With late registration now closed, Day 1b of MSPT Venetian $1,100 Main Event ($1.5M GTD) saw 530 entries, which is more than double the 251 from Day 1a. The field still has 224 remaining players with five levels to go before bagging and tagging for the day.
Since its inception in 2009, the MSPT has done a great job keeping track of player stats. As a result, 12 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.
Several players in today's field are looking to climb on the leaderboard for "Most MSPT Main Event Final Tables."
Here's a look at the top eight MSPT Main Event final tables in tour history:
| Place | Player | Hometown | Main Event Final Tables |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richard Alsup | New Hope, Minnesota | 12 |
| 2 | Kou Vang | Maplewood, Minnesota | 10 |
| 3 | Blake Bohn | Eden Prairie, Minnesota | 9 |
| 4 | Rob WazWaz | Minneapolis, Minnesota | 9 |
| 5 | Jason Bender | Keota, Iowa | 9 |
| 6 | Aaron Johnson | Red Wing, Minnesota | 9 |
| 7 | Jeremy Dresch | Fridley, Minnesota | 8 |
| 8 | Everett Carlton | St. Paul, Minnesota | 8 |
| 9 | Joe Matheson | Monticello, Minnesota | 7 |
| 10 | Dan "DQ" Hendrickson | Faribault, Minnesota | 7 |
Each table is currently racing off everyone's black chips.
Play will resume shortly.
Level: 11
Blinds: 1,000/1,500
Ante: 1,500
Nicholas Palma opened to 4,000 from the cutoff and was called by a player in the small blind and JJ Liu in the big blind.
Action checked to Liu, who led out for 5,500 on the 
flop. Palma got out of the way, but the player in the small blind then check-raised to approximately 15,000. Undeterred, Liu quickly shoved for a bit more than 60,000 and her opponent rapped the table before folding.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
90,000
40,000
|
40,000 |
|
||
|
38,000
-19,000
|
-19,000 |
Reg Powell and Rodger Johnson were in a hand in progress with a board of 
with a bit over 20,000 already in the middle.
Both players checked the turn and again on the 
river. Powell reluctantly tabled 
for a rivered pair of eights and Johnson shook his head and flashed an 
of his own before mucking.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
90,000
13,000
|
13,000 |
|
38,000
-59,000
|
-59,000 |
On a flop of 
, Maria Konnikova check-called a 2,500 bet from Benjamin Moon.
Konnikova checked again on the 
turn, prompting a 10,000 bet from Moon. Konnikova quickly folded and Moon scooped the pot.
Moon, who won a WSOP bracelet in 2018, is looking to make a deep run in this event. He is currently sitting on 186,000 in chips.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
186,000
16,000
|
16,000 |
|
||
|
32,000
1,000
|
1,000 |
|
||
On a flop of 
, Mike Dentale was heads up from the cutoff against a player in the small blind, who bet 6,500. Dentale called.
The turn brought the 
and the player in the small blind downbet for 5,000. Dentale opted to flat.
The 
completed the board and Dentale's opponent fired 15,000. Dentale called after a bit of thought and the player in the small blind tabled 
for nines and eights. Dentale revealed 
for a superior two pair and scooped the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
120,000
5,000
|
5,000 |
Level: 12
Blinds: 1,000/2,000
Ante: 2,000
Ryan Laplante opened to 4,000 from the lojack and action folded to the player in the big blind, who shoved for a bit over 30,000. Laplante asked for a count and eventually called.
Laplante: 
Big blind: 
It was a fair fight going into the runout, which came 
and offered no help to Laplante, who was left with just 6,000 behind.
On the very next hand, Laplante shoved and was called by the same player that doubled through him.
Laplante held 
against his opponent's 
and failed to improve.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
Busted | |
|
|
||