Day 1a Completed
Live Highlights
Day 1a Completed
Matthew Waldt and Jeff Heiberg tie for the Chip Lead in Day 1a of MSPT Venetian Poker Bowl IV Main Event

Day 1a of the Season 11 MSPT Poker Bowl IV came to a successful close with a total of 141 entrants and 18 remaining advancing to Saturday's Day 2. An MSPT first occurred Wednesday night when two players bagged the exact same amount to tie for the chip lead. Both Matthew Waldt of Las Vegas, Nevada and Jeff Heiberg of Buffalo, Wyoming bagged 441,000 of the approximate 3.5 million chips in play. The two chip leaders get the spotlight and two days off to prepare for the eventual Day 2 on Saturday, February 1st.
Some notable players who didn't make it through Day 1a include Scott Clements, Ashley Sleeth, Ryan Laplante, Jeremy Ausmus, and Mike Del Vecchio.
Sorel Mizzi and Joseph Cheong both bagged and are looking forward to a few days off before Day 2 begins on Saturday. There are still two more flights in the $1,100 Main Event, which features a hefty $1,000,000 guarantee.
Day 1b starts at 12:10 p.m. PT on Thursday, while 1c will be at the same time on Friday, and PokerNews will be there to cover the action as the field grows and we get closer to Day 2 and an eventual winner.
End-of-Day Chip Counts (full)
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441,000 | 359,000 | |||
|
441,000 | 416,000 | |||
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398,000 | ||||
|
365,500 | 130,500 | |||
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316,500 | -53,500 | |||
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224,500 | ||||
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150,000 | 125,000 | |||
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146,500 | -155,500 | |||
|
142,000 | ||||
|
134,000 | 62,000 | |||
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131,500 | ||||
|
114,000 | -1,000 | |||
|
110,500 | ||||
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87,000 | ||||
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82,000 | -156,000 | |||
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80,000 | 27,000 | |||
|
65,000 | 10,000 | |||
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62,500 | -4,500 |
Bag 'N Tag!

We’ve played down to our stopping point for the evening, and players are bagging and tagging for the night. Stay tuned for a recap of all the action.
The Clock Has Stopped. Eight Hands Remain in Day 1a

With 16 minutes remaining on the clock in level 15, the clock has been stopped. A card was pulled and it was announced that only eight more hands will be played this evening.
Christopher Ocksrider Knocks Out Mike Del Vecchio as Day 1a Nears It's End

Mike Del Vecchio experienced a roller coaster ride that would shock even the most seasoned poker professionals.
Del Vecchio lost a huge hand and nearly left the room. He was called back to find he had 4,000 remaining. Del Vecchio had just over one big blind.
Over the next 10 hands or so, Del Vecchio doubled up four or five times and found himself with 70,000 chips at 2,000/4,000.
Del Vecchio lost another huge hand taking him down to 11,000 before Christopher Ocksrider delivered the final blow.
Del Vecchio was all-in with against the
of Ocksrider.
The board ran out giving Ocksrider the last of Del Vecchio's chips.
|
115,000 | 90,000 | |||
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Busted |
We Have Reached The Final Level of Day 1a

Level 15 has just begun and there are currently 19 players remaining. The plan is to stop with 16 players remaining in the field. Two players in the field have less than 10 big blinds. If these two are knocked out quickly, we will start hand for hand action.
- Level:
- 15
- Blinds:
- 2,500/5,000
- Ante:
- 5,000
Another Round of Chip Updates
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370,000 | 228,000 | |||
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302,000 | 182,000 | |||
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238,000 | 54,000 | |||
|
235,000 | 10,000 | |||
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134,000 | -96,000 | |||
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67,000 | -18,000 | |||
|
55,000 | 2,000 |