The first of two back-to-back Main Events at the Venetian has come to an end after seven hours of play as California native Michael Rocco is the newest MSPT $1,100 Main Event Champion after he defeated Frederick Brink in heads-up play to take home trophy and $54,049.
Rocco came into the final day third in chips and really didn’t start to catch steam until the final two tables and contributes a nice run of cards paved the way to victory.
“It’s feels good, I ran really well and won a lot of all-ins which is what you need to have happen if you want to win a tournament,” said Rocco after his victory.
An accomplished pro with over $3,600,000 in earnings, Rocco was happy to be back in the winner's circle and claiming a new piece of hardware.
“I took about five to six months of from playing anything so it's nice to come back and win,” Rocco said in his closing statement.
The final day came back with 30 players already in the money so action kicked right into gear with MSPT Yotam Wainbebg being outkicked by Frederick Brick in the first hand of the day.
Action across the final four tables continued with players dropping like wildfire as the march to the final table was on.
Among those to fall along the way, albeit with a payday were, Jameson Voll (10th Place - $4,922), defending champ Matthew Schulte (12th Place - $4,140) MSPT champ Kfir Nahum (14th Place - $3,553), and Christina "Baby Shark" Gollins (23rd Place - $2,784).
Final Table Action
The fast-paced action kept rolling with Aditya Prasetyo becoming the final table elimination after his top two-pair was straightened out by Brandon Eisen on the river.
The very next level saw Cody Wiegmann takeoff for a race against Rocco only to have his pocket nines come up short after a lucky lady came on the river.
After Wiegmann's departure, Brink was able to win a pair of races to eliminate Matt Lerner in seventh place, and Spencer Champlin in sixth place.
In the same level, Michael Williams was able to ride his short stack two pay jumps before he fell victim to Brian Battiston's big slick and made a fifth place exit.
With four players remaining, Rocco would make quick work of his three opponents’ eliminating Eisen in fourth place ($20,701) with pocket aces, Battiston in third place ($28,021) with pocket jacks, and Brink in second place ($38,588) with pocket sevens.