The Venetian

We caught up with the new MSPT champion Tauan Naves after his tournament victory in the $1,100 buy-in MSPT Venetian Main Event for a quick winner interview, and here is what he had to say on a number of topics. Naves is from Brazil, and his third tournament victory (first in the United States) took his career poker earnings above $1.5 million.

“I feel so good, it’s nice. I’ve never won a tournament at Venetian, this is my first time. I’m so happy. I like to play here so much, it’s another environment, another place, and the energy is so different than playing online and I really like that,” said Naves right after the win.

He continued, “I like to play live sometimes, and I like to play online at other times. When I change my mood it is better then if I only play online, online, online all the time. If it mix it up it is better. The field is different live, there are such big fields online with over 1,000 players. I think when I play live, I play against the guy, not the tournament.”

On the heads-up final: “Every time in my mind I just thought about playing my best, not if I had more chips or less. I just wanted to do my best, and in poker when you’re playing your best you improve EV and it gives you confidence.”

Congrats to the new MSPT champion Tauan Naves! Action will pick back up for MSPT starting tomorrow at the Hollywood Casino in St. Louis, Missouri with a another MSPT Main Event that runs from Dec.5-8. We will see you then with more live reporting from the tournament floor.

The board read read when Yang Li (pictured) was all in with in the hole, and Tauan Naves had him covered holding for a flush. The chip counts were close, but Naves had the edge to win the tournament. Naves won his first MSPT title and Venetian trophy, and the career earnings for the Brazlian poker player are now well over $1.5 million. Li took home $43,980 thanks to his deep run in the tournament.

That concludes our live updates from the MSPT Venetian stop. Stay tuned for an interview with the new MSPT champion that will be posted a little later tonight.

Here is a look at the chip counts between the final two players.

Seat 2: Tauan Naves - 4,575,000 (45 bb)
Seat 8: Yang Li - 3,475,000 (34 bb)

Blinds are up to 50,000-100,000 with a big blind ante of 100,000 for the start of Level 28 in Day 2 of the $1,100 buy-in Mid-States Poker Tour Main Event hosted in the Venetian Poker Room along the Las Vegas Strip. There are now two players in the hunt to become the next MSPT champion, who will be crowned later tonight.

The players are taking another 15-minute break.

Yang Li got all in for 1.84 million with in the hole, and Tauan Naves had him covered holding .

The ace-high held on a board dealt , and Li was up to 3.88 million after the hand. Naves was at 4,045,000 after the hand to make the stacks close to even.

Yang Li - 3,880,000 (48 bb)
Tauan Naves - 4,045,000 (50 bb)

There was over 1 million in the pot, and the board read when Yang Li bet 900,000. Tauan Naves reraised to 2.4 million (leaving just 75,000 left behind). Li reraised all in, and Naves called all in. The two players then flipped over their cards.

Li held , but Naves went runner-runner to make four-of-a-kind fours on the turn and river. Naves stacked up 5.95 after the hand, and Li was down to 1.97 million after the hand.

Tauan Naves - 5,950,000 (74 bb)
Yang Li - 1,970,000 (24 bb)

Blinds are up to 40,000-80,000 with a big blind ante of 80,000 for the start of Level 27 in Day 2 of the $1,100 buy-in Mid-States Poker Tour Main Event hosted in the Venetian Poker Room along the Las Vegas Strip. There are now two players in the hunt to become the next MSPT champion, who will be crowned later tonight.

Here is a look at the chip counts between the final two players.

Seat 2: Tauan Naves - 2,935,000 (83 bb)
Seat 8: Yang Li - 4,990,000 (48 bb)

Blinds are up to 30,000-60,000 with a big blind ante of 60,000 for the start of Level 26 in Day 2 of the $1,100 buy-in Mid-States Poker Tour Main Event hosted in the Venetian Poker Room along the Las Vegas Strip. There are now three players in the hunt to become the next MSPT champion, who will be crowned later tonight.