FSPC Main Event (Flight 1A): Fawbush Finds The One (Out) To Bust Nassetta

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 12 (Blinds 1,000/2,000/300)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 125
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 38

Justin Fawbush (Cocoa Beach, FL)

There are certain hands in poker that leave a player shaking their head, and others that just seem unbelievable.  Keith Nassetta was all-in and at risk against Justin Fawbush moments ago, holding middle set against Justin's bottom set.  The chips got in on the Q♠ J♣ 7♥ flop, with Nassetta holding J♠ J♦, and Justin 7♠ 7♦.  The K♣ on the turn left Nassetta one card away from a late stage double...but not the card that fell on the river.  Keith stood from his chair after the case seven (7♣) appeared, saying aloud to the table, "how is that even possible?"

The one-outer helped Fawbush chip up to 140,000, which is well above the current average of 101,000.  The tournament clock will be paused when 10:00 minutes remain, at which point a predetermined amount of hands will be played to end the night.  The bagging process will then commence, followed by a full list of Flight 1A chip counts.

Notables still alive in this final level of play include:

Matt Smith

Justin Schwartz

Kenneth Bruno

Isaiah Goldman

Steven Karp

Al Schein

FSPC Main Event (Flight 1A): Checking In On The Leaderboard

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 11 (Blinds 800/1,600/100)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 125
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 41

Austin Peck (Allen, TX)

There are some new names on the Flight 1A leaderboard, as a handful of player caught heat heading to break, including Austin Peck (Allen, TX).  Peck has over $360,000 in lifetime earnings, and is only five months removed from his largest tournament score to date.  Peck reached the final table of the WSOPC $1,675 Main Event, a tournament that had over 1,450 entries.  Austin ended up finishing in fifth place, which was good for $98,770.

Also making a move to the top was Michael Amato, who got involved in a few big pots with Joseph Gotlieb, coming out on the winning end each time.  Amato has become the first player to eclipse the 300,000 mark, and is only an hour away from bagging a very comfortable Day 2 stack.  Gotlieb was the flight's chip leader a few hours ago, but has since trended down to below 60,000.

Michael Amato - 305,000

Salomon Cohen - 235,000

Danny Shiff - 220,000

Austin Peck - 188,000

William Underdown - 140,000

Craig Bagon - 140,000

Erik Christensen - 125,000

Chad Eveslage - 120,000

FSPC Main Event (Flight 1A): Fawbush Finds A Fortunate Runout

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 10 (Blinds 600/1,200/200)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 123
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 50

Justin Fawbush (Cocoa Beach, FL)

Passing Table 5, we'd spot a sizable pot building between Matt Smith and Justin Fawbush.  With a K♠ 6♣ 8♠ flop laying on the felt, Justin Fawbush was to act, having just seen his flop bet raised to 12,000 by Smith.  Fawbush collected his chips, before looking at the dealer, and announcing himself all-in (for 37,300).  Matt took a quick glance back at his cards before calling, and would be ahead with K♣ 6♠, having out flopped the A♠ A♦ of Fawbush.  The 10♠ on the turn would bring Justin some extra outs, which Fawbush just happened to find on the river, as the board paired with another ten (counterfeiting) Smith's two pair.

Smith cut the 33,700 out of his stack, and was left with just over 22,000 afterwards.  Fawbush is up to  95,000, and is truly a "wild card" in this event.  Fawbush has over $100,000 in career tournament earnings, but the interested thing to note is, that those earnings were made in a span of six weeks in 2013.

The lack of results since 2013 could be related to numerous things, but it's clear that Fawbush is capable of making a deep run in this event.  Players are heading on their final break of the night (at the end of this level), and will be returning to finish out Levels 11 and 12.  

FSPC Main Event (Flight 1A): Salomon Cohen Adds His Name To The Leaders

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 10 (Blinds 600/1,200/200)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 123
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 51

Salomon Cohen (Bethesda, MD)

Action at Table 3 would start with an open from Salomon Cohen (Bethesda, MD) to 2,700, with Kobi Ribak flatting, and the player in the cutoff three-betting to 12,200.  After the button and blinds folded, action would be back on Cohen, who leaned forward to push a stack over 130,000 across his cards (covering both players).  The bet elicited two quick folds, and Solomon would collect the uncontested pot, chipping up to 170,000.

Cohen has one deep run in this series, reaching the final three tables of Event #7 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD).  Salomon would end up finishing 27th in the tournament, adding $1,667 to his prior earnings of over $52,000.  The cash happened to be his first in Florida, with a majority of his results coming from Maryland Live!, Borgata, and the WSOP.

Salomon Cohen - 174,000

FSPC Main Event (Flight 1A): Astarita Races Well To Bust Jake Schwartz

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 9 (Blinds 500/1,000/100)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 121
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 59

Anthony Astarita (Flemington, NJ)

Jake Schwartz (New York, NY) was down to six big blinds, and after an open in front of him (during the end of Level 8), he shoved for 5,800.  Action folded around to Anthony Astarita in the small blind, who three-bet to 17,000.  The original limped folded behind, and it would be a race between Astarita's 10♥ 10♠ and Schwartz's A♠ K♦.  The J♠ J♣ 3♥ 6♠ 10♣ runout would seal the win for Astarita, who chipped up to 53,000, while Jake Schwartz collected his bag and left the tournament area.

Astarita already has one title to his name, winning the 2016 WPT DeepStacks $1,100 Main Event at Hard Rock Tampa.  The $131,041 he earned for the win stands as the largest cash in his career, with his next best score bringing in just over $18,000.

Anthony Astarita - 53,500

FSPC Main Event (Flight 1A): Fradin Exits, Updated Chip Counts From The Field

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 8 (Blinds 400/800/100)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 121
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 63

Alan Saltzman (Lantana, FL)

Alexandre Fradin (Montpellier, France) experienced busting a tournament in Florida moments ago, as the Event #14 runner-up lost an "at-risk" all-in for the first time in over a week.  Danny Shiff has continued to pad his chip lead, while names like Alan Saltzman, Joseph Gotlieb, and Chad Eveslage all do their best to keep pace.

Danny Shiff - 270,000

Joseph Gotlieb - 152,000

Adam Adler - 123,000

Alan Saltzman - 115,000

Erik Christensen - 115,000

Chad Eveslage - 105,000

Matt Smith - 77,000

Michael Amato - 45,000

Joshua Kay - 43,000

Ian O'Hara - 41,000

Dominique Mosley - 38,000

FSPC Main Event (Flight 1A): Player's On An Hour Long Dinner Break

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 8 (Blinds 400/800/100)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 119
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 72

The remaining Flight 1A players of the 2017 FSPC $1,500 Main Event are heading on their (60) minute dinner break, and will be returning to Level 8 (400/800/100).  Play is scheduled to resume at approximately 7:15pm, with five more levels left to play (play concludes at the end of Level 12).  Tournament staff will color off the green (25 denomination) chips during dinner, allowing for an easier view of chip stacks across the field.  An updated list of counts will be posted once the cards are back in the air.

FSPC Main Event (Flight 1A): Gotlieb Busts Figueroa, Continues To Climb

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 7 (Blinds 300/600/75)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 118
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 72

Joseph Gotlieb (Hollywood, FL)

Victor Figueroa (Miami, FL) was unable to find traction at any point this afternoon, and was just all-in and at risk against Joseph Gotlieb.  Figueroa shoved for less than ten bigs on the turn of a board reading 8♠ 4♦ 7♥ 6♥, with Gotlieb making the call.  Joseph's 10♣ 8♥ would be in the lead against the A♥ K♦ of Figueroa, with Victor standing up to leave before the river hit to felt.  The board would pair on the river with the 6♣, giving Gotlieb the win, and helping him chip up to 145,000.  Joseph only sits behind Danny Shiff on the leaderboard, with only (20) minutes remaining before dinner break.

Joseph Gotlieb - 145,000

FSPC Main Event (Flight 1A): Duchman's First Shell Cut Short By Hillock

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 6 (Blinds 300/600/75)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 114

Josh Hillock (Orlando, FL)

Event #4 ($130 No Limit Hold'em) Joseph Duchman (Miami Beach, FL) already has a first and third place finish in this series, but hit a road bump on his way to another deep run.  After Duchman opened and Josh Hillock three-bet from the button, Joseph four-bet ripped for just over 12,000.  A call would be about 20% of Joshua's stack, and although he looked unhappy about his decision, Hillock did make the call.

Josh quickly turned over A♦ Q♥ and would be in rough shape against the Q♠ Q♣ of Duchman.  Things would change after the A♥ 5♥ 8♥ flop, leaving Duchman searching for the final queen in the deck.  Joseph would still be drawing live after the turn, but the K♥ on the river solidified the win for Josh, who chips up to 58,000.

Josh Hillock - 58,000

FSPC Main Event (Flight 1A): First Look At Field-Wide Chip Counts

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 6 (Blinds 250/500/75)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 104

Danny Shiff (Miami, FL)

Players returned earlier from their second break of the day, with blinds coming back of 250/500/75 (41,000 chip average).  There will be two more levels of play, with the next break being (60) minutes in length, as those still left head for dinner.  Just a reminder, today's action (and all of the starting flights) is schedule to conclude after Level 12, or until 13% of the field remains (whichever comes first).  With the tables empty during break, focus could shift on some updated chip counts from the field:

Danny Shiff - 170,000
Adam Adler - 138,000
Joe Gottlieb - 135,000
Brett Maistri - 65,000
Alexandre Fradin - 62,000
Mark Kerness - 61,000
Alan Saltzman - 60,000
William Underdown - 55,000
Michael Amato - 48,000
Jake Schwartz - 44,000

FSPC Main Event (Flight 1A): Fradin Still Holding Off On Return Flight Home

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 5 (Blinds 200/400/50)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 97

Alexandre Fradin (Montpellier, France)

As the WSOP was winding down, and players from all over the world were booking flights home, Alexandre Fradin (Montpellier, France) was researching where the next major series was.  There were only two properties offering substantial guaranteed events (and main events) in July, and after last week's result, Fradin most likely happy he decided to come to Florida.

Fradin's first ever tournament in Florida was Event #14 of this series ($1,100 No Limit Hold'em - $150,000 GTD), which he ended up chopping with Stu Paterson.  Alexandre earned $49,105 for the runner-up finish, which is the second largest cash of his career.  Fradin's original plan was to play in Event #14 and head home to France, but he bagged a chip lead in one of the opening flights, assuring him of a seat in this main event.  His four-week WSOP summer is slowly becoming a two month excursion, but there are worse places he could be than sunny Pompano Beach, Florida.  Other notables in the field that have yet to been mentioned include:

Steven Karp

Dmitry Agrachov

Jose Parra

Austin Peck

Jaki Cohen

Alan Phillips

Steven Rosen

FSPC Main Event (Flight 1A): Amato Also Experiencing Breakout Year

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 5 (Blinds 200/400/50)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 93

Michael Amato (Boca Raton, FL)

Featured earlier was Daniel Pearlman, who was noted as having the best statical year of poker (in terms of earnings) in his career.  One of the most recent entries into the flight is also in the midst of his breakout year, when it comes to tournament poker.  Michael Amato (Boca Raton, FL) came into the year with just over $134,000 in lifetime tournament earnings, with his first every recorded cash coming in 2012.  Only seven months into the year, Amato has tripled those numbers, entering today with over $401,000 in earnings.  

Michael's first big score came in February, when he shipped Event #8 ($360 No Limit Hold'em) of the Battles At The Beach ($70,766).  He then followed that up with a WSOP final table finish in Event #63 ($1,000 No Limit Hold'em), where he finished in third place, and earned his largest career cash ($116,940).  Michael shares the table with 2015 Isle Poker Open Main Event winner Edward Novak, as well as Dominique Mosley, Joseph Duchman, Joshua Hillock, and Francis Margaglione.  Also in the field, but not mentioned to this point:

Victor Figueroa
Kenneth Bruno
Al Schein
Alan Saltzman
Paul Balzano
Mark Kerness
Scott Zakheim

FSPC Main Event (Flight 1A): Linke Returns After Event #7 Win

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 4 (Blinds 150/300/50)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 90

Diane Linke (Delray Beach, FL)

Diane Linke (Delray Beach, FL) may be off to a rough start this afternoon, but regardless of outcome in this FSPC Main Event, she's had the series of her life.  Linke entered the Florida State Poker Championships with just under $10,000 in live tournament earnings, spanning a resume that started in 2011.  Diane was able to quadruple her earnings in a singular score two weeks ago, when she headed a nine-way chop of Event #7 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD).  The first place finish was worth $32,500, which helped towards today's entry, as she plays in her first ever championship event.  Linke headlines our second look at notables in the field, a list that continues to grow as each level passes:

Joshua Kay

Keith Nassette

Kevin McGillicuddy

Chad Eveslage

Bradley Hinson

Isaiah Goldman

Andrew Touchette 

Joshua Hillock

Ian O'Hara

Danny Shiff

Alik Sitnyakovsky
Nancy Thomas (who was also part of the Event #7 chop, taking 5th place for $17,776)

FSPC Main Event (Flight 1A): Star-Studded Field To Open The Proceedings

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 3 (Blinds 100/200/25)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 73

Between the numerous properties in the area, there are a good amount of major series run over the course of the year, but only a select group of  "main events" that fall on the calendar.  That's why there is no surprise when all of the "heroes," "wizards," and "hoodies" find their way into the field.  While there is only one player actually wearing their hood in the field, there are many well-known players in this Flight 1A, including:

Jake Schwartz (New York, NY) is originally from New York, but is no stranger to the Florida poker community.  Schwartz comes into this event with over $1,395,000 in career live tournament earnings, including eight cashes during this summer's WSOP.  Jake's deepest run came in the $2,500 Limit Mixed Triple Draw Lowball Event #7, when he finished just short of the final table, in 11th place ($7,385).

An unnamed Isle Poker regular said yesterday, "I'm not playing the main because it's Joey's to win, everyone else is just shooting for second."  The Joey mentioned in the quote is Joseph Couden (Blacklick, OH), who won this event in 2015 ($154,762), and chopped the most recent championship event during the 2017 Battles At The Beach (2nd Place - $120,000).

Prior to 2017, Daniel Pearlman's (Hollywood, FL) best statistical year in terms of tournament earnings saw him earn just over $14,000.  This calendar year he has totaled over $324,000 in tournament cashes, including a runner-up finish in the WSOPC $1,675 Main Event at Cherokee ($196,809).  Daniel is coming off of a deep run in the WSOP $10,000 NLH Main Event, where he finished 249th for $40,181.

Players will be heading on their first break at the conclusion of this level, and will be returning to blinds of 150/300/50 (Level 4).

FSPC Main Event (Flight 1A): Adler Gets The Action Started Early

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 3 (Blinds 100/200/25)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 66

Adam Adler (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

Everything about this tournament structure stresses "pace," allowing players the ability to play super deep, from start to finish.  Considering the deep structure, and quality of play in the field, a (500) big blind pot isn't something you'd quite expect at this stage of the day.  As notables in the field were being photographed, a hand was playing out at Table 10 between Carlo Rodriguez, Jose Reyes, and Adam Adler.

The three players were on the flop, looking down at 2♣ 8♠ 9♣, with both Reyes and Adler all-in, and Rodriguez have both players covered.  Reyes was ahead with 2♠ 2♦ (having flopped bottom set), but needed to fade the J♦ 10♦ of Adler, and the A♠ A♥ of Rodriguez.  The 10♣ would bring three clubs on the turn, but none of the players held a club in their hand.  The board would be completed with the 7♣ on the river, eliciting a slam of the table from Rodriguez, who lost a sizable side pot to Adler's straight.  Reyes would be the only player eliminated in the hand, with Adler chipping up to 77,000 (513bb), and Rodriguez dropping down to 4,000.

Adam Adler - 77,000 (513bb)

Carlo Rodriguez - 4,000 (26bb)

FSPC Main Event (Flight 1A): "Satellite Day" Winners Looking To Become A Storyline

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 2 (Blinds 75/150/25)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 47

William Underdown (Deerfield Beach, FL) was one of thirty players to satellite in during yesterday's $340 NLH Mega

There were a total of (44) players that earned entry into this FSPC $1,500 Main Event yesterday, thirty of which got in for $340 (afternoon), and fourteen that only had to shell out $175 (evening).   Many of the names that won seats are those that may have played in the event regardless, but the option of the satellite allows for life-changing money to be won, without the strain that $1,500 could put on the bankroll.  Listed below are the players to win seats from each of yesterday's satellites, all of which we will keep an eye on as the tournament progresses, looking to see if anyone can become the storyline of the event.

$340 No Limit Hold'em Mega Satellite Into Event #20 (30 Seats Guaranteed):

Alan Phillips	Lukas Pribyl	Derrick Cutler
Ron Levy	Paula Alibrandi	William Underdown
Susan Krowitz	Marco Rodriguez	Adam Koppel
Jeffrey Goodman	Anthony Astartia	Bruce Snell
Andrew Morse	Gregory Spinder	Richard Hutchings
Elliot Goldman	Francis Margaglione	Quang Pham
Maury Barrett	Frank Scala	Kobi Ribak
Joshua Adkins	Keith Wagner	Ira Silverman
Michael Larocca	Marsha Wolak	Peter Fellows
Michael Merisier	Thomas Gari	Jim Gleason

$175 No Limit Hold'em Super Satellite Into Event #20 (10 Seats Guaranteed):

Emmanuel Santos

Adewale Adeyemi

Michael Goldfarb

Jose Ordonez

Francisco Frias-Feliz

Jeffrey Goodman

Peter Sayet

Harry Silver

Yuan-Yang Shen

Alberto Niebla

Alvin Norman

Danielle Bastarache

Robert Leff

Bryan Emory

FSPC Main Event (Flight 1A): Action Underway For Opening Flight Of The FSPC Main Event

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 1 (Blinds 50/100)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 30

The 2017 Florida State Poker Championships Main Event trophy

Tournament Director Ralph Brandt just made the rules announcement for the early arrivals in the field, and the cards are in the air for the 2017 Florida State Poker Championships $1,500 Main Event.  Players in this event are treated to one of the top "major" structures in the area, with starting stacks of 30,000 units, and Day 1 levels that are (50) minutes in length (transitioning to 60 minutes on Day 2+).  Registration is open throughout each of the opening flights, with players also able to enter the tournament on Sunday (Day 2), prior to the first card in the air.

This tournament last year was the same price point ($1,500) and guarantee ($500,000), and ended up with (431) entries.  The official prize pool closed at $581,850, with a good chunk of that total awarded to Sam Panzica, who took home $117,282 and the trophy.  This prestigious event has also been won by Joseph Couden (2015), Qasim Jamhour (2014), Hans Winzeler (2013), and Brandon Barnes (2012).

Today begins the journey towards the 2017 winner, which will be covered each and every day, from first card to bagging process.  We will take a look at yesterday's satellite winners, before delving into the notables that are currently in this early field.

Thursday, July 27th: The 2017 Florida State Poker Championships $1,500 NLH Main Event Is Upon Us

ICYMI: The day before the main event of any of the Isle Poker major series is known as "satellite day," with both the afternoon and evening time slots hosting "discounted routes" to the championship event.  Yesterday's first event was a $340 No Limit Hold'em Mega Satellite into the $1,500 Main Event, that offered a guarantee of (30) seats.  The event ended up with (152) entries, which reached the guarantee, and offered cash to the 31st place finisher.  A full list of players to earn a seat into the FSPC $1,500 Main Event will be posted during coverage of today's opening flight.

The evening event was a $175 No Limit Hold'em Super Satellite into the $1,500 Main Event, with (10) seats guaranteed.  Even with competing one-day events at properties in the surrounding area, the Super Satellite reached the guarantee in Level 4 (registration was open until Level 8).  It's clear that players want to join the action in the highlighting event of the series, and while the price point may not be for everyone, there are still two more satellites on the schedule (tonight at 6:00pm, and tomorrow at 6:00pm).  Those interested can also put their names on a list for a "Sit and Go" satellite, which would be $350, and offers up (2) seats into the main.

Tournaments: Today marks the beginning of the 2017 FSPC $1,500 Main Event, one of the most popular championships of the four "major series" that are run each year.  Event #20 is a $1,500 buy-in No Limit Hold'em tournament, with a $500,000 guaranteed prize pool.  Players in each starting flight will begin at 12:00pm, sitting down to starting stacks of 30,000 units.  The levels are (50) minutes in length during each Day 1, and will transition to (60) minutes for Day 2.  Each starting flight is scheduled to play (12) full levels, with registration open all day, including until the moment the cards are in the air for Day 2.  This tournament will be played nine-handed, until the final table of ten is reached.

As mentioned above, there is another satellite on the schedule this evening, with the $175 No Limit Hold'em Super Satellite (8 Seats GTD) getting underway at 6:00pm.

Promotions: Today's "special" promotion (outside of the standard high hands), is the Limit Hold'em Early Bird, in which the first (50) full houses (in a limit hold'em game) are paid the minimum buy-in for the designated game.  Those players in the 2/2 LHE game will receive $20 for each "winning" full house (or better), while those in 2/4 LHE will receive $40.

12:00pm - FSPC Event #20 (Flight 1A): $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD) 

- Players start with 30,000 in tournament chips

- Late and re-entries for the first (12) levels, to include before the 1st card on Day 2

- Alternates and late entries will start with a full stack

- Level will last (50) minutes (Day 1), transitioning to (60) minutes (Day 2+)

- All Day 1's will play (12) complete levels or until 13% of the field remains (whichever comes first)

6:00pm - $175 No Limit Hold'em Super Satellite Into Event #20 (8 Seats Guaranteed)

- Players start with 12,000 in tournament chips

- Late and re-entries for the first (8) levels

- Alternates and late entries will start with a full stack

- Level will last (20) minutes throughout the event