The second of back-to-back Main Events at The Venetian has come to an end after eight hours of play as Michigan native and online pro George Janssen, was able to seize the moment and improved off last week's third place finish to become the newest MSPT Venetian $1,600 Main Event Champion!
While Janssen came into the final day as the chip leader, it wasn't as smooth of a ride as one would think, as he went for daily up and down rollercoaster after he dipped to the bottom on the chip counts with just two tables remaining.
"This was a huge win," Janssen said after his victory. "I was down to just four big blinds with two tables left, so to be able to come back, and win from that has me pumped."
Almost a 10-year vet in the game, Janssen has cashes dating back to 2015, but hasn't really started taking things serious until recent online gambling became legal in his home state of Michigan.
While mainly an online player, Janssen tries to make trips to play live tournaments that are nearby his hometown in Michigan but had the opportunity to treat not only himself a trip to Vegas but has his family a well.
“You know, I was fortunate enough to be able to bring my family with me out here,” stated Janssen, “My kids watch me play online every day at home and they are such great supporters, this isn't just a win for me but a win for all of us.”
Since taking his more seriously online, Janssen has amassed over $200,000 in earnings while accumulating four WSOP circuit rings and has bagged $162,684 to go along with his first Main Event title from just two MSPT Main Events this month.
The final day came back with 31 players already in the money so action kicked right into gear with Anthony Cousineau being outkicked by Angela Jordison in the first hand of the day.
Action across the final four tables continued with players dropping once by one as the march to the final table was on.
Among those to fall along the way albeit with a payday were, Nicholas Seward (10th Place - $7,561), MSPT champs Rodger Johnson (14th Place - $5,426) Rob WazWaz (19th Place - $4,734), and James Romero (26th Place - $3,828).
Final Table Action
After players took their seats, it didn't take long before Christopher Ocksrider called off his short stack and lost a race to Sundiata DeVore to become the first final table elimination.
The very next level saw Sam Sternfield jam his short stack into Taylor Black's pocket aces, making an eighth place departure while the last MSPT champ standing Aaron Massey fell to the same fate as his set of fours were out done by Janssen's set of aces.
In the same level, Jannsen was able to notch another KO after he won a race against DeVore to send him home in sixth place while the Emily Ashkarkhizani fell in fifth place after she jammed her deuces into Jeremy Becker's pocket aces.
With four players remaining, Becker and Janssen held identical stacks until Janssen made a soul read, having Becker outkicked to take a commanding chip lead only to extend it after he eliminated Chad Lipton in fourth place for $31,905.
Three-handed action saw Janssen hold roughly two-thirds of the chips in play, and he dwindled Becker down before setting him up in third place for $43,125.
From there, the heads-up match saw Janssen hold majority of the chips in play and ended with securing his first MSPT trophy with payday good for $82,823 after elimination Black runner-up for $59,275.