$1,110 Main Event
Day 1a Completed
2022 MSPT Venetian Fall
$1,110 Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1a
2022 MSPT Venetian Fall
Buy-in
$1,100
Prize Pool
$500,000
Entries
470
Level
29
Blinds
60,000 / 120,000
Ante
20,000
Entries
130
Players Left
15
Halpern Leads the Final 15 Survivors of Day 1a at the MSPT Venetian $1,100 Main Event
Level 14
: Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
It was an action-packed Day 1a inside The Venetian poker room for the beginning of the MSPT $1,100 Main Event taking place over the Labor Day weekend in Las Vegas. A total of 130 entries were recorded for the first of two starting flights and when the dust settled, only 15 players advanced to Day 2.
There were multiple chip-lead changes taking place over the final few hands of the night but it was Rambo Halpern who came out on top by eliminating WSOP Main Event final tablist Asher Conniff to conclude play for Day 1a. Halpern, who hails from Portland, Oregon, rose to the top of the counts with a healthy stack of 453,000 chips. It's been a successful 2022 for Halpern who notched his largest career score of $200,000 earlier this year.
Joining Halpern near the top of the leaderboard is four-time MSPT champion Dan Bekavac who had a glimpse of the chip lead for moments before Halpern took it away. Bekavac fired off three bullets today but it all seemed worth it after finishing with 404,000 chips. Carlton Peake rounds out the top three with 357,000 chips after spending the better portion of the 12-hour day as the runaway leader.
Some other notables advancing to Day 2 include Jeff Platt (321,000), Christina Gollins (282,000), Jeff Fielder (197,000), and Joshua Reichard (151,000). They will be joined by those who make it through the final starting flight that kicks off tomorrow morning at 11:10 a.m. local time.
With just 130 entries being recorded for the opening day, the staff is expecting a large turnout for Day 1b tomorrow. The whopping $500,000 guaranteed prizepool looms large as another roughly 400 runners will be required to reach that guarantee. Late registration will remain open until the start of level 10 which is approximately 5:55 p.m local time.
The PokerNews live reporting team will be back on the tournament floor to bring you all of the live updates as the action unfolds.
End of Day Chip Counts (full)
Level 14
: Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
453,000 | 78,000 |
|
404,000 | 123,000 |
|
357,000 | 7,000 |
|
321,000 | 176,000 |
|
282,000 | 107,000 |
|
261,000 | 261,000 |
|
203,000 | -59,000 |
|
197,000 | 44,000 |
|
156,000 | |
|
151,000 | -4,000 |
|
142,000 | -44,000 |
|
102,000 | 34,500 |
|
95,000 | -40,000 |
|
80,000 | |
|
49,000 |
Conniff Eliminated to End Day 1a
Level 14
: Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Rambo Halpern opened to 13,000 from under the gun and Asher Conniff moved all in for 50,000 from the big blind. Halpern thought for a brief moment before making the call.
Asher Conniff: 
Rambo Halpern: 
The flop came 
which gave Halpern a straight draw to go with his two live cards. He managed to spike one of those live cards on the 
turn. However, Conniff picked up a wealth of outs for himself. It was the 
on the river that was a complete brick and Conniff was eliminated.
The final 15 players will now bag up their chips as Day 1a has drawn to a close.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
375,000 | 40,000 |
|
Busted |
Reichard Stays Alive on the Bubble
Level 14
: Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Joshua Reichard opened to 10,000 in early position and Carlton Peake three-bet to 30,000 in the hijack. The action folded back to Reichard who shrugged as he stuck in the last of his 74,000 chips. Peake quickly called and the cards were tabled once the action was completed at the other table.
Joshua Reichard: 
Carlton Peake: 
The flop fell 
which gave Peake some additional outs with a straight draw. The 
on the turn and the 
on the river bricked out as Reichard held on for a double up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
350,000 | -30,000 |
|
|
155,000 | 52,000 |
Hand-for-Hand
Level 14
: Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
As the players are now on the money bubble, the two remaining tables will now begin the hand-for-hand process. After the next elimination, the remaining 15 players will bag their chips and return on Monday for Day 2.
McCullough Runs Into a Premium
Level 14
: Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Patrick McCullough was the short stack in the room and jammed all in for 56,000 from the hijack. Jeff Fielder quickly re-shoved all in from the small blind and the cards were on their backs.
Patrick McCullough:
Jeff Fielder: 
Fielder was looking to avoid the dreaded ace and he did so on the flop of 
. The 
on the turn left McCullough drawing to a handful of outs and the on the river was not one of them.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
153,000 | 13,000 |
|
Busted |
Champlin Traps Bekavac
Level 14
: Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
Spencer Champlin raised to 8,000 in early position and was called by Dan Bekavac in the hijack along with the big blind. The flop came 
and the action checked to Bekavac who tossed in a bet of 18,000. Only Champlin called as they headed to the 
on the turn.
Champlin checked again and Bekavac splashed in a bet of 30,000. Champlin still called and the 
completed the board. Champlin checked for the third time and Bekavac reached back for a bet of 80,000. Champlin called off his last 69,000 chips and whipped over for an ace-high flush. Bekavac was left playing the board with as he passed over the chips.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
281,000 | -4,000 |
|
|
262,000 |
Peake Sends Another One Packing
Level 14
: Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante
There was an all in for 56,000 from early position and Carlton Peake slid out some chips to call on the button. The blinds folded and the remaining two hands were tabled.
Opponent: 
Carlton Peake: 
The flop came 
giving both players a pair, but Peake had the best of it. The 
on the turn and the on the rive changed nothing and Peake eliminated his opponent.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
380,000 | -3,000 |
Level: 14
Blinds: 2,000/4,000
Ante: 4,000