$1,110 Main Event
Day 2 Completed
2022 MSPT Venetian Fall
$1,110 Main Event
Day: 2
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
2022 MSPT Venetian Fall
Buy-in
$1,100
Prize Pool
$500,000
Entries
470
Level
29
Blinds
60,000 / 120,000
Ante
20,000
Entries
53
Players Left
1
Level 29
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 20,000 ante
As the man would say, "Dim the Lights!" Jeff Platt has turned the lights out on the MSPT Venetian $1,100 Main Event by defeating a field of 470 entries en route to his first-ever poker tournament trophy and $100,804 to go along with it. In an epic heads-up battle with Russel McClean, Platt came out on top in a thriller to claim the title.
Widely known for being on the other side of the table doing interviews for PokerGO or in the commentary booth, Platt is starting to make a name for himself on the felt as well. A deep run in a 2021 WSOP event grabbed much of the poker community's attention but Platt just fell short in fourth place. However, he wasn't to be denied the title today as he put on a clinical performance when it mattered most.
"It's awesome, I'm thrilled!" Platt expressed after his victory. "It's hard to beat the feeling of winning a poker tournament. The money is fantastic but to win a poker tournament just means the absolute world to me."
The Las Vegas native came into the day with an above-average chip stack but had to compete against some of the best players to get the job done today. "I saw a lot of pretty big names and I started on a table with Christina Gollins, Bryan Piccioli, ran into Stanley (Lee) later. Sergei Kislinski, I think is one of the best players in Vegas when he plays live tournaments. The challenge was at a high level and I love that, I love poker because it allows me to express that competitive level."
One of the biggest turning points for Platt in his heads-up match came near the end when he opted for a massive over-bet on the river after making two pair. McClean decided to pay him off and Platt had the goods, taking a commanding chip lead that he wouldn't look back on. He credits a lot of his poker knowledge and could say that his success stems from being in the poker industry.
"My job allows me to study while I'm at work. I get to sit next to a good analyst, yes I will compliment Brent Hanks or Maria Ho or Jamie Kerstetter, and all we're doing is watching the very best players in the world play poker tournaments. I like to study, and it helps me become a better broadcaster, and being a better broadcaster helps me become a better player. I'm invested in poker, it's not just a job or a career."
Final table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Jeff Platt | United States | $100,804 |
| 2nd | Russel McClean | United States | $68,535 |
| 3rd | Sergei Kislinski | Russia | $48,491 |
| 4th | Michael Lydon | United States | $34,673 |
| 5th | Cody Wiegmann | United States | $26,130 |
| 6th | Scott Sisler | United States | $19,598 |
| 7th | David Yokoyama | United States | $14,573 |
| 8th | Trey Bartlett | United States | $11,055 |
| 9th | Carl Oman | United States | $9,045 |
Final Day Action
There were 53 players who returned to the felt for Day 2 of the tournament and each of them had locked up at least a min-cash of $2,513. Joshua Reichard actually recorded his 26th MSPT cash and is one of the most recent to earn MSPT Hall of Fame status. Despite an early pot for Reichard, he was sidelined shortly after in the opening level of the day.
Some other notables to fall by the wayside as the day unfolded include Jared Jaffee (42nd place), Dan Bekavac (28th place), Gollins (24th place), Lee (18th place), and Tyler Patterson (13th place).
It only took a mere six hours to reach the official final table of nine but then the pace of play gradually slowed down as the pay jumps became more meaningful. They played eight-handed for nearly an hour before Trey Bartlett and David Yokoyama hit the rail in eighth and seventh place respectively.
Scott Sisler entered the final table as the chip leader and continued to run over his opponent with some aggressive play. However, a cold deck got the best of Sisler as he ran his pocket queens into the kings of McClean. Moments later, Sisler was eliminated in sixth place. On the next hand, Cody Wiegmann joined him at the payout desk as the start-of-day chip leader saw his tournament end in fifth place.
Chips were being passed around among the final four players but it was Michael Lydon who saw his pocket fives go up in flames when Kislinsk tabled pocket kings. Kislinski rolled out to a dominant chip lead for the second time at the final table but was unable to hold on after an ill-timed bluff against McClean.
That left Platt and McClean to battle it out for the trophy and Platt began the match with a slight chip lead. However, McClean got three streets of value with top set and put Platt in a compromising position. The PokerGO broadcaster wasn't going to be denied though as he continued to battle back with large value bets over and over again. Platt eventually got paid off and would not relinquish the lead en route to his victory.
That wraps up the PokerNews coverage for this MSPT stop but be sure to keep an eye on the coverage as the tour will make its way to San Diego in a few weeks for the United States Poker Championship.
Level 29
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 20,000 ante
Jeff Platt limped in on the button like he's often been doing and Russel McClean shipped all in for around 1,600,000 in the big blind. Platt instantly called and the cards were on their backs.
Russel McClean: 
Jeff Platt: 
Platt was in the lead but the flop of 
gave McClean a pair of sevens. The 
on the turn was a brick but the 
on the river was exactly what Platt needed to eliminate McClean in second place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
11,750,000
3,225,000
|
3,225,000 |
|
Busted |
Level 29
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 20,000 ante
Russel McClean raised to 240,000 on the button and Jeff Platt defended from the big blind. The flop came 
and Platt check-called a bet of 200,000 from McClean.
The 
landed on the turn and Platt check-called another bet of 350,000 this time. The 
completed the board and Platt bombed the river with a bet of 2,300,000. McClean looked him up and Platt turned over 
for two pair to take over the lead.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
8,525,000
4,175,000
|
4,175,000 |
|
|
3,225,000
-4,175,000
|
-4,175,000 |
Level 29
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 20,000 ante
Jeff Platt limped on the button and Russel McClean made it 500,000 to go from the big blind. Platt called and they saw a flop of 
. McClean continued with a bet of 450,000 and Platt called.
The turn brought the 
and both players checked to the 
on the river. McClean checked again and Platt made a small bet of 350,000. McClean looked him up and Platt showed 
. McClean tabled 
for a pair of fives to win the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
7,400,000
1,320,000
|
1,320,000 |
|
|
4,350,000
-1,320,000
|
-1,320,000 |
Level 29
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 20,000 ante
Russel McClean raised to 300,000 on the button and Jeff Platt called from the big blind. The flop came 
and both players checked to the on the turn.
Platt led out with a bet of 450,000 and McClean called to see the 
on the river. Platt reached back for a large bet of 2,100,000 which put McClean in the tank for over three minutes. He eventually laid his hand down and Platt dragged in the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
6,080,000
-950,000
|
-950,000 |
|
|
5,670,000
950,000
|
950,000 |
Level: 29
Blinds: 60,000/120,000
Ante: 20,000
Level 28
: Blinds 50,000/100,000, 20,000 ante
The two remaining players are taking a quick scheduled break before play resumes.
Level 28
: Blinds 50,000/100,000, 20,000 ante
Jeff Platt limped in on the button and Russel McClean raised to 400,000 out of the big blind. Platt called and the dealer fanned the flop of 
. McClean led out with a bet of 300,000 and Platt called.
The turn was the 
and McClean counted out a bet of 700,000. Platt still called and the completed the board. McClean pushed out a bet of 1,200,000 which put Platt in the tank for a couple of minutes. He eventually flicked in a chip to call and McClean showed 
for a set of queens to take the chip lead.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
7,030,000
1,740,000
|
1,740,000 |
|
|
4,720,000
-1,740,000
|
-1,740,000 |
Level 28
: Blinds 50,000/100,000, 20,000 ante
Sergei Kislinski was down to around 12 big blinds and shoved all in for 1,255,000 in the small blind. Russel McClean asked for a count from the big blind and then stuck in the chips to call.
Sergei Kislinski:
Russel McClean:
The flop came and McClean was still out front with his king-high. The 
on the turn nor the 
on the river connected with Kislinski who was eliminated in third place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
6,460,000
380,000
|
380,000 |
|
|
5,290,000
2,120,000
|
2,120,000 |
|
Busted |