Level: 8
Blinds: 500/1,000
Ante: 1,000
2022 MSPT Venetian Winter
$1,100 Main Event
Day: 1a
Saechao Setting the Pace
Level 7
: Blinds 400/800, 800 ante
Kao Saechao has been spotted with one of the biggest stacks in the room as Level 7 comes to a close. Saechao has chipped up early and often and he now sits near the 200,000 mark with two more levels to go before registration closes.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
190,000
190,000
|
190,000 |
Cao Wins with Big Slick
Level 7
: Blinds 400/800, 800 ante
Michael Trivett raised to 1,800 before a player on the button shoved for around 10,000. Tai Cao jammed with more from the big blind and Trivett got out of the way to leave the action heads up with the button at risk.
Button: 
Tai Cao: 
The board ran out 
and Cao turned an ace to send his opponent to the rail.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
33,000 | |
|
28,000 |
A Few Assorted Chip Stack Updates From Around the Room
Level 7
: Blinds 400/800, 800 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
98,000
19,400
|
19,400 |
|
62,000
18,500
|
18,500 |
|
60,000
53,600
|
53,600 |
|
49,500
-16,000
|
-16,000 |
|
42,500
17,500
|
17,500 |
|
||
|
41,000
16,000
|
16,000 |
|
37,000
14,000
|
14,000 |
|
27,000 | |
|
||
|
27,000 | |
|
25,000
-31,000
|
-31,000 |
|
23,200
-5,300
|
-5,300 |
|
21,600
3,500
|
3,500 |
|
15,200 | |
|
|
||
|
14,000
-15,000
|
-15,000 |
|
||
|
9,500
-15,500
|
-15,500 |
Level: 7
Blinds: 400/800
Ante: 800
Time for Another Break
Level 6
: Blinds 300/600, 600 ante
The players have stepped out for another 15-minute break. There are currently 208 entries in the tournament and approximately 125 players remain.
Shearman Busts One Before Break
Level 6
: Blinds 300/600, 600 ante
A player in late position was all in for around 19,300 and Jared Shearman shoved with more to isolate. The rest of the table got out of the way and action was heads up.
Opponent: 
Jared Shearman: 
The board ran out 
and Shearman flopped a pair of kings to crack the pocket queens and send his opponent to the rail just as the remaining players were preparing to step out for a break.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
51,000 |
Most MSPT Main Event Cashes in History
Level 6
: Blinds 300/600, 600 ante
Since its inception in 2009, the MSPT has done a great job keeping track of player stats. As a result, 13 years on they have one of the best player databases in the industry.
On their "Leaderboards" page, the MSPT tracks such things as Career Earnings, Main Event Cashes, Main Event Final Tables, Main Event Titles, Total Cashes, Most Cashes/Final Tables in a Season, Most Final Tables All-Time, and much more. Click here for a look at all the leaderboards.
Here's a look at the top ten MSPT Main Event cashers:
| Place | Player | Hometown | Main Event Cashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aaron Johnson | Red Wing, Minnesota | 47 |
| 2 | DJ Buckley | Eden Prairie, Minnesota | 41 |
| 3 | Richard Alsup | New Hope, Minnesota | 38 |
| 4 | Kou Vang | Maplewood, Minnesota | 35 |
| 5 | Rob WazWaz | Minneapolis, Minnesota | 32 |
| 6 | Blake Bohn | Eden Prairie, Minnesota | 30 |
| 7 | Patrick Steele | Chelsea, Michigan | 29 |
| 8 | Josh Reichard | Janesville, Wisconsin | 29 |
| 9 | Phil Mader | Grand Island, Nebraska | 28 |
| 10 | Matt Kirby | Bemidji, MN | 28 |
Over 200 Entries
Level 6
: Blinds 300/600, 600 ante
The tournament now sits at 203 entries with 144 players remaining in the tournament. Registration is open through the break at the end of Level 9, and Day 1a action will continue until approximately 11% of the field remains.
Thirlwell Sends One to the Rail; Mufti Emerges With Big Stack
Level 6
: Blinds 300/600, 600 ante
Kyna England raised to 1,300 from the cutoff and the button called before Steve Thirlwell came along from the small blind and the big blind went all in for his last 6,200. England and the button got out of the way and Thirlwell called to put the big blind at risk.
Big Blind:
Steve Thirlwell: 
The flop ran out 
and Thirlwell flopped three nines. The turn and river were no help to the big blind and they were headed for the rail while Thirlwell stacked up the chips.
Elsewhere in the room, Mohammad Mufti has emerged with one of the top early stacks.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
136,000
136,000
|
136,000 |
|
|
42,000
42,000
|
42,000 |
|
9,500
-2,000
|
-2,000 |