2021 Mid-States Poker Tour Venetian
Day 1a Completed
2021 Mid-States Poker Tour Venetian
2021 Mid-States Poker Tour Venetian
Day: 1a
Minnesota’s Bill Kachel Bags Big Stack on Day 1a of the MSPT Venetian
Level 15
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
The 12th season of the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) got off to a good start on the first day of the New Year as 463 runners competed in Day 1a of the $1,100 buy-in MSPT Venetian Main Event. The first of two starting flights already crushed the $250K guarantee with Saturday’s Day 1b still to come.
After 15 levels of play, 59 players found a bag with Minnesota’s Bill Kachel and his stack of 658,000 leading the way. According to The Hendon Mob, Kachel has $43,748 in lifetime earnings including a career-best $22,156 for winning the 2019 Fall Poker Classic Event #11: $250 NLH at Canterbury Park. As for the MSPT, he has just a single Main Event cash for $2,873.
Others to bag big stacks were Wisconsin poker couple Missy Bartleme (496,500) and Dan Dombrowski (112,500), Nizom Abdukadyrov (448,000), MSPT Venetian champ Landon Tice (286,000), and Lokesh Garg (235,500).
Bartelme got a good chunk of her chips in the penultimate level of the night when she eliminated MSPT Venetian $1,600 Main Event champ Korey Payne.
Other notables to survive the night were Christopher Carey (293,000), Phil Hernz (284,000), Rubin Chappell (219,000), and Mitch Garshofsky (215,500).
Of course, not everyone was fortunate enough to bag the opening flight of the 170th Main Event in MSPT history. Among those to fall were Nick Pupillo, Anthony Zinno, Dan Lowery, Hamid Izadi, Matt Stout, Blake Whittington, Tim Reilly, Sean Yu, Aaron Massey, Louise Francouer, and Denise Pratt.
Day 1b will begin at 11:10 a.m. PST on Saturday. Players will start with 25,000 in chips and levels will be 40 minutes with late registration open until 6:25 p.m. PST. The surviving players from both flights will then return at 11 a.m. PST on Sunday, January 3 to play down to a winner.
It’s expected to be a big turnout, and registration for Day 1b is open now. In the instance of alternates, be sure to follow both @VenetianPoker and @msptpoker on Twitter for updates.
Remember, during the latest Venetian DeepStack Extravaganza, players must wear a mask and sanitize their hands before sitting down. Action is 8-handed at tables featuring Plexiglass dividers, which are wiped down each time a new player comes in. Additionally, dealers are required to sanitize their hands each time they enter and exit a table, and fresh decks of cards are circulated every two hours.
Click here for a look at the current Venetian DeepStack Extravaganza schedule.
End of Day 1a Counts (full)
Level 15
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
658,000 | 168,000 |
|
496,500 | -3,500 |
|
448,000 | 248,000 |
|
368,500 | 193,500 |
|
|
352,000 | 238,000 |
|
323,000 | 17,000 |
|
294,000 | -26,000 |
|
293,000 | 293,000 |
|
291,500 | 191,500 |
|
286,000 | 196,000 |
|
285,500 | |
|
|
284,000 | 64,000 |
|
281,000 | |
|
|
272,500 | |
|
|
264,000 | |
|
|
262,500 | |
|
237,500 | |
|
235,500 | 90,500 |
|
|
234,000 | |
|
233,000 | 23,000 |
|
|
225,000 | 85,000 |
|
|
219,500 | |
|
219,000 | -53,000 |
|
215,500 | 140,500 |
|
205,500 |
Ditrapani Collects Some Bluff Barrels
Level 15
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
With about 50,000 in the middle, Hanson Henry bet 14,000 from middle position into two opponents on 
. The first one folded but Nic Ditrapani in the hijack was stickier. On the 
river, Henry bet 35,000 and Ditrapani called fairly quickly.
Henry shook his head and tossed 
in, and Ditrapani showed 
.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
320,000 | 170,000 |
|
150,000 | -110,000 |
Last Hands Being Dealt
Level 15
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
The last six hands are now being dealt, meaning bagging time is within sight for Day 1a of the MSPT event here at Venetian.
Hernz Raises the River
Level 15
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
From the under-the-gun position Phil Hernz raised to 9,000 and the big-blind player defended.
After both players checked the 
flop, the big-blind player bet 6,000 on the 
turn and was called by Hernz. An 8,000 bet on the river was then raised to 19,500 by Hernz, which got a fold from the big-blind player.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
220,000 | -60,000 |
McBride Doubles Through Kachel
Level 15
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Bill Kachel had 12,500 in front of him in the cutoff, having been called by the next player, only for big blind Shaun McBride to shove all in for 144,000. Kachel announced a call and the third player folded.
Kachel: 
McBride: 
The 
flop brought a couple of extra outs for Kachel, but the 
and 
didn't bring his equity home.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
490,000 | -45,000 |
|
|
306,000 |
Salazar Tries to Eliminate Crouch
Level 15
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Roy Crouch moved all in for his last 33,000 from the hijack and action folded to Eric Salazar, who opted to call from the big blind.
Roy Crouch: 
Eric Salazar: 
Crouch was ahead but Salazar was drawing to two live cards. Fortunately for Crouch, the flop came down 
to pair his ace and extend his lead.
The turn left Salazar drawing dead and Crouch was pushed the pot after the meaningless was run out on the river.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
70,000 | |
|
70,000 | -45,000 |
Shastry Runs Out a Dub
Level 15
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
A player on the button opened for 9,000 and Augie Shastry three-bet all in from the big blind. It looked to be 64,500 and his opponent tanked awhile then slid in a call.
Augie Shastry: 
Button:
The 
didn't help the dominated Shastry but the surely did as he picked up a flush draw. The 
filled it on the river.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
135,000 | 135,000 |
Late-Night Chappell Show
Level 15
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
After a series of raises Rubin Chappell moved all in and was quickly called.
Rubin Chappell:
Opponent:
The 
runout secured the double-up for Chappell and left his opponent with just 6,000 behind. That player was then knocked out the very next hand.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
272,000 | 92,000 |