Event 2 (Day 1A): Those That Remain

Event 2 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $100,000 GTD)
Level 13 (Blinds 1,000/2,000/300)
Total Day 1A Entries: 157
Day 1A Players Remaining: 26

The cards are back in the air, and players have two more levels remaining before the bagging process begins (unless we reach 8% of the field before Level 14's conclusion).  Here are the lineups for the three remaining active tables:

Table 1:

1. Ricardo Eyzaguirre
2. Al Gomez
3. Roy Paulena
4. Michael Wetcher
5. Jordan Meltzer
6. (Empty)
7. (Empty)
8. Marc Sacheri
9. (Empty)
10. John Palace

Table 3:

1. (Empty)
2. Erik Christensen
3. DJ Swatscheno
4. Yigal Hen
5. Alik Sitnyakovsky
6. Joseph Duchman
7. Vendel Johnson
8. Stefan Brand
9. Jeff Silverstein
10. Albert Barney

Table 4:

1. Ben Robinson
2. A. Nonymous
3. Greg Barker
4. Evan Teitelbaum
5. (Empty)
6. (Empty)
7. Todd Arnold
8. Glen Canelstein
9. David Walker
10. Ido Ashkenazi

Event 2 (Day 1A): More Stories Of "Rags To Riches"

Event 2 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $100,000 GTD)
Level 13 (Blinds 1,000/2,000/300)
Total Day 1A Entries: 156
Day 1A Players Remaining: 28

Glen Canelstein (Coconut Creek, FL)

While the storylines have been few and far between over the course of this opening flight of Event #2, we have been told of another "rags to riches" story.  Like John Palace (who is still alive in the flight), Glen Canelstein (Coconut Creek, FL) is another player who had one foot out the door earlier in the day.  Left with only 2,500 (less than five big blinds at the time) earlier in the day, Canelstein is now close to 150,000.  Glen is coming off of his largest tournament cash to date, earning $5,015 for his 10th place finish in one of last month's "Structure Beast" events.  The event finished in a final table chop, with Canelstein receiving a nice score, considering he was holding the shortest stack at the time the field reached the final table.

Players are currently on their final break of the night, and will return to Level 13, and new blinds of 1,000/2,000/300.  The chip average amongst the remaining players is just over 112,000, which is still over (50) big blinds!!  Once the cards are back in the air, we will update you on all of the players remaining, as well as seating assignments.  Live blog coverage will then conclude for the flight, with sporadic updates before the official end of Day 1A chip counts are posted.

Event 2 (Day 1A): Arnold Leaves Table Guessing

Event 2 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $100,000 GTD)
Level 12 (Blinds 800/1,600/200)
Total Day 1A Entries: 156
Day 1A Players Remaining: 31

Todd Arnold (Lauderdale By The Sea, FL)

Table 4 has been the most "chatty" table remaining in the field, and the discussion just got a little more interesting.  The action was picked up on the flop of a hand between Todd Arnold, Ido Ashkenazi, and an unknown player.  After a flop of 9♥ 10♠ J♠, Ashkenazi (big blind) checked, as did Arnold, with the unknown player (hijack) placing out a bet of 7,200.

Ido would check raise to 25,000, with Arnold snap three-betting to over 120,000 (covering both opponents).  The original bettor folded his hand fairly quickly, with Ashkenazi left with a decision for his tournament life.  Ido treated the decision as such, taking about four minutes before the clock was called on him.  Throughout the time he was thinking, Ashkenazi was clearly perplexed with what Arnold could have, asking repeatedly if he had flopped a straight.

As the clock was ticking down on Ashkenazi's decision, he showed J♣ 10♦ (top two pair), and tossed it in the muck.  The rest of the table was left guessing at Arnold's holdings, but he wouldn't give anything away.  Even minutes after the hand was over, the table was still overheard discussing the possibilities. Arnold is now close to 180,000, and is one of the top stacks in the room.

Event 2 (Day 1A): Turning Back The Clocks

Event 2 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $100,000 GTD)
Level 11 (Blinds 600/1,200/200)
Total Day 1A Entries: 155
Day 1A Players Remaining: 37

While the "slower" structure is appealing to tournament players, it doesn't make for the best "blog storylines," as notable pots are really few and far between.  What the downtime does allow for, is a look back at the last Isle Poker Classic, which was held in January of 2015.  The $350 buy-in event had a $300,000 guaranteed prize pool, and attracted 1,231 total entries (309 re-entries).  The final prize pool ended up just under $360,000, and ended up with a pretty stacked final table:

2015 Isle Poker Classic 
$350 No Limit Hold'em ($300,000 Guarantee)
January 7-11, 2015

Final Table Results:

1. Robert Brown ($68,593)
2. Mohammad Siddiqui ($60,000)
3. Nancy Birnbaum ($28,776)
4. Christpher Nelson ($24,100)
5. Rafael Reis ($19,784)
6. Robert Neilsen ($16,008)
7. Peter Striano ($12,770)
8. Vivian Nguyen ($9,713)
9. Nigel Murray ($6,655)
10. Patrick Hughes ($4,316)

Event 2 (Day 1A): Palace Making Most Of Good Fortune

Event 2 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $100,000 GTD)
Level 11 (Blinds 600/1,200/200)
Total Day 1A Entries: 155
Day 1A Players Remaining: 43

Players are currently on their second to last break of the flight, and will be returning to Level 11 and blinds of 600/1,200/200 (82,000 chip average).  Earlier in the afternoon, we noted the good fortune of John Palace (Jupiter, FL), who spiked a two-outer to stay alive and double up to the starting stack.  Palace has since used the structure to his advantage, trending upwards at a slow (but steady) pace, and amassing a stack that is now over 120,000.

John Palace - 120,000

Event 2 (Day 1A): Updated Chip Counts From The Field

Event 2 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $100,000 GTD)
Level 10 (Blinds 500/1,000/100)
Total Day 1A Entries: 153
Day 1A Players Remaining: 47

Play has currently reached Level 10, with blinds having increased to 500/1,000/100.  Just another reminder about how good this structure is, the current chip average is 65,000, which equates to (65) big blinds.  New names were expected to emerge from the field as we collected chip counts, and while this is the first Joseph Duchman's (Miami Beach, FL) name has been mentioned on the blog, he's no stranger to tournament poker in Florida.  

Duchman is coming off of his largest career score, having been part of an eight-way chop of the $570 No Limit Hold'em event during the most recent RRPO ($32,433).  Everything is currently working for Duchman, who sits with over 270,000, and has seemingly won each pot he chooses to enter.  There are still three levels of play until the night is over, and we all know how counts can fluctuate, so it will be interesting to see how Duchman does down the homestretch of this flight.

Joseph Duchman - 274,000
Yigal Hen - 175,000
Michael Wetcher - 155,000
Evan Teitelbaum - 145,000
Ricardo Eyzaguirre - 130,000
Erik Christensen - 110,000
Ory Hen - 105,000
Alan Bieler - 88,000

Event 2 (Day 1A): Handful Of Notables Alive, Going To Learn Some New Names

Event 2 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $100,000 GTD)
Level 9 (Blinds 400/800/100)
Total Day 1A Entries: 149
Day 1A Players Remaining: 54

Vendel Johnson (Pembroke Pines, FL)

With a handful of entries during the dinner break, the Event 2 field is close to halfway in terms of reaching the $100,000 guarantee.  It's really not a matter of whether the guarantee will be reached, than it is how big will the prize pool actually get.

With six tables remaining in this Day 1A field, there aren't as many notables still alive as one would think.  A lap around the field only yielded a list containing the likes of:

Evan Teitelbaum
Ory Hen
Vendel Johnson
Alik Sitnyakovsky
John Palace
Ido Ashkenazi
Ricardo Eyzagruirre
Erik Christensen

That means that over the next few hours, there are going to be some new names and faces introduced to the blog...which entail allows for new storylines to emerge as the tournament plays on.

Event 2 (Day 1A): Christensen Climbs As Dinner Break Starts

Event 2 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $100,000 GTD)
Level 8 (Blinds 300/600/75)
Total Day 1A Entries: 140
Day 1A Players Remaining: 62

Erik Christensen (Miami, FL)

As the last minutes of Level 8 wind down, the remaining players in the field prepare for their (45) minute dinner break (6:05-6:50pm).  With the field shrinking down as each minute passes, we are beginning to see some larger stacks emerge.  One of the top stacks heading to dinner belongs to Erik Christensen (Miami, FL), who sits with just over 140,000.

Christensen is coming off a solid 2016, in which he had $57,112 in recorded tournament earnings.  He most recently reached the final two tables of the RRPO $3,500 Championship at Hard Rock Hollywood, finishing in 19th place for $12,890.  Erik had (9) total cashes last year, all of which were over $1,400.  He's going to need a deep run in this event to keep that steak going, but is off to the kind of start that will help get kickstarted.

Blog coverage will return once the cards are in the air for Level 9 (approximately 7:00pm), and will continue through the later stages of today's flight.

Event 2 (Day 1A): Palace Looking To Build Towers

Event 2 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $100,000 GTD)
Level 7 (Blinds 250/500/50)
Total Day 1A Entries: 134
Day 1A Players Remaining: 70

John Palace (Jupiter, FL) and Alan Bieler (pictured left)

Players returned from their second break of the day just moments ago, and now that Level 7 has started, the field has transitioned to (50) minute levels.  We keep harping back to the great structure, and the opportunity to pick spots and be patient (opposed to "blinding out/down"), which makes certain decisions that much harder.

The action was picked up in a hand between John Palace and Evan Teitelbaum moments ago, as the two were looking down at a flop of A♠ 7♣ 3♥.  Palace was deciding whether to call a 4,000 bet from Teitelbaum, which was about 30% of Palace's stack.  John would eventually make the call, and as the dealer placed down the K♦ on the turn, Teitelbaum would raise his head to get a good look at Palace's remaining stack.  

Palace would check, followed by Teitelbaum putting out a bet that would be enough to put John all-in.  After about a minute of thought, Palace would make the call, and his 10♠ 10♣ would be in rough shape against the A♦ 5♦ of Teitelbaum.  John would need to find one of the two remaining tens on the river to double up, and with those odds, he stood and began to collect his things.  He'd be able to return to his seat though, as the 10♦ dropped on the river, giving him the double up and new life in this opening flight.  Palace now sits with just over the starting stack, but has a lot of work to do in order to catch up to his neighbor (Alan Bieler), who is the current chip leader with just over 100,000.

Event 2 (Day 1A): "Real Time" Structure Sheet

Event 2 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $100,000 GTD)
Level 6 (Blinds 250/500/50)
Total Day 1A Entries: 126
Day 1A Players Remaining: 75

With registration open throughout the day for each of this event's starting flights, one of the decisions for players is what time to arrive.  There are numerous inquiries from players via phone or email asking, "If I show up at 6:30pm, what will the blinds be?"  The guessing game is no over for those players, as the "real time" structure sheet is posted below, offering up the actual time of each level/break on the right hand side:

Level	Small Blind	Big Blind	Ante	Time
1	25	50		12:00-12:40pm
2	50	100		12:40-1:20pm
3	75	150		1:20-2:00pm
		(10 Minute Break)
4	100	200		2:10-2:50pm
5	150	300	25	2:50-3:30pm
6	200	400	50	3:30-4:10pm
		(10 Minute Break)
7	250	500	75	4:20-5:10pm
8	300	600	75	5:10-6:00pm
		(45 Minute Break)
9	400	800	100	6:45-7:35pm
10	500	1,000	200	7:35-8:25pm
		(10 Minute Break)
11	600	1,200	200	8:35-9:25pm
12	800	1,600	300	9:25-10:15pm
		(10 Minute Break)
13	1,000	2,000	300	10:25-11:15pm
14	1,200	2,400	400	11:15-12:05am
		(End of Day 1)

Event 2 (Day 1A): The Polls That Matter

Event 2 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $100,000 GTD)
Level 5 (Blinds 150/300/25)
Total Day 1A Entries: 119
Day 1A Players Remaining: 86

Poll Located On Top Right Corner Of Blog

The Isle Casino Poker Room has always been considered very "player friendly," with the room's management team constantly listening to suggestions from it's regulars  in order to better the room and overall player experience.  The players are now going to be able to have their voice heard even more, as we introduce the implementation of "polls" to the blog.  The subject of these poll questions will relate to everything from live game play, tournaments, food, etc.  The results will be seen by "the powers that be" that head the poker room, and will be very beneficial to both players and staff.  

The first poll relates to the cash game side of the room, and poses the question: What game would you like to see spread on a more frequent basis?  The answers are all games that are approved for the room, but are rarely seen spread.  One of the many things that makes this poker room great, is the opportunity to play so many different games.  There are only a handful of rooms across the country where games like 2-7 Triple Draw, Badugi, Badacey, Razz, and Pineapple (just to name a few) are even approved.  Don't know how to play some of those game?  Maybe an interest from players will allow for some lower limit games to be started, offering and opportunity to learn.  Maybe it's 1/2 PLO you'd like to see played, being that only 2/5 and higher are spread.

The current poll will be up until Sunday (January 8th) at 8:00pm, with the results then posted for everyone to see.  We will then continue with new polls over the course of the year, and will hopefully see the results make a difference.  Maybe we will see some new games spread across the room, and even gain some real interest from players.

Event 2 (Day 1A): Bengis First Out Of The Gates

Event 2 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $100,000 GTD)
Level 5 (Blinds 150/300/25)
Total Day 1A Entries: 114
Day 1A Players Remaining: 84

Richard Bengis (Stormville, NY)

With the structure as it is for this event, you don't really expect to see too many 100-200 big blind pots across the field in the early stages of the day.  We happened to be over by Table 4 as one unfolded, with five players calling a 1,400 raise (pre), heading to a flop of 10♥ 3♣ Q♦.  Richard Bengis (Stormville, NY) would lead for 2,200 (first to act), and then watch as one opponent shoved for just over 5,200, and another three-bet to 25,000 (having everyone in the hand covered) after two folds.  Bengis would announce himself all-in, and after the three-better called, the hands would be tabled.  Richard turned over 3♦ 3♥, having flopped bottom, set, and was up against Q♥ 9♥ (shorter shove) and K♦ K♣ (player putting Bengis at risk).

The turn would bring the 9♠, giving outs to one of his opponents, but after the 8♠ fell on the river, Bengis would be safely home with the win.  The dealer then counted down his stack, which was exactly 32,525, and he would scoop in a pot worth close to 70,000.  Bengis has just over $4,000 in career tournament earnings, all from the Northeast (Foxwoods and Turning Stone), and is on the right track towards his first Florida tournament score.

Richard Bengis - 70,000

Event 2 (Day 1A): Field Continues To Grow

Event 2 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $100,000 GTD)
Level 4 (Blinds 100/200)
Total Day 1A Entries: 105
Day 1A Players Remaining: 91

Evan Teitelbaum (Parkland, FL)

This Day 1A field has already eclipsed the century mark in terms of entries, which gives us a prize pool of $31,500 (at the moment).  That is already well ahead of the pace needed to reach the $100,000 guarantee posted on the event, which will likely be reached at some point tomorrow afternoon.  That means that the five-figure score that will be waiting the eventual winner of this event continues to grow larger.  

A five-figure cash will likely help Evan Teitelbaum (Parkland, FL) eclipse the $700,000 mark in career tournament earnings.  Evan currently sits with $684,181, and is coming off a year in which he earned $67,426 (from 18 recorded cashes).  Much of that number from last year came here at the Isle, when he won a $100,000 Guaranteed event ($120 No Limit Hold'em) for $31,000.  Teitelbaum headlines the second wave of notables spotted in this Day 1A field:

Ricardo Eyzaguirre

Michael Newman

Alik Sitnyakovsky

Ira Marcus

Jeffrey Kessler

John Palace

Vendel Johnson

Bryce McVay

Marcus Skaggs

Event 2 (Day 1A): Getting In The Field Cheap

Event 2 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $100,000 GTD)
Level 3 (Blinds 75/150)
Total Day 1A Entries: 84
Day 1A Players Remaining: 74

There aren't many better feelings than getting something for a fraction of it's actual cost, which is why satellites into tournaments are so popular amongst poker players.  To this point, there have been five satellites run over the past three days, guaranteeing a total of (50) seats into this event.  Posted below are the results from those satellites:

Monday, January 2nd:

11:00am - $50 No Limit Hold'em - 1 In 10 Awards Seat (5 Seats Guaranteed)
Total Entries: 93

1. Paula Holder
2. Frank Traino
3. Daniel Genachthe
4. Gregg Weiss
5. Alfred Vargas
6. Diana Linke
7. Richard Contell
8. Carmen Mali
9. Pedro Palacio
10. Benjamin Robinson ($108)

6:00pm - $75 No Limit Hold'em - 1 In 6 Awards Seat (10 Seats Guaranteed)
Total Entries: 45

1. James Hamburger
2. Stephen Bromfield
3. Richard Vargas
4. Hugh Hardy
5. Richard Christensen
6. John Warner
7. Willie Wiggins
8. Marcus Skaggs
9. Michael Sklar
10. Maury Halperin

Tuesday, January 3rd:

11:00am - $50 No Limit Hold'em - 1 In 10 Awards Seat (5 Seats Guaranteed)

Total Entries: 67

1. George Berindei
2. Rodney Victor
3. David Padilla
4. Miguel Briganty
5. Dwight Pinkerton
6. Nelson Pacheco
7. Rafael Santoni ($252)

Wednesday, January 4th:

6:00pm - $75 No Limit Hold'em - 1 In 6 Awards Seat (20 Seats Guaranteed)
Total Entries: 112

1. Yigal Hen
2. Benjamin Robinson
3. Marcel Deschamps
4. Anthony Nassar
5. Paul Shafran
6. Mustafa Lobut
7. John Ambrosi
8. Rafael Lazo
9. Paula Holder
10. Robert Cavataio
11. Richard Stein
12. Michael Wetcher
13. John Kwon
14. Robert Perniola
15. Tuan Phan
16. Shamir Patel
17. Jeffery Burdeen
18. Alfonso Perez
19. Frank Scala
20. Karin Powsner

6:00pm - $75 No Limit Hold'em - 1 In 6 Awards Seat (10 Seats Guaranteed)

Total Entries: 57

1. Kimberly Gardner
2. Glen Canelstein
3. Jose Cabrera
4. Daniel Tatonetti
5. German Zaga
6. Frank Katana
7. David Walker
8. Jason Harvey
9. Raymond Rickard
10. Alfred Vargas

Event 2 (Day 1A): Looking To Notch First Score Of '17

Event 2 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $100,000 GTD)
Level 2 (Blinds 50/100)
Total Day 1A Entries: 75
Day 1A Players Remaining: 75

Andrew Touchette (Wakefield, MA)

A lap around the field yielded numerous names and faces familiar to the Isle Poker Room, most of which are looking to add their first 2017 tournament cash to their resume.  Andrew Touchette (@bankrollme87) is back in the room for the first time since the 2016 Isle Poker Open, a series in which he cashed in a trio of events (Event #1, Event #5, and Event #6).  Touchette followed that series up with a trip to Punta Cana Poker Classic, as well as a final table appearance during Event #8 ($580 NLH) of the WSOPC at Palm Beach Kennel Club.  Andrew currently share the table with two well known Florida-based tournament pros, Ory Hen (Cooper City, FL) and Ido Ashkenazi (Queens, NY).  Some other notables in this early Day 1A field include:

Gregg Weiss

Kenneth Bruno

Eric Mutschler

Carmen Mali

Hugh Hardy

Luis Santoni

David Walker

Nancy Thomas

Event 2 (Day 1A): Event 2 Action Underway

Event 2 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $100,000 GTD)
Level 1 (Blinds 25/50)
Total Day 1A Entries: 46
Day 1A Players Remaining: 46

It feels like the "unofficial" beginning of the Isle Poker Classic, as the "live blogging" is back in action, and cards are in the air for Day 1A of Event 2.  This "major structured" tournament is sure to attract a nice size field, with a $100,000 guarantee that will likely be window dressing once registration closes for the event on Day 2 (before the first card gets in the air).  The Day 2 open registration adds an interesting dynamic to this event, in the fact that we've seen numerous players buy into tournaments with the starting stack on Day 2, and then encounter some real success.

We don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves here though, as we have three full starting days ahead of us before Sunday's action.  In the short time since the cards got in the air, we have already spotted numerous familiar faces in the field, and will start the coverage with recognizing those players.  We will also catch you up on the Isle Poker Classic action to this point, as well as introducing some new features to blog.  Be ready to refresh those browsers throughout the day, and the 2017 Isle Poker Classic coverage is now underway!

Thursday, January 5th: First Isle Poker Classic "Headline" Event Begins Today

There are (16) events on the 2017 Isle Poker Classic schedule (not including satellites), three of which would be considered "headline" events of the series (Event 2, Event 10, and Event 16).  This afternoon's schedule hosts the first flight of Event 2, a $360 No Limit Hold'em tournament with a $100,000 guaranteed prize pool.  Other than the fact that this tournament offers the largest guarantee of any of the series (Event 16 also boasts a $100,000 guarantee), Event 2 has to be considered the best "structured" event of the series.

Event 2 has three starting days (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday), and offers open registration until the cards are in the air for Day 2 (Sunday).  Players will start with 20,000 in tournament chips, with Levels 1-6 lasting (40) minutes, and then transitioning to (50) at Level 7 through the conclusion of the tournament.  It's about as close to a "major" style structure as you'll find for such an affordable price point.  Each of the starting flights are scheduled to end at the conclusion of Level 14, or until 8% of the field remains (whichever comes first).

Cards will be in the air at 12:00pm for Day 1A of Event 2, with coverage of the flight "live blogged." Also on the schedule for the day is another $75 No Limit Hold'em Satellite into Event 2, guaranteeing  (10) seats (1 in 6 awarded seat).

12:00pm - Isle Poker Classic Event #2 (Day 1A) $360 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 Guarantee):

- Players receive 20,000 in tournament chips
- All late registrants and re-entries will receive full stacks
- Levels 1-6 will be (40) minutes, Levels 7+ will be (50) minutes
- Late registration and re-entries for the first (14) levels, to include before the first card on Day 2

6:00pm - $75 No Limit Hold'em Satellite Into Event #2 (1 In 6 Wins Seat) (10 Seats Guaranteed):

- Players receive 12,000 in tournament chips

- All late registrants and re-entries will receive a full stack

- Levels are (20) minutes

- Late registration and re-entries for the first (6) levels