$1,100 Main Event Day 1a | MSPT Venetian Poker Bowl IV

Player	Chips	Progress
Jeff Heiberg	441,000 359,000	359,000
Matthew Waldt	441,000 416,000	416,000
Grachia Minasian	398,000
Kou Yang	365,500 130,500	130,500
Sorel Mizzi	316,500 -53,500	-53,500
Jared Strauss	224,500

Jacques Zaicik	150,000 125,000	125,000
Joseph Cheong	146,500 -155,500	-155,500

Tony Jakes	142,000
Justin Teal	134,000 62,000	62,000
Robenito Roxas	131,500
Christopher Ocksrider	114,000 -1,000	-1,000
Karapet Galstyan	110,500
Eric Wasylenko	87,000
Rodger Johnson	82,000 -156,000	-156,000
Jeremy Menard	80,000 27,000	27,000
Joseph Jackson	65,000 10,000	10,000
Mark Ioli	62,500 -4,500	-4,500

Player

Chips

Progress

Jeff Heiberg

441,000

359,000

Matthew Waldt

441,000

416,000

Grachia Minasian

398,000

Kou Yang

365,500

130,500

Sorel Mizzi

316,500

-53,500

Jared Strauss

224,500

Jacques Zaicik

150,000

125,000

Joseph Cheong

146,500

-155,500

Tony Jakes

142,000

Justin Teal

134,000

62,000

Robenito Roxas

131,500

Christopher Ocksrider

114,000

-1,000

Karapet Galstyan

110,500

Eric Wasylenko

87,000

Rodger Johnson

82,000

-156,000

Jeremy Menard

80,000

27,000

Joseph Jackson

65,000

10,000

Mark Ioli

62,500

-4,500

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.

Tags: Ashley Sleeth Jeff Heiberg Jeremy Ausmus Joseph Cheong Matthew Waldt Mike Del Vecchio Ryan Laplante Scott Clements Sorel Mizzi