BB have a smaller stack to start the hand? This generated some discussion and to be honest I don't know what the correct answer is!

[Lloyd]

Seems like a fair ruling. Chip stacks are considered before the hand starts which would mean before any blinds are posted.