MSPT Venetian $1,600 Main Event ($2M GTD) Day 1b | MSPT Venetian $1,600 Main Event ($2M GTD)

06-11-2021 23:33 UTC-7

Eric "basebaldy" Baldwin Bags Day 1b Chip Lead of MSPT $1,600 Main Event

Dan O'Hair

Level 15 : 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante

Day 1b of the Mid-Stakes Poker Tour $1,600 Venetian Main Event ($2 Million GTD) has concluded with Eric "basebaldy" Baldwin bagging today’s chip lead with 645,500 in chips.

The two-time WSOP-bracelet winner is certainly no stranger to poker success and currently leads Day 1a chip leader Osmin "Oddie" Dardon (618,000).

Baldwin got off to a hot start and never looked back, increasing his stack steadily throughout the day, including taking down a four-bet pot with pocket nines. Trailing Baldwin, but still with a monster stack is Michael Foley with 538,000 in chips.

Day 1b more than doubled the amount of entries from Day 1a with 665 by the end of late registration. From those entries, 98 players remained by the day’s end.

Among those who managed to bag into Day 2 include Stephen Song (127,000), Joseph Cheong (164,500), Justin Saliba (301,500), and Lee Markholt (64,000)

Some notables who tried and fell short were Benjamin Moon, Kathy Liebert, Matt Affleck, Maria Konnikova, Tuan Le, and Chris Moorman and Joe Cada — both of whom were eliminated on the last level of the day.

All players who failed to bag today will have one last chance tomorrow during Day 1c — wherein players will be able to enter and re-enter as many times as they'd like until the end of dinner break after level nine.

Be sure to stick with PokerNews for another full day of poker action as the MSPT Venetian $1,600 Main Event ($2M GTD) continues for the third and final Day 1 tomorrow beginning at 11:10 a.m. local time.

06-11-2021 21:38 UTC-7

Baldwin Best With Nines

Dan O'Hair

Level 13 : 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante

A player opened to 6,000 from the hijack and was three-bet to 15,000 by another player on the button. Action folded to Eric Baldwin in the big blind, who four-bet to 45,000. The initial raiser folded and the button called.

The flop came and Baldwin continued for 25,000, which his opponent called.

Both players then checked down on the turn and river. Baldwin immediately turned over for tens and nines and his opponent rapped the table and mucked.

Player	Chips	Progress
Eric Baldwin	325,000	45,000

06-11-2021 20:37 UTC-7

Aces No Good For Affleck

Dan O'Hair

Level 12 : 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Matt Affleck opened to 4,500 from the lojack and action folded to the player in the small blind, who three-bet to 12,000. It was then folded back to Affleck, who smooth called.

Affleck's opponent continued for 13,500 on the flop and Affleck called.

The small blind then shoved for a bit less than 100k when the came in on the turn. Affleck called instantly for less to put himself at risk.

Affleck:
Small blind:

The small blind had flopped two-pair and had Affleck drawing slim. The river sealed Affleck's fate and he was sent to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Matt Affleck	Busted

06-11-2021 17:24 UTC-7

Song Hits Runner-Runner Boat; Doubles

Dan O'Hair

Level 9 : 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

The player in the lojack opened to 2,600 and was called by Stephen Song on the button.

The flop came and Song called a 3,500 from his opponent.

The came on the turn and Song called another bet from his opponent — this time for 8,400.

The completed the board and Song's opponent slowed down and checked, prompting an all in from Song for 20,500. Song's opponent went deep into the tank, but eventually put in calling chips.

Song revealed for a runner-runner full house and his opponent showed for a flopped (but then counterfeited) two pair and mucked.

Player	Chips	Progress
Stephen Song	70,000	44,000

06-11-2021 15:50 UTC-7

Marquez Makes The Right Call

Dan O'Hair

Level 7 : 300/600, 600 ante

On a completed board of , Anthony Marquez was facing a bet from a player in the hijack large enough to put Marquez all in for his last 11,500. Marquez tanked, but eventually pushed his stack into the middle.

His opponent shook his head and reluctantly showed . Marquez tabled and doubled up with his small pair.

Player	Chips	Progress
Anthony Marquez	70,000	-2,000

06-11-2021 14:38 UTC-7

Affleck Doubles With Aces

Dan O'Hair

Level 5 : 200/400, 400 ante

Matt Affleck opened to 1,000 from middle position and was called by a player in the cutoff. Action folded to another player in the small blind, who squeezed to 12,000. It was folded back to Affleck, who announced he was all in for 25,200 total. The initial caller folded and the squeezer called to put Affleck at risk.

Small blind:
Affleck:

Affleck was in one of the best possible situations to double, and did just that on after the runout.

Player	Chips	Progress
Matt Affleck	51,000	21,000

06-11-2021 13:40 UTC-7

Pupillo Gets Straightened Out

Dan O'Hair

Level 4 : 200/300, 300 ante

Three players from middle position, the lojack, and cutoff all limped and Nick Pupillo raised to 1,800 from the small blind. The big blind and all the limpers called for a five-way raised pot.

Everyone checked on the flop, but Pupillo led out for 5,400 on the turn. Only the initial preflop limper called.

The completed the board and Pupillo shoved for 9,600. His opponent quickly called and Pupillo motioned like his opponent had won. Pupillo's opponent revealed for a straight and Pupillo mucked.

Pulpillo re-entered shortly after busting.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nick Pupillo	30,000	9,000

06-11-2021 12:20 UTC-7

Moon Wins Race to Accumulate Early

Dan O'Hair

Level 2 : 100/200, 0 ante

A player first-to-act opened and action folded to Benjamin Moon, who three-bet to 1,600. Action then folded to the big blind, who cold called. The original raiser then four-bet to 6,200 and Moon shoved enough to put both his opponents all in. The cold-caller folded and the initial raiser called off.

Utg:
Moon:

It was a classic Hold'em race, but the runout came clean for Moon, who eliminated his opponent and has more than doubled his starting stack since the day began.

Player	Chips	Progress
Benjamin Moon	75,000	45,000

06-11-2021 10:09 UTC-7

Welcome to Day 1b of the MPST Venetian $1,600 Buy-in $2 Million GTD Main Event

Dan O'Hair

Yesterday, Day 1b of the Mid-Stakes Poker Tour $1,600 ($2M GTD) Main Event saw 314 entrants battle it out on the green felt until there were just 44 remaining. When all was said and done, Osmin “Oddie” Dardong emerged as the chip leader after amassing 618,000 in chips.

Today, a fresh batch of players will take their seats in pursuit of an MSPT title and the lion’s share of a guaranteed $2 million prize pool.

Play is set to begin at 11:10 a.m. local time. Players will begin with 30,000 in chips and levels will be 40-minutes long. Blinds will begin at 100/100 and a big-blind ante will be introduced at the start of level four (200/300/300). Players will get 15-minute breaks at the end of every three levels and an hour-long dinner break at the end of level nine.

Late registration is available until the end of dinner break and players will have the option re-enter an unlimited amount of times before then. Fifteen levels are scheduled to be played, which means action will conclude at around 11 p.m. The surviving players will bag and tag their chips and advance to Sunday's Day 2. Play will be nine-handed as tables no longer have dividers on them.

Stick with PokerNews as we continue to bring you Day 1 action of the MSPT Venetian $1,600 Main Event!