Event 1 (Flight 1C): Official Flight 1C Chip Counts

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 16 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/500)

Total Flight 1C Entries: 102

Matthew	Zarcadoolas	317,500
David	Bell	242,000
Changfei	Cui	198,000
Nader	Bahhur	188,000
Richard	Wetter	164,000
Richard	Russ	122,000
Rostant	Ramlal	111,000
Roberto	Alvaredo	99,500
Joseph	Duchman	92,000
Austin	Bailey	87,500
Paula	Alibrandi	65,000
Valeria	Rodriguez-Ligeiro	59,000
Rolando	Garcia	58,000
Don	Brunelle	58,000
Mike	Kelly	57,000
Jason	Talbot	52,000
Mike	Hefley	35,500
Shlomo	Maman	34,500

Event 1 (Flight 1C): Zarcadoolas Does It

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 16 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/500)

Total Flight 1C Entries: 102

Matt Zarcadoolas (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

As the final level was playing out, Matt Zarcadoolas (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) became very interested in where everyone stood in relation to the "race."  He got up from his seat during the latter stages of Level 16, and surveyed the field...and then proceeded to play in six of the last seven hands of the flight.  He happened to win all but one, and although he may not have needed to win all of those hands to bag the lead, it only padded his stack.  The numbers haven't been made official just yet, but Zarcadoolas bagged well over 300,000, and earns himself a seat into the 2017 Battles At The Beach Main Event.

Once the tournament staff finishes up with the bagging process, the official chip counts from the flight will be posted.  This will conclude the "live coverage" for the day, but you can check back for updates in regards to the "evening" flight (Flight 1D), along with official chip counts once the night is over (around 2:30am).

Event 1 (Flight 1C): And Down The Stretch They Come!

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 16 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/500)

Total Flight 1C Entries: 102

Players are entering the final level of play, and just like yesterday's afternoon flight (Flight 1A), things are going to come down to the final few hands.  David Bell (Cornwall-On-Hudson, NY) has taken the chiplead, sitting as the only player with a stack above 200,000 (Bell has 240,000).  Bell has over $387,700 in live tournament earnings, included a runner-up finish at the 2013 WPT Best Bet Jacksonville  Main Event ($175,712).  David has three outright wins on his resume, including two that came right here at the Isle (2011 Battles At The Beach $120 NLH and 2013 Isle Poker Classic $1,110 NLH Six-Max).

David Bell - 240,000

Matt Zarcadoolas - 170,000

Nader Bahhur - 140,000

Roberto Alvarado - 140,000

Richard Wetter - 130,000

Event 1 (Flight 1C): "Could Have Used A Few More Callers"

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 15 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/500)

Total Flight 1C Entries: 102

Nader Bahhur (Hollywood, FL) is now part of "race" for the chiplead bonus.

Nader Bahhur (Hollywood, FL) has had a roller coaster last few levels, going from average stack...to all-in and at risk...to over 100,000...and back down again.  He was down to (20) big blinds moments ago, and was involved in a three-way all-in with Manuel Soto and Phil S (Bahhur had both players covered).

Bahhur: 10♦ 10♠

Soto: 5♠ 5♣

Phil S.: A♦ K♠

Board: 10♣ J♠ 8♥ 8♦ Q♦

Bahhur flopped middle set, but was still at risk to losing if Phil spiked a queen on the turn or river.  When the board paired on the turn though, Nader had things locked up, and would chip up to 160,000 (almost tripling up).  Bahhur now sits with a top five stack in the field, and within reach of the flight's chip lead with two levels to go.

Event 1 (Flight 1C): Three Tables Remain

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 14 (Blinds 1,200/2,400/400)

Total Flight 1C Entries: 102

As promised, here are the table lineups for the three tables that remain in Flight 1C:

Table 9:

1. Matt Zarcadoolas
2. Francis Margaglione
3. Ronald Hirsch
4. Shlomo Maman
5. Richard Wetters
6. Antonio Albanes
7. Rolando Garcia
8. Michael Hefley
9. Don Bruno
10. Roberto Alvarado

Table 1:

1. Paula Alibrandi
2. Valeria Rodriguez
3. Mike Kelley
4. Nader Bahhur
5. Norman Zapczynski
6. Richard Ross
7. Uri Kadosh
8. Phil S.
9. Ross Ramlal
10. Manuel Soltero Luna

Table 3:

1. Tayfun Akbasli
2. David Bell
3. Jason Talbot
4. Austin Bailey
5. Nagy Yassa
6. Joseph Duchman
7. Jesse Cui
8. Robert Flacco
9. Debra Pope
10. David Walker

Event 1 (Flight 1C): Updated Chip Counts Before Final Break

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 12 (Blinds 800/1,600/200)

Total Flight 1C Entries: 102

Flight 1C players are about to take their final (10) minute break of the day, and will return to finish the last four scheduled levels.  With the blinds and antes increasing, and the stack ratio thinning out, we are starting to see the action pick up.  Posted below are updated chips counts tallied just before break:

Richard Wetter - 164,000
Joseph Duchman - 130,000
Matt Zarcadoolas - 90,000
Paula Alibrandi - 90,000
Debra Pope - 85,000
Mike Kelley - 75,000
Don Bruno - 70,000

Event 1 (Flight 1C): Wetter Emerges As Flight's Leader

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 11 (Blinds 600/1,200/200)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 102

Richard Wetter (Palm Beach Gardens, FL)

It's taken a little longer than we've seen in flights prior, but a big stack has emerged from the field, and it's Richard Wetter (Palm Beach Gardens, FL).  Wetter is likely feeling "groovy" after decimating his neighbors stack (Antonio Albanes, featured earlier in the wild glasses), and now sits with over 160,000.  Wetter has just under $50,000 in live tournament earnings, and owns a WSOPC ring, won in the Seniors Event (2013) at the Palm Beach Kennel Club ($34,250).

The Flight 1C field is now down to (39) players, and once action reaches three tables, we will update you on all of those remaining (full table lineup).

Event 1 (Flight 1C): "How Good Is She Running?"

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 11 (Blinds 500/1,000/100)

Total Flight 1C Entries: 102

Debra Pope (Arlington, TX)

Approaching Table 4, Debra Pope (Arlington, TX) would be heads-up on the river of a board reading 3♣ 4♥ Q♥ 2♠ 2♦.  Pope, who was playing one of the larger stacks in the field, bet enough on the river to put her opponent all-in.  The unknown player quickly called, and after Pope rolled over 4♠ 4♣, picked his cards up from the table in disgust.  "How good is she running," he exclaimed, as he showed a deuce before tossing his hand into the muck and leaving the table.

With that sizable pot, Debra is just shy of 100,000, and sits with a top three stack in the flight.  Pope has over $11,500 in live tournament earnings, and is coming off a final table at SHR ($250 No Limit Hold'em Holiday Deepstack - 3rd Place $5,954).

Event 1 (Flight 1C): Now's When It Counts

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 9 (Blinds 400/800/100)

Total Flight 1C Entries: 102

The remaining Flight 1C players have returned from break, and with registration now closed, the only option to "re-enter" is one of the upcoming flights.  This flight drew an official number of (102) total entries, which is the second largest field of the three flights to have been played to this point.  A total of (58) players returned from the break, looking to navigate their way through another eight levels, and reach the flight's bagging process.  Posted below are updated chip counts from the beginning of Level 9:

Tayfun Akbasli - 110,000

Paula Alibrandi - 95,000

Michael Hefley - 68,000

Valeria Rodriguez - 63,000

Francis Margaglione - 60,000

Don Bruno - 58,000

Event 1 (Flight 1C): Late Arrivals As Registration Window Closes

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 8 (Blinds 300/600/75)

Total Flight 1C Entries: 93

Flight 1C play just entered Level 8, which is the last level before registration closes (players have until the beginning of Level 9 to enter, after the second scheduled break).  While a good number of players have busted and re-entered, there have been new faces in the field since we last updated:

Ronald Hirsch

Norman Zapczynski

Karen Rutherford

Frederick Allenspach

Debra Pope

Bryan Power

Earl Gallegos

Paulius Bikus

While the "reportable" action has been lacking, players will return from break with average stacks of (30) big blinds.  As the field reaches Level 10-11, the action will surely pick up, and we will begin to see some larger stacks emerge from the group.

Event 1 (Flight 1C): Alibrandi Grabs The Early Lead

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 6 (Blinds 200/400/50)

Total Flight 1C Entries: 83

Paula Alibrandi (Miramar, FL)

The action has been fairly slow over the course of the first five levels of the day, with a large portion of the field hovering around the chip average of 25,000.  One player to have gained a little separation from the field has been Paula Alibrandi (Miramar, FL).  Sitting with just over 70,000, Paula is looking to bag chips on one bullet for this event, and eventually add to an already impressive tournament resume.  

Alibrandi has over $113,000 in live tournament earnings, and is coming off a year in which she recorded (8) cashes, totaling $14,061 in earnings.  While a large percentage of her (41) career results have come here in Florida, Alibrandi has actually seen her most tournament success while in the state of New York.  Paula's best cash came in 2015 at the Seneca Niagara Casino, when she finished runner-up in the $910 Western Poker Challenge main event ($37,190).  There's no doubt that Paula would like to continue this upward trend over the course of this flight, and earn herself a seat into the Battles At The Beach main event (worth $1,500).

Event 1 (Flight 1C): ICYMI, Another $5,000 "Money Wheel" Winner!

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 5 (Blinds 150/300/25)

Total Flight 1C Entries: 80

Marcel Gendron (far left) added his name to the list of $5,000 winners during the "Spin To Win" promotion.

Yesterday's big promotion (as has been every Wednesday for months) was the "Spin To Win" high hand promotion, where qualifying players have the opportunity to spin the ever-popular "Money Wheel."  We've seen some incredible payouts over the past few months, with four figure winners almost each and every week.  The wheel magic continued yesterday, as Marcel Gendron and his quad jacks spun the wheel, and earned himself $5,000!!!

It's one of the most popular high hand promotions in the state of Florida, and if you want in on the action, all you need to do is show up on Wednesday's between 12:00pm-11:00pm (and of course have a qualifying high hand for the half-hour to spin).

Event 1 (Flight 1C): Hoodies, Glasses, And Headphones

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 4 (Blinds 100/200)

Total Flight 1C Entries: 65

It's become the "poker player's uniform," with the glasses on, hoods up, and headphones playing.  The hoodies haven't made any waves in the poker community, but the idea of wearing sunglasses and/or listening to headphones while playing have both garnered different opinions from tournament players.  Regardless of stance, all three are approved during tournament play here at the Isle Casino Poker Room, and we spotted a trio of notables each sporting one of the three items.  (Players will be taking their first 10 minute break after this level, and will return to new blinds of 150/300/25).

Ronald Morone (Las Vegas, NV) is "under the hood," and looking to boost his no limit tournament resume.  Morone is a very successful tournament player with over $37,000 in live tournament earnings, but a good portion of those cashes have been in non-no limit tournaments (Omaha 8B, PLO, HORSE, etc.).  Just a few weeks ago, Morone won the $300 Omaha 8B event during the Lucky Hearts Poker Open at SHR ($5,584).

Manuel Soltero Luna (Miami, FL) is coming off his most successful year of tournament poker, recording (15) live tournament cashes, totaling $14,443.  His best cash of the year (and of his career) came in May, when he won a $130 No Limit Hold'em event at Coconut Creek ($6,628).

Juan Rodriguez (Boca Raton, FL) can always be found wearing his trademark polarized sunglasses at the table, and it seems to be working for him.  Juan has over $107,000 in live tournament earnings, and should be familiar to followers of the blog after being part of the six-way deal that ended Event 2 of the 2017 Isle Poker Classic.  Rodriguez took second place in that chop, and earned a career highlighting score of $19,141.

Event 1 (Flight 1C): Field Continues To Grow, Notables Continue To Show

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 3 (Blinds 75/150)

Total Flight 1C Entries: 53

It's a well known fact that poker players aren't the best "morning people," so it should come as no surprise that the field has more than doubled since the cards first got in the air over an hour ago.  Some of the newest attendees of this afternoon flight include:

Paula Alibrandi

Bruno Fortin

Marcel Dechamps

David Walker

Joshua Wasserman

Shlomo Maman

Francois Gagne

Francis Margaglione

Robert Flacco

Valeria Rodriguez

Event 1 (Flight 1C): Rule Of Thirds

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 2 (Blinds 50/100)

Total Flight 1C Entries: 41

"Rule of thirds" is a photography term, and is the basic idea of composition.  It is essentially dividing an image into three horizontal and vertical sections.  For the post's title, it's referring to the group of three notables photographed in this early field.  The pace of entry is just behind yesterday's Flight 1A (when ended up with 107 entries), but there looks to be a steady stream of players heading to the tournament area.

Forget the hoodie...toss the headphones...no need for an iPad...Antonio Albanes (Hollywood, FL) just rocks the "groovy" shades at the table.  Albanes only rocks the shades when he is in a hand, taking them on and off each time a hand is being dealt.  Antonio doesn't have much a tournament resume to research, as he boasts just one result on Hendon Mob, a 36th place finish during the opening event of the 2015 SHRPO ($3,095).

Michael Hefley (San Diego, CA) is a familiar name to followers of the blog, and a familiar face to anyone who plays "daily" events here at the Isle.  Hefley was first introduced on the blog during Event 1 coverage of the 2016 Isle Poker Open.  Hefley reached the final table of that event, finishing in 4th place, and earning his career highlighting score of $7,641.  Michael followed that up with a cash in the 2017 Isle Poker Classic, and is looking to notch a score in his third straight series.

Glen Canelstein (Coconut Creek, FL) has been getting lots of "blog love" over the last few series, but his tournament "claim to fame" actually came during a standalone event in December.  Canelstein was part of a final table chop during the $75,000 GTD "Structure Beast," earning a career highlighting score of $5,015.  Glen has been a fixture in the Isle Poker tournament scene, and is looking to best his effort in the 2017 Isle Poker Classic, in which he cashed in two events.

Event 1 (Flight 1C): Flight 1A-1B Official Chip Counts

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 1 (Blinds 25/50)

Total Flight 1A Entries: 25

Listed below are the combined chip counts of the (21) players to bag chips for Sunday's Day 2.  The letter next to a player's name denotes "chip lead bonus" for respective flight:

Event 1 (Flight 1C): Action Underway For Flight 1C

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 1 (Blinds 25/50)

Total Flight 1C Entries: N/A

Tournament supervisor Ralph Brandt just made the rules announcement to the players already seated in the Flight 1C field, and the cards are in the air for the third of eight opening Event 1 flights.  There were a total of (187) entries from yesterday's opening day of action, with (21) players bagging chips for Day 2.  James Plate (Oakdale, NY) bagged the overall chip lead with 477,000 (from Flight 1B), with Robert Urspruch (Plantation, FL) bagging the Flight 1A chip lead (396,500).  Both players earned seats into the Battles At The Beach $1,500 Main Event, and will be joined by another duo from today's flights.

Flight 1C will be "live blogged" this afternoon, with coverage through the bagging process (around 6:30pm).  Official chip counts will follow for Flight 1D, which ends just after 1:00am, with the pattern continuing tomorrow and Saturday.  Sunday's Day 2 action will have full coverage, offering updates until a winner has been declared.

Thursday, February 16th: Looking To Join The 21 That Moved On, Event 1 Continues

The 2017 installment of the "Battles At The Beach" began yesterday, with two very strong showings for the first event of the series (Event 1 - $175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD).  The opening flight (Flight 1A) began at 11:00am, and brought out many of the Isle Poker familiar faces (107 total entries).  Robert Urspruch (Plantation, FL) introduced himself to followers of the blog in the latter stages of the flight, and ended up bagging the chip lead (396,500), which then earned him a $1,500 Battles At The Beach Main Event seat.

The evening flight (Flight 1B), which started at 6:00pm, attracted a total of (80) entries.  The field size was shrinking at a rapid rate, and it looked as if they'd reach the "10% remaining" before the end of Level 16 (at which point the flight would have started the bagging process).  The field got as close as one elimination away (8 players ended up the night), but did end up finishing the flight as scheduled, with James Plate (Oakdale, NY) bagging an impressive 477,000.  Plate locked up his $1,500 Battles At The Beach Main Event seat with that effort, an tournament that looks to be one of the highest buy-ins he has played in his career.

There are two more Event 1 flights on the schedule today (11:00am and 6:00pm), along with the "Early Bird No Limit Promotion," paying out the first (50) full houses of the day.  Yesterday's "Spin To Win" promotion saw yet another $5,000 winner, with Marcel Gendron of Quebec parlaying his quad jacks into an incredible payday!

11:00am - Event 1 (Battles At The Beach) $175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 Guarantee (Flight 1C)

- Players receive 20,000 in tournament chips
- All late registrants and re-entries will receive a full stack
- Levels will be (25) minutes in length throughout tournament
- All Day 1's will play 16 levels, or when 10% of the field remains (whichever occurs first)
- The chip leader from each flight will earn a $1,500 Main Event seat

6:00pm - Event 1 (Battles At The Beach) $175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 Guarantee (Flight 1D)

- Players receive 20,000 in tournament chips
- All late registrants and re-entries will receive a full stack
- Levels will be (25) minutes in length throughout tournament
- All Day 1's will play 16 levels, or when 10% of the field remains (whichever occurs first)
- The chip leader from each flight will earn a $1,500 Main Event seat

Event 1 (Flight 1B): Official Flight 1B Chip Counts

2017 "Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 16 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/500)

Total Flight 1B Entries: 80

Players Remaining: 8

James	Plate	477,000
Atanael	Thomas	348,000
Hector	Pacheco	235,500
Rodolfo	Miret	189,000
David	Poces	123,500
James	Quiles	96,500
Mark	Carattini	69,500
Michael	Guttermann	56,500