The $1,600 MSPT Venetian Main Event has come to a close. After 702 players brought the $750,000 guaranteed prizepool to over $1 million, the 79 final players have all been eliminated barring one who stands alone as the newly crowned MSPT champion.

Malta’s #1 player on Hendon Mob, Corel Theuma came into the day with the massive chip lead and he continued to hold it until the very end of the tournament where he won $113,900. “Still in shock you know,” the newly crowned champion said, surrounded by his supportive rail, “you play so many tournaments and you dream of getting in this spot and holding this trophy, it’s pretty awesome.”

Theuma’s run as the chip leader throughout the day saw a bit of friction in the middle of the day when the players came to the final two tables, but a massive pot saw him take over half the chips in play. “I played a really big hand with Michael Wang, who is obviously an incredible player, and I’m quite glad my kings held.”

With this win, Theuma extends his lead on Malta’s all time money list. “It means a lot to me,” he said when referring to his home island, “it’s a small island, but there's a lot of great players there.” When asked if he was going to come back to play another MSPT he responded “well my wife isn’t gonna say no!” to which his rail, including his wife, laughed.

Final Table Results

Final Table Action

Colin Robinson became the last player to exit the tournament prior to the final table. He moved in his final couple of big blinds from the small blind with king-nine, only for John Cap to wake up with pocket sevens in the big blind and hold on. Robinson became the final table bubble boy for $15,825 and the final table was set.

Aaron Massey made his ninth MSPT final table appearance at this $1,600 main event. With the shortest stack, he called off his final four big blinds with king-eight, only to be up against Michael Weber’s king jack suited. A flush on the river saw an end for the MSPT champion and he took his leave in ninth place for $19,556.

Next to go was Ronald Sullivan in eighth place. He got in most of his chips preflop, but was called by Terry Fleisher. He check-called it off against Fleisher with jacks, only for Fleisher to be holding aces and he exited the tournament area, collecting $24,444 for his finish.

Laddering his way up on the short stack from two tables and down was Spencer Champlin who finished the tournament in sixth place. Fikret Kovac moved in most of his chips with pocket eights preflop while Champlin called for the vast majority of his chips preflop with ace-queen. They got it in on the nine-high board and Champlin collected $30,903.

Play slowed down for a bit until the next confrontation which saw Kovac move in his final big blinds in from the small blind with king-nine, only for Theuma to call with his ace-seven and hold up. Theuma added to his chip lead and Kovac exited the tournament in sixth place for $39,508

Despite doubling very early on in the final table, Orestis Kanakopoulos four bet all in for all of his chips against Michael Weber with ace-eight, only for Weber to be holding pocket aces. Kanakopoulos managed to pair his kicker on the flop, but with no help to be had Kanakopoulos gave all of his chips to Weber and collected $51,070 for his fifth place finish.

After some play at four handed, the players discussed and eventually agreed upon an icm deal.

Taking fourth place was going to be Cap who collected $99,511, just a week after his fourth place finish in MSPT Deadwood. Taking third place was Terry Fleisher who collected $108,767, after coming into the day with just three big blinds and having bagged a Day 2 in another tournament at another casino. Taking home second place was Michael Weber who collected $109,366, a career best score for the Indiana native, and taking home first place was Corel Thuema who collected $113,900 and his first MSPT trophy.

Congratulations to Corel Thuema who won his first MSPT along with $113,900. Thank you to all who played and thank you for reading along with us here on MSPT.com.