MSPT Venetian $1,100 Main Event

MSPT $1,100 Venetian
Day: 2
Event Info

MSPT Venetian $1,100 Main Event

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
ak
Prize
$135,268
Event Info
Buy-in
$1,100
Entries
671
Level Info
Level
30
Blinds
100,000 / 150,000
Ante
30,000
Players Info - Day 2
Entries
75
Players Left
1

MSPT $1,100 Venetian

Day 2 Completed

Cole Keenan Wins the MSPT Venetian $1,100 Main Event ($123,722)

Level 30 : 100,000/150,000, 30,000 ante
Cole Keenan
Cole Keenan

After three exciting days of poker at the Venetian Poker Room, Cole Keenan of Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania outlasted 671 total entrants and 75 Day 2 players to win the MSPT Venetian $1,100 Main Event for the Mid-States Poker Tour Venetian trophy and $123,722. Keenan claims part of a $647,515 prize pool that paid 72 players and exceeded the $500,000 guarantee.

Keenan was still processing the win after taking his winner’s photo. “This is insane. Wow,” he said while looking at the beautiful MSPT Venetian trophy. “I got here two minutes before late registration and I had to go get a Grazie card so I almost didn’t make it in.”

This was the second tournament that Keenan has played, the first being last week when he arrived in Las Vegas. Keenan considers himself a cash player and he doesn’t have the opportunity to play tournaments back in Pennsylvania.

MSPT Venetian $1,100 Main Event Final Table Results

PlacePlayerHometownPayout
1Cole KeenanGilbertsville, PA$123,722
2Michael WilliamsMound, MN$101,227
3Thu NguyenFountain Valley, CA$62,938
4Tsz ShingLas Vegas, NV$45,974
5Dave OuelletteDickinson, ND$34,509
6Rohan LongWindsor, CT$25,447
7Francis AndersonLas Vegas, NV$19,296
8Michael BerkChesterton, IN$14,699
9Saad GhanemBurnsville, MN$11,332

Keenan came into the final table as the chip leader and was a factor early, eliminating Michael Berk in eighth place with jacks and Rohan Long in sixth with three fives. The two big pots helped Keenan take advantage of several quick eliminations once action kicked off at the final table. Saad Ghanem went out on the first hand of final table action, followed closely by Berk in eighth and Francis Anderson in seventh, all within about 20 minutes of one another.

Dave Ouellette and his dog Jack were knocked out in fifth place by eventual runner-up Michael Williams. Ouellette was the Day 1a chip leader and carried that to a strong finish.

With four players left, Keenan found himself down to less than two million in chips when he picked up kings to eliminate Tsz “Phil” Shing in fourth place.

The final three players fought for over an hour until Williams eliminated Thu Nguyen in third place with three eights. Williams and Keenan then cut a deal to play for the trophy and $22,495 while splitting the rest of the pot to guarantee themselves $101,227 each.

Williams had a significant advantage in chips to begin heads-up play, but Keenan quickly turned it around and took the lead before finally eliminating Williams with ace-king to claim the championship trophy.

Other notable cashing players on Day 2 include Kathy Liebert, Ralph Massey, Ryan Laplante, and Christopher Carey.

This wraps up PokerNews live coverage of the MSPT Venetian $1,100 Main Event from the Venetian Poker Room. Be sure to join us again from September 16-26, when the MSPT visits Sycuan Casino in San Diego, California for the United States Poker Championship.

Level: 30

Blinds: 100,000/150,000

Ante: 30,000

Nguyen Doubles Through Keenan

Level 29 : 60,000/120,000, 20,000 ante

Cole Keenan raised to 300,000 from the button and Thu Nguyen made the call.

The flop was {j-Diamonds}{9-Clubs}{a-Clubs} and Nguyen shoved for 2,025,000. Keenan went into the tank briefly but made the call. Nguyen showed {k-Clubs}{3-Clubs} for a flush draw and Keenan turned over {j-Spades}{8-Spades} for the lead with a pair of jacks.

The turn was {6-Spades} and the river {10-Clubs} brought a flush for Nguyen to earn the double.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Cole Keenan us
Cole Keenan
6,300,000
-1,300,000
-1,300,000
Profile photo of Thu Nguyen us
Thu Nguyen
4,800,000
300,000
300,000

Nguyen Doubles Up

Level 29 : 60,000/120,000, 20,000 ante

Michael Williams shoved from the small blind and Thu Nguyen made the call for his last 2,200,000 chips.

Thu Nguyen: {a-Hearts}{j-Clubs}
Michael Williams: {6-Spades}{6-Clubs}

The board ran out {k-Spades}{j-Hearts}{k-Diamonds}{7-Clubs}{q-Clubs} and Nguyen found the jack he needed on the flop to double up.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Michael Williams us
Michael Williams
5,200,000
-1,900,000
-1,900,000
Profile photo of Thu Nguyen us
Thu Nguyen
4,500,000
1,900,000
1,900,000

Level: 29

Blinds: 60,000/120,000

Ante: 20,000