"January $100,000" (Flight 1C): Official End Of Flight 1C Chip Counts

"January $100,000"
$360 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 15 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/500)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 71
Flight 1C Players Remaining: 12

Jeff	Kessler	149,000
Matt	Lambrecht	147,500
Brandon	Lulov	142,500
Walter	Bravo	137,500
Joshua	Rittenberg	131,000
Omar	Yates	120,000
Brian	Nerney	97,000
Alex	Brody	96,500
Frank	Scala	77,000
Skip	McDonough	71,500
Yoav	Levy	65,500
David	Poces	39,500

"January $100,000" (Flight 1C): Wrapping Up The Flight 1C Action

"January $100,000"
$360 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 15 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/500)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 71
Flight 1C Players Remaining: 20

The remaining Flight 1C players of this $360 No Limit Hold'em "January $100,000" are entering the final level of play (Level 15), with blinds now up to 1,500/3,000/500.  Once this level reaches the 10:00 minute mark, the tournament clock will be paused, and players will be informed of how many hands are left in the night.  Once those hands are completed at each table, the bagging process will begin, with official chip counts to be posted shortly thereafter (about 8:30pm).

Those that are interested in joining the action can do so in tonight's evening flight (Flight 1D), which got underway at 6:00pm, and has open registration until the end of Level 12.  This will conclude the live coverage for the day, but as mentioned above, the chips counts for each of today's flights will be posted once the bagging process has been completed.

"January $100,000" (Flight 1C): Carey Pickus Holding It Down For The Ladies

"January $100,000"
$360 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 14 (Blinds 1,200/2,400/400)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 71
Flight 1C Players Remaining: 20

Carey Pickus (Palm Beach, FL) peaked at close to 100,000 at one point this afternoon, but is looking to double-up at the moment, as she sits with less than fifteen big blinds.

2017 was a very strong year for female poker players here at the Isle Poker Room, with numerous ladies taking home major titles.  While there was only one woman to bag chips from yesterday's pair of flights, she happened to pack up the largest stack of the (16) players already headed to Day 2 (Kathy Sapp).  Carey Pickus (Palm Beach, FL) is the only lady left in today's flight, and needs to do some work to reach the end of Level 15, as she sits with only fourteen big blinds.

Carey is coming off of her second best year of tournament poker, cashing for just under $20,000 in 2017. Pickus's best Isle Poker result came during the 2017 Isle Open $1,500 Championship Event, when she finished in 42nd place ($2,749).

Carey Pickus - 34,000 (14bb)

"January $100,000" (Flight 1C): Updated Chip Counts After Final Break

"January $100,000"
$360 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 13 (Blinds 1,000/2,000/300)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 71
Flight 1C Players Remaining: 20

Jeff Kessler (Plantation, FL) is sitting with 120,000 in front of him, and could be in the running for a chip lead bonus, with the help of a strong final two levels.

Flight 1C of the "January $100,000" ended up seeing registration close with a total of (71) entries, $21,300 going towards the overall prize pool.  Brandon Lulov currently leads the field with 140,000, and needs to put at least 180,000 in a bag, if he has any hopes of earning himself a "chip lead bonus."

Brandon Lulov - 140,000 (70bb)
Jeff Kessler - 120,000 (60bb)
Brian Nerney - 94,000 (47bb)
Alberto Niebla - 88,000 (44bb)
Omar Yates - 78,000 (39bb)
Walter Bravo - 75,000 (37bb)
Skip McDonough - 70,000 (35bb)
Josh Ritterman - 66,000 (33bb)
Carey Pickus - 40,000 (20bb)

"January $100,000" (Flight 1C): Harvell Puts In A Long Day Once Again, Ends Up With Same Result

"January $100,000"
$360 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 12 (Blinds 800/1,600/200)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 71

Brandon Lulov (Brooklyn, NY) can spend the final three levels of the flight thinking about bagging a "bonus" stack, as he heads to the final break with a top three stack (in today's flight).

Justin Harvell (Nashville, TN) played for over six hours yesterday afternoon, before busting late in Level 14, less than an hour away from bagging.  When Justin arrived today, he made mention of his intention for the flight, as he stood at the tournament podium.  Before Harvell headed to his table, he said aloud, "I'm here not to spend six hours in play, without bagging afterwards."  

Justin put himself in solid shape to head to the final break with an above average stack, but ended up doubling-up Alberto Niebla ar the beginning of Level 12 (A♦ 4♥ < A♥ Q♦).  After absorbing the loss, Harvell would be left with less than ten big blinds, and found himself all-in moments ago (against Brandon Lulov).  Justin was all-in for just under 10,000, holding Q♠ J♣ against Lulov's J♠ 10♠.  The Q♥ J♦ 3♣ flop paired both players, and after the 5♠ on the turn, Harvell needed only to fade a ten on the river.  The dealer did end up placing the 10♥ on the felt, ending Justin's long day in brutal fashion.  

Brandon Lulov - 130,000 (81bb)

Players are heading on their final break of the flight, and will be returning to Level 13, and new blinds of 1,000/2,000/300.

"January $100,000" (Flight 1C): Those Players Remaining In The Field

"January $100,000"
$360 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 11 (Blinds 600/1,200/200)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 71

Registration is open for just another hour, with the window closing once the cards are in the air for Level 13.  Listed below are the seating assignments for the three active tables in the tournament area, updating followers on who is still alive to potentially bag chips.

Table 1

1. Yoav Levy
2. Paul Shafran
3. Frank Scala
4. Dolphins Powers
5. Elliot Goldman
6. Alexander Brody
7. Walter Bravo

Table 3

1. David Poces
2. Luke Poljak
3. Matt Smith
4. Justin Harvell
5. Alberto Niebla
6. Brandon Lulov
7. Bassel Eissa
8. Omar Yates
9. Matt Lambrecht

Table 9

1. A. Nonymous
2. TK Miles
3. Brian Nerney
4. Skip McDonough
5. Josh Ritterman
6. Jeff Kessler
7. Carey Pickus
8. Steve Richardson

"January $100,000" (Flight 1C): Updated Chip Counts From The Field

"January $100,000"
$360 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 10 (Blinds 500/1,000/100)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 71

Brian Nerney (Arlington, TX) has primarily played in tournaments west of the Mississippi, but has been putting time here in Florida recently.

Play is now close to two levels removed from the second break of the day, with action down to three tournament tables.  Brian Nerney (Arlington, TX) is a relative unknown when it comes to the Isle Poker Room, but it looks as if he's been using that his advantage.  Nerney has a sizable chip lead over the rest of the field (155,000), as he sits as the only play above the century mark.  Nerney has over $67,000 in live tournament earnings, including three cashes in last year's WSOP (totaling just over $10,000).

Brian Nerney - 155,000 (155bb)
Skip McDonough - 82,000 (82bb)
Justin Harvell - 80,000 (80bb)
Josh Ritterman - 75,000 (75bb)
Jeff Kessler - 70,000 (70bb)
Paul Shafran - 55,000 (55bb)
Carey Pickus - 50,000 (50bb)

"January $100,000" (Flight 1C): Alberto Niebla Look To Head To Break As Chip Leader

"January $100,000"
$360 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 8 (Blinds 300/600/75)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 64

Alberto Niebla (Miami, FL) is one of a surprisingly large group of players, that experienced their best year of tournament success in 2017.

Play entered Level 8 just a short while ago, with blinds going up to 300/600/75 (29,250 chip average).  Those still active in the field will head to break at the end of this level, with Alberto Niebla (Miami, FL) at the top of the leaderboard.  Alberto has just over 75,000 at the halfway point of Level 8, and while there is a group of players right behind him, nobody has a larger stack.

Niebla is coming off of his best statistical year of tournament poker, cashing for just over $19,330 in 2017.  Exactly half of his fourteen tournament cashes came here at the Isle, but his largest score of the year happened at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood (just a few weeks ago).  Alberto finished 5th in a stand-alone $1,100 No Limit Hold'em event, earning $3,750.  As we've seen in so many tournaments, an early chip lead does not ensure success at the end of the flight, but Niebla is off to a start that many in the field would sign up for.  

Players will head on break at the end of this level, returning to Level 9, and new blinds of 400/800/100.  Once players have returned to their seats, we will bring you the first look at updated chip counts from the field.

"January $100,000" (Flight 1C): Thomas And Lambrecht Trade Jabs

"January $100,000"
$360 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 7 (Blinds 250/500/75)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 61

Matthew Lambrecht (Stuart, FL) doubled-up Nancy Thomas, but then got some of those chips back, just two hands later.

"Good luck," Justin Harvell would say to Nancy Thomas, just as Table 3 was approached, with Thomas just having shoved for 9,125.  She was up against two players on the flop of 6♠ 4♠ 2♣, with her first opponent folding, and Matt Lambrecht in the tank.  A call would be about thirty percent of Lambrecht's stack, and after separating the chips for a call, Matt would eventually drop them on the felt for a call.  Thomas would turn over J♦ J♣, which was ahead of Matt's 6♥ 7♥, and held up through the runout.  Nancy would chip up over 20,000 with the pot, but ended up losing some of those chips back just two hands later.

On a 3♠ 4♦ 10♣ K♠ 3♥ runout, Nancy called bets from Lambrecht on the flop and turn, but ended up folding after Lambrecht shoved the river.  Thomas showed her hand to Harvell before folding (10x 4x), believing that her two-pair was counterfeited on the river.

Matt Lambrecht - 50,000

Nancy Thomas - 17,000

"January $100,000" (Flight 1C): Headlining Events For The Month Of January

"January $100,000"
$360 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 6 (Blinds 200/400/50)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 56

With the action on the slower side to start the day, it gives us a moment to take a look at some of the upcoming events on the January Tournament Calendar.  We are currently in the midst of the first of two multi-day events for the month, the second of which falls on the last weekend of January ($250 No Limit Hold'em $100,000 GTD).  There are also numerous "headlining" events that are single day tournaments, including the the $2,500 No Limit Hold'em Single-Ante ($100,000 GTD), and the $250 No Limit Hold'em Single-Ante ($30,000 GTD).  Listed below are the "special" events for the month of January:

January 8th - $130 No Limit Hold'em ($10,000)

January 11th - $100 No Limit Hold'em Survivor  (5 @ $1,000 GTD)

January 12th - $175 No Limit Hold'em Single-Ante ($15,000 GTD)

January 13th - $150 No Limit Hold'em ($15,000 GTD)

January 15th - $150 No Limit Hold'em ($20,000 GTD)

January 18th - $130 No Limit Hold'em ($10,000 GTD)

January 20th - $150 No Limit Hold'em ($15,000 GTD)

January 25th-28th - $250 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 gTD)

January 26th - $2,500 No Limit Hold'em Single-Ante ($100,000 GTD)

January 29th - $130 No Limit Hold'em ($10,000 GTD)

January 31st - $250 No Limit Hold'em Single-Ante ($30,000 GTD)

"January $100,000" (Flight 1C): Rittenberg Wins A Big One Before Break

"January $100,000"
$360 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 5 (Blinds 150/300/50)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 54

Josh Rittenberg (Manhattan Beach, CA) has over $61,000 in career tournament earnings, most of which occurred on the left coast.  Of his twenty recorded results on Hendon Mob, four of them were in the state of Florida.

Players are back from their first ten minute break, with Josh Rittenberg (Manhattan Beach, CA) returning  as the early chip leader.  On the final hand before break, Rittenberg would win a three-way all-in against Joseph Marchese, and an unknown player.  The chips got in on the turn of a board reading Q♣ 8♣ 6♦ K♠, with Rittenberg holding K♣ Q♠, against K♥ 6♥ (Marchese) and K♦ J♣ (A. Nonymous).  Josh needed to fade just a six on the river, which is exactly what he did, as the 2♠ helped him lock up the pot.  Rittenberg was all-in for 19,675, and ended up heading to break with 64,000.

Josh Rittenberg - 64,000 (213bb)

"January $100,000" (Flight 1C): "Team Snake" In The House, Escaping The Cold...For The Cold

"January $100,000"
$360 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 4 (Blinds 100/200/25)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 48

Alexander Brody (Staten Island, NY) has been sporting the "Team Snake" jacket in poker rooms across the Northeast for upwards of twenty years.

Normally, January would be a time for players from the Northeast to come to Florida, and escape the bitter cold.  Old time friends Jack Deutsch (Staten Island, NY) and Alexander Brody (Staten Island, NY) may have escaped the "bomb cyclone" that's ripping through New York (and the surrounding areas), but they arrived just in time for some of the coldest temperatures Florida has seen in a long time. 

If anyone played tournament poker in Atlantic City's "heyday," they would recognize the "Team Snake" jacket pictured above.  Before players started "teams" in poker, there was "Team Snake," sporting the jackets similar to a beer-league bowling team.  Deutsch and Brody have combined tournament earnings above $150,000, but have not made their mark on the Florida tournament poker scene just yet.  The pair headline our second look at notables in the field, joining some familiar names like:

Tracy Scala

Nancy Thomas

Joseph Marchese

Carey Pickus

Craig Witz

Frank Trainno

Elliot Goldman

Marc Sacheli

Players will be taking their first break of the day at the end of this level, and will be returning to Level 5, with new blinds of 150/300/50.

"January $100,000" (Flight 1C): Checking In On The Early Field

"January $100,000"
$360 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 3 (Blinds 75/150/25)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 40

Noel Atherley (Lantana, FL) re-introduced himself to the poker community back in October, and has since made appearances in many events here at the Isle Poker Room.

Today's pace of entry is very similar to that of Flight 1A, which saw registration end with (73) entries (yesterday afternoon).  Being that today begins the weekend, we should see final numbers from this flight that eclipse that of yesterday, and potentially crack the century mark.  While there are numerous players in the field that were here yesterday, we have spotted some new faces in the crowd as well.  

Noel Atherley (Lantana, FL) made a triumphant return to the winner's circle last October, besting Brian Hastings during heads-up play, to take down Event #15 of the Isle Open ($1,100 No Limit Hold'em).  The $44,916 he earned for the win was the largest cash of his career, which is a very storied one, that goes back to the late eighties/early nineties.  Some other players in action for the first time this event include:

Alberto Niebla
Oneil McCalla
Frank Scala
Dolphins Powers
Alan Saltzman
Zaki Lichaa
Richard Leger

"January $100,000" (Flight 1C): Official Chip Counts Flights 1A-1B

"January $100,000"
$360 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 2 (Blinds 50/100)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 28

Kathy	Sapp	213,500 *
TJ	Shulman	188,000 *
Greg	Spinder	180,000 *
Mark	Salerno	155,500 *
Jacob	Milheim	155,500
John	Magnetta	147,500
Saul	Gold	137,500
Engelbarth	Verela	135,500
Raminder	Singh	121,500
Scott	Zakheim	116,000
Mike	Fryett	115,000
Andre	Rakusa	100,000
Andrew	Dakoski	90,000
Ken	Bruno	45,000
Michael	Tait	39,000
Adam	Koppel	18,000

* Current leaders for the "chip leader bonus," which is entry into the end of month $2,500 No Limit Hold'em Single-Ante ($100,000 GTD).

"January $100,000" (Flight 1C): Another Group Looking To Bag, And Top The Leaderboard

"January $100,000"
$360 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 1 (Blinds 25/50)
Total Flight 1C Entries: N/A

Another group of players are preparing for Flight 1C to begin, as the third of six flights is scheduled to get underway in just a few moments (11:00am).  Yesterday's pair of opening flights attracted a total of (117) entries, with (16) players reaching the bagging process.  The top four stacks from the flights, and players currently in the lead for the "chip lead bonus," are as follows:

Kathy Sapp - 213,500

TJ Shulman - 188,000

Greg Spinder - 180,000

Mark Salerno - 155,500

Each of the starting flights has the same structure, with players sitting down to starting stacks of 18,000 units, and playing levels that last (30) minutes.  The opening flights have open registration through Level 12, with action scheduled to conclude after Level 15 (or unless 10% of the field remains before that point).  It should be noted that there is a chip lead bonus for the tournament, but it's a little different this time around.  Opposed to the top stack from each flight earning a "bonus," the players that hold the top four chip counts heading into Day 2, will earn entry into the end of month $2,500 No Limit Hold'em Single-Ante ($100,000 GTD).

There will be live blogged coverage of Flight 1C, which will offer a look at the combined chip counts from yesterday's opening pair of flight, followed by an update of some of the notables in this early afternoon field.

Friday, January 5th: Second Pair Of "January $100,000" Flights Headline Today's Tournament Schedule

ICYMI: Flight 1A opened the "January $100,000" action yesterday afternoon (11:00am), and ended up a very solid showing.  At registration's close (after Level 12), there were a total of (73) entries showing on the tournament clock, with $21,900 going towards the tournament's overall prize pool.  There were two tables of active players remaining at that point, (9) of which were able to reach the flight's bagging process (after the conclusion of Level 15).  Kathy Sapp (Pittsboro, NC) spent most of the day just over the chip average, but used a strong final level (and a big hand against Adam Koppell), to propel herself to the chip lead.  It will be interesting to see where her 213,500 stack stands after the six flights are completed, and whether or not she's in the running for the chip lead bonus.  TJ Shulman (188,000) and Gregory Spinder (180,000) both experienced some up and down days, but managed to come out of it with the second and third largest stack from Flight 1A.  The full listing of chip counts can be found by clicking here, and will once again be posted this afternoon.

The official numbers from Flight 1B saw a total of (44) entries once registration closed, with (7) players successfully reaching the bagging process.  Jacob Milheim bagged the flight's chip lead (155,500), with John Magnetta (147,500) and Engelbart Verela (135,500) rounding out the top three.  The complete listing of official chip counts from the flight, can be found by clicking here.

Tournaments: The "January $100,000" continues today, with the second pair of six starting flights.  Players in the event sit down to starting stacks of 18,000 units, with levels that last (30) minutes over the course of the event.  Registration is open through Level 12, with each opening flight scheduled to end after Level 15 is completed.  There is a small change when it comes to the chip lead bonus, as the top four stacks after all of the starting flights have been completed, with earn entry into this month's $2,500 No Limit Hold'em Single-Ante ($100,000 GTD).  There are two flights on today's schedule, with Flight 1C beginning at 11:00am, followed by Flight 1D at 6:00pm. 

Promotions: From (9:00am-10:00am), the high hand will award $150 every (30) minutes.  The high hands will then transition from 10:00am-12:00am (midnight), with the opportunity to win $400 every (30) minutes.  During that period, the promotion sees tournament players eligible (Isle Open events not eligible for high hand) each half-hour for $100 high hands, 2/2 limit hold'em players eligible for $200 high hands, 2/4 limit hold'em players eligible for $300 high hands, and all other raked games (1/2-5/10 NLH, 4/8 Omaha 8B, 6/12 O.E., etc.) eligible for $400 high hands.  From 12:00am-9:00am, players are eligible for $100 high hands every hour.

It should also be noted that started back on November 1st, players are able to win the high hand using only one card in their hand!!!  The payouts for those that use one card are different than the standard numbers listed above, and can be found (full listing of one-card payouts on flyers in the poker room).

11:00am - $360 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD) Flight 1C

- Players start with 18,000 in tournament chips

- Late and re-entries for the first (12) levels

- Alternates and late entries will start with a full stack

- Levels will last (30) minutes

- All Day 1's will play (15) complete levels or until 10% of the field remains (whichever comes first)

- The top four stacks, after all of the starting flights have been completed, will earn entry into the $2,500 No Limit Hold'em Single-Ante ($100,000 GTD) on January 26th.

6:00pm - $360 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD) Flight 1D

- Players start with 18,000 in tournament chips

- Late and re-entries for the first (12) levels

- Alternates and late entries will start with a full stack

- Levels will last (30) minutes

- All Day 1's will play (15) complete levels or until 10% of the field remains (whichever comes first)

- The top four stacks, after all of the starting flights have been completed, will earn entry into the $2,500 No Limit Hold'em Single-Ante ($100,000 GTD) on January 26th.

"January $100,000" (Flight 1B): Official End Of Flight 1B Chip Counts

"January $100,000"
$360 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 15 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/500)
Total Flight 1B Entries: 44
Flight 1B Players Remaining: 7

Jacob	Milheim	155,500
John	Magnetta	147,500
Engelbarth	Verela	135,500
Raminder	Singh	121,500
Scott	Zakheim	116,000
Andrew	Dakoski	90,000
Michael	Tait	39,000