Tuesday, July 11th: FSPC Numbers Continue To Be Staggering

ICYMI: When Event #1 of the 2017 Florida State Poker Championships ($175 No Limit Hold'em $100,000 GTD) attracted (1,594) entries, it was considered an incredible success.  Many players were already discussing Event #7 ($360 No Limit Hold'em - $150,000 GTD), which is the next multi-day event, beginning on Thursday.  What players weren't really discussing were Event #3 ($60 No Limit Hold'em - $7,000 GTD) and Event #4 ($130 No Limit Hold'em $25,000 GTD), both of which were tournaments held yesterday.  Players will be talking now though, as incredible numbers came out of both events, with massive prize pools and payouts.

Event #3 was somewhat of a "wild card" coming into the day, as the $60 No Limit Hold'em event moved to a daytime slot for the first time ever.  Would players have a "hangover" from an action packed weekend of poker?  Answers would come shortly after the cards got in the air, as almost (70) players were in the tournament area to start the day (that's more than some of the Event #1 starting flights had to begin).  Once registration closed, there were a total of (180) entries, and a posted prize pool of $9,160.  There were (23) spots scheduled to reach the money, with a Event #3 min-cash worth $87, and first place taking home $2,372.  Many of the names we saw in Event #1 were able to grab their part of the prize pool, with players like Michael Hefley, Brian Baris, and Michael Watkins all cashing.  The event would end in a seven-way chop, with Marcus-Wu Hamel (Vero Beach, FL) winning his first ever "major" trophy (and his first ever tournament in general).

1. Marcus Wu-Hamel (Vero Beach, FL) $1,260
2. David Coughlin (Lighthouse Point, FL) $1,130
3. Scott Hecker (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) $985
4. Paul Efron (Coconut Creek, FL) $970
5. Joseph Mancuso (Deerfield Beach, FL) $860
6. Jean Fabien (Lake Worth, FL) $780
7. Stacy Thomas (Jupiter, FL) $646

If the afternoon tournament turnout came as a surprise to players, then the evening event could have only be explained as absolutely shocking.  The Event #4 field was comprised of (387) entries, which equated to a prize pool of $38,700 (over $15,000 more than the posted guarantee).  This same $130 No Limit Hold'em event is run on the "recurring tournament schedule," but has never seen numbers quite like that.  When the payouts were posted, players learned that first place was scheduled to take home $8,023, and things "got real."  Notables like Steve Olivier, Luminita Petric, Tom Gity, Ansel Allsop, Elias Nassif, and Robert Transue all earned cashes in the event, but fell short of their ultimate goal.  While nobody would win the event outright, Joseph Duchman (Miami, FL) would head a six-way deal that finished the tournament, taking home his second FSPC trophy in as many years.

1. Joseph Duchman (Miami, FL) $5,200
2. David Albertson (Margate, FL) $4,345
3. Hari Sukhu (Miramar, FL) $4,045
4. Emanuel Cohen (Sunny Isles Beach, FL) $3,575
5. Alexander Thomas (Gainesville, FL) $3,096
6. William Underdown (Boca Raton, FL) $2,741

Tournaments: There are two FSPC events on the schedule today, the first a standard tournament at 11:00am ($120 No Limit Hold'em - $15,000 GTD).  The tournament offers a structure with 15,000 unit starting stacks, and (20) minute levels played throughout the event.  There is an optional add-on at the end of Level 8 ($20 for 10,000 units), with all of that money going towards the prize pool.  The evening event is a satellite into the FSPC Main Event, with a $75 buy-in and (5) seats guaranteed.

Promotions: The Limit Hold'em Early Bird promotion is in it's regularly scheduled spot this morning, but there is one "not so small" addition to the schedule..."Turbo High Hands."  Similar to what is run on Friday's, there will be $300 awarded to qualifying high hands every (15) minutes (from 12:00pm-4:00pm), followed by $300 high hands (under the same 15 minute schedule) from 4:00pm-Midnight.

11:00am - FSPC Event #5 - $120 No Limit Hold'em ($15,000 GTD)

- Players will begin with a 15,000 starting stack

- Late and re-entries for the first (8) levels

- Levels are (20) minutes in length

- Optional "add-on" at the end of Level 8 ($20 for 10,000 units), with 100% of that money going towards the prize-pool

 - All late registrants and re-entries will receive a full stack

6:00pm - FSPC Satellite - $75 No Limit Hold'em (Satellite Into FSPC Main Event) (5 Seats Guaranteed)

- Players will begin with a 12,000 starting stack

- Late and re-entries for the first (8) levels
- Optional "add-on" at the end of Level 8 ($20 for 10,000 units), with 100% of that money going towards the prize-pool
- All late registrants and re-entries will receive a full stack

- Levels are (20) minutes in length