"August $100,000" (Flight 1A): Recapping Yesterday's $2,500 "Single-Day Series"

"August $100,000 GTD"
$150 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Level 2 (Blinds 50/100)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 27

Ian O'Hara ($2,500 Single-Day Series Winner)

In near flawless fashion, Ian O'Hara (Boca Raton, FL) bested a field of (75) entries to take down the inaugural $2,500 No Limit Hold'em "Single-Day Series," earning $51,750.  With just over ten days since the tournament was announced, there was a little bit of uncertainty surrounding the event, as players wondered what the overall numbers would look like.  Any doubts were quickly squandered though, as the field has (30) entries as the end of Level 1.  

Many of the Isle Poker notables that play in the "big game" were in attendance, including Chris Bolek, Jake Schwartz, Chad Eveslage, Ian O'Hara, Keith Nassetta, Jonathan Jaffe, Tony Ruberto, and Richard Kirsch.  There were also names that we hadn't seen at the Isle Casino Poker Room in years, with Barry Hutter, Benjamin Zamani, and Noah Schwartz joining the action early.  

After registration closed, the prize pool would be made official ($172,500), and player's focus would shift to reaching the money.  There would be ten spots paid in the event, and as the field drew closer to the money, we saw some short stacks depart short of the money (Richard Rice and Steven Karp).  Hand-for-hand play would last ten hands, with Marsha Wolak eliminated on the bubble, as her pocket kings were bested by Jordan Redavid.  Joshua Hillock was one of the beneficiaries of Wolak's departure, as he snuck into the money with less than five big blinds.  Satellite winner Charlemagne Benjamin was the first player eliminated in the money ($5,175), as play would then reach the final table.

Tony Ruberto would be the next go (9th Place - $6,900), followed by Barry Hutter (8th Place - $8,625), and then Jordan Redavid (7th Place - $10,350).  Michael Newman, who was the chip leader for most of the tournament, would depart in 6th Place ($12,075).  After about a lull in the action lasted about an hour, two players would bust in a span of three hands (Michael Aron in 5th Place for $13,800), and Richard Kirsch in 4th Place for $15,525).  That would leave two players that grinder short stacks for most of the final table (AJ Gambino and Joshua Hillock), and Ian O'Hara, who had more than 50% of the chips in play three-handed.  Gambino would succumb to the climbing blinds, exiting in 3rd Place ($17,250), leaving O'Hara and Hillock heads-up.  After discussions of a chop dissolved, heads-up play last less than a level, with O'Hara taking down the title.

"The Isle is rigged," O'Hara joked as he was waiting to get paid.  Ian was referencing his part in spreading the word about the event, and helping in making it a successful as it was...only to go on to ship the tournament.  

The "Single-Day Series" will look to continue it's success next month, as it returns on Friday, September 22nd (12:00pm).  There will be two satellites leading up to the tournament, one with a $275 buy-in, and the other a $570 buy-in.