Isle Open Event 15 (Day 1A): They're Not Snowbirds...They're "Sunbirds"

2017 Isle Open | Event #15
$1,100 No Limit Hold'em | $150,000 GTD
Level 5 (Blinds 100/200/25)
Total Day 1A Entries: 47

Anthony Astarita (Tampa, FL) is just one of a growing group of players, that takes the trip down the Isle Poker Room from the Tampa/Orlando area.

As "season" draws near in the Florida, the poker rooms begin to see an influx of players from the Northeast/Canada, looking to escape the cold weather for a few months.  Poker rooms aren't the only places that see a spike in patrons...there are longer waits at restaurants, more traffic on the road, etc.  These people that come to Florida during season are known as "snowbirds," but we're seeing a different trend at the Isle Poker Room..."sunbirds."  

"Sunbirds" are players from the Tampa/Orlando area, that are traveling here to the Isle Poker Room, strictly because of the great tournaments that are going on.  Players like Carlos Loving (Sarasota, FL) and Claudemir Osario (Orlando, FL) are traveling down at a more frequent rate as of recently, along with Anthony Astarita (Tampa, FL).  Astarita, who is originally from New Jersey, has been making the trip from Tampa a lot lately.  

Anthony is no stranger to traveling for tournament poker, taking trips all over the state, and most recently...the country.  Astarita broke out on the scene last year, winning the $1,100 No Limit Hold'em WPT DeepStack Main Event at Tampa Hard Rock ($131,041).  Anthony has since recorded (22) results in a little over a year, and has career earnings just short of $200,000.  While there are tournaments to play in his area, they aren't offered with the frequency that you'll see at the Isle Poker Room (and surrounding properties).

Astarita is one of a group of late arriving players, joining names like:

Brian Hastings

Skip McDonough

Trent Smith

John Page

Doyle Elliot

Reynel Hernandez

Michael Maresca

Francklin Michel