The Venetian

Samuel Bifarella Wins MSPT Venetian $1,100 Main Event for First Title!

The MSPT returned to beautiful Venetian Resort in Las Vegas for the third time this season, but the first as MAJOR Series of Poker - The Tour, to host back-to-back $1,000,000 GTD events!

After tallying 1,171 entries in the $1,100 Main Event, just seven players returned to action for the final day on Thursday in hopes of securing the top prize from the $1,142,896 prize pool.

When the dust finally settled, it was start of day chip leader Samuel Bifarella who was able to use his large chip lead to seize the moment and capture his first MSPT title along with a career score of $141,905.

“It feels really good to win”, Bifarella said after his victory, “This was the first tournament I’ve played here so far so it's a good way to start.”

While Bifarella came into Day 3 with over a third of the chips in play, he stayed fairly quiet throughout most of it until the final three players remained.

From there, he switched gears and started picking apart both of his opponents until he collected every chip in play to become the new MSPT Venetian $1,100 Main Event Champion!

MSPT Season 16 $1,100 Main Event Final Table Results

*denotes heads-up deal

Day 3 Action

Once the final players got mic’d up for action, things kicked right into gear with Andre Rieder able to flush his way to an early double only to fall a few hands later to Hrachya Ohanyan to become the first elimination of the day.

After getting a pay jump, short-stack Robert Nemeskeri-Kiss found a pretty suited hand to roll and took a ride on a rollercoaster only to get rivered by Baurzhan Akimov to take a sixth-place finish for $40,769.

Once the two shorties hit the deck, Brett Bader found himself at the bottom of the chip counts and tried to make a move in a battle of the blinds against Claudiu Burlacu, only to roll over a dominated hand to depart in fifth-place exit for $52,366.

Bader's departure then left Ohanyan sitting with the least amount of chips, but the first cooler of the day would occur after he turned a four-card straight with a pair of tens to crack Akimov’s pocket aces to jump to the top of the chip counts.

The cooling hand then left Akimov no choice but to make a move, and he found a suited king to try to double his stack with, only to miss his flush draw against Burlacu to take home $67,822 for his fourth-place efforts.

Once Akimov’s hit the deck, the chips evened out between the three remaining players, and it took almost two full levels before Ohanyan became the third place finisher after being flushed out the door by Burlacu to take home $88,850.

The elimination then put Burlacu in contention with Bifarella, who held a slight chip lead when the heads-up match started only to lose it after Burlacu turned a double to even the playing field.

Even after doubling Burlacu, Bifarella didn’t lose his composure, as he was able to take back the chip lead in q matter of a few hands.

From there, Bifarella held over 90% of the chips in play, and Burlacu was able to find a few lucky double-ups before ultimately taking a second-place finish for $131,905 while Bifarella took home the MSPT Venetian Main Event title!

This wraps up our coverage of yet another amazing week at the Venetian Las Vegas. Make sure to join us next time when we make our trip back to Riverside, Iowa, for the Iowa Poker State Championship at the Riverside Casino from July 22nd - 27^th!

Claudiu Burlacu Eliminated in 2nd Place ($131,905)

Claudiu Burlacu was all in for 8,950,000 and was called by Samuel Bifarella.

Claudiu Burlacu:
Samuel Bifarella:

Burlacu rolled over a dominated ace with not much changing after the flop hit the felt.

The turn then left Burlacu drawing to a none heart six to stay alive, but the paired the board on the river and ended his run in second place for $131,905.

Samuel Bifarella - 35,100,000
Claudiu Burlacu - Eliminated

Burlacu Finds Another Double to Stay Alive

Claudiu Burlacu raised all in for 4,950,000 and was called by Samuel Bifarella.

Claudiu Burlacu:
Samuel Bifarella:

Burlacu was at risk needing help, but none came on the flop that paired Bifarella.

The turn, however, fell the putting Burlacu out in front and the dealer followed with the on the river for good measure to secure his double-up.

Samuel Bifarella - 24,725,000
Claudiu Burlacu - 10,375,000

Bifarella Puts Burlacu to the Test

Samuel Bifarella raised and Claudiu Burlacu defended to see a flop.

Burlacu check-called 1,000,000 continuation bet from Bifarella, and then did the same for 2,700,000 after the fell on the turn.

Once the paired the board on the river, Burlacu checked his option one last time only to fold to na all-in bet from Bifarella.

Samuel Bifarella - 27,925,000
Claudiu Burlacu - 7,250,000

Bifarella Takes Massive Chip Lead with Two Pair

Samuel Bifarella raised to 800,000 and Claudiu Burlacu defended to see a flop.

Burlacu check-called a 900,000 continuation bet, and then did the same for 3,200,000 after the was turned.

Once the completed the board on the river, Burlacu checked his option one last time only to call a healthy 8,000 bet from Bifarella.

Bifarella then tabled for two-pair and it was good as Burlacu tossed into the muck.

Samuel Bifarella - 30,475,000
Claudiu Burlacu - 4,700,000

Burlacu Turns a Double to Even the Chip Counts

Claudiu Burlacu raised and then called off his 8,800,000 stack after Samuel Bifarella put him all in.

Claudiu Burlacu:
Samuel Bifarella:

Bifarella was ahead holding a made hand of threes with the flop not changing much.

However, Burlacu was able to find a lucky on the turn to take the lead while the river gave him the slight chip lead.

Claudiu Burlacu - 18,000,000
Samuel Bifarella - 17,175,000

Hrachya Ohanyan Eliminated in 3rd Place ($88,850)

Hrachya Ohanyan was all in for 5,925,000 from the big blind and was called by Claudiu Burlacu from the button.

Hrachya Ohanyan:
Claudiu Burlacu:

Ohanyan was at risk holding two live suited cards and the flop kept things interesting.

The was then tuned by the dealer completing Ohanyan’s straight to give him the lead, but they then followed with the on the river, giving Burlacu the nuts to eliminate Ohanyan.

Samuel Bifarella - 19,875,000
Claudiu Burlacu - 15,300,000
Hrachya Ohanyan - Eliminated

Updated Counts

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Samuel Bifarella	21,425,000	18,325,000
Claudiu Burlacu	7,425,000	7,775,000
Hrachya Ohanyan	6,325,000	9,175,000

Talking Stick to Host Diamond Poker Championship!

MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT

The 1st MSPT MAJOR in 2026 will be held at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, AZ boasting a $1M GTD Main Event

: Talking Stick Resort - Scottsdale, AZ

: Jan. 29 - Feb. 1, 2026

: $1M GTD / $1,100

: Poker Championship

msptpoker.com

Chip Movement

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Samuel Bifarella	18,325,000	16,375,000
Hrachya Ohanyan	9,175,000	10,075,000
Claudiu Burlacu	7,775,000	8,650,000