The Venetian

Michael Rocco Claims First MSPT Venetian $1,100 Main Event for $54,049

The first of two back-to-back Main Events at the Venetian has come to an end after seven hours of play as California native Michael Rocco is the newest MSPT $1,100 Main Event Champion after he defeated Frederick Brink in heads-up play to take home trophy and $54,049.

Rocco came into the final day third in chips and really didn’t start to catch steam until the final two tables and contributes a nice run of cards paved the way to victory.

“It’s feels good, I ran really well and won a lot of all-ins which is what you need to have happen if you want to win a tournament,” said Rocco after his victory.

An accomplished pro with over $3,600,000 in earnings, Rocco was happy to be back in the winner's circle and claiming a new piece of hardware.

“I took about five to six months of from playing anything so it's nice to come back and win,” Rocco said in his closing statement.

Season 14 MSPT Venetian $1,100 Main Event Final Table Results

The final day came back with 30 players already in the money so action kicked right into gear with MSPT Yotam Wainbebg being outkicked by Frederick Brick in the first hand of the day.

Action across the final four tables continued with players dropping like wildfire as the march to the final table was on.

Among those to fall along the way, albeit with a payday were, Jameson Voll (10th Place - $4,922), defending champ Matthew Schulte (12th Place - $4,140) MSPT champ Kfir Nahum (14th Place - $3,553), and Christina "Baby Shark" Gollins (23rd Place - $2,784).

Final Table Action

The fast-paced action kept rolling with Aditya Prasetyo becoming the final table elimination after his top two-pair was straightened out by Brandon Eisen on the river.

The very next level saw Cody Wiegmann takeoff for a race against Rocco only to have his pocket nines come up short after a lucky lady came on the river.

After Wiegmann's departure, Brink was able to win a pair of races to eliminate Matt Lerner in seventh place, and Spencer Champlin in sixth place.

In the same level, Michael Williams was able to ride his short stack two pay jumps before he fell victim to Brian Battiston's big slick and made a fifth place exit.

With four players remaining, Rocco would make quick work of his three opponents’ eliminating Eisen in fourth place ($20,701) with pocket aces, Battiston in third place ($28,021) with pocket jacks, and Brink in second place ($38,588) with pocket sevens.

Frederick Brink Eliminated in 2nd Place ($38,588)

Frederick Brink raised all in and Michael Rocco called.

Frederick Brink:
Michael Rocco:

Brink was behind needing to pair his king but didn’t mind the flop that fell giving him a Broadway draw.

The pairing the board on the turn also wasn’t horrible for Brink as it brough possible counterfeit possibilities, but the river was a brick and ended his Main Event runner-up for $38,588.

Michael Rocco - 6,700,000
Frederick Brink - ​​​​​​​Eliminated

Not to the Brink Yet

Michael Rocco limped-in and then called Frederick Brink’s 560,000 three-bet jam.

Frederick Brink:
Michael Rocco:

Brink was ahead holding a king and that was all he needed as the runout kept his Main Event alive.

Michael Rocco - 5,500,000
Frederick Brink - 1,200,000

Brian Battistone Eliminated in 3rd Place ($28,021)

Frederick Brink opened for 125,000 from the button, only to have Brian Battistone three-bet jam for 1,890,000 from the small blind and Michael Rocco call before getting an official count.

With action back on Brink, he used one time bank before releasing Big Slick into the muck.

Brian Battistone:
Michael Rocco:

It wasn’t the worst situation for Battistone after seeing he was racing for his tournament, but he couldn’t find either of his two overs on the runout and he was eliminated in third place for $28,021.

Michael Rocco - 5,700,000
Frederick Brink - 1,000,000
Brian Battistone - Eliminated

Final 3 Chip Counts

Player Name	Chip Count	Previous	Progress
Michael Rocco	4,185,000	3,285,000
Brian Battistone	1,415,000	1,700,000
Frederik Brink	1,100,000	1,100,000

Brandon Eisen Eliminated in 4th Place ($20,701)

A series of preflop raises led to Brandon Eisen getting his stack in the middle from the big blind and was called by Michael Rocco from the small blind.

Brandon Eisen:
Michael Rocco:

Eisen was in rough shape and things got worse after the flop gave Rocco top set.

The turn was not the card Eisen wanted to see as it left him drawing dead to the river.

Michael Rocco - 3,285,000
Brandon Eisen - Eliminated

Michael Williams Eliminated in 5th Place ($15,565)

Michael Williams was all in for 300,00 from the small blind and was called by Brian Battistone from the button.

Michael Williams:
Brian Battistone:

Williams was behind until a jack appeared in the window on the flop.

Unfortunately for Williams, it was a short lived victory as the dealer turned the pairing Battistone, and the river eliminated him in fifth place for $15,565.

Brian Battistone - 1,700,000
Michael Williams - Eliminated

Spencer Champlin Eliminated in 6th Place ($11,913)

Spencer Champlin open-jammed 415,000 from under the gun and Frederick Brink looked him up from the button.

Spencer Champlin:
Frederick Brink:

Champlin was ahead holding a made hand of nines and nothing changed after the flop.

The turn was safe for Champlin as it paired the board and just as things were looking good, the dealer dropped the on the river ending his Main Event.

Frederick Brink - 1,300,000
Spencer Champlin - Eliminated

Mett Lerner Eliminated in 7th Place ($9,286)

Matt Lerner raised all in for 450,000 from the hijack and Frederick Brink called from the small blind holding 490,000.

Matt Lerner:
Frederick Brink:

It was another classic race with Lerner’s made hand of tens coming in last place after the runout paired Brink’s king.

Frederick Brink - 965,000
Matt Lerner - Eliminated

Eisen Doubles Through Rocco

Action folded to Michael Rocco who raised all in from the small blind and Brandon Eisen called off his 560,000 stack from the big blind.

Brandon Eisen:
Michael Rocco:

Eisen was ahead and the runout secured his double-up.

Michael Rocco - 2,200,000
Brandon Eisen - 1,120,000