The Venetian

Day 1a of the $1,100 Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) Season 14 Finale at Venetian Las Vegas has come to an end and two-time WSOP bracelet winner Shannon Shorr is the chip leader after almost a full 16 levels of play.

Shorr dominated a field of 227 players to lead the 25 survivors that will return on Saturday to play for their part of the guaranteed prize pool of $300,000.

Shorr bagged a leading 485,000 and he is followed closely on the leaderboard by Peter Mavro in second with 453,000. Nicolas Milgrom finished in third with a bag of 413,000, while Ping Liu and David Erquiaga round out the top five with 359,000 and 351,000, respectively.

Among the other players that survived Day 1a included WSOP bracelet winner Darren Rabinowitz (297,000), defending champ Eric Baldwin (228,000), bracelet winner Ben Moon (63,000), and three-time bracelet winner James Collopy (47,000).

Those that didn’t make it included MSPT Hall of Famer's Umut Ozturk, Rob WazWaz, Aaron Massey, MSPT champ James Romero, and Michael Rossitto, who busted in the final hand of the night when he jammed his Big Slick into the pocket Kings of Ping Liu.

WSOP bracelet winner Jared Jaffee also made a charge throughout the day and held an early chip lead, but he couldn’t punch his ticket to Saturday’s finale in the first flight.

Romero was also factor throughout the afternoon, and he commanded one of the leading chip stacks until he ran into Fiodor Martino losing one of the biggest pots of the day.

He picked up a few chips after the setback but eventually hit the rail early in Level 13, while Martino finished strong with 324,000.

Day 1a ended with 12:00 remaining in Level 16 and blinds at 3,000/6,000/6,000 and the final starting flight will kick off on Friday, December 29th at 11:10 a.m. and players will once again play 40-minute levels until approximately 11% of the field remains.

The surviving players from both opening flights will meet on Saturday, December 30th at 11:00 a.m. for the Day 2 finale.

Michael Rossitto raised from middle position only to be faced with a three-bet from Ping Liu in the big blind.

Action was back on Rossitto who four-bet jammed and Liu called holding slightly more.

Michael Rossitto:
Ping Liu:

Rossitto was at risk needing an ace but couldn’t find one on the runout as he was eliminated on the bubble.

Ping Liu - 350,000
Michael Rossitto - 0

Two-time WSOP bracelet winner Shannon Shorr raised to 12,000 from late position and David Erquiaga defended his big blind to see a flop.

Erquiaga check-raised to 24,000 after Shorr continued for 9,000 and Shorr called bringing about the turn.

Erquiaga led out for 45,000 and Shorr called to see the complete the board on the river. Erquiaga fired out a 50,000 bet and then called Shorr’s 120,000 all-in raise.

Erquiaga rolled over for an eight-high straight but it was way behind Shorr’s flopped straight flush as he collected another late night double.

Shannon Shorr - 390,000
David Erquiaga - 330,000

The final 26 players have returned from their last 15-minute break and action will resume in hand-for-hand play until one more player is eliminated.

Andrew Rodgers raised from late position and Peter Mavro defended his big blind to see a flop.

Mavro check-raised to 55,000 after Rodgers continued for 20,000, and Rodgers quickly three-bet jammed putting Mavro at risk.

After some careful thought, Mavro decided to risk his 207,000 stack and the two players tabled their hands.

Peter Mavro:
Anderew Rodgers:

Rodgers was ahead holding a made hand of jacks and improved after the dealer turned the giving him top set.

Unfortunately for Rodgers, Mavro still held outs, and the that fell on the river was one of them as it completed his flush to secure his double-up.

Peter Mavro - 460,000
Andrew Rodgers - 145,000

The player in middle position open-jammed for 43,000 and Dung Ho isolated from the small blind.

Opponent:
Dung Ho:

It was a classic race with Ho taking the lead after an ace appeared in the window on the flop.

Neither the turn nor the river changed a thing and Ho eliminated his opponent.

Dung Ho - 140,000

The player under the gun opened for 10,000 only to call a 25,000 three-bet from two-time bracelet winner Shannon Shorr from the cutoff.

Once the flop hit the felt, Shorr’s opponent check-called his 8,000 continuation bet and the fell on the turn.

Action was checked again Shorr who fired out an uncontested 19,000 to win the pot.

Shannon Shorr - 135,000

Ren Lin raised to 8,000 from middle position only to have Nicolas Milgrom three-bet to 20,000 from the button.

Action folded back to Lin who four-bet to 55,000 before calling Milgrom’s 213,000 five-bet jam.

Nicolas Milgrom:
Ren Lin:

Milgrom was ahead holding a pair of cowboys and enjoyed seeing the case king in the window on the flop.

The turn was a great sight for Milgrom as it secured him the pot and he collected his massive double after the paired the board on the river.

Nicolas Milgrom - 430,000
Ren Lin - 93,000