Event 10 (Flight 1A): Official Flight 1A Chip Counts

Event 10 ($60 No Limit Hold'em $50,000 Guarantee)
Level 18 (Blinds 4,000/8,000/1,000)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 111

Total Event 10 Entries: 14

Hyndi Khomutetsky	304,000
Claude Comtois	231,500
Robb Idsinga	224,500
Josh Varsen	160,000
Duane Minerva	112,000
Steve Lake	110,000
Francois Gagne	104,000
Nick Cianelli	99,500
Amit Savani	94,500
Michel Gariepy	80,000
Paual Barros	80,000
Marc Culberson	37,000
Alan Werner	31,000

Event 10 (Flight 1A): Khomutetsky Bags Flight Lead, Official Counts To Follow

Event 10 ($60 No Limit Hold'em $50,000 Guarantee)
Level 18 (Blinds 4,000/8,000/1,000)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 111

Total Event 10 Entries: 14

Hyndi Khomutetsky (Orlando, FL) - Flight 1A Chip Leader

The first flight of Event 10 attracted a total of (111) entries, and after eighteen levels of play, Hyndi Khomutetsky (Orlando, FL) ends up at the flight's chip leader.  Hyndi arrived a few levels into the day, and from the first hand she played, it was a steady trend upwards.  Khomutetsky is coming off of her most successful year of tournament poker, and in a tournament with a "turbo-ish" feel to it, she will be returning to Sunday's Day 2 with well over (20) big blinds (which sounds light, but the chip average is just over ten bigs).

The tournament staff will now verify the stacks of the remaining (14) players, followed by the beginning of the bagging process.  Once the numbers have been made official, they will be posted here on the blog.  This will conclude the "live coverage" for the day, but there are still two flights on today's schedule.  Flight 1B is currently in the middle of Level 7, with a total of (95) entries at the moment.  There is still another (40) minutes remaining of open registration for that flight, with Flight 1C then beginning at 7:00pm.  

The official chip counts for both Flight 1B and 1C will be posted at the flight's conclusion, with a consolidated list put together once all of the day's play concludes.

Event 10 (Flight 1A): Hyndi's Hooks Pad Chip Lead

Event 10 ($60 No Limit Hold'em $50,000 Guarantee)
Level 17 (Blinds 3,000/6,000/500)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 111

Total Event 10 Entries: 26

Hyndi Khomutetsky (Orlando, FL)

Hyndi Khomutetsky becomes the first player to eclipse the 200,000 mark, as she just won a sizable pot.  Claude Comtois opened to 18,500, with Hyndi flatting behind in middle position.  The action folded to Michael Hefley, who tossed his remaining chips in (all-in for less), and the three would see a flop of 5♣ 2♠ K♦.

Comtois checked the flop, to which Hyndi checked back, and the action would go check-check again after the 10♥ on the turn.  After the 7♥ on the river, Comtois tossed out a small bet of 6,500, with Hyndi calling.  Comtois turned over A♥ 7♦, but his pair of sevens would be in third place, behind Hyndi's J♠ J♣ (which won the hand) and Hefley's 8♠ 8♣.  

Hyndi raked in the pot, while Hefley collected his things and left the tournament area.  With only two levels remaining in the flight, Hyndi is the clear favorite to bag the chip lead, but that could change at any moment.

Event 10 (Flight 1A): Three Tables Remain (Table Lineups)

Event 10 ($60 No Limit Hold'em $50,000 Guarantee)
Level 15 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/400)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 111

Total Event 10 Entries: 29

With only three levels remaining in the flight, here are the lineups of the three active tables:

Table 1:

1. A. Nonymous
2. B. Nonymous
3. Josh Varsen
4. Michele Gariépy
5. Alan Werner
6. Paula Barros
7. Duane Minerva
8. Richard Golonka
9. Rafael Ramos
10. Neil Shapiro

Table 2:

1. Steve Lake
2. Rob Idsinga
3. AJ Vargas
4. (Empty)
5. Dwight Pinkerton
6. Ryan Haet
7. Nick Cianelli
8. John Palace
9. DNR

Table 3:

1. Marc Culberson
2. Marcel DeChamps
3. David Nguyen
4. Claude Comtois
5. Arlene Vasquez
6. Hyndi Khomutetsky
7. Amit Savani
8. Michael Hefley
9. Leonard McDonald
10. Francois Gagne

Event 10 (Flight A): Ramos Rivers Flush To Double

Event 10 ($60 No Limit Hold'em $50,000 Guarantee)
Level 14 (Blinds 1,200/2,400/300)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 111

Flight 1A Players Remaining: 32

Rafael Ramos (Cape Coral, FL)

Rafael Ramos (Cape Coral, FL) is coming off his Event 3 win last week, and it looks as if the "run good" has continued.  Just moments ago, Ramos's chips were being cut out by the dealer at Table 1, as he had doubled through Duane Minerva.

The chips got in the middle on the turn of a board reading J♦ 4♥ 10♥ Q♠, with Ramos holding A♥ 7♥ against Minerva's Q♦ Q♣ (turned set).  Minerva would only need to fade a heart on the river to become the flight chip leader, but instead would watch as the 3♥ fell on the river, giving Ramos the win and the double.

Ramos's all-in amount was 36,800, and once that stack was matched by Minerva (in addition to what was already in the pot), Ramos would find himself over 110,000.  Minerva now finds himself with less than (20) big blinds, and is looking to recover in time to find a bag.

Rafael's stack is now top five in the field, but everyone is still looking up at Hyndi Khomutetsky, who sits with close to 180,000.

Event 10 (Flight 1A): Field Shrinking Fast, Updated Chip Counts

Event 10 ($60 No Limit Hold'em $50,000 Guarantee)
Level 12 (Blinds 800/1,600/200)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 111

Flight 1A Players Remaining: 42

It's only been an hour since registration closed, and the Flight 1A field is already down to five active tables.  The chip average is slightly above (20) big blinds at the moment, but with the "turbo-ish" structure of this event, that number decreases each and every orbit.  Many of the players that are busting this opening flight are jumping right into Flight 1B, which started moments ago.

Here are some updated chip counts from the field, why Hyndi Khomutetsky leading the way:

Hyndi Khomutetsky - 115,000

Paula Holder - 85,000

Duane Minerva - 77,000

Josh Varsan - 60,000

Rob Idsinga - 60,000

Event 10 (Flight 1A): Catching Up On All Of The Action

Event 10 ($60 No Limit Hold'em $50,000 Guarantee)
Level 10 (Blinds 500/1,000/100)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 111
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 60

With registration now closed, the official numbers of this first flight see a total of (111) entries, with $4,440 going towards the total prize pool for the tournament.  Close to half of those entries now remain, and before we take a look at the action going on, we are going to recap all of the Isle Poker Classic results to this point:

Event 1 - $130 No Limit Hold'em ($20,000 Guarantee)

Total Entries: 320

Total Prize Pool: $32,000

Winner: Marc Kropf ($6,305)

Event 2 - $360 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 Guarantee)

Total Entries: 583

Total Prize Pool: $174,900

Winner: Stephen Smith ($28,462)

Event 3 - $150 No Limit Hold'em ($15,000 Guarantee)

Total Entries: 104

Total Prize Pool: $15,000

Winner: Rafael Ramos ($2,942)

Event 4 - $160 No Limit Hold'em ($25,000 Guarantee)

Total Entries: 216

Total Prize Pool: $27,000

Winner: Christopher Cristillo ($6,133)

Event 5 - $130 No Limit Hold'em ($10,000 Guarantee)

Total Entries: 77

Total Prize Pool: $10,000

Winner: Reece Lightner ($2,337)

Event 6 - $100 No Limit Hold'em ($5,000 Guarantee)

Total Entries: 77

Total Prize Pool: $6,160

Winner: Robert Zelinka ($1,693)

Event 7 - $130 No Limit Hold'em ($20,000 Guarantee)

Total Entries: 189

Total Prize Pool: $20,000

Winner: Andrew Blake ($4,950)

Event 8 - $250 Omaha Hi/Lo 8 Or Better ($10,000 Guarantee)

Total Entries: 56

Total Prize Pool: $11,480

Winner: Brian Lueck ($1,148)

Event 9 - $100 No Limit Hold'em ($20,000 Guarantee)

Total Entries: 268

Total Prize Pool: $17,190

Winner: Sharon Bachar ($2,540)

Event 10 (Flight 1A): Last Look At Notables, Registration Window Closing

Event 10 ($60 No Limit Hold'em $50,000 Guarantee)
Level 9 (Blinds 400/800/100)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 105

Total Event 10 Entries: 105

Michael Hefley (Boonton, NJ)

Players are currently on their first break of the day, and when they return to Level 9, the blinds will have increased to 400/800/100.  Once the cards are back in the air, the registration for this opening flight of Event #10 will be closed.  Michael Hefley (Boynton, NJ) may be smiling in his photo, but we can tell you from discussion, that he is not happy about the news of his Chargers moving to Los Angeles.  The long time resident of San Diego is just perplexed in regards to the decision making process behind the move.  Hefley rounds out our coverage of notables in the field, as our focus will shift to the action at the tables post registration's close.  Our final list of notables includes the likes of:

Bryce McVay

Ronald Lindquist

Paula Barros

Francois Gagne

Paula Holder

Arlene Vasquez

Sarah Bilia

Paula Alibrandi

Rolando Garcia

Event 10 (Flight 1A): ICYMI, The "Spin To Win" Promotion Yields Heaps!!

Event 10 ($60 No Limit Hold'em $50,000 Guarantee)
Level 7 (Blinds 250/500/50)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 92

Total Event 10 Entries: 92

Actual Wheel Not Pictured

We have a lot to catch up on in terms of updating the numbers from past "Spin To Win" days, but it's necessary that yesterday's action is discussed.  As followers of the blog already know, Wednesday's headlining promotion is the "Spin To Win," which affords the high hand winners (each half-hour) the opportunity to spin the infamous "Money Wheel."

Let's just start by telling you that the first player to spin the wheel yesterday won $5,000 (top prize without Royal Flush)...and that would just be a sign of things to come.

Of yesterday's results, there were:

- (4) $5,000 winners

- (1) $3,000 winner

- (3) $2,000 winners

That's $29,000 won, and that makes up only a portion of the spins from the day.

Event 10 (Flight 1A): Faces In The Crowd

Event 10 ($60 No Limit Hold'em $50,000 Guarantee)
Level 6 (Blinds 200/400/25)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 87

Total Event 10 Entries: 87

Rafael Ramos (Cape Coral, FL) has already added an Isle Poker trophy to his mantle this series, earning himself the "winner's share" of a deal that ended Event #3 ($150 No Limit Hold'em $15,000 GTD).  Along with the trophy, Ramos earned himself $2,942 as part of the deal, pushing his recorded career earnings above the $40,000 mark.  Ramos is coming off a 2016 in which his recorded (14) cashes, totaling $8,535 in prize money.

Hugh Hardy (Pompano Beach, FL) is all smiles after earning himself the largest tournament score of his career.  Hardy was part of the six-way deal that occurred during Event #2 of this series, taking 4th place money worth $17,267.  Hardy's recorded career earnings coming into that tournament were just under $3,500, so to say that it was his poker highlight to this point would be an understatement.

Hyndi Khomutetsky (Orlando, FL) is an Orlando-based poker player who is likely taking advantage of the many options currently running here in south Florida.  Khomutetsky has results from poker rooms across the state, and will likely be playing in events here at the Isle, as well as those at other properties.  Hyndi is coming off a 2016 in which she recorded (12) cashes, totaling $15,211 in earnings.  She earned her highlighting score as well last year, finishing runner-up in a Rio Daily Deepstacks event during the WSOP.

Event 10 (Flight 1A): Notables In The Field

Event 10 ($60 No Limit Hold'em $50,000 Guarantee)
Level 3 (Blinds 75/150)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 70

Total Event 10 Entries: 70

John Palace (Jupiter, FL) 

Flight 1A has already drew a surprisingly strong field, and we are only three levels into the day (just under an hour).  Each of the nine flights needs to average (139) entries in order to reach the $50,000 guarantee, which is a pace this opening flight is already ahead of.  Now for those following the blog who don't "eat, sleep, and breathe" poker, they may think that if a flight ends up with (90) entries, that there is for sure going to be an overlay.  There are always going to be more popular flights than other in a multi-day event such as this, and in the industry, the opening flight is usually the "weakest" in terms of attendance.  That is the reason why the showing to this point is coming as somewhat of a surprise.

There are many "notables" in the field at the moment, including a player that's looking for his second cash of the series.  John Palace (Jupiter, FL) made a deep run in the first "headlining" event of the series, finishing in 34th place in Event #2 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $100,000 GTD) for $962.  That recorded cash was the first of 2017 for Palace, and also pushed his career tournament earnings (recorded) above $57,000.  Some other well known players in the field include:

Rafael Ramos
Bruce Smith
Joseph Mancuso
Stephen Ekin
Michael Hefley
Marcel Dechamps
James Wolf

Event 10 (Flight 1A): "If You Build It, They Will Come," The Story Of Event 10

Event 10 ($60 No Limit Hold'em $50,000 Guarantee)
Level 1 (Blinds 25/50)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 40

Total Event 10 Entries: 40

The rules announcement has just been made by Tournament Director Ralph Brandt, and the cards are in the air for Flight 1A of Event 10 (2017 Isle Poker Classic).  The famous quote that landed in the title of this post (from "Field Of Dreams") holds very true in regards to the Isle Poker Room.  Host a lower buy-in (high value) event with a large guarantee, and the players will show...and they will show strong.  

This stage of the series (including the tournaments that were scheduled) was going be somewhat of a mystery, as the 2017 Isle Poker Classic had "company" so to say.  Florida has become one of the top states for poker players to live (behind maybe Las Vegas and New Jersey), and one of the main reasons why, is the abundance of places to play.  Players are almost "spoiled" with all of the different options, in such a small geographic radius.  So with other options opening up this afternoon, many "in the know" were unaware of what the showing would be like.

"If you build it, they will come."  We are only (20) minutes into the event, and it's clear that the $50,000 guarantee will not only be reached, but it will be surpassed.  The players continue to enter this opening flight at a rapid pace, and the first "live look-in" will focus on the notables in the field.

Thursday, January 12th: Event 10 Of "Classic" Headlines Weekend

It's been over (72) hours since the agreement that ended Event 2 was publicized on the blog, and after three days of "side events," live coverage is back for the second of three "headlining" tournaments of the 2017 Isle Poker Classic.  Event 10 is a $60 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry) event that boasts a $50,000 guarantee.  There are (9) starting flights over the course of the next three days, offering players the opportunity to play in the early afternoon, mid-afternoon, or evening (depending on personal schedule).

This tournament's value is really something that's unparalleled at other properties, offering players the chance to cash in on a five-figure score, for the cost of filling up a tank of gas (if you're driving a large SUV).  With some larger buy-in events running at surrounding properties, it will be interesting to see how this tournament plays out.  One thing that holds true is the fact that players loyal to the Isle Poker Room really flock towards these lower buy-in (high value) events.  Today's live coverage will focus on the opening flight of the event (Flight 1A), as we bring you the action from the first card in the air, to the bagging process.

11:00am - Event #10 (Isle Poker Classic) $60 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry) $50,000 Guarantee (Flight 1A): *** Live Blogged Coverage ***

- Players receive 15,000 in tournament chips
- All late registrants and re-entries will receive a full stack
- Levels will be (20) minutes
- Late registration and re-entries for the first (8) levels
- All Day 1's will play (18) complete levels, or until 8% of the field remains (whichever comes first)

3:00pm - Event #10 (Isle Poker Classic) $60 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry) $50,000 Guarantee (Flight 1B):

- Players receive 15,000 in tournament chips
- All late registrants and re-entries will receive a full stack
- Levels will be (20) minutes
- Late registration and re-entries for the first (8) levels
- All Day 1's will play (18) complete levels, or until 8% of the field remains (whichever comes first)

7:00pm - Event #10 (Isle Poker Classic) $60 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry) $50,000 Guarantee (Flight 1C):

- Players receive 15,000 in tournament chips
- All late registrants and re-entries will receive a full stack
- Levels will be (20) minutes
- Late registration and re-entries for the first (8) levels
- All Day 1's will play (18) complete levels, or until 8% of the field remains (whichever comes first)