MSPT Venetian $1,100 Main Event ($1.5M GTD)
Day 1a Completed
MSPT Venetian $1,100 Main Event ($1.5M GTD)
MSPT Venetian $1,100 Main Event ($1.5M GTD)
Day: 1a
Sean Banahan Leads MSPT Venetian $1,100 Main Event After Day 1a
Level 15
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Day 1a of the Mid-Stakes Poker Tour (MSPT) has reached its conclusion with Sean Banahan emerging on top after amassing an impressive 587,000 before bagging and tagging. Behind him, but still among the leaders going into Day 2 are Alfonso Timoteo (425,000) and Malik Zaman (395,000).
Day 1a saw a total of 251 entries by the time late-registration ended. Of those, just 34 remain. Notables who remain in contention include Nadya Magnus (122,000), Jared Jaffee (166,000), Jordan Cristos (187,500), and Faraz Jaka (34,500), who entered late and managed to nurse a short stack throughout the day.
Notables who entered and fell short include WSOP Main-Event winner Joe McKeehen, Aaron Massey, Benjamin Moon, and Jerod Smith.
All players who failed to bag today will have plenty of chances going forward, as the MSPT $1,100 Main Event ($1.5M GTD) will hold three more day 1's on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday consecutively.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for another full day of action as the MSPT $1,100 Main Event ($1.5M GTD) continues with Day 1b, which is set to begin tomorrow at 11:10 a.m. local time.
End-of-Day 1a Chip Counts (full)
Level 15
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
587,000 | 27,000 |
|
425,000 | 10,000 |
|
395,000 | -5,000 |
|
374,500 | 124,500 |
|
266,000 | 266,000 |
|
240,000 | -30,000 |
|
238,500 | 238,500 |
|
|
209,000 | 209,000 |
|
205,000 | 205,000 |
|
205,000 | 205,000 |
|
204,000 | 204,000 |
|
200,000 | 200,000 |
|
187,500 | 47,500 |
|
185,500 | 185,500 |
|
185,000 | 185,000 |
|
|
182,500 | 182,500 |
|
181,500 | 181,500 |
|
180,000 | 180,000 |
|
176,500 | 176,500 |
|
166,000 | 131,000 |
|
143,500 | 143,500 |
|
123,000 | 123,000 |
|
122,000 | 54,000 |
|
107,000 | -53,000 |
|
105,000 | 105,000 |
Six More Hands
Level 15
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
The tournament director just announced play will continue for six more hands before play wraps up for the day.
Timoteo and Helstern Battle
Level 15
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Alfonso Timoteo opened to 8,000 from the cutoff and was three-bet to 29,000 by Jorden Helstern on the button. Action folded back around to Timoteo, who cut out a four-bet to 83,000 and slid it into the middle.
Helstern went into the tank, but eventually let his hand go as play winds down for the day.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
415,000 | -15,000 |
|
|
250,000 | -10,000 |
Big Stacks of the Final Level
Level 15
: 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Play will resume for one more level before bagging and tagging for the night.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
560,000 | 45,000 |
|
|
430,000 | 10,000 |
|
|
400,000 | 400,000 |
|
|
270,000 | 30,000 |
|
|
260,000 | -55,000 |
Level: 15
Blinds: 2,000/4,000
Ante: 4,000
Pupillo Muscles a Pot
Level 14
: 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante
Three ways on a 
flop, Nick Pupillo bet 4,500 from the small blind. Alfonso Timoteo folded from the big blind and Kevin Berthelsen called from the cutoff.
The 
paired the board and Pupillo forcefully bet out 15,000, which got a quick fold from Berthelsen.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
420,000 | 100,000 |
|
|
240,000 | 92,000 |
|
|
160,000 | -15,000 |
Level: 14
Blinds: 1,500/3,000
Ante: 3,000
Cristos Gets Flushed
Level 13
: 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante
Three players were in for 9,500 a piece preflop, including Jordan Cristos in the big blind.
The flop came 
and Cristos led out for 22,000. Only one of his opponents called in middle position.
Cristos led out again for 25,000 on the 
turn. His opponent again called.
The 
completed the board and Cristos put out a paltry 15,000 bet. His opponent quickly called and showed 
for a rivered flush. Cristos flashed what appeared to be an 
before mucking.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
140,000 | -30,000 |