The Venetian

Adam Walton Bags Top Stack After Day 1A of the MSPT $1,600 Heart Poker Championship

Day 1a of the MSPT $1,600 Heart Poker Championship at the Venetian Resort is officially in the books with 68 total entries tallied, and the talented field that entered came to play as action at the tables proved to be eventful from start to finish.

Only 15 levels were needed to hit 11% of the field as the hard stop was reached with 20:12 remaining at 3,000/5,000/5,000, with Adam Walton securing the final elimination of the night to bag the top stack with 684,000, leading the eight advancing players.

Sitting behind Walton was Elvyn Bello Santos, who was able to maneuver his way to a 615,000 stack to end the night, while Jamie Reyes (334,00), Lucas Vergara (266,000), and Michael Ciccarelli (243,000). Others to survive the first flight included Justin Arnwine (223,000), Viet Nguyen (192,000), (211,000), and Jesse Yaginuma (162,000).

Among those to fire and fall in Wednesday’s starting flight were WSOP bracelet winner Joseph Cheong, Peter Cross, Victoria Livschitz, Ben Palmer, and fellow bracelet winner Andrew Ostapchenko, as they were just a few who took their shot at a bag on Day 1a only to come up short.

All who have yet to advance will have three more starting flights to jump back into the action.

Day 1b will get underway at 11:10 a.m. on Thursday, Day 1c at the same time on Friday, and Day 1d at 11:10 a.m. on Saturday.

Late registration and re-entries will remain open through Level 9 (approximately 5:55 p.m.) for all flights.

The surviving players from the three starting flights will then return for Day 2 at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 19^th, and will play until seven players remain.

Join us tomorrow as we continue to bring you all the action and eliminations straight from the tournament floor!

MSPT Venetian Remaining Schedule

Make sure to tune back in tomorrow for full live coverage of the MSPT Heart Poker Championship, which will be crowned LIVE in the Venetian Poker Room!

Join Us 2026 MSPT Colorado Poker State Championship Series!

: Bally's Black Hawk Casino - Black Hawk, CO

: July 22 - August 2, 2026

: Colorado Poker State Championship

: $1,110 Main Event / $500K GTD

$3,500 MSPT CHAMPIONSHIP SEAT ADDED TO MAIN EVENT 1ST PLACE

: 17 Gold Card Tournaments

Event Schedule: https://msptpoker.com/showpdf.aspx?eventID=516

End Day 1A Chip Counts

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Adam Walton	684,000	700,000
Elvyn Bello Santos	615,000	105,000
Jamie Reyes	337,000	98,000
Lucas Vergara	266,000	321,000
Michael Ciccarelli	243,000	257,000
Justin Arnwine	223,000	283,000
Viet Nguyen	192,000	89,000
Jesse Yaginuma	162,000	352,000

Jack Duong Bubbles Day 1A

After losing ace-king to pocket sixes, Jack Duong moved all-in for his last 40,000 from the button and Adam Walton looked him up from the big blind.

Jack Duong:
Adam Walton:

Duong was ahead holding a suited ace, but the flop paired Walton’s deuce, giving him the lead.

The then fell on the turn, bringing possible chop outs if a five were to fall on the river, but the completed the board on the river and ended his night on the bubble.

Adam Walton - 684,000
Jack Duong - 0

Yaginuma Doubles Through Arnwine

Photo: Jesse Yaginuma

Jesse Yaginuma raised all-in for 55,000 from middle position, and Justin Arnwine looked him up from the hijack.

Jesse Yaginuma:
Justin Arnwine:

Yaginuma rolled over the superior-made hand and enjoyed the flop, which gave him a set of tens.

The turn then sealed the deal for Yaginuma as he collected his double after the meaningless completed the board on the river.

Justin Arnwine - 251,000
Jesse Yaginuma - 128,000

Ciccarelli Sets Up Arnwine's Cowboys to Survive the Bubble

Photo: Michael Ciccarelli

Michael Ciccarelli raised all-in from under the gun, and Justin Arnwine went over the top from the button, giving him isolation,

Michael Ciccarelli:
Justin Arnwine:

Ciccarelli rolled over the inferior made hand, but found some help on the flop to take the lead.

The dealer then turned the , keeping Ciccarelli in the lead, and then dropped the on the river to secure his double on the bubble.

Michael Ciccarelli - 380,000
Justin Arnwine - 144,000

Pre Bubble Eliminations

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Matt Davenport	0	145,000
Frank Lagodich	0	192,000
Anand Norby	0	161,000

Davenport Dropped by Walton

Photo: Matt Davenport

There was all-in action after a flop between Matt Davenport from under the gun and Adam Walton from the hijack, with Davenport holding 135,000 effective.

Matt Davenport:
Adam Walton:

Davenport was at risk holding an ace with an open-ended straight draw, but neither the turn, nor the river improved his hand, ending his night.

Adam Walton - 600,000
Matt Davenport - 0

Lambrecht Misses Broadway

Photo: Matthew Lambrecht

Matthew Lambrecht tossed out his last 23,000 from middle position, and Jamie Reyes looked him up from the small blind.

Matthew Lambrecht:
Jamie Reyes:

Lambrecht was behind, needing help, and found a Broadway draw after the flop fell, pairing Reyes’ jack

The turn then left Lambrecht needing a king on the river to stay alive, but the completed the board and ended his night.

Jamie Reyes - 125,000
Matthew Lambrecht - Eliminated

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The Top 64 will compete in the MSPT $20K Heads Up Freeroll Championship “Winner Take All” during the 2026 MSPT Winter Poker Classic at Running Aces Casino, Hotel & Racetrack in December (bracket format).

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