Isle Open Event 15 (Day 2): A Story Within A Story, Atherley Grabs Overall Lead

2017 Isle Open | Event #15
$1,100 No Limit Hold'em | $150,000 GTD
Level 17 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/400)
Total Event 15 Entries: 180

Players Remaining: 18

Noel Atherley (Lantana, FL) reaching this point in the tournament is enough of a story, having bought into the tournament.  How he got close to 500,000 is another tale altogether.

With only six players buying into the tournament this morning, the odds were pretty slim that one of them would reach the money...let alone be the chip leader in Level 17.  Noel Atherley sat down with his 20,000 starting stack just over four hours ago, and now leads the remaining (19) players, with 525,000.

About twenty minutes ago, Atherley and Scott Zakheim were heads up in a pot, heading to the river.  The board read Q♣ 10♥ 9♦ 2♥, and with already over 280,000 in the pot, the dealer would place down the 8♥ on the river.  "I'm all-in," Atherley said...but it wasn't his action.  Zakheim was first to act, and after Scott let Noel know that it wasn't his turn, Atherley replied with an interesting comment.  

"I'm just trying to throw you for a loop," Noel would say, hinting that he may have purposely acted out of turn.  Now the two players were chatting throughout the hand, but Scott would want a ruling from the floor, regarding the action if he checked.  Tournament Director Ralph Brandt informed both players that if Scott checked, Atherley's all-in would be binding.  With that being known, Scott went all-in for his last 80,000.  Noel quickly made the call, and after Scott tabled 9♠ 9♣, Atherley showed his A♥ Q♥ (having rivered the nuts).

The 430,000 pot was the largest to this point in the tournament, but also cost Noel some time away from the table.  He was given an orbit penalty for acting out of turn, leaving the table to discuss whether they thought Atherley acted with intention (when announcing himself all-in).

Noel Atherley - 525,000