Thursday, December 7th: Recapping A Big Isle Classic Wednesday, $200,000 Guaranteed Event #10 Begins Today

ICYMI: Yesterday afternoon was the inaugural running of the $250 No Limit Hold'em Single-Ante ($30,000 GTD), Event #9 on the 2017 Isle Classic Schedule.  There was some trepidation about how the tournament would be received the community, but only a few levels in, all questions were answered.  The guarantee was surpassed in Level 4, and players were lining up to grab seats in the field.  After eight levels of play, registration would close for the tournament, and the official prize pool would be listed at $39,600.  Even more eye-opening than that number, were the payouts for the event, with first place taking home just short of $10,000.  Once the money was reached, and (25) players remained in the field, we began to see numerous notable names heading to the podium to receive their payouts.  Recognizable names to cash in the tournament (but fall short of the final table) included Andre Rakusa, Matthew Zarcadoolas, Ian Cohen, Karin Powsner, Wilmer Diaz, Gregory Spinder, and Alan Dobrow.  Discussions of a deal began when play was nine-handed, but action would continue until six players remain.  At that point, an even chop was agreed to, with each player walking away with $4,443.  David Zaldivar (Miami, FL) ended up the tournament's winner, and walked away with the event's trophy.  Listed below are the results from the final table:

1. David Zaldivar (Miami, FL) $4,443
2. Michael Wetcher (Sunrise, FL) $4,443
3. Almog Biton (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) $4,443
4. Cangir Elcin (N. Miami Beach, FL) $4,443
5. Juan Rodriguez (Boca Raton, FL) $4,443
6. Jamie Mass (Delray Beach, FL) $4,443
7. Michel Dubreuil (Margate, FL) $1,348
8. Joseph Duchman (Miami, FL) $1,164
9. Bebert Benhamo (Concord, CA) $986
10. Jaehoon Baek (Vero Beach, FL) $857

As the final table deal was being struck, the action was just beginning to get serious for Event #9, the evening tournament on the Isle Classic schedule (6:00pm).  The $75 No Limit Hold'em tournament boasted a $5,000 guarantee prize pool, and would end up landing on the number (after a total of 67 entries).  One of the biggest storylines from the event was the return of Raminder Singh (Delray Beach, FL), who happened to be one of the most successful Isle Poker Room tournament players over the last year.  Raminder hadn't put in the same volume since the summer, but returned to win another Isle Poker trophy (after a heads-up deal).  The full results from the event are listed below:

1. Raminder Singh (Delray Beach, FL) $1,596
2. Marianne Dewitt (Lauderdale Lakes, FL) $1,152
3. Robert Lovett (Boynton Beach, FL) $613
4. Paul So (Canada) $438
5. Elliot Goldman (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) $338
6. Thomas Allard (Detroit, MI) $263
7. Harry Silver (Boca Raton, FL) $225
8. Charles Zusag (Plantation, FL) $200
9. James Sedlak (Pompano Beach, FL) $175

Tournaments: Today begins the second largest event of the series, as the first pair of starting flights for Event #10 get underway at 11:00am.  The $360 No Limit Hold'em tournament carries a $200,000 guaranteed prize pool, and has six flights over the next three days.  Each of the starting flights is structured the same, with starting stacks of 20,000 units.  Levels 1-15 will be (30) minutes, and will transition to (40) minutes Levels 16+ (which is Day 2).  The chip leader from each flight will earn a "bonus," which is entry into Event #16 ($1,100 No Limit Hold'em $50,000 Guaranteed).  Today's schedule sees Flight 1A beginning at 11:00am, followed by Flight 1B at 6:00pm.  There will be live coverage of the afternoon flight (and each afternoon flight to follow), with official chip counts posted from the evening flights.

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-9:00am, players are eligible for $100 high hands every hour.

It should also be noted that started back on November 1st, players are able to win the high hand using only one card in their hand!!!  The payouts for those that use one card are different than the standard numbers listed above, and can be found (full listing of one-card payouts on flyers in the poker room).

11:00am - 2017 Isle Classic Event #7 (Flight 1A): $360 No Limit Hold'em ($200,000 GTD) 

- Players start with 20,000 in tournament chips

- Late and re-entries for the first (12) levels

- Alternates and late entries will start with a full stack

- Levels will last (30) minutes through Level 15, and will the transition to (40) minutes Level 16+

- All Day 1's will play (15) complete levels or until 10% of the field remains (whichever comes first)

- The chip leader from each flight will earn a seat into Event 16 ($1,100 No Limit Hold'em Single-Ante)

6:00pm - 2017 Isle Classic Event #7 (Flight 1B): $360 No Limit Hold'em ($200,000 GTD)

- Players start with 20,000 in tournament chips

- Late and re-entries for the first (12) levels

- Alternates and late entries will start with a full stack

- Levels will last (30) minutes through Level 15, and will the transition to (40) minutes Level 16+

- All Day 1's will play (15) complete levels or until 10% of the field remains (whichever comes first)

- The chip leader from each flight will earn a seat into Event 16 ($1,100 No Limit Hold'em Single-Ante)