$

Awarded to date

The Venetian

June 18 - 22, 2018
Main Event: 2877 Entrants
Winner: Michael Soyza
recap_icon

EVENT RECAP

The Mid-States Poker Tour’s 127th Main Event – a $1,600 buy-in, $3,000,000 GTD tournament held at The Venetian in Las Vegas – attracted 2,877 entries. After three long days of play it was Malaysia’s Michael Soyza who came out on top to win $588,249, the biggest first-place prize in MSPT history.

Prior to the win Soyza had $1,271,288 in live earnings including a prior best $260,552 for winning the Macau Poker Cup 27 High Roller back in September. Soyza previously sat fifth on Malaysia’s all-time money list but moved into fourth place with his new career-high score.

“Very long day, I started in the middle of the pack but ran really hot the first level,” the 28-year-old Soyza said after the win. “I had aces against kings, jacks against nines, and tens against eights. I just played my game and ran pretty damn well at the end.”

Soyza, who is in Vegas grinding the entire summer, continued: “Last year was my first World Series, it wasn’t that great but not that bad. This is so much better.”

The tournament also saw Minnesota’s Rich Alsup finish in third place for $273,430. The score brought the MSPT Season 7 Player of the Year’s tour earnings up to $611,460, which puts him atop the MSPT’s all-time money list. It was also his record-tying ninth MSPT final table, which means he is just one away (or four more Main Event cashes) from being inducted into the MSPT Hall of Fame.

The tournament played through the money on Day 2, which saw a long list of notable players finish in the top 297 and get paid. They included Jeremy Ausmus (57th - $8,700), Darryll Fish (61st - $8,700), Marvin Rettenmaier (64th - $8,079), Elio Fox (73rd - $7,457), Phil Laak (81st - $7,457), WSOP bracelet winner John Reading (104th - $5,800), MSPT Poker Bowl I champ Jordan Young (157th - $5,179), Aaron Johnson (226th - $3,936) and Lisa Costello (269th - $3,729).

On Day 3, 41 players return to action. Among those to fall short of the final table were Jason Song, (11th - $49,715), two-time MSPT champ Greg Himmelbrand (19th - $29,829), Minnesota’s Sam De Silva (31st - $14,500), Luke Vrabel (32nd - $14,500) and MSPT Season 8 Grand Falls champ Ahmed Taleb (41st - $11,186).

Final Table Action

The first final table elimination came when Hye Park moved all in for 3.28 million from the button holding the A♠5♠ and Paul Fisher called off for 1.8 million after looking down at the J♣J♦ in the big blind. Fisher was ahead but fell behind on the 6♥A♥Q♠ flop. Neither the 5♥ turn nor 9♠ river helped Fisher and he headed to the payout desk in tenth place to collect $49,715.

Ryan Yu, who began Day 3 as the chip leader, had a rough go of it at the final table and finally succumbed after shoving all in with ace-five only to run into Alsup’s ace-king. Not long after, Bulgaria’s Ivaylo Sivinov three-bet jammed his ace-eight only to run it smack dab into Soyza’s ace-queen. The board ran out clean and that was all she wrote for Sivinov.

Soyza then dispatched three-time World Series of Poker Circuit ring winner Peter Vitantonio in seventh place after the latter shoved the button with the K♣5♣ and the former called from the big blind with the A♥4♣. The board ran out A♣9♦7♥3♣Q♦ and Vitantonio missed his flush draw to bust in seventh place for $103,572.

David Chen exited in sixth place when his ace-ten suited failed to win a flip against Soyza’s pocket sevens all in preflop, and then Park followed him out the door in fifth when he too lost a race. He jammed with ace-queen and was up against Soyza’s pocket fives. A five on the flop was a disaster for Park and he was left drawing dead on the brick turn.

Soyza’s run good continued when he called Glen Nguyen’s shove holding pocket sixes. Nguyen had him crushed with sevens but a six on the turn gave Soyza another K.O. and the chip lead.

That left Alsup on the short stack and he’d soon tangle with Saderne, who led most of the final table. In Level 36 (200,000/400,000/50,000), Saderne raised to 900,000 with the A♣Q♦ and then called when Alsup three-bet shoved for 11 million holding the Q♠J♠. The board ran out lackluster 2♦8♥8♣K♣K♠ and Alsup bowed out in third place for a career-high $273,430.

Soyza and Saderne began heads-up play nearly even in chips and they briefly discussed a deal. However, they were unable to come to terms and opted to play it out straight up in true MSPT fashion.

“We talked about a deal but he said he thought he had an edge and wanted more money,” Soyza explained. “I had more chips and he thinks he has an edge. He didn’t have a good grasp on my game I guess but I had a pretty good grasp on his game.”

From the get-go, things went Soyza’s way and he opened up a big lead.

In the final hand of the tournament, which took place in Level 38 (400,000/800,000/100,000), Saderne jammed for 10.4 million with the 10♣9♠ and Soyza called holding the Q♦J♣. The 5♠A♦Q♥ gave Soyza a huge lead, but the K♣ turn kept Saderne drawing live. The dealer burned one final time and put out the 8♠. Saderne was eliminated in second place for $364,573 while Soyza captured the richest first-place prize in tour history!

The MSPT Venetian continues at Noon Monday with Day 1A of the $3,500 buy-in, $3.5 million GTD tournament. Flights 1B and 1C will take place at the same time on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively. MSPT live updates will begin on Day 2 and once again the final table will be live streamed worldwide.

result

The RESULTS

Rank
Player Name
City
State
Amount
Points
1
 
$588,249
2,000
2
 
$364,573
1,800
3
MN 
$273,430
1,700
4
CA 
$215,430
1,600
5
NJ 
$165,715
1,500
6
CA 
$132,572
1,400
7
OH 
$103,572
1,300
8
 
$78,300
1,200
9
 
$62,143
1,100
10
IL 
$49,715
1,000
11
IL 
$49,715
1,000
12
Brazil 
 
$49,715
1,000
13
NJ 
$39,357
900
14
 
$39,357
900
15
FL 
$39,357
900
16
Tokyo 
 
$36,043
800
17
 
$36,043
800
18
NJ 
$36,043
800
19
NY 
$29,829
750
20
FL 
$29,829
750
21
 
$29,829
750
22
ID 
$24,857
700
23
 
$24,857
700
24
DE 
$24,857
700
25
CA 
$20,300
650
26
 
$20,300
650
27
Rennes 
 
$20,300
650
28
 
$14,500
600
29
Padova 
 
$14,500
600
30
France 
 
$14,500
600
31
Austin 
MN 
$14,500
600
32
SD 
$14,500
600
33
NM 
$14,500
600
34
 
$14,500
600
35
CA 
$14,500
600
36
CO 
$14,500
600
37
 
$11,186
550
38
CA 
$11,186
550
39
FL 
$11,186
550
40
Edmond 
OK 
$11,186
550
41
MN 
$11,186
550
42
CA 
$11,186
550
43
NV 
$11,186
550
44
Troy 
MI 
$11,186
550
45
 
$11,186
550
46
 
 
$9,529
500
47
NV 
$9,529
500
48
NY 
$9,529
500
49
NJ 
$9,529
500
50
 
 
$9,529
500
51
AK 
$9,529
500
52
CA 
$9,529
500
53
 
$9,529
500
54
NV 
$9,529
500
55
Rees 
 
$8,700
450
56
CA 
$8,700
450
57
NV 
$8,700
450
58
 
 
$8,700
450
59
NY 
$8,700
450
60
 
$8,700
450
61
FL 
$8,700
450
62
FL 
$8,700
450
63
CA 
$8,700
450
64
NV 
$8,079
400
65
 
$8,079
400
66
 
 
$8,079
400
67
CA 
$8,079
400
68
UK 
 
$8,079
400
69
CA 
$8,079
400
70
CA 
$8,079
400
71
TX 
$8,079
400
72
Sliven 
 
$8,079
400
73
NY 
$7,457
350
74
 
$7,457
350
75
Hofit 
 
$7,457
350
76
Wilson 
NC 
$7,457
350
77
 
 
$7,457
350
78
CA 
$7,457
350
80
 
$7,457
350
81
NV 
$7,457
350
82
TX 
$6,836
300
83
MA 
$6,836
300
84
NV 
$6,836
300
85
 
$6,836
300
86
Latvia 
 
$6,836
300
87
NV 
$6,836
300
88
 
$6,836
300
89
PA 
$6,836
300
90
Austin 
TX 
$6,836
300
91
NV 
$6,421
250
92
IL 
$6,421
250
93
 
$6,421
250
94
NV 
$6,421
250
95
AL 
$6,421
250
96
NJ 
$6,421
250
97
FL 
$6,421
250
98
TX 
$6,421
250
99
 
 
$6,421
250
100
CA 
$5,800
200
101
Orange 
CA 
$5,800
200
102
 
$5,800
200
103
CA 
$5,800
200
104
MN 
$5,800
200
105
MN 
$5,800
200
106
Spain 
 
$5,800
200
107
CA 
$5,800
200
108
Nixa 
MO 
$5,800
200
109
 
$5,800
200
110
 
$5,800
200
111
Alcade 
NM 
$5,800
200
112
FL 
$5,800
200
113
FL 
$5,800
200
114
Diel 
 
$5,800
200
115
Ayl 
 
$5,800
200
116
NV 
$5,800
200
117
TX 
$5,800
200
118
MA 
$5,800
200
119
NC 
$5,800
200
120
 
 
$5,800
200
121
NC 
$5,800
200
122
OR 
$5,800
200
123
FL 
$5,800
200
124
MD 
$5,800
200
125
 
$5,800
200
126
OH 
$5,800
200
127
 
$5,800
200
128
LA 
$5,800
200
129
 
$5,800
200
130
IL 
$5,800
200
131
 
 
$5,800
200
132
 
 
$5,800
200
133
OR 
$5,800
200
134
ME 
$5,800
200
135
Quincy 
MA 
$5,800
200
136
 
 
$5,179
150
137
FL 
$5,179
150
138
NV 
$5,179
150
140
 
 
$5,179
150
141
 
 
$5,179
150
142
NY 
$5,179
150
143
NY 
$5,179
150
144
TN 
$5,179
150
145
TX 
$5,179
150
146
CA 
$5,179
150
147
FL 
$5,179
150
148
NV 
$5,179
150
149
MA 
$5,179
150
150
 
$5,179
150
151
Plano 
TX 
$5,179
150
152
Austin 
TX 
$5,179
150
153
Mobile 
AL 
$5,179
150
154
 
 
$5,179
150
155
 
 
$5,179
150
156
FL 
$5,179
150
157
MI 
$5,179
150
158
 
$5,179
150
159
CA 
$5,179
150
160
UT 
$5,179
150
161
AZ 
$5,179
150
162
CA 
$5,179
150
163
FL 
$5,179
150
164
 
 
$5,179
150
165
PA 
$5,179
150
166
 
$5,179
150
167
Reno 
NV 
$5,179
150
168
NV 
$5,179
150
169
Kent 
WA 
$5,179
150
170
Sofia 
 
$5,179
150
171
 
$5,179
150
172
MI 
$4,557
100
173
NJ 
$4,557
100
174
MN 
$4,557
100
175
NJ 
$4,557
100
176
NY 
$4,557
100
177
NV 
$4,557
100
178
Dublin 
 
$4,557
100
179
CA 
$4,557
100
180
IL 
$4,557
100
181
NV 
$4,557
100
182
IL 
$4,557
100
183
NV 
$4,557
100
184
 
 
$4,557
100
185
 
$4,557
100
186
CA 
$4,557
100
187
IL 
$4,557
100
188
WA 
$4,557
100
189
Prague 
 
$4,557
100
190
London 
 
$4,557
100
191
MI 
$4,557
100
192
NV 
$4,557
100
193
London 
 
$4,557
100
194
MD 
$4,557
100
195
 
 
$4,557
100
196
 
$4,557
100
197
IL 
$4,557
100
198
 
 
$4,557
100
199
 
$4,557
100
200
OK 
$4,557
100
201
 
$4,557
100
202
Dublin 
 
$4,557
100
203
 
 
$4,557
100
204
Paris 
 
$4,557
100
205
York 
 
$4,557
100
206
 
$4,557
100
207
NC 
$4,557
100
208
Moscow 
 
$3,936
75
209
York 
 
$3,936
75
210
WA 
$3,936
75
211
FL 
$3,936
75
212
NY 
$3,936
75
213
OH 
$3,936
75
214
OH 
$3,936
75
215
Vienna 
 
$3,936
75
216
OH 
$3,936
75
217
 
$3,936
75
218
London 
 
$3,936
75
219
London 
 
$3,936
75
220
 
 
$3,936
75
221
 
$3,936
75
222
 
$3,936
75
223
MI 
$3,936
75
224
NV 
$3,936
75
225
CA 
$3,936
75
226
MN 
$3,936
75
227
 
 
$3,936
75
228
IL 
$3,936
75
229
CA 
$3,936
75
230
SD 
$3,936
75
231
NV 
$3,936
75
232
CO 
$3,936
75
233
GA 
$3,936
75
234
CA 
$3,936
75
235
CA 
$3,936
75
236
Tulsa 
OK 
$3,936
75
237
NY 
$3,936
75
239
 
$3,936
75
240
Ramla 
 
$3,936
75
242
Mumbai 
 
$3,936
75
243
London 
 
$3,936
75
244
NV 
$3,936
75
245
FL 
$3,936
75
246
 
 
$3,936
75
247
NY 
$3,936
75
248
MA 
$3,936
75
249
CA 
$3,936
75
250
FL 
$3,936
75
251
 
 
$3,936
75
252
NY 
$3,936
75
253
 
$3,729
50
254
WY 
$3,729
50
255
 
 
$3,729
50
256
FL 
$3,729
50
257
Dayton 
MN 
$3,729
50
258
Baku 
 
$3,729
50
259
Prague 
 
$3,729
50
260
 
$3,729
50
261
GA 
$3,729
50
262
NV 
$3,729
50
263
CA 
$3,729
50
264
 
$3,729
50
265
NY 
$3,729
50
266
 
$3,729
50
267
NV 
$3,729
50
268
CA 
$3,729
50
269
NV 
$3,729
50
270
 
 
$3,729
50
271
NV 
$3,729
50
272
NV 
$3,729
50
273
 
$3,729
50
274
NY 
$3,729
50
275
FL 
$3,729
50
276
 
 
$3,729
50
277
Miami 
FL 
$3,729
50
278
GA 
$3,729
50
279
 
$3,729
50
280
WA 
$3,729
50
281
HI 
$3,729
50
282
TX 
$3,729
50
283
 
$3,729
50
284
VA 
$3,729
50
285
 
 
$3,729
50
286
CA 
$3,729
50
287
OH 
$3,729
50
288
London 
 
$3,729
50
289
 
 
$3,729
50
290
IL 
$3,729
50
291
NV 
$3,729
50
292
 
 
$3,729
50
293
 
 
$3,729
50
294
NE 
$3,729
50
295
Tampa 
FL 
$3,729
50
296
 
 
$3,729
50
297
NV 
$3,729
50