The Venetian

Matt Wantman Clips the Milly Mark to Lead 14 Advancing Players After Day 1B

Another full day of action occurred during Day 1b of the MSPT $1,600 New Years Poker Open at the Venetian Resort, with18 full levels coming to completion as 38:00 minutes remained in Level 19 when the hard stop of 14 players was reached.

The second of three flights drew 125 runners, bringing the two-day total to 201 thus far with one flight remaining.

Of those entries, just players remained when pens went to slips, and it was Matt Wantman who clipped the milly mark to end the night with a whopping 1,008,000.

Wantman sat atop the chip counts for most of the later levels and secured the final elimination to bring the top stack thus far into Day 2.

Following behind Wantman was Jeremy Eyer, who received a healthy double in a kings vs queens hand to put 710,000 in his bag, while Michael Walsh (410,000), Terry Hartman (341,000), and the MSPT’s top casher DJ Buckley (335,000), rounded out the top five stacks.

Much like Day 1a, the final levels of the night saw an onslaught of casualties, with players such as Cre8ive Coach Tristan Wade and Yongqing Yuan among those to be eliminated before play concluded for the night.

Others who will be joining the aforementioned five include Day 1a’s bubble boy Stepan Khachaturyan (303,000), WSOP bracelet winner Francis Anderson(250,000), MSPT champ Matthew Schulte (209,000), fellow bracelet winner Darren Rabinowitz (207,000), and John Ypma (189,000), as they are just a few more of the players to add their names to the Day 2 roster along with the eight to have already advanced from Day 1a.

Among those not as lucky at the felt included Matt Affleck, MSPT champ Kfir Nahum, Joe Barnard, WSOP bracelet winner Peter Park, 2023 WSOP Main Event third-place finisher Adam Walton, and Jamie Kerstetter, with at least a few, if not all of them, likely to be seen back in action for the final flight.

The final starting flight for the Main Event is tomorrow, starting at 11:10 a.m. local time.

Everyone who makes Day 2 will return on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. to play for the first MSPT Season 17 $1,600 Main Event Title.

Congratulations to everyone who advanced to Day 2.

We will be back tomorrow for coverage of Day 1c right here on MSPTPoker.com from the Venetian Las Vegas!

MSPT Venetian New Years Poker Open Remaining Schedule

End Day 1B Chip Counts

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Matthew Wantman	1,008,000	886,000
Jeremy Eyer	710,000	734,000
Michael Walsh	410,000	410,000
Terry Hartman	341,000	341,000
DJ Buckley	335,000	305,000
Michael Hughes	329,000	329,000
Stepan Khachaturyan	303,000	303,000
Shundan Xiao	301,000	301,000
Francis Anderson	250,000	248,000
Matthew Schulte	209,000	209,000
Darren Rabinowitz	207,000	207,000
John Ypma	189,000	213,000
Dan Stavila	184,000	184,000
John Strawser	168,000	140,000

Josh McClelland Bubbles Day 1B

Photo: Josh McClelland

Matt Wantman raised the button and then called Josh McClelland’s 73,000 three-bet jam from the small blind.

Josh McClelland:
Matt Wantman:

McClelland was ahead, holding a made hand of threes until the flop hit the felt, pairing Wantman’s ace.

The turn left McClelland needing a three on the river to stay alive, but the completed the board and ended his night on the bubble.

Matt Wantman - 1,008,000
Josh McClelland - 0

Just One Month Away!

POKER BOWL X

$1,600 / $1,000,000 GTD

Feb. 4-7, 2026 / The Venetian Poker Room

$3,500 MSPT Championship Seat ADDED to 1st Place

BE THERE

Chips Stacks

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Matthew Wantman	886,000	600,000
Jeremy Eyer	734,000	430,000
Michael Walsh	410,000	153,000
Terry Hartman	341,000	381,000
Michael Hughes	329,000	365,000
DJ Buckley	305,000	287,000
Stepan Khachaturyan	303,000	377,000
Shundan Xiao	301,000	193,000
Francis Anderson	248,000	366,000
John Ypma	213,000	195,000
Matthew Schulte	209,000	240,000
Darren Rabinowitz	207,000	167,000
Dan Stavila	184,000	142,000
Josh McClelland	98,000	350,000

Yuan Finished Off by Schulte, Hand-for-Hand Begins

Photo: Yongqing Yuan

Yongqing Yuan moved her 59,000 stack into the middle from late position, and MSPT champ Matthew Schulte went over the top from the hijack, giving her isolation.

Yongqing Yuan:
Matthew Schulte:

Yuan was behind needing some help, but none came on the runout, ending her night just one shy of the bubble, starting the hand-for-hand process.

Matthew Schulte - 240,000
Yongqing Yuan - 0

Shih Loses Race to Strawser

Photo: Victor Shih

Dan Stavila opened for 15,000 from early position, only to have Victor Shih three-bet jam for 56,000 from the hijack, and John Strawser go over the top from the big blind, giving him isolation.

Victor Shih:
John Strawser:

Shih found himself racing for his tournament life only to fall behind after the flop fell, pairing Strawser’s king.

The turn left Shih needing a ten to fall on the river to stay alive, but the completed the board and ended his night.

John Strawser - 140,000
Victor Shih - 0

Schulte Flips Well Against Yuan

Photo: Matthew Schulte

Terry Hartman limped in from an early position, only to have Yongqing Yuan raise all-in for 166,000 from the button, and MSPT champ Matthew Schulte call off his 117,000 stack from the small blind.

Matthew Schulte:
Yongqing Yuan:

It was a classic race with the flop giving Schulte top pair to take the lead.

The turn kept Schulte out in front, while the river improved him to top two-pair and secured his double-up.

Matthew Schulte - 240,000
Yongqing Yuan - 44,000

Not So Lucky Sevens for Wade

Tristan Wade open-jammed 93,000 under the gun, and Michael Hughes looked him up from the small blind.

Tristan Wade:
Michael Hughes:

Wade woke up with a made hand to roll with only to run into a better one, and he wasn’t able to find a lucky seven on the runout, ending his night.

Michael Hughes - 382,000
Trictan Wade - 0

Eyer Cools Off Xiao for a Double Up

Photo: Jeremy Eyer

Josh McClelland raised to 12,000 from the hijack, only to have Jeremy Eyer three-bet from the cutoff, and Shundan Xiao four-bet jam from the button.

Only Eyer decided to risk his shorter 196,000 stack, and both hands were tabled.

Jeremy Eyer:
Shundan Xiao:

Eyer woke up with kings at the perfect time, as he held the superior premium made hand, and the clean runout secured his double-up.

Jeremy Eyer - 430,000
Shundan Xiao - 193,000