Francis Anderson Leads 43 Players From Day 1b of the MSPT Venetian Main Event
Day 1b of the $1,100 Mid-States Poker Tour(MSPT) Main Event at Venetian Las Vegas has come to an end and Francis Anderson leads 43 surviving players after more than 16 levels of play.
The final stop of the 2022 MSPT season drew 643 total entries and the 43 returning players from Day 1b will join the 28 runners that bagged on Day 1a for Friday’s Day 2 finale at 11 a.m. local time. All 71 returning players are guaranteed a min-cash of $2,048, while the winner is slated to take home the top payout of $113,170 from a total prize pool of $620,495.
Anderson bagged 575,000 chips and he will return for Day 2 in second on the overall leaderboard behind Ezequiel Waigel and his Day 1a total of 730,000. Other big stacks from Day 1b include Jose Vallejo with 437,000 and Matt Letzring with 408,000.
MSPT Venetian Main Event Day 1b Top 10 Chip Counts
| Rank | Name | Chip Count | Day 2 Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Francis Anderson | 575,000 | 96 |
| 2 | Varun Uppal | 476,000 | 79 |
| 3 | Jose Vallejo | 437,000 | 73 |
| 4 | Matt Letzring | 408,000 | 68 |
| 5 | Richard Alati | 378,000 | 63 |
| 6 | David Yonnotti | 373,000 | 62 |
| 7 | Kenny Huynh | 346,000 | 58 |
| 8 | Tuan Mai | 338,000 | 56 |
| 9 | Desmond Haynes | 332,000 | 55 |
| 10 | Kyna England | 327,000 | 55 |
Day 1b Action
Josh Reichard was one of the big stories of the day with several big pots, as well as the conclusion of his victory in the MSPT Player of the Year race. Reichard built one of the bigger stacks in the middle levels of the day, and he was a factor in several big pots late in the evening. He jumped above the 400K mark in Level 13 with a set of fours, but he was slowed in the Level 16 when he made a big bet with a missed straight draw and Desmond Haynes called his bluff with two pair. Reichard finished with 225,000 and he will return for another chance to add to his already stellar 2022 stats.
Anderson built the top stack after he made some noise on Day 1a but ultimately came up short. He crossed 400,000 when he eliminated an opponent’s pocket fives with his own pocket sevens, and he held strong to maintain the top count during the aggressive play of the later levels. His previous best finish is a run to seventh place in the MSPT Venetian Main Event of September 2021.
Other players returning for Day 2 include Brendan Shiller, Adam Brownstone, Kenny Huynh, Joao Simao, Shannon Shorr, Will Givens, Michael Del Vecchio, and 2021 MSPT Player of the Year Kyna England.
Players will return at 11 a.m. local time for the Day 2 finale and action will resume at the halfway point of Level 16 with blinds at 3,000/6,000/6,000. Play will continue with 40-minute levels until a winner is declared. A shot clock will also be in play for the final eight tables of the tournament.
Be sure to keep it with the PokerNews team for live updates from the floor of Friday’s Day 2 of the MSPT Main Event at Venetian Las Vegas.
on the board when Josh Reichard bet 14,000 from the small blind before Desmond Haynes called from the big blind. Robert Borick came along from the cutoff and Adam Brownstone folded from his button position. 
and Reichard fired 130,000, which sent Haynes deep into the tank. After several moments of thought, Haynes called for his last 126,000 and Borick ducked out of the way. Reichard turned over 
for the missed straight draw and Haynes showed 
to take the big pot with jacks and fives.
and the jacks held to bring the curtain down on Barnum's stellar 2022 MSPT season.
and Levin flopped a set of nines to win the big pot and knock out Massey.
and action checked to the button for a bet of 30,000. Reichard was the only caller to see the turn of 
. 
. Reichard bet 65,000 and his opponent went deep into the tank before he counted out the chips and called. Reichard turned over 
for a set of fours and his opponent tossed the losing hand in the muck.
and the pocket sevens held to give Anderson the elimination and move him above the 400,000 mark.
and Liebert flopped a set of tens to secure the elimination.
