The Venetian

End Of Day Chip Counts

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Kenny Hallaert	884,000	506,000
Karapet Galstyan	445,000	445,000
Andrew Korby	392,000	392,000
Kai Zheng	380,000	380,000
Phillip Penn	379,000	379,000
James Romero	365,000	255,000
Cero Zuccarello	349,000	349,000
Umut Ozturk	343,000	320,000
Michael Wang	317,000	143,000
Lokesh Garg	295,000	295,000
Yen-Han Chen	291,000	291,000
Kirk Acevedo	272,000	255,000
Al-Farouk Moyosore Obe	266,000	266,000
Bill Lewis	258,000	258,000
Trevor Foley	240,000	240,000
Filipp Khavin	225,000	225,000
Ken Komberec	219,000	219,000
Ivan Ruban	204,000	204,000
Matthew Lambrecht	174,000	106,000
Brenton Rincker	169,000	169,000
Corey Hochman	157,000	157,000
David McNeiece	148,000	148,000
Chad Himmelspach	125,000	125,000
David Yokoyama	124,000	124,000
Josh Reichard	117,000	156,000
Chunlung Wong	108,000	108,000
Victoria Livschitz	107,000	78,000
Charles Dawson	104,000	104,000
George Dolofan	94,000	176,000
Vito Branciforte	89,000	89,000
Colin Robinson	85,000	85,000
Dominic Brazier	82,000	82,000
Russel McClean	80,000	80,000
Ido Aboudi	55,000	55,000
Michael Choung	53,000	53,000
Shengchao Zhu	50,000	50,000

Hallaert Takes Tournament Lead In The MSPT Venetian $1,100 Main Event

After three total flights, the final numbers for The MSPT 2023 Venetian are in. This flight saw a total of 349 players come out to play, meaning the total numbers sit at 807 for the total turnout. The $400k guarantee has been smashed, meaning the remaining 91 players will all be guaranteed $2,305, playing for a first place prize of $118,874.

Leading the way is Kenny Hallaert who ended his day with 884,000. Hallaert started the day rising to one of the early chip leaders and throughout the day he continued to build. With this cash, Hallaert moves to third place on Belgium’s all time money list, with tournament earnings sitting over $4,800,000 on Hendon Mob. With a 6th place finish in the 2016 WSOP Main Event, Hallaert comes in as extremely experienced in navigating tournaments and will come in as an absolute force in his quest to find his first MSPT title.

Others who survived into the money included MSPT Venetian Champion James Romero (365,000) as well as other MSPT champions Umut Ozturk (343,000), Ari Engel (259,000), and Josh Reichard (117,000). Actor Kirk Avecedo (272,000), who has starred in shows like HBO’s Band Of Brother and OZ found his way to a first MSPT cash. Others who found bags included Matthew Wantman (272,000) and Shannon Shorr (173,000).

Not all made it into the second day. Many regulars like Cherish Andrews, Kathy Liebert, Ralph Massey, and Andrew Moreno all found themselves exiting the tournament earlier than their initial hopes. MSPT legend Luke Blindert became the unfortunate bubble boy after his turned two pair could not fade his opponent making a better two pair on the river. Their chance for MSPT glory will have to come in the MSPT Venetian $1,600 that begins tomorrow at 11:10.

Monday at 11 AM will be the time when play will resume. Play ended with 30:11 left on the clock in level 16 on Day 1B and that will be the level players return to with blinds at 3,000/6,000 with a 6,000 big blind ante. Players will continue to play forty minute levels until a winner is crowned.

Stay tuned to MSPT.com for all updates regarding The MSPT $1,100 Main Event.

Michael Choung Knocks Out Luke Blindert On The MPST $1,100 Bubble

Michael Choung moved all in for 28,000 in the hijack and action folded around to Luke Blindert in the big blind who called for his last 17,000.

Luke Blindert:
Michael Choung:

The flop came out and Blindert stood up out of his chair. The turn of drilled Blindert who’s eyes lit up with excitement as he now pulled ahead in the hand, albeit still needing to fade a flush draw and the board pairing.

The river peeled off the and Blindert turned around quickly leaving the tournament area.

At another table a player was eliminated from the tournament, bringing the field down to 39.

Stay tuned for a full recap, chip counts, and a seat draw later to come.

Dolofan Eliminates Moreno

Andrew Moreno raised to 10,000 from the hijack and action folded to the small blind where George Dolofan moved all in for 78,000 effective which saw action fold around to Moreno who called.

Andrew Moreno:
George Dolofan:

The board ran out with no favor towards Moreno’s ace-king and Dolofan took down the pot.

George Dolofan - 183,000
Andrew Moreno - Eliminated

Elimiations Late In The Night

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
DJ Buckley	0	68,000
Michael Dyer	0	16,000
Reg Powell	0	93,000
Michael Rossitto	0	93,000

Hallaert's Half A Million

A player in middle position raised to 9,000 which saw a player in the cutoff call and in the big blind, Kenny Hallaert defended his big blind.

The flop rolled out and Hallaert checked to the initial raiser who continued for 19,000 which saw both the cutoff and Hallaert call.

A peeled off on the turn and Hallaert checked to the initial raiser again who moved all in for 119,000 which saw the cutoff fold and Hallaert snap call.

Opponent:
Kenny Hallaert:

The river did not bring the needed chop for the other player and Hallaert took the overall lead over the field.

Kenny Hallaert - 506,000

Reichard Puts On His Cape

Action was picked up on the river in a pot between Josh Reichard in the hijack and another player in first position in a pot containing 56,000 in the middle.

With a board reading , the under the gun player bet 35,000 which sent Reichard into the tank. After some time he called.

The under the gun player turned over for a missed gutshot straight, while Reichard turned over for ace-high which was good for the two-time MSPT champion to take down the pot.

Josh Reichard - 254,000

Lagodich Falls To Moreno

Kenny Hallaert raised to 6,000 on the button which saw Frank Lagodich move all in for 65,000. In the big blind, Andrew Moreno moved all in for more and Hallaert tossed away his hand.

Frank Lagodich:
Andrew Moreno:

The board ran out and Moreno’s ace-king held up as the superior hand which sent Lagodich out of the tournament.

Andrew Moreno - 163,000
Frank Lagodich - Eliminated

Lambrecht Doubles Up

A player raised to 6,000 in first position which saw Matthew Lambrecht call in early position and on his immediate left, another player raised to 14,000. Action folded back around to Lambrecht who moved all in for 46,000 and his opponent called.

Matthew Lambrecht:
Opponent:

The board ran out and Lambrecht’s set of queens held strong for the double up.

Matthew Lambrecht - 106,000

Prizepool Confirmed

The prizepool has been confirmed for Day 2 of the event. With 807 entrants in the tournament total, the remaining 90 players will be guaranteed $2,305.

All eyes on the first place prize of $118,874.