"May $100,000 GTD:" Official End Of Flight 1A Chip Counts

"May $100,000 GTD"
$150 No Limit Hold'em Deep Stack
Level 16 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/500)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 133
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 18

John	Womack	380,000
Thomas	Gari	280,000
Fredy	Moreno	218,500
Jose	Gallegos	191,000
Philip	Novick	182,000
Andrew	Reid	169,000
Alan	Saltzman	157,500
Trent	Smith	150,000
Robert	Cromwell	126,000
Alvaro	Vivas	124,500
Eddie	Uehara	119,000
Bill	Reich	116,000
Paulius	Bikus	99,000
Hari	Sukhu	92,500
Mike	Hefley	88,000
Michel	Calvo	67,000
Larry	Kusch	58,500
Francisco	Solman	38,000

"May $100,000 GTD:" Final Level Of The Flight

"May $100,000 GTD"
$150 No Limit Hold'em Deep Stack
Level 16 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/500)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 133
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 22

The tournament clock transitioned to Level 16 just a few moments ago, with blinds going up to 2,000/4,000/500.  This is the last level of Flight 1A, with the clock scheduled to be paused with 10:00 minutes remaining.  Once that point is reached, a pre-determined number of hands will be played, and the bagging process will begin.  After all of the bags are sealed and verified by the tournament staff, a full listing of Flight 1A chip counts will be posted here on the blog.  

Flight 1B's cards will be in the air in just over (15) minutes, and while there will not be "live blogged" coverage of the flight, the final chip counts will be posted following it's conclusion.  Tournament coverage will return tomorrow at 11:00am, as Flight 1C gets underway in the early afternoon.

"May $100,000 GTD:" Rakusa Goes From Chip Leader...To Out Of The Flight

"May $100,000 GTD"
$150 No Limit Hold'em Deep Stack
Level 15 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/500)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 133
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 25

In what can only be described as a shocking turn of events, Andre Rakusa (Coral Springs, FL) has been eliminated from Flight 1A play.  Rakusa assumed the flight's chip lead earlier in the day (Level 6), and continued to amass chips as the day progressed.  At last check (during the beginning of Level 13), Andre had over 200,000 in front of him, which was over (100) big blinds.  A good portion of his stack was sent the way of John Womack (who is now the chip leader) in Level 14, but he still was sitting with just over chip average (110,000).  The rest of Andre's chips were lost moments ago, as he collected his belongings and exited the tournament area.  Other players to have busted this flight post-registration's close include:

Sean Shah
Esther Foley
Juan Rodriguez
Paula Alibrandi
Kenneth Bruno
Luiz Stadler
Steven Bennett

"May $100,000 GTD:" Novick Climbing After "Getting What He Needed"

"May $100,000 GTD"
$150 No Limit Hold'em Deep Stack
Level 14 (Blinds 1,200/2,400/400)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 133
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 30

Philip Novick (Cooper City, FL)

Philip Novick (Cooper City, FL) has four recorded results on his resume, totaling $8,367 in career earnings.  His cashes have all come at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood, with his largest ($3,377) coming during the 2015 Rock N' Roll Poker Open ($150 No Limit Hold'em Event #12).  A final table run in this tournament would likely eclipse that result, and while that's a long way to go from here, Novick's putting himself in the best position he can.

A hand was approached between Novick, Trent Smith, and Michael Hefley, as the three were heading to the river (with the board reading Q♦ 3♠ K♣ K♠).  There was just over 30,000 in the pot, and just before the dealer was putting out the river, Smith said to Hefley, "Whatever you need on the river, it's going to come."  The dealer then placed down the A♣ on the felt, with Hefley checking to Novick.  Philip quickly put together a bet of 24,000, and tossed it on the table.  It would only be a few seconds before Smith made the call, as he waited to see Novick's hand after Hefley folded.  Philip turned over J♥ 10♥, having rivered a straight, with Smith throwing his hand in the muck.

"You were worried about the wrong person," Hefley said to Smith, a little needle after losing the pot.  Novick could only smile as he collected the pot, bringing his stack up to 180,000, and giving him a top five stack in the field.

"May $100,000 GTD:" Post Break Updated Chip Counts

"May $100,000 GTD"
$150 No Limit Hold'em Deep Stack
Level 13 (Blinds 1,000/2,000/300)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 133
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 37

John Womack (Lauderhill, FL)

Players have returned from the final break of the flight, and the cards are once again in the air.  The "turbo-ish" structure of the first "phase" of this tournament has seen this Flight 1A field shrink at a dramatic rate, but those who can manage to find a bag for Day 2 will get a little relief (as the levels transition to 30 minutes in length on Sunday).  Posted below are some of the updated chip counts from the beginning stages of Level 13:

Andre Rakusa - 200,000
John Womack - 195,000
Andrew Reid - 155,000
Trent Smith - 135,000
Philip Novick - 135,000
Jose Gallegos - 100,000
Eric Piderit - 95,000
Evan Braunstein - 80,000
Gyorgy Cseke - 80,000

"May $100,000 GTD:" Braunstein On His Way To Finding A Bag

"May $100,000 GTD"
$150 No Limit Hold'em Deep Stack
Level 12 (Blinds 800/1,600/200)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 133
Total Flight 1A Players Remaining: 34

When Evan Braunstein (Lighthouse Point, FL) was featured earlier, he was hovering just above the starting stack of 20,000.  He has since trended in the right direction, but it wasn't until moments ago that he'd really make a charge up the leaderboard.  The action between Braunstein and Stephen Broniecki was caught on the turn of a board reading 4♥ 6♦ 8♥ 8♠, with Broniecki checking to Braunstein, and Evan firing out a one-third pot size bet of 15,000.  

Broniecki quickly check-shoved for just over 40,000, with Braunstein snap-calling, and turning over 8♣ 6♣ for a turned full house.  Stephen would be drawing dead with A♥ K♦, in what could only be explained as a read gone wrong.  Broniecki was hoping to get Evan off a different number of hands, but he wasn't going to get Braunstein to fold those holdings.  Evan is now up to 170,000, and is sitting with a top five stack as we reach the final break of the flight.

Players will return to Level 13, and new blinds of 1,000/2,000/300, with four more full levels of play on the schedule.  The bagging process will begin at the conclusion of Level 16, unless the field get's to 10% of the original number (133) before that point.

"May $100,000 GTD:" Deep In The Bag Of Tricks For Gallegos

"May $100,000 GTD"
$150 No Limit Hold'em Deep Stack
Level 11 (Blinds 600/1,200/200)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 133
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 46

Jose Gallegos (Norristown, PA)

"All-in...all-in...all-in," is usually a sign that a big hand is going down.  The action happened to be right behind our back, as three players were all-in at Table 4.  The flop was 10♣ 9♣ 3♠, with an unknown player holding A♠ A♦ (all-in for 11,000), Jose Gallegos holding K♣ 10♥ (all-in for 44,000), and William Underdown holding 10♠ 9♠ (all-in for 32,000).  

Under down's two-pair would have the lead as the dealer dropped down the 5♣ on the turn, giving Gallegos the running-flush outs that would help him.  That runout would be complete after the 2♣ on the river, with Gallegos making his flush, and eliminating his two opponents from the flight.  Jose would eclipse the chip average for the first time this afternoon, and now sits with just under 95,000.

** Update ** Gallegos then won another sizable pot just a few moments later with pocket aces, sending another player home, and chipping up to 130,000.

"May $100,000 GTD:" Gari's Aggression Stronger Each Street

"May $100,000 GTD"
$150 No Limit Hold'em Deep Stack
Level 10 (Blinds 500/1,000/100)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 133
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 67

Thomas Gari (Hollywood, FL)

After Thomas Gari opened from under-the-gun at Table 1, action would fold all the way around to Stephen Broniecki in the big blind.  Broniecki made the call, and would lead out for 3,000 after the dealer placed down the Q♥ 6♥ A♣ flop.  Gari quickly tossed out a min-raise to 6,000, and after a few moments, Broniecki made the call.  

Broniecki then chose to check after the J♠ on the turn, seemingly surprised when Gari tossed forward a bet of 11,000.  From his demeanor, it looked as if Broniecki was going to fold, but he'd eventually toss in the chips for a call.  Stephen checked one last time after the 7♣ on the river, with Gari once again continuing his pattern, this time shoving for his remaining 14,000.  Broniecki quickly laid down his hand, and the table would be left guessing what Gari's holdings were.  Regardless of what his hand was, Thomas is now up to 75,000, and sits above chip average for the first time today.

"May $100,000 GTD:" Updated Counts From The Field

"May $100,000 GTD"
$150 No Limit Hold'em Deep Stack
Level 9 (Blinds 400/800/100)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 133

With registration now closed for Flight 1A, the officials numbers are in...with a total of (133) entries, and $15,295 going towards the overall prize pool.  Just over half of the total number currently remains, with (67) players active in the field.  Andre Rakusa (Coral Springs, FL) still leads the way, and has a sizable chip lead over the field with 190,000.  

Andre Rakusa - 190,000
Trent Smith - 125,000
Craig Witz - 105,000
Gyorgy Cseke - 100,000
Evan Braunstein - 95,000
John Womack - 85,000
Michael Hefley - 55,000
---- Chip Average ---- 40,000
Paula Alibrandi - 35,000
William Underdown - 20,000
Kenneth Bruno - 17,000

"May $100,000 GTD:" Must Be The Fedora, Siele Sends Agrachov To The Rail

"May $100,000 GTD"
$150 No Limit Hold'em Deep Stack
Level 8 (Blinds 300/600/75)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 127

Terry Siele (Delray Beach, FL)

Terry Siele (Delray Beach, FL) just busted "defending" champion Dmitry Agrachov from the Flight 1A field, as the two got it in pre-flop, with Siele holding K♥ K♠ against Agrachov's Q♦ Q♣.  Siele's pocket kings would never relinquish the lead, and he'd chip up to 75,000 just before the registration window's close.

There will be a (10) minute break at the conclusion of this level, and when the cards get back in the air for Level 9 (Blinds 400/800/100), registration will be closed for this flight.  It's not yet been confirmed whether Agrachov is back in this opening flight, but if he chooses to wait, there is still Flight 1B this evening (6:00pm)...followed by two more flights each tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday.  Once live coverage resumes, the focus will shift on updated chip counts from the field, as we are at the halfway mark of the flight.

"May $100,000 GTD:" Braunstein Back In Action

"May $100,000 GTD"
$150 No Limit Hold'em Deep Stack
Level 7 (Blinds 250/500/50)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 123

Evan Braunstein (Lighthouse Point, FL)

One of the hardest things for recreational players in terms of these multi-flight/multi-day tournaments is scheduling.  That's the reason that Saturday flights are usually the busiest, as those with full-time jobs are afforded the opportunity with weekends off.  Evan Braunstein (Lighthouse Point, FL) doesn't consider poker his full-time profession, but he's more than making due at the tables.  Evan won the opening event of the 2017 Battles At The Beach series ($175 No Limit Hold'em - $22,251), his third ever recorded cash.  He's been back in tournament fields since, but has also been concentrating on his career, which is in real estate.  Braunstein is currently seated at Table 1, and is one of the later entrants into this Flight 1A field, which was includes:

Eric Kolodny

Rahamim Ezra

Shaundra Seay

Jennifer Parker

Gregory Spinder

Stephen Broniecki

"May $100,000 GTD:" Rakusa Rivers The Winner, Grabs Early Lead

"May $100,000 GTD"
$150 No Limit Hold'em Deep Stack
Level 6 (Blinds 200/400/50)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 118

Andre Rakusa (Coral Springs, FL)

Andre Rakusa (Coral Springs, FL) is someone who's made a habit of cashing here at the Isle Poker Room, with all but two of his (11) recorded results coming in this poker room.  Andre won the opening event of last year's Isle Poker Open ($350 No Limit Hold'em - $60,181), which still stands as the career highlighting score on his resume, which has over $100,000 in live tournament earnings.

Rakusa had re-shoved from the small blind moments ago, over a shove from John McCarthy in late position.  McCarthy's shove was for just under 10,000, Rakusa's was close to 50,000, and both players waited while Alan Chernotsky made his decision (big blind).  Chernotsky asked for an exact count of Andre's stack, and just a few moments after the dealer was finished with that request, Alan released his hand.

It would be a race for Rakusa, holding 10♠ 10♣ agains the A♠ K♣ of McCarthy.  The race seemed like an uphill climb for Andre after the A♣ K♠ J♣ flop, but he did grab some extra outs to a straight (to go along with the two remaining tens in the deck).  The 6♣ on the turn changed nothing, but Andre would manage to find the 10♦ on the river, giving him the win and sending McCarthy to the rail.  Rakusa climbs to over 70,000 with the pot, and is the early chip leader in the field.

"May $100,000 GTD:" No Longer Flying Under The Radar

"May $100,000 GTD"
$150 No Limit Hold'em Deep Stack
Level 5 (Blinds 150/300/35)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 105

Eric Piderit (Weston, FL)

Eric Piderit (Weston, FL) was featured on the blog for the first time during last month's "April $100,000 GTD."  While Eric did not end up cashing in the event, the opportunity was there to do a little research after his introduction.  Piderit has over $112,000 in live tournament earnings, including a SHRPO trophy won during March's series.  Piderit won the $570 No Limit Hold'em Double Black Chip Bounty (Event #13), which yielded a first place prize of $17,227, along with bounties won along the way.  The win was the third on Eric's resume, and the first since 2015, with all of the trophies coming from the Hard Rock Hollywood property.

Piderit joins the second wave of notables in today's field, which has a prize pool that already eclipsed $12,000, and still has over three full levels of open registration.

Alan Saltzman
Danny Blackburn
Glenn Popkin
Alan Chernotsky
Arie Ben-Mayor
Waldermar Wasilewski
Marc Culberson
Steven Bennett
Horney Boutros
Gyorgy Cseke
Daniel Pearlman

"May $100,000 GTD:" Alibrandi Looking To Add To Her Resume

"May $100,000 GTD"
$150 No Limit Hold'em Deep Stack
Level 4 (Blinds 100/200)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 99

Paula Alibrandi (Miramar, FL)

Paula Alibrandi (Miramar, FL) is a regular here at the Isle Poker Room, in attendance for a good portion of the tournaments that are run here, including the "daily" events.  Here live tournament resume has over $115,000 in career earnings, with just over half of her (43) recorded cashes coming in this poker room.  Paula's career highlighting score came in March of 2015, when she finished runner-up in the Western NY Poker Challenge $1,000 No Limit Hold'em Main Event at Seneca Casino in Niagara.  The second place finish would see Paula earning $37,190, which is over $25,000 more than her second highest cash ($10,625 for fourth place in the 2016 Isle Poker Open $1,600 NLH Bounty).

Paula currently shares the felt with notables Paul Shafran, Paulius Bikus, and Kenneth Bruno, and headlines our first look at notables in the field:

Michael Hefley
Thomas Gari
Frank Traino
Andre Rakusa
Benjamin Robinson
Alvaro Vivas Grisales
Kenneth Schockett
Juan Rodriguez
Zaki Lichaa

Players will be taking there first scheduled break at the end of this level, and will be returning to Level 5, and blinds of 150/300/25.

"May $100,000 GTD:" Sharing The Felt Once Again, Looking For Same Results

"May $100,000 GTD"
$150 No Limit Hold'em Deep Stack
Level 3 (Blinds 75/150)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 80

Dmitry Agrachov (Weston, FL) 

The last time that Dmitry Agrachov (Weston, FL) and William Underdown (Deerfield Beach, FL) shared the table together, it was during the final stages of last month's "April $100,000 GTD."  The two players were part of the twelve-way deal that ended the tournament, with Agrachov declared the tournament's winner.  Dmitry earned $20,363 for his share of the chop, the six largest cash on his resume, which has over $449,000 in live tournament earnings.

William Underdown took home fourth place money ($14,517) in the deal, which was the second largest cash of his career, behind his seventh place finish in the $570 No Limit Hold'em event during the 2017 SHRPO ($45,307).  The two players are also joined in the field by one more player that was part of the chop, as Esther Foley (Tamarac, FL) is in the field, and seated at Table 2.

ICYMI: "Spin To Win" Money Wheel Results (May 10th)

From 12:00pm-11:00pm yesterday, the "Spin To Win" high hand promotion was running, one of the most popular poker promotions you'll find in the state (as well as one of the richest).  The player with the "winning" high hand from each half hour is awarded an opportunity to spin the "money wheel," which sits located in the "stage area" of the poker room, closest to the cashier.  There are over (70) different slots on the wheel, all with different monetary amounts.  The "major" amounts that can be won are $1,000, $2,000, $3,000, and $5,000.  If (and only if) the high hand that qualifies is a royal flush, the $5,000 "Jackpot' slice is worth $25,000.  Posted below are all of the results from yesterday's promotion (along with the game the player was playing):

12:30pm: $425 (1/2 NLH)

1:00pm: $450 (1/2 NLH)

1:30pm: $550 (1/2 NLH)

2:00pm: $475 (2/4 LHE)

2:30pm: $400 (1/2 NLH)

3:00pm: $400 (2/5 NLH)

3:30pm: $500 (2/5 NLH)

4:00pm: $425 (1/2 NLH)

4:30pm: $250 (1/2 NLH)

5:00pm: $300 (1/2 NLH)

5:30pm: $275 (2/4 LHE)

6:00pm: $500 (1/2 NLH)

6:30pm: $350 (2/5 NLH)

7:00pm: (NQHH)

7:30pm: $425 (1/2 NLH)

8:00pm: $475 (1/2 NLH)

8:30pm: $275 (2/2 LHE)

9:00pm: $250 (2/5 NLH)

9:30pm: $575 (2/2 LHE)

10:00pm: $250 (2/5 NLH)

10:30pm: (NQHH)

11:00pm: $350 (1/2 NLH)

Over the course of the eleven hour promotion, a total of $7,900 was awarded to players who spun the wheel.  This is the second week in a row that we've seen half-hours pass without a qualifying high hand (as denoted by the NQHH=No Qualifying High Hand), as well as the second week without a "significant" jackpot handed out (anything greater than $2,000).  The "game breakdown" sees the no-limit players with a majority of the spins, as only four limit players made their way to the stage for a spin.

"May $100,000 GTD:" Flight 1A Of The $100,000 GTD Underway

"May $100,000 GTD"
$150 No Limit Hold'em Deep Stack
Level 1 (Blinds 25/50)
Total Flight 1A Entries: N/A

Tournament Director Ralph Brandt just made the first of his four rules announcements for this Flight 1A field of the "May $100,000 GTD."  Players in each of these flights will be sitting down to starting stacks of 20,000 units, and playing (25) minute levels throughout the day.   The levels will eventually transition to (30) minutes, but that will not happen until the cards get in the air for Day 2.  Registration for each of the opening flights will be open until the end of Level 8 (and the break that follows), with all late entries and alternates sitting down to full stacks.

The "April $100,000 GTD," which was a $360 No Limit Hold'em Deep Stack event that was run just a few weeks ago, ended up with an official prize pool over $230,000 (which was over double the guarantee).  Another massive field is expected for this tournament, with a potential first place prize over $40,000 for the eventual winner.  

There will be "live blogged" coverage for each of the afternoon flights of this event, as well as full Day 2 coverage, until the tournament has concluded.

Thursday, May 11th: Before The Ink Dries On April, The "May $100,000 GTD" Begins Today

ICYMI: As has every Wednesday in the past six months, yesterday had only one tournament on the schedule ($100 No Limit Hold'em "Big Stack Turbo" w/ $25 Bounties $5,000 GTD).  Yesterday's event drew a field of (50) total entries, brining the official prize pool to $3,750 (with an additional $1,250 bounty pool).  A total of seven spots were scheduled to get paid in the tournament, with a min-cash worth $169, and $1,388 for the win.  Maikel Reeder (Holland) was the first player to reach the money ($169), with Greg McKenzie (Sunrise, FL) and Michael Golub (Boynton Beach, FL) to follow.  At that point, the remaining four players agreed to a chop, with Patrick Biancone (Delray Beach, FL) declared the winner ($920).

1. Patrick Biancone (Delray Beach, FL) $920
2. Bill Seiden (Tamarac, FL) $853
3. Denise Westerfield (Coconut Creek, FL) $667
4. Samuel Borger (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) $635
5. Michael Golub (Boynton Beach, FL) $281
6. Greg McKenzie (Sunrise, FL) $225
7. Maikel Reeder (Holland) $169

Tournaments: This afternoon marks the beginning of the largest tournament of the month, as Flight 1A of the $150 No Limit Hold'em Deep Stack $100,000 GTD begins at 11:00am.  It's the first of six flights over the course of three days, with players that are fortunate enough to bag chips, returning on Sunday, May 14th at 12:00pm.  Players in the event will be sitting down to starting stacks of 20,000 units, and (25) minute levels throughout the course of each "Day 1" flight.  The level length does transition to (30) minutes, but that doesn't occur until the beginning of Day 2.  There is open registration until the break concludes after Level 8, with all alternates and late entries sitting down to full stacks.  There will be "live blogged" coverage of each afternoon flight (Flight 1A, Flight 1C, and Flight 1E), along with full Day 2 coverage, until a winner is crowned.

Promotions: After an exciting day of wheel spins, Thursday offers up the Early Bird No Limit Hold'em high hand promotion, paying $60 to the first (50) full houses of the day (eligible players must be playing no limit hold'em).  The "standard high hand" promotion runs throughout the day as well, from 9:00am-12:00am.

11:00am - $150 No Limit Hold'em Deep Stack $100,000 GTD (Flight 1A)

- Players will begin with a 20,000 unit starting stack

- Late registration and re-entry for the first (8) levels

- Levels 1-16 will be (25) minutes, transitioning to (30) minutes from Level 17+

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

- All Day 1's will play 16 complete levels, or until 10% of the field remains (whichever comes first)

6:00pm - $150 No Limit Hold'em Deep Stack $100,000 GTD (Flight 1B)

- Players will begin with a 20,000 unit starting stack

- Late registration and re-entry for the first (8) levels

- Levels 1-16 will be (25) minutes, transitioning to (30) minutes from Level 17+

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

- All Day 1's will play 16 complete levels, or until 10% of the field remains (whichever comes first)