Argentina's Federico Roberto Wins MSPT Venetian $1,100 Main Event ($294,327)

After just over five and a half hours of play on Day 3 of the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) Venetian $1,100 Main Event, it was Argentina's Federico Roberto who bested Robert Shega heads up to claim $294,327 and his first MSPT.

The Argentinian player, who’s lifetime earnings prior to the win totaled $74,124 according to The Hendon Mob, nearly quadrupled his lifetime earnings by conquering a 2,154-entry field, which surpassed the $1,5 million guarantee by offering up a $2,078,610 prize pool.

When the final hand came down, Roberto chanted for joy as he rushed to his family and child on the rail, holding them in a long embrace. He started his heads-up match with at massive chip deficit, and after turning down an even chop, he played for the win, capturing it in one of the toughest and largest MSPT fields of all time.

MSPT Venetian $1,100 Main Event Final Table Results

Final Day Action

It took roughly two levels to get down to the final table in the early goings of the day. It was John Walker who ended up being eliminated in tenth place when his ace-ten ran into Roberto’s ace-queen. He found no improvement and exited the tournament in tenth place for $32,011.

Action at the final table began with fireworks as it was World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner James Gilbert who ended up getting his chips in with pocket nines against Joshua Suyat’s ace-king. Big Slick rivered a Broadway straight and Gilbert ended up leaving the tournament in ninth place for $32,011.

Richard Kirsch was next to go in eighth place for $39,701. He was unable to gain much traction at the final table and eventually got in his chips with jack-ten against Suyat’s ace-king and was unable to improve.

After that it was Quy Dao who went out when he lost a race with ace-king against the pocket tens of Roberto. The flop went double paired and the pocket tens held up to send Dao out of the tournament in seventh place for $49,887.

Jimmy Setna began the day as one of the short stacks and was on the good end of a few key double-ups. His run came to an end however when he moved all in with pocket kings, only to get looked up by Jake Bazeley’s pocket threes, which would flop a third three on the board. Setna wished his table mates luck and exited in sixth place for $62,358.

Suyat went out next when he moved his entire stack into the center with six-seven suited against Roberto’s aces. Despite flopping a gutshot, he could not find the final card to help him and he would take home $85,233 for his fifth place finish.

The Day 1a chip leader Valentin Oberhauser ended up getting in his top pair of queens with a ten kicker in against Shega’s two pair of queens and fives on the turn. The river brought no help to Oberhauser and he left the tournament in fourth place for $114,324.

Just one hand later, Bazeley moved his 20 big blinds into the center with ace-eight against a raise of Shega, who snap-called him holding ace-king. The board did nothing to help Bazeley and he left the tournament in third place for $153,817.

Shega started the heads-up match with a massive chip lead and while a deal was offered, both players wanted to play for the trophy, so no agreement was made. A few preflop wars went back and forth between the players, but then a key hand unfolded when all of the chips went in preflop with Shega’s ace-four against Roberto’s jack-seven. Roberto hit a seven to stay alive, the stacks flipped, and it was Shega who was on the short stack.

Shega ended up finishing in second place when he got his king-two in against the ace-eight of Roberto, and although Shega flopped a king, it was a Broadway straight that ran out to give Roberto the win. Shega took home $219,085 for his impressive runner-up finish.

Congratulations to Federico Roberto for taking down the MSPT Venetian for his first MSPT title and $294,327.