Tuesday, October 31st: Paul Balzano Wins The Isle Open Championship, Series Wraps Up Tonight

ICYMI: Day 3 of the 2017 Isle Open Championship saw ten players return at 12:00pm for the final table, with play scheduled to see a tournament's conclusion.  The incredible structure allowed for super deep play to start the day, with even the shortest of stacks sitting down to over thirty big blinds.  That being said, it would be more than two levels before any players exited the action, with the tournament's defending champ first to leave.  Edward Novak (Simsbury, CT) flopped trips when he was all-in and at risk, but watched William Valladares turn a full house, eliminating Novak from play in a cruel turn of events ($9,435).  Sam Panzica (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) would be the shortest stack after Novak's departure, and would also run into chip leader William Valladares.  The two-time WPT champ made back-to-back final tables in this event, earning $11,208 for this year's result.  

After Panzica's exit, we saw what ended up being the most pivotal hand of the tournament, with Paul Balzano doubling through Scott Levitt.  Balzano would be second in chips after the hand, a position he'd hold for a long time afterwards.  The two short stacks faced off after the second break, with Scott Levitt doubling through Frank Lerczak (Buffalo, NY), who would be eliminated the very next hand in eighth place ($14,589).  Scott Levitt (Delray Beach, FL) was the next player at risk, and would be eliminated by Paul Balzano, departing the final table in seventh place ($17,971).  

One of the more memorable moments from the final table came after Levitt's departure, when Nassin Vaknin folded a hand (on the flop), after committing over ninety-percent of his stack pre-flop.  He'd be left with just two big blinds, but was able to secure two double-ups, that saw his stack back to a more manageable number.  Vaknin recovered enough to eliminate Manuel Quinonez (Orlando, FL) in sixth place ($21,407), actually becoming the final table chip leader.  

Of all the players at the final table, nobody had a rail like Nancy Birnbaum (Ft. Lauderdale, FL).  She'd manage to grind one of the shortest stacks for a good portion of the final table, but ended up becoming the next player to fall to Nassin Vaknin, exiting the final table in fifth place ($25,852).  It looked like Nassin Vaknin (Davie, FL) was going to become the story of the tournament, but he'd be eliminated by Paul Balzano, after finding himself the short stack ($33,597).

Three-handed play was all about Michael Aron to start, but after Paul Balzano eliminated William Valladares (Costa Rica) in third place ($50,482), the two players would begin heads-up play fairly even.  Bolzano then began to take control, and after just an hour of heads-up play, Paul Balzano (Sunrise, FL) would become the 2017 Isle Open Championship winner ($112,075).

Final Table Results:

1. Paul Balzano (Sunrise, FL) $112,075
2. Michael Aron (Palm Beach, FL) $78,510
3. William Valladares (Costa Rica) $50,482
4. Nassin Vaknin (Davie, FL) $33,597
5. Nancy Birnbaum (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) $25,852
6. Manuel Quinonez (Orlando, FL) $21,407
7. Scott Levitt (Delray Beach, FL) $17,971
8. Frank Lerczak (Buffalo, NY) $14,589
9. Sam Panzica (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) $11,208
10. Edward Novak (Simsbury, CT) $9,435

While the final table was finishing up, Event #23 of the Isle Open began at 6:00pm, with the cards getting in the air for the $130 No Limit Hold'em ($20,000 GTD) event.  The tournament attracted a field of (220) entries, and saw registration close with a prize pool of $22,000.  The event ended in a five-way deal, with Joseph Kearns (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) declared the trophy winner.

1. Joseph Kearns (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) $3,377
2. Diane Linke (Boynton Beach, FL) $3,012
3. Michael Bucar (West Palm Beach, FL) $2,692
4. Stephen Bromfield (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) $2,226
5. Carlos Loving (Sarasota, FL) $1,788
6. Michael Slobasky (Jensen Beach, FL) $1,385
7. John Magnetta (Boynton Beach, FL) $748
8. Richard Leger (Lighthouse Point, FL) $638
9. William Napier (Hollywood, FL) $525
10. Roberto Alvarado (Pompano Beach, FL) $462

Tournaments: The Isle Open schedule concludes today, with Event #24 the final event of the series.  The cards get in the air for the $60 No Limit Hold'em event at 6:00pm, and is structured with 14,000 unit starting stack, and levels that last (20) minutes.  There is also an optional add-on at the end of registration (Level 8), with $20 seeing a return of 10,000 units.

Promotions: From (9:00am-10:00am), the high hand will award $150 every (30) minutes.  The high hands will then transition from 10:00am-12:00am (midnight), with the opportunity to win $400 every (30) minutes.  During that period, the promotion sees tournament players eligible (Isle Open events not eligible for high hand) each half-hour for $100 high hands, 2/2 limit hold'em players eligible for $200 high hands, 2/4 limit hold'em players eligible for $300 high hands, and all other raked games (1/2-5/10 NLH, 4/8 Omaha 8B, 6/12 O.E., etc.) eligible for $400 high hands.  From 12:00am-3:00am, players are eligible for $100 high hands every hour.

6:00pm - 2017 Isle Open  Event #24 | $60 No Limit Hold'em

- Players start with 14,000 in tournament chips

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

- Alternates and late entries will start with a full stack

- Levels will last (20) minutes

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