$

Awarded to date

The Venetian

June 3 - 8, 2019
Main Event: 4345 Entrants
Winner: Mazen Abdallah
recap_icon

EVENT RECAP

The $1,100 buy-in, $3 million Guaranteed MSPT Mid-Season Championship at The Venetian attracted 4,345 runners, which made it the second-largest poker tournament in both MSPT and Venetian history!

On Day 3, the final 21 players returned to play down to a winner. After six hours, it was retired attorney turned business investor Mazen Abdallah of New Orleans, Louisiana who walked away with a $445,000 first-place prize after a four-way chop (the original first-place prize was slated to be $540,116)

“I feel amazing!” Abdallah said after his victory. ”I came out here specifically for this tournament, I flew in from Houston, Texas to come here. I told my wife I came here for one thing and one thing only, and that’s to win this goddamn tournament, and that’s what I did!”

Abdallah, who was a charismatic force at the table, had a unique way of describing his play style. “My style is a little bit off; a combination of game theory, but also anti-game theory. Create chaos, but always be in control at the same time. And the number one edge that I have is my table talk. I influence a lot of action through my words. It’s because I convince myself of the strength of my hand, and it conveys through my speech.”

Abdallah’s victory was also unique in that he doesn’t have a lot of prior tournament experience; “I don’t normally play tournaments, this is probably the sixth tournament I’ve ever played in my life. The thing is, it’s so hard to make it to the very end of a tournament. You can spend six, seven days and walk away with nothing. To have a couple prop bets with a buddy of yours, to where if you do make it, it’s worthwhile. I don’t wanna go into too many details, but every tournament I’ve ever played is based on a prop bet. Earlier this year, I had a prop bet on the first WSOP event I ever played, a $1,350 High Roller at the Hard Rock, and the only reason I played it was because of that prop bet.” He ended up shipping that event for the ring and $31,500.

Coming into the final day, Abdallah had a premonition about his eventual victory. “I had this overwhelming feeling, I’m gonna win this. I was telling everybody over and over again. Buddy of mine that made Day 3, (2018 WSOP Main Event Final Tablist) Aram Zobian, amazing player, he gave me some advice and tips on the later stages of the tournament. Ultimately what he told me was - Play your game, don’t change it. Play your game, maintain it, that’s what got you there.”

Abdallah also doesn’t plan to keep much of the winnings he accrued but has noble intentions in mind, saying, “I have to say this; my wife does not allow me to keep any money I win from poker. So basically it’s either going to charity or people who are in need. I told her we’re gonna splurge on one thing, though, and she agreed!

Day 2 saw a number of notables cash, including Reg Powell (24th - $21,182), Season 7 MSPT Canterbury Park champ Jonathan Kim (29th - $14,404), last year’s runner-up Felipe Davila (36th - $14,404), WSOP bracelet winner Jessica Dawley (50th - $10,591), former MSPT champ Josh Reichard (63rd - $9,320), Season 9 MSPT Venetian champ Sam Vizza (125th - $5,423), Season 6 MSPT POY Mark Hodge (200th - $4,152), Season 8 MSPT Potawatomi Regional champ Craig Trost (212th - $4,152), Season 9 MSPT Michigan State Poker champ Matthew Stammen (361st - $2,711), MSPT Hall of Famer Rich Alsup (366th - $2,711), and former WSOP November Niners Bryan Piccioli (391st - $2,372) and Jeremy Ausmus (392nd - $2,372).

Day 3 saw 11 players fall short of making the final table, including final table bubble boy Thaun Lam (11th - $42,364), Dustin Lee (13th - $36,009), Scott Hall (15th - $36,009), Erik Glenister (18th - $29,655) and 2018 WSOP Main Event Final Tablist Aram Zobian (20th - $25,418).

Final Table Action

Julien Loire went out on one of the very first hands of the final table, getting his last seven big blinds in with king-queen against the eights of Jesse Jaurigue. Loire failed to improve and hit the rail in tenth, $42,364 richer. A few levels later, Fernando Arajuo was felted in another flip, when his sevens couldn’t fade the king-jack of Mazen Abdallah. Arajuo took $50,837 home for his ninth-place finish.

Brandon Sinawi got his last ten big blinds in a short time later in a blind-versus-blind battle, but Jaruigue held Big Slick and ended Sinawi’s run in eighth-place for $63,546. Another blind battle would end Nitis Udornpim’s tournament in seventh-place, when he ripped king-six right into Sheddy Siddiqui’s jacks, giving Udornpim a $80,941 consolation prize.

Abdallah claimed his next victim when the start of Day 3 chip leader Matthew Sesso got his king-queen in against the ace-deuce of Abdallah, and Sesso failed to improve, leaving him with sixth-place and $108,028. Jaurigue was the last player to fall, when he called off his last ten big blinds with sevens, only to find Michael Shelton had him crushed with queens. Jaurigue finished in fifth for $148,273.

The final four players then made a modified ICM chop that resulted in the following payouts:

Mazen Abdallah New Orleans, LO $445,000
Sean Davidson Boston, MA $306,265
Michael Shelton Indianapolis, IN $302,020
Sheddy Siddiqui Pembroke Pines, FL $291,742
result

The RESULTS

Rank
Player Name
City
State
Amount
Points
1
LA 
$445,000
2,000
2
Boston 
MA 
$306,265
1,800
3
IN 
$302,020
1,700
4
FL 
$291,742
1,600
5
Covina 
CA 
$148,273
1,500
6
Naples 
FL 
$108,028
1,400
7
MD 
$80,491
1,300
8
Macomb 
MI 
$63,546
1,200
9
 
 
$50,837
1,100
10
Lille 
 
$42,364
1,000
11
Manvel 
TX 
$42,364
1,000
12
CA 
$42,364
1,000
13
NV 
$36,009
900
14
TX 
$36,009
900
15
AR 
$36,009
900
16
TX 
$29,655
800
17
FL 
$29,655
800
18
MN 
$29,655
800
19
NY 
$25,418
700
20
RI 
$25,418
700
21
CA 
$25,418
700
22
 
 
$21,182
700
23
 
 
$21,182
700
24
MN 
$21,182
700
25
CA 
$16,946
650
26
NM 
$16,946
650
27
CA 
$16,946
650
28
NV 
$14,404
600
29
MN 
$14,404
600
30
 
 
$14,404
600
31
 
 
$14,404
600
32
Weston 
FL 
$14,404
600
33
TX 
$14,404
600
34
NV 
$14,404
600
35
NV 
$14,404
600
36
Lima 
 
$14,404
600
37
CA 
$11,862
550
38
MD 
$11,862
550
39
 
$11,862
550
40
GA 
$11,862
550
41
NV 
$11,862
550
42
 
 
$11,862
550
43
GA 
$11,862
550
44
KY 
$11,862
550
45
NV 
$11,862
550
46
 
 
$10,591
500
47
Boone 
NC 
$10,591
500
48
 
 
$10,591
500
49
 
 
$10,591
500
50
FL 
$10,591
500
51
CA 
$10,591
500
52
Eugene 
OR 
$10,591
500
53
TX 
$10,591
500
54
NV 
$10,591
500
55
IA 
$9,320
450
56
FL 
$9,320
450
57
FL 
$9,320
450
58
MN 
$9,320
450
59
FL 
$9,320
450
60
 
 
$9,320
450
61
Austin 
TX 
$9,320
450
62
 
 
$9,320
450
63
WI 
$9,320
450
64
 
$8,261
400
65
NM 
$8,261
400
66
CA 
$8,261
400
67
 
 
$8,261
400
68
CA 
$8,261
400
69
CA 
$8,261
400
70
AZ 
$8,261
400
71
NV 
$8,261
400
72
NV 
$8,261
400
73
Chino 
CA 
$7,541
350
74
TN 
$7,541
350
75
FL 
$7,541
350
76
Renton 
WA 
$7,541
350
78
 
$7,541
350
79
Mumbai 
 
$7,541
350
80
IL 
$7,541
350
81
 
 
$7,541
350
82
FL 
$6,693
300
83
PA 
$6,693
300
84
NV 
$6,693
300
85
GA 
$6,693
300
86
NV 
$6,693
300
87
 
 
$6,693
300
88
 
 
$6,693
300
89
 
 
$6,693
300
90
 
$6,693
300
91
Queens 
NY 
$6,100
250
92
 
 
$6,100
250
93
NV 
$6,100
250
94
WA 
$6,100
250
95
NV 
$6,100
250
96
FL 
$6,100
250
97
PA 
$6,100
250
98
 
 
$6,100
250
99
Oshawa 
 
$6,100
250
100
CT 
$5,423
200
101
Lisbon 
 
$5,423
200
102
London 
 
$5,423
200
103
 
$5,423
200
104
CA 
$5,423
200
105
TX 
$5,423
200
106
NC 
$5,423
200
107
GA 
$5,423
200
108
NJ 
$5,423
200
109
CA 
$5,423
200
110
NJ 
$5,423
200
111
MN 
$5,423
200
112
NY 
$5,423
200
113
MN 
$5,423
200
114
GA 
$5,423
200
115
NV 
$5,423
200
116
CA 
$5,423
200
117
PA 
$5,423
200
118
CA 
$5,423
200
119
Presto 
PA 
$5,423
200
120
PA 
$5,423
200
121
 
 
$5,423
200
122
 
$5,423
200
123
NJ 
$5,423
200
124
NY 
$5,423
200
125
IL 
$5,423
200
126
CA 
$5,423
200
127
CA 
$5,423
200
128
FL 
$5,423
200
129
IL 
$5,423
200
130
MN 
$5,423
200
131
 
 
$5,423
200
132
AZ 
$5,423
200
133
FL 
$5,423
200
134
NV 
$5,423
200
135
NJ 
$5,423
200
136
Mumbai 
 
$5,423
200
137
CA 
$5,423
200
138
Tampa 
FL 
$5,423
200
139
 
$5,423
200
140
London 
 
$5,423
200
141
NY 
$5,423
200
142
 
$5,423
200
143
SC 
$5,423
200
144
NV 
$5,423
200
145
NM 
$4,787
150
146
MI 
$4,787
150
147
Aurora 
CO 
$4,787
150
148
OH 
$4,787
150
149
FL 
$4,787
150
150
 
 
$4,787
150
151
CA 
$4,787
150
152
WA 
$4,787
150
153
NJ 
$4,787
150
154
MA 
$4,787
150
155
NY 
$4,787
150
156
CO 
$4,787
150
157
IL 
$4,787
150
158
NV 
$4,787
150
159
FL 
$4,787
150
160
MS 
$4,787
150
161
CA 
$4,787
150
162
Vidor 
TX 
$4,787
150
163
MN 
$4,787
150
164
NV 
$4,787
150
165
CA 
$4,787
150
166
IL 
$4,787
150
167
 
 
$4,787
150
168
 
 
$4,787
150
169
OH 
$4,787
150
170
Tampa 
FL 
$4,787
150
171
 
 
$4,787
150
172
 
 
$4,787
150
173
IL 
$4,787
150
174
NY 
$4,787
150
175
IL 
$4,787
150
176
NJ 
$4,787
150
177
RI 
$4,787
150
178
 
$4,787
150
179
LA 
$4,787
150
180
Berlin 
 
$4,787
150
181
London 
 
$4,787
150
182
Quebec 
 
$4,787
150
183
Omaha 
NE 
$4,787
150
184
Dublin 
 
$4,787
150
185
IL 
$4,787
150
186
NY 
$4,787
150
187
NV 
$4,787
150
188
FL 
$4,787
150
189
ND 
$4,787
150
190
AZ 
$4,152
100
191
MN 
$4,152
100
192
Brick 
NJ 
$4,152
100
193
MN 
$4,152
100
194
 
 
$4,152
100
195
RI 
$4,152
100
196
 
 
$4,152
100
197
NY 
$4,152
100
198
France 
 
$4,152
100
199
CA 
$4,152
100
200
MN 
$4,152
100
201
WA 
$4,152
100
202
NV 
$4,152
100
203
CA 
$4,152
100
204
NJ 
$4,152
100
205
CA 
$4,152
100
206
NV 
$4,152
100
207
FL 
$4,152
100
208
CA 
$4,152
100
209
 
 
$4,152
100
210
GA 
$4,152
100
211
CA 
$4,152
100
212
WI 
$4,152
100
213
Encino 
CA 
$4,152
100
214
IL 
$4,152
100
215
FL 
$4,152
100
216
 
$4,152
100
217
PA 
$4,152
100
218
CO 
$4,152
100
219
FL 
$4,152
100
221
TN 
$4,152
100
222
 
$4,152
100
223
CA 
$4,152
100
224
IL 
$4,152
100
225
SC 
$4,152
100
226
 
 
$4,152
100
227
CA 
$4,152
100
228
MI 
$4,152
100
229
Bronx 
NY 
$4,152
100
230
FL 
$4,152
100
231
AR 
$4,152
100
232
 
$4,152
100
233
 
$4,152
100
234
WI 
$4,152
100
235
 
$3,559
75
236
RI 
$3,559
75
237
NE 
$3,559
75
238
 
$3,559
75
239
TN 
$3,559
75
240
FL 
$3,559
75
241
AZ 
$3,559
75
242
 
 
$3,559
75
243
FL 
$3,559
75
244
CA 
$3,559
75
245
WV 
$3,559
75
246
FL 
$3,559
75
247
CA 
$3,559
75
248
Waukee 
IA 
$3,559
75
249
WY 
$3,559
75
250
 
$3,559
75
251
 
 
$3,559
75
252
NY 
$3,559
75
253
NV 
$3,559
75
254
GA 
$3,559
75
255
 
$3,559
75
256
 
 
$3,559
75
257
CA 
$3,559
75
258
CA 
$3,559
75
259
TX 
$3,559
75
260
CA 
$3,559
75
261
PA 
$3,559
75
262
London 
 
$3,559
75
263
 
 
$3,559
75
264
CA 
$3,559
75
265
Austin 
TX 
$3,559
75
266
Kona 
HI 
$3,559
75
267
 
 
$3,559
75
268
Davie 
FL 
$3,559
75
269
MA 
$3,559
75
270
Zion 
IL 
$3,559
75
271
NJ 
$3,559
75
272
PA 
$3,559
75
273
 
$3,559
75
274
MI 
$3,559
75
275
GA 
$3,559
75
276
CA 
$3,559
75
277
 
 
$3,559
75
278
Omaha 
NE 
$3,559
75
279
NY 
$3,559
75
280
NV 
$3,135
50
281
 
$3,135
50
282
FL 
$3,135
50
283
OH 
$3,135
50
284
NV 
$3,135
50
285
FL 
$3,135
50
286
NV 
$3,135
50
287
NE 
$3,135
50
288
FL 
$3,135
50
289
Chico 
CA 
$3,135
50
290
Binson 
AL 
$3,135
50
291
 
 
$3,135
50
292
NY 
$3,135
50
293
 
 
$3,135
50
294
NV 
$3,135
50
295
NV 
$3,135
50
296
 
 
$3,135
50
297
PA 
$3,135
50
298
 
 
$3,135
50
299
FL 
$3,135
50
300
NV 
$3,135
50
301
FL 
$3,135
50
302
IL 
$3,135
50
303
NY 
$3,135
50
304
IL 
$3,135
50
305
CA 
$3,135
50
306
KY 
$3,135
50
307
Golden 
CO 
$3,135
50
308
IA 
$3,135
50
309
WV 
$3,135
50
310
OR 
$3,135
50
311
 
$3,135
50
312
MN 
$3,135
50
313
 
 
$3,135
50
314
MI 
$3,135
50
315
NJ 
$3,135
50
316
 
 
$3,135
50
317
 
 
$3,135
50
318
TX 
$3,135
50
319
Quincy 
IL 
$3,135
50
320
 
 
$3,135
50
321
OR 
$3,135
50
322
 
 
$3,135
50
323
 
$3,135
50
324
CA 
$3,135
50
325
 
$2,711
50
326
NY 
$2,711
50
327
 
 
$2,711
50
328
CA 
$2,711
50
329
FL 
$2,711
50
330
NV 
$2,711
50
331
NJ 
$2,711
50
332
LA 
$2,711
50
333
CA 
$2,711
50
334
NV 
$2,711
50
335
 
 
$2,711
50
336
MN 
$2,711
50
337
 
 
$2,711
50
338
 
WA 
$2,711
50
339
 
 
$2,711
50
340
Mesa 
AZ 
$2,711
50
341
WA 
$2,711
50
342
TX 
$2,711
50
343
NV 
$2,711
50
344
MN 
$2,711
50
345
NY 
$2,711
50
346
Fargo 
ND 
$2,711
50
347
 
 
$2,711
50
348
 
$2,711
50
349
OH 
$2,711
50
350
AZ 
$2,711
50
351
FL 
$2,711
50
352
Toledo 
OH 
$2,711
50
353
MO 
$2,711
50
354
Dallas 
TX 
$2,711
50
355
NV 
$2,711
50
356
CA 
$2,711
50
357
CA 
$2,711
50
358
MI 
$2,711
50
359
 
$2,711
50
360
 
 
$2,711
50
361
OH 
$2,711
50
362
Omaha 
NE 
$2,711
50
363
MI 
$2,711
50
364
OH 
$2,711
50
365
MD 
$2,711
50
366
MN 
$2,711
50
367
 
 
$2,711
50
368
FL 
$2,711
50
369
MN 
$2,711
50
370
NV 
$2,372
50
371
FL 
$2,372
50
372
TX 
$2,372
50
373
NJ 
$2,372
50
374
 
$2,372
50
375
Marne 
MI 
$2,372
50
376
NV 
$2,372
50
377
 
 
$2,372
50
378
AZ 
$2,372
50
379
AZ 
$2,372
50
380
NJ 
$2,372
50
381
Rome 
GA 
$2,372
50
382
Seoul 
 
$2,372
50
383
FL 
$2,372
50
384
 
$2,372
50
385
Canton 
GA 
$2,372
50
386
IL 
$2,372
50
387
NY 
$2,372
50
388
CO 
$2,372
50
389
VA 
$2,372
50
390
 
 
$2,372
50
391
NY 
$2,372
50
392
NV 
$2,372
50
393
MN 
$2,372
50
394
Davie 
FL 
$2,372
50
395
NY 
$2,372
50
396
Eliot 
ME 
$2,372
50
397
Eugene 
OR 
$2,372
50
398
 
 
$2,372
50
399
AK 
$2,372
50
400
FL 
$2,372
50
401
NV 
$2,372
50
402
CA 
$2,372
50
403
TX 
$2,372
50
404
NV 
$2,372
50
405
 
 
$2,372
50
406
OH 
$2,372
50
407
 
$2,372
50
408
AZ 
$2,372
50
409
OK 
$2,372
50
410
FL 
$2,372
50
411
TX 
$2,372
50
412
 
 
$2,372
50
413
NY 
$2,372
50
414
NY 
$2,372
50
415
 
$2,118
50
417
NV 
$2,118
50
418
TX 
$2,118
50
419
 
 
$2,118
50
420
NV 
$2,118
50
421
CA 
$2,118
50
422
 
$2,118
50
423
 
$2,118
50
424
Juneau 
AK 
$2,118
50
425
 
$2,118
50
426
 
 
$2,118
50
427
Reno 
NV 
$2,118
50
428
NJ 
$2,118
50
429
MI 
$2,118
50
430
 
 
$2,118
50
431
 
 
$2,118
50
432
 
 
$2,118
50
433
 
 
$2,118
50
434
CA 
$2,118
50
435
NV 
$2,118
50
436
 
$2,118
50
437
OR 
$2,118
50
438
MO 
$2,118
50
439
 
$2,118
50
440
FL 
$2,118
50
441
FL 
$2,118
50
442
TX 
$2,118
50
443
 
 
$2,118
50
444
Azusa 
CA 
$2,118
50
445
Tampa 
FL 
$2,118
50
446
TX 
$2,118
50
447
FL 
$2,118
50
448
OH 
$2,118
50
449
NV 
$2,118
50
450
 
 
$2,118
50