Event 1 (Flight R): Total Event 1 Players And Prizepool

Event 1 ($150 Monster Stack NLH)
Level 9 (Blinds 500/1,000/100)
Total Flight R Entries: 142
Flight R Players Remaining: 62

Below is the breakdown of the 1142 total entries (per flight) for Event 1, a tournament that closed with a prizepool of $131,330:

Event 1 "Breakdown"

Event 1 (Flight Q): Official Flight Q Chip Counts

Event 1 ($150 Monster Stack NLH)
Level 16 (Blinds 2,500/5,000/500)
Total Flight Q Entries: 145
Flight Q Players Remaining: 14

Evan Teitelbaum (Flight Q Chipleader)

Evan	Teitelbaum *	602,500
John	Rodriguez *	406,500
Edward	Medoff *	406,000
Bob	Tanner	392,000
Allen	Dungo	388,000
Hyndi	Khomutetsey	288,500
William	Underdown	273,000
TJ	Shulman	227,500
Ryan	Granquitti	161,000
Edgard	Mendes	154,000
Robert	Williamson	125,500
Karin	Powsner	105,500
Robert	Perniola	77,000
Jeffrey	Silverstein	69,500

* Denotes "chip leader bonus," and entry into Event 5 ($570 NLH - $250,000 Guaranteed)

Event 1 (Flight Q): Across The Floor Updates

Event 1 ($150 Monster Stack NLH)
Level 15 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/500)
Total Flight Q Entries: 145
Flight Q Players Remaining: 15

Flight P was the first flight to end at the 8% mark (clock paused at 11:40 in Level 16), and it looks as if we might see an even earlier stop for this 3:00pm flight.  If this flight gets below (12) active players, the clock will stop at that moment, and we will bag and tag for Day 2 tomorrow.  Whichever scenario plays out first, the end of flight chip counts will be posted shortly thereafter.

Here is a quick numbers breakdown for the final flight of Event 1 (Flight R):

Total Entries: 122
Players Remaining: 80
Chip Average: 38,125
Current Level: 7 (Blinds 300/600)
Next Level: 8 (Blinds 400/800/100)

There is a (10) minute break after Level 8, and when play resume for Level 9, registration will be closed for Event 1.

Event 1 (Flight Q): Chip Counts Heading Towards The Finish Line

Event 1 ($150 Monster Stack NLH)
Level 14 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/400)
Total Flight Q Entries: 145
Flight Q Players Remaining: 25

Bob Tanner (Wellington, FL)

As players get down to the final three levels of the night, we can start discussing the race for the chiplead bonus.  There are three players really putting distance between themselves and the rest of the field, as we get close to consolidating to two tables.  Bobby Perniola (Pompano Beach, FL) leads the way at the moment, and is for sure a favorite to bag a top three stack.

Evan Teitelbaum (Parkland, FL) is another name players know from the Florida tournament circuit, and he happens to be one of the trio with separation.  Evan currently sits with 355,000, and it second in chips of the remaining group.

Bob Tanner - 440,000
Evan Teitelbaum - 355,000
Karen Powsner - 346,000
Bob Tanner - 290,000

Event 1 (Flight R): "The Final Flight"

Event 1 ($150 Monster Stack NLH)
Level 3 (Blinds 75/150)
Total Flight Q Entries: 88

"Better late than never," could be the new mantra behind the final flight of Event 1, as Flight Q finishes up what has been an incredible week of opening flights for the first event of the Isle Poker Open.  The Flight Q field currently hosts numerous players that are firing a multiple bullet, hoping to put chips in a bag for Day 2 tomorrow afternoon.  There are also those players we are seeing for the first time, as they couldn't let the opportunity pass to get a piece of what is now a $130,000 prize pool.  Listed below are just a group of the many familiar faces in the crowd:

Michael Ortiz
Craig Witz
Nancy Birmbaum
Jameel Harris
Hector Pacheco
Giovanni Cantatore
Glen Sugarman
Oscar Santana
Ronald Simmons
Maurice Lightner

This flight will end in the early hours of Monday morning (around 2:15am), so the turnaround will be quick for those that reach that point and bag (with tomorrow's Day 2 starting at 12:00pm).

Event 1 (Flight Q): Somehow Snuck In Under The Radar

Event 1 ($150 Monster Stack NLH)
Level 11 (Blinds 800/1,600/200)
Total Flight Q Entries: 145
Flight Q Players Remaining: 33

Mukul Pahuja (Florida)

One of the top tournament players to ever call Florida home may have flown under the radar to the point, but Mukul Pahuja in the field is a secret no more.  If the name isn't familiar to you (and you follow the poker community)...it should be.

Mukul has (108) major recorded cashes, amassing $4,800,000 in career tournament earnings.  Eight of those cashes are outright tournament wins, three of those being WSOPC wins (one circuit main event).  Pahuja has five WPT final tables, with three of those being "tv final tables," and has cemented himself as one of the top tournament players in the world.

While Mukul takes care of business down here in Florida, his brother does the same up north.  Vine Pahuja has over $2,100,000 in career earnings, and the two make up what could be the top "brothers" in poker...along with names like the Mizrachi's.

Mukul currently has 80,000 in chips, which is below average at the moment, but still heaps in relation to the big blind at the moment.

Event 1 (Flight Q): Catching Up To The "Q"

Event 1 ($150 Monster Stack NLH)
Level 11 (Blinds 800/1,600/200)
Total Flight Q Entries: 145
Flight Q Players Remaining: 40

Mike "Little Man" Sica

Flight Q has flown under the coverage radar so far this afternoon/early evening, but the largest flight of the event so far is now in fear view.  Registration for the flight has been over for close to four levels now, and the field is down to four tables.  

One of the more notable names to survive to this point has been TJ Shulman, who is coming off an impressive summer, and a very meaningful career tournament win.  Shulman's last cash on his resume isn't the largest of his career, but it was one of his three outright wins...and a tournament that's played in memory of one of the kindest players to ever play the game.

Mike "Little Man" Sica is a name that may not be familiar to the tournament circuit in Florida, but that's likely because Sica stopped flying early in his career.  Any venue that he played (outside of the Northeast) was reached via automobile, and it was really only Las Vegas that he would take the long trip to.  There are enough adjectives to describe Sica...kind, funny, boisterous...a laugh that would make the entire room smile.  

Sica was a good friend of Shulman's, and after Mike succumbed to his battle with cancer, the Borgata named their "Senior's Event" after Mike in his memory.  TJ managed to take the trophy in that event this past September, earning himself over $8,000.  More important than the money was the name behind the tournament, and what it stood for.

Shulman is currently above the chip average of 100,000, and is focused on bagging with his first bullet of the event.

Event 1 (Flight P): End Of Flight P Chip Counts

Event 1 ($150 Monster Stack NLH)
Level 16 (Blinds 2,500/5,000/500)
Total Flight P Entries: 126
Flight P Players Remaining: 11

David Albertson (Flight P Chip Leader)

Since we last saw David Albertson (Coral Springs, FL), he just continued he upward trend, and ending up bagging the chip lead for the flight.

David	Albertson *	473,500
Ken	Bruno *	450,000
Andrew	Gordon *	399,500
Jarrett	Vaughn	367,000
Washington	Gavilanis	315,500
Mike	Russo	313,000
Farrell	Lapi	201,500
Maurice	Lightner	183,500
Melissa	Mancini	167,000
Anwar	Mohamed	122,500
Matthew	Yorra	120,500

*Denotes "chip lead bonus," and entry into Event 5 

Players that were mentioned earlier, like Andrew Gordon, Mike Russo, and Farrell Lapi, all managed to pad their stack as the final level played out.  Jim Hamburger was not as fortunate though, as he busted short of the flight's end.  It hasn't been confirmed whether Jim entered the final flight of the tournament (7:00pm), which still has open registration for just over two hours.

Event 1 (Flight P): Bagging And Tagging

Event 1 ($150 Monster Stack NLH)
Level 16 (Blinds 2,500/5,000/500)
Total Flight P Entries: 126
Flight P Players Remaining: 12

The clock has been paused just a few minutes earlier than scheduled, as play has reached 8% of the field.  The tournament supervisor is currently verifying all of the remaining stacks, and we will then update you with the official chip counts, as well as the players to bag the top three stack (chiplead bonus).

Once we wrap up coverage of Flight P, our focus will transition to the second flight of the day (3:00pm - Flight Q).

Event 1 (Flight P): Down The Stretch They Come

Event 1 ($150 Monster Stack NLH)
Level 14 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/400)
Total Flight P Entries: 126
Flight P Players Remaining: 17

David Albertson (Coral Springs, FL)

With (40) minutes left to play, we are seeing a "changing of the guard" in regards to the bonus race, as players like Jim Hamburger and Mike Russo have dipped well below the marks they were at before.  Farrell Lapi has continued to trend upwards (370,000), while David Albertson (Coral Springs, FL) has done the same, shifting into a top five position.

Albertson is no stranger to success in events like these, with over $168,000 in career earnings, primarily in events like this one.  This calendar year has been a solid one for David, who has over $60,000 in earnings since July.  

Only (15) players now remain in the flight, so with the tables short handed, the remaining level should bring a lot of sizable pots.  If it does happen that the field gets down to (10) players, the clock will be paused and Flight P would finish up right there.  That would also mean that Day 2 would begin at whatever point the flight was stopped (allowing an even playing field).

Event 1 (Flight P): Looking to Lap-i The Field

Event 1 ($150 Monster Stack NLH)
Level 14 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/400)
Total Flight P Entries: 126
Flight P Players Remaining: 21

Farrell Lapi (Coconut Creek, FL)

There's a new shooter in the Flight P field, as Farrell Lapi becomes the first player to eclipse the 300,000 mark, now sitting with 330,000.  Each one of Lapi's (9) recorded results have come either here or Coconut Creek, spread out over the course of five years.  Lapi's biggest cash to date was just over $1,300, so a deep run in this event would slide right to the top of his resume.

Players will take their final break of the flight in just a few minutes, with our focus then shifting to the top counts, and race for the bonus.  When play resumes, the blinds will be increasing to 2,000/4,000/500 (chip average of 166,000).

Event 1 (Flight P): Break Time, Breaking Down The Numbers

Event 1 ($150 Monster Stack NLH)
Level 13 (Blinds 1,200/2,400/300)
Total Flight P Entries: 126
Flight P Players Remaining: 26

Flight P players are now on their second to last break, and will be returning to Level 13 and blinds of 1,200/2,400/300.  As Mike Russo continued to hover around the 275,000 we spotted him before, others have quickly caught up (as expected), and we are starting to see some sizable stacks across the three remaining tables.

Andrew Gordon (Miami Beach, FL) has quickly jumped up the ranks with his stack of 230,000, but it's Jim Hamburger that's right behind Russo.  Hamburger sits with 270,000, and has been steadiest climbing over the past few levels.  Hamburger was mentioned in the blog during flights earlier in the week, but what we didn't discuss was his online resume.  Hamburger, known as 'downtheline' pre-Black Friday, has close to $2,000,000 in online earnings.  The transition to live hasn't seemed to be an issue for Jim, who has the end of flight chiplead bonus on his mind.

Event 1 (Flight P): Got Some Chirping' Chips

Event 1 ($150 Monster Stack NLH)
Level 11 (Blinds 800/1,600/200)
Total Flight P Entries: 126
Flight P Players Remaining: 38

Mike Russo (Pompano Beach, FL) is clearly leading the way in this Flight P field, sitting with a stack that most players would be happy bagging for Day 2.

Mike Russo (Pompano Beach, FL) has a long layoff on his Hendon Mob profile, but he's making his presence felt right away during Flight P.  Russo already has close to 300,000 in front of him, a number we've yet to see this early in the level (over four levels remain to play).  Russo leads the way at the moment, but he's got a handful of players chasing him down:

Jim Hamburger - 180,000

Uri Ten - 170,000

Drew Epstein - 160,000

Nelson Cabrera - 140,000

Event 1 (Flight Q): Prizepool Eclipses $100,000, 3:00pm Flight Begins

Event 1 ($150 Monster Stack NLH)
Level 1 (Blinds 25/50)
Total Flight Q Entries: 25

Craig Witz (Hypoluxo, FL)

Tournament Director Ralph Brandt just finished the rules announcement for the 3:00pm flight, and the cards are now in the air.  Ralph did also make a quick mention about the prize pool, letting players know that it's now over $100,000, and that he expects to see it finish around $125,000.  It's a healthy number considering the fact that the Hurricane washed out close to two full days of play, as well as took a toll on potential numbers as well.

We've already seen a handful of players that busted Flight P jump back in to this flight:

Nancy Birmbaum
Craig Witz
Thomas Gari

As well as names we're spotting for the first time:

Qasem Jamhour
Jackie Lee
Butchie Mitchell
Wayne Steele

Event 1 (Flight P): Numbers Locked In, 3:00pm Begins Shortly

Event 1 ($150 Monster Stack NLH)
Level 8 (Blinds 400/800/100)
Total Flight P Entries: 121

Players are currently on break, and when they return to Level 9 (500/1,000/100), registration for this flight will be closed.  There could be a potential late entry moments before the buzzer, but here is how this opening Sunday flight breaks down:

Total Flight P Entries: 121
Flight P Players Remaining: 65
Current Flight P Chip Average: 46,600
Total Flight P Chips: 3,025,000
Total Flight P Prizepool: $13,915

Play will continue through the end of Level 16 (or 8% of the field), and we will keep you updated on all of the ongoings, as well as the race for the chiplead bonus.

Event 1 (Flight P): Never Too Late For The First Bullet

Event 1 ($150 Monster Stack NLH)
Level 7 (Blinds 300/600)
Total Flight P Entries: 113

Nancy Birmbaum (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) made sure she arrived before it was too late to fire the first shell.

The total number of entries has risen steadily over the past few levels, with the field eclipsing the century mark about (30) minutes ago.  Arriving at the end of Level 6 was Nancy Birnbaum (Ft. Lauderdale, FL), a well known Florida poker pro, and WSOPC ring winner.  Nancy sits down with over $650,000 in career earnings, and immediately becomes a force to reckon with at her table.  The fact that her earnings are what they were, with her biggest score being $51,000, is really a testament to quality (and quantity) played over her career.

Some other names to enter the field before the close of registration include:

James Hamburger

Melissa Mancini

Giovanni Cantatore

Damon English

Drew Epstein

Raymond Nalbandian

Event 1 (Flight P): Sunday "Live Game" Promotion Begins At 2:00pm

Event 1 ($150 Monster Stack NLH)
Level 5 (Blinds 200/400)
Total Flight P Entries: 94

There was a feature on the blog earlier in the week about the daily promotions that run in the poker room, with one of the most popular running today.  From 2:00pm-9:00pm, the high hand giveaway will be given away every (15) minutes...with all players receiving $300.

Normally the promotion would be a lesser amount for those playing any limit (and tournament when available), but that's not the case today.  So that means you can sit down at any game in the house, and you're in the running for the $300 every (15) minutes.

The poker room currently has (16) live games running, but you can expect that number to rise quickly at we close in on 2:00pm.

Event 1 (Flight P): Flight Chip Leaders To This Point

Event 1 ($150 Monster Stack NLH)
Level 1 (Blinds 25/50)
Total Flight P Entries: 74

As the final level of each flight winds down, players start getting up from their seats and "scoping the field," in regards to the big stacks remaining.  The "chiplead bonus" in this event gives the top three stacks  from each flight entry into Event 5 ($570 NLH - $250,000 Guarantee).  That's basically a "free" shot at a first place that looks to be in the $55,000-$65,000 range.  For those wondering what they need to do today to put themselves in contention for the bonus, here are the numbers up to this point:

Flight A:

Rafael Resi - 555,500
Jacob Richardson - 239,500
Carlo Rodriguez - 214,500

Flight B:

Martin Robbins - 342,500
John Freidkes - 260,000
Larry Douglas Sr. - 208,500

Flight C:

Jeff Morrison - 447,000
Eric Muschel - 251,500
Eduardo Christ - 225,000

Flight K:

Gil Aboodi - 342,500
Hashim Burney - 331,500
Ray Millard - 244,000

Flight L:

Larry Travers - 758,500
Kyle Levassuer - 316,000
Sean Shah - 337,500

Flight M: 

Joe Niblett - 404,000
John Palace - 382,000
Andrew Touchette - 290,500

Flight N: 

Yves Fequiere - 693,000
Mary Jane Forsythe - 269,000
Marc Sacheli - 245,500

Flight O:

Adrian  Gray - 399,000
Reggie Bautista - 375,000
Jason Prest - 305,500

Players in Flight P are currently on their first break of the day, and will be returning to Level 5 and blinds 200/400.

Event 1 (Flight P): Any Given Sunday

Event 1 ($150 Monster Stack NLH)
Level 3 (Blinds 75/150)
Total Flight P Entries: 74

Maurice Lightner (Miami, FL) has taken his talents back down to Florida, this after a few solid years playing tournaments in the Northeast.

A lot of these tournament players are "new" to this Blogger, who worked primarily in the Northeast (Borgata, Parx, Maryland Live, Mohegan Sun).  There are many players though who travel up north to play in some of the larger series at the poker rooms listed.  Maurice "Reese" Lightner (Miami, FL) was a familiar face up north (2013-2015), playing in a lot of events at Borgata and Parx, and making a handful of deep runs.

Lightner has over $73,000 in career tournament earnings, with his highlight score coming in 2013, during the Borgata Fall Poker Open (runner-up in $230 NLH event for over $26,000).  He's back in Florida once again though, and is looking to better his recent deep run in last months "Monster Stack" event, where he finished in 27th place ($833).   Lightner is just one of the recognizable faces in the crowd that we spotted so far:

Frederick Allenspach

Francis Margaglione

Ronald Arena

Edgard Mendes

Robert Williamson

Event 1 (Flight P): You Know The Old Saying

Event 1 ($150 Monster Stack NLH)
Level 1 (Blinds 25/50)
Total Flight P Entries: 65

Kenneth Bruno (Lake Worth, FL) and Bruce Smith (West Palm Beach, FL) are flipping the script in today's 11:00am flight.

We all know the old saying, "If you can deal them the bad beat...then join them," or something along those lines.  Both Kenneth Bruno (Lake Worth, FL) and Bruce Smith (West Palm Beach, FL) are poker dealers at Palm Beach Kennel Club, but today they are leaving work on the back burner.  Both dealers are accomplished poker players in their own rights, with Bruno carrying with him a tournament resume over $81,000 in career earnings.  His largest cash came here at the Isle during the 2014 Florida State Poker Championships, after final tabling a $1090 NLH event (7th Place - $13,392).

Bruce Smith (West Palm Beach, FL) is also no stranger to the Isle, earning his largest cash ($4,985) during this exact series in 2013 ($330 NLH).  Smith saw some recent success here earlier this year, when he final tabled the "Monster Stack" event during the FSPC (7th Place - $1,790).  

These two dealers are just a couple in the group of familiar faces sitting in this early afternoon flight.

Event 1 (Flight P): Last Chance To Dance

Event 1 ($150 Monster Stack NLH)
Level 1 (Blinds 25/50)
Total Flight P Entries: N/A

Earlier this week it seemed as if these final "Day 1" flights were only a spec in the distant horizon, but it's now or never for players hoping to bag chips for Day 2.  The tournament area is empty at the moment, but in just (20) minutes, we will see the seats fill for Flight P.  As has been each day this week, there will also be a flight at 3:00pm (Flight Q) and 7:00pm (Flight R), giving ample opportunities to join in what will be an over $100,000 prize pool.

A popular question in relation to these multi-flight tournaments is "timing," in regards to the final moments to get in each flight.  For those interested, here are the listed times of "open registration" for reach flight (please remember these times are approximate):

Flight P: 11:00am-2:45pm
Flight Q: 3:00pm-6:45pm
Flight R: 7:00pm-10:45

Live coverage of Flight P will begin shortly after the cards are in the air, and will continue until we have a Day 2 field that is set for tomorrow.

Event 1 (Flight P): Updated Day 1 Chip Counts (Flights A-O)

Event 1 ($150 Monster Stack NLH)
Level 1 (Blinds 25/50)
Total Flight P Entries: N/A

With (3) flights remaining today in Event 1, there have been 736 entries for the tournament, with (89) players to bag to this point.  Before we start our live coverage of the final "Day 1" of Event 1, here is a full updated list of those to bag chips:

Event 1 (Flight O): Official End Of Flight O Chip Counts

Event 1 ($150 Monster Stack NLH)
Level 16 (Blinds 2,500/5,000/500)
Total Flight O Entries: 116
Flight O Players Remaining: 14

Here are the verified counts for the players remaining at the conclusion of Flight O:

Adrian	Gray *	399,000
Reggie	Bautista *	375,000
Jason	Prest *	305,500
Omar	Nassie	285,500
Zakarya	Wolgamott	195,500
Michael	Cohen	174,500
Leonardo	Clavel	240,000
Nathan	Woodside	139,000
Kimberly	Jones	199,000
Richard	Gress	231,000
Shiraz	Ali	165,000
Sabas	Ferrer	61,500
Kenneth	Fagioli	96,500
Peter	Bejusca	36,000

*Denotes "chiplead bonus," and entry into Event 5 ($570 NLH - $250,000 Guarantee)