FSPC Main Event (Flight 1C): Coverage Commences With Day 2 Tomorrow At 12:00pm

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 1C Entries: 233
Flight 1C Players Remaining: 75

The field is only (20) minutes from bagging for the night, which means that this will conclude our coverage for the flight (not the night).  Followers and players in the tournament can check the blog after 1:30am, at which point the Day 2 chip counts and Day 2 seating assignments will be posted.  Live blogged coverage will continue tomorrow at 12:00pm, as twelve more levels will be played (before bagging for Monday's Day 3).  

FSPC Main Event (Flight 1C): Lots Of "Heroes" Left As Final Level Approaches

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 11 (Blinds 800/1,600/200)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 233
Flight 1C Players Remaining: 77

Harrison Gimbel (Jupiter, FL)

There are only a few minutes remaining in Level 11, with players about to enter the final level of the flight.  Level 12 will see players posting blinds of 1,000/2,000/300, with action playing down to the point when 10:00 minutes remain on the clock.  The clock will then be paused, and players will finish up with (5) hands.  After those handful of hands, the bagging process begins, with those remaining returning tomorrow afternoon at 12:00pm.  

There are a lot of notables players still remaining in the field that didn't get much "face time" on the blog, but that doesn't mean they won't be recognized:

Jaki Cohen

TK Miles

Victor Figueroa

Jose Reyes

Josh Hillock

Corey Burbick

Evan Teitelbaum

Harrison Gimbel

Marsha Wolak

John Magnetta

Sam Mayer-Backer

Edward Jaffy

Alexandre Fradin

Nissim Gozlan

Anthony Utnage

Raminder Singh

Daryl Fish

FSPC Main Event (Flight 1C): Updated Chip Counts From Break

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 11 (Blinds 800/1,600/200)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 231
Flight 1C Players Remaining: 87

Robert Jonsson (Deerfield Beach, FL)

Players are back from break, and have to more levels to play, before bagging chips for tomorrow's Day 2 (12:00pm).  While Eric Beller still leads the way, Robert Jonsson and Michael Wetcher have both climbed to within striking distance of Beller's stack.   Just a cash in this event would be the largest of Jonsson's career, as he enters the day with total earnings of $6,120, and a top score of $1,106.  Wetcher's resume reads a slight bit bitter, with earnings over $39,000, and two five-figure cashes.  Both players are looking to notch their first main/championship event score, with a deep run in this event likely becoming a career highlight.

Eric Beller - 310,000
Michael Wetcher - 285,000
Robert Jonsson - 230,000
Israel De La Cerda - 180,000
Richard Kirsch - 170,000
Michael Newman - 157,000
Tony Burns - 155,000
Chad Eveslage - 152,000
Corey Burbick - 130,000
Gregory Spinder - 125,000
Daryl Fish - 120,000
Pascuale Caiazza - 115,000
Alexis Sterner - 108,000

FSPC Main Event (Flight 1C): Beller Gaining Separation From The Field

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 1C Entries: 228
Flight 1C Players Remaining: 93

Eric Beller (Plantation, FL)

It is still hard to think that anyone is going to surpass Danny Shiff's Flight 1A total of 535,600, but Eric Beller (Plantation, FL) surely making a run at it.  If the bagging process was to begin now, Beller would enter tomorrow second in chips, as he sits with 300,000 in front of him.  There are still three levels of play remaining, and a lot can happen between now and then for Beller.

Eric is another player that is in the midst of his breakout year (in regards to tournament poker), primarily because of his score in the $3,500 No Limit Hold'em WPT Showdown Championship (Seminole Hard Rock).  Eric would reach the WPT final table of six, eventually bowing out in fifth place, earning $164,438.

Players are going to be heading on their final break at the end of this level (25) minutes, and will return to Level 11 (800/1,600/200).  Updated chip counts will be collected during break, and posted once the cards are back in the air.

FSPC Main Event (Flight 1C): Field Below The Century Mark, Players Above It

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 1C Entries: 220
Flight 1C Players Remaining: 99

Steven Zukowski (Pompano Beach, FL)

Flight 1C just entered Level 10, with blinds going up to 600/1,200/200, and a field-wide chip average of 67,000.  The field has lost three tables since dinner, with the total number dropping below (100) players, for the first time since Level 1.  As the field shrinks, the stack sizes grow, with a new group of players eclipsing the century mark.

Steven Zukowski (Pompano Beach, FL) sits with 155,000, and is looking to earn his second score of the series.  Zukowski cashed in Event #1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em), reaching the final two tables, but becoming the first eliminated from the pair (20th place - $1,301).  Steven has over $38,000 in career earnings, and is looking to make this the first "major" main/championship event he cashes in.

Chris Acosta - 170,000
Steven Zukowski - 155,000
Samuel Ganzfried - 130,000
Uri Kadosh - 110,000
Jonathan Hilton - 105,000

FSPC Main Event (Flight 1C): Burns May Have Something Going Here

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 8 (Blinds 400/800/100)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 219
Flight 1C Players Remaining: 122

Tony Burns (Coconut Creek, FL)

Tony Burns (Coconut Creek, FL) returned from break with 116,000, which was already more than double the chip average.  In a multi-way raised pot, two players would check to Tony on a flop of A♣ 3♦ 2♦.  Burns put out a bet of 6,100, followed by a fold, and then a check-shove from the small blind (for just over 17,000).  Once then next player released his hand, Tony quickly called, and rolled over A♦ J♦.  His opponent would be holding K♦ 7♦, and after the 6♦ on the turn, Tony would have the hand wrapped up.

The pot brings Tony's total to over 150,000, making him one of the largest stacks in the field.  If the tournament director thing ever gets boring for Burns, we may be looking at his backup plan.

Tony Burns - 154,000

FSPC Main Event (Flight 1C): Players On Flight 1C On Dinner, Big Stacks At 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 1C Entries: 203

Flight 1C players are currently on their dinner break, which will run from 6:17-7:17pm.  Players will return to Level 8, and new blinds of 400/800/100 (47,000 chip average).  Live blogged coverage will resume once the cards are back in the air.  Listed below are some of the larger stacks at break: 

Israel De La Cerda - 180,000
Chad Eveslage - 140,000
Greg Spinder - 128,000
Pasquale Caiazza - 125,000
Edward Jaffy - 110,000
Bruce Snell - 110,000

FSPC Main Event (Flight 1C): Burbick And Miles Looking For Another Final Table Run

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 7 (Blinds 300/600/75)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 202

TK Miles (Miami Beach, FL)

While the pace of entry has slowed down considerably since earlier in the day, players are still filing in for the first time.  A player registering during this level would sit down to (50) big blinds, which is more than manageable for a major structured event.  Two players from the Event #14 final table are new to the field, with Corey Burbick taking his seat at Table 5, and TK Miles finding a home at Table 10.

Miles would be the first of the pair to depart at last week's final table, finishing in 5th place, and earning $13,251.  Burbick would follow two spots later, exiting the event in 3rd place, and collecting $27,727.  Neither Miles or Burbick will be getting too comfortable at the tables, as dinner break begins at the end of this level.  Players will be on break from 6:15pm-7:15pm, with updated chip counts to be published once the cards are back in the air.  Other late-regging players include:

Nicholas Yunis

Jose Reyes

Christopher Bolek

John Pappas

FSPC Main Event (Flight 1C): Magnetta Likes His New Seat, Doubles Up First Hand

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 6 (Blinds 250/500/75)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 194

John Magnetta (Boynton Beach, FL)

John Magnetta's (Boynton Beach, FL) first entry didn't quite go as planned, as he busted on the final hand of Level 5.  John took the break with everyone else, and re-entered towards the end, finding himself at Table 3.  After A. Nonymous opened the pot from the cutoff, action folded around to Magnetta, who was in the big blind.  John three-bet to 3,200, with the original opener calling, and the two seeing a flop of Q♥ 2♠ 5♠.  Magnetta tossed forward a bet of 5,100, which was called, and then he checked after the 3♣ on the turn.  This time it would be his opponent betting 5,100, but John didn't waste time, check-shoving for just over 21,000.

John's opponent went deep into the tank, looking down at his chips numerous times, while Magnetta asked him what he had.  Eventually the call would be made, and John's K♠ K♣ would hold on the river against the Q♠ J♠ of A. Nonymous.  If you have played with John before, then you know his "signature" celebration, a little dance while standing up.  Magnetta is over 60,000, and has the two starting stacks he paid for.

FSPC Main Event (Flight 1C): First Look At The Chip Counts

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

Bryan Emory (Plantation, FL)

It would be wise to think that Danny Shiff's Flight 1A chip lead is going to be safe (535,600), as the field is just becoming too large (and structure too slow) to see one person amass a stack of that size.  That being said, players still want to enter Day 2 in the best possible shape, as "moving day" shapes the landscape of the tournament's Day 3.  Joshua Lowing and Quang Pham are the first players to eclipse the 100,000 mark, with another new name making his introduction with a top stack.

Bryan Emory (Plantation, FL) is sitting with 75,000, which is in the top ten at this point in the day.  Bryan is coming off a life changing score at the WSOP, finishing runner-up in the $1,500 No Limit Hold'em Bounty (Event #50).  Emory fell to Isle Poker notable Christopher Bolek during heads-up play, but still walked away with $266,646.

Quang Pham - 110,000

Joshua Lowing - 100,000

Michael Hefley - 80,000

Bryan Emory - 75,000

Joshua Hillock - 74,000

Edward Jaffy - 60,000

Daryl Fish - 52,000

Raminder Singh - 47,000

Chad Eveslage - 45,000

Anthony Ruberto - 45,000

Richard Kirsch - 44,000

Players will be taking their second break of the flight at the end of this level, and will return to play Level 6 and Level 7, before heading on dinner break (60 minutes, from approximately 6:15pm-7:15pm).

FSPC Main Event (Flight 1C): @TDTonyB Uses His "One Time," Before He Even Sits Down

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 4 (Blinds 150/300/50)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 163

Tony Burns (Coconut Creek, FL)

Tournament players usually like to save their "one time" for a critical all-in spot late at the final table...not Tony Burns though, he likes to begin the day with it.  The well-known and well-respected Tournament Director from Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood was given permission by his wife, to play one multi-day tournament over the course of the year.  After failing to satellite in through this morning's event, Burns locked in the "one time," and decided to sit down at the room he used to call home.  Tony has seen success at his former stomping grounds, recently winning a trophy during the most recent Battles At The Beaches series ($75 No Limit Hold'em - $2,158).

Burns was part of group of players that recently took their seats in the field, including Sheldon Gross, Victor Figueroa, and newly minted WSOP bracelet winner Harrison Gimbel.  Harrison won the $3,000 No Limit Hold'em (Event #68), beating Chance Kornuth heads-up for his first ever bracelet.

FSPC Main Event (Flight 1C): Lots Of Late Arrivals After First Break

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 4 (Blinds 150/300/50)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 151

Shawn Nguyen (Sunrise, FL)

Players are coming back from their first break of the day, with the field growing as each minute passes.  There has been a steady flow of late entries into Flight 1C, with the trend of "new faces" continuing across the floor.  Shawn Nguyen's (Sunrise, FL) time playing poker is usually spent at Palm Beach Kennel Club (playing cash), but a tournament such as this is not one he's going to miss.  Nguyen became a "local legend" by final tabling last year's WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open $3,500 Championship Event, finishing in fourth place for $323,500.  That stands as Shawn's largest results by far, but he did just add a title to his resume, winning a $1,100 PLO 8B (Event #74) tournament during the DeepStacks Extravaganza at the Venetian ($61,082).

Also included in the list of late arrivals:

Alexandre Fradin

Nagui Yassa

Josh Hillock

Jeffrey Silverstein

Nigel Murray

Matthew Zarcadoolas

Richard Kirsch

David Diaz

Andrew Touchette

Mohammad "Sheddy" Siddiqui 

Brandon Ageloff

FSPC Main Event (Flight 1C): Daryl Fish Had A Month To Remember

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 3 (Blinds 100/200/25)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 125

Daryl Fish (Cape Coral, FL)

Just like James Salmon (mentioned earlier), the last time we saw Daryl Fish (Cape Coral, FL), was Day 3 of the 2017 Battles At The Beach $1,500 Championship Event.  Daryl faired a slight bit better than Salmon, earning $98,000 for his share of a three-way chop (with Uri Kadosh and Joseph Couden).  That result came just one week after chopping the $2,500 "High Roller" event during the WPTDeepStacks (BigStax) series at Parx Casino ($63,935).

So $150,000 in tournament scores in a span of seven days...can't really top that for a while...right?  On the final day of March, Fish would not only top those results, he'd make them pale in comparison. Daryl reached heads-up play during the SHRPO $3,500 No Limit Hold'em WPT Championship Event, falling to Tony Sinishtaj, but earning himself $453,185 (the largest cash of his career).

The almost half-million dollar score brought his career total over $3,000,000, and helped him crack the top twenty on the Florida all-time money list (19th).  Fish did go on to record three cashes during the WSOP, including a Main Event score (871st place).

FSPC Main Event (Flight 1C): Lots Of Players Making Their First Appearence

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 2 (Blinds 75/150/25)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 115

James Salmon (Davie, FL)

The last we saw James Salmon (Davie, FL), is was on Day 3 of the 2017 Battles At The Beaches $1,500 Championship Event.  Salmon ended up busting in 13th place, collecting $6,182 for his efforts.  James has been pretty busy since that day, following up that series with a trip to Panama, for the PokerStars Panama Championship series.  He would record to cashes during the trip, including a final table finish in the $5,300 No Limit Hold'em Main Event (7th place - $48,520).  James then returned to Florida...went overseas to Monte Carlo (another PokerStars series)...and then ended up in Vegas for the WSOP.

Salmon finished up his five month voyage with a deep run in the WSOP $10,000 Main Event, finishing in 142nd place, and earning the second largest score of his career ($53,247).  Every has now come full circle, as Salmon is back at the Isle Poker Room, looking to add to his career earnings of $579,380.  Also joining James in the field for the first time this tournament, are names like:

Chad Bliss

John Magnetta

Edward Jaffy

Marcus Stein

Michael Newman

Quang Pham

Uri Kadosh

FSPC Main Event (Flight 1C): Satellite Winners Scattered Across The Field

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 2 (Blinds 75/150/25)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 109

Michael Hefley (San Diego, CA)

Last night's satellite, a $175 No Limit Hold'em Super Satellite, guaranteed ten seats into today's flight.  By the time registration closed, the payouts showed (16) seats scheduled to be awarded, with 17th place earning a cash prize.  Michael Hefley (San Diego, CA) was one of those players to earn a seat, and is looking to record his first ever main/championship event cash.  Michael has just under $12,000 in live tournament earnings, with his largest cash to date coming last year, during the 2016 Isle Poker Open.  Hefley was part of a group that chopped Event #1 ($150 No Limit Hold'em), and earned himself $7,641 for fourth place money.

The other of the players to earn seats from last night's $175 No Limit Hold'em Super Satellite are:

Paul Prager

Jon Lane

Trevor Samuels

Sean Gardiner

Steven Zukowski

Rosanna De La Rosa

Edwin Vasconcelos

Carlos Perez

Veljko Kirin

Agop Rustemolglu

Cody Ferguson

Dolphus Powers

Bruce Snell

Pasquale Caiazza

Robert Jonsson ($450 cash)

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

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 1 (Blinds 50/100)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 60

FSPC Main Event (Flight 1C): Big Numbers Expected For Main Event Final Flight

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

The final flight of the 2017 Florida State Poker Championships Main Event is upon us, as Ralph Brandt finishes up the rules announcement for the "early birds" in the field.  There have (294) entries to this point, with (76) players successfully bagging chips for tomorrow's Day 2.  The combined prize pool sits just under $400,000, with the guaranteed prize pool now a mere formality.  

Even without the players from last night's satellite, and those joining from this morning's $175 Super Satellite (Turbo), Flight 1C was going to be the largest of the three opening flights.  The potential six-figure first place prize for this event will surely bring out some new names this afternoon, along with those that were unsuccessful in bagging chips to this point.

An official list of chips counts from the first two flights will be posted shortly, with live coverage of Flight 1C to follow.

Saturday, July 29th: Final FSPC Main Event Flight, Turbo Satellite Added To The Schedule

ICYMI: Yesterday was the second of three FSPC $1,500 Main Event starting flight, with a total of (169) entries making up the field.  After adding the entries from Flight 1A, that brings the overall total to (294) entries.  The combined prize pool after two flights stands at $396,900, and will eclipse the $500,000 guarantee before the final second tick off of Level 1 (this afternoon).  There are (76) players to have booked tickets to tomorrow's Day 2, with Danny Shiff's (Orlando, FL) Day 1 total still leading the way (535,600).

Of those (76) entries, there were (46) to make it through Flight 1B, led by Pedro Idrovo (262,100).  Yesterday's field was a mixture of recreational players, Isle Poker regulars, satellite winners, and big named pros.  There were certain players we saw for the first time in the event, including the likes of Abbey Daniels, Ryan Gianquitti, AJ Gambino, Jon Boresntein, Tony Ruberto, Maurice Hawkins, Robert Transue, and Hans Winzeler.  All of those players listed ended up bagging chips for Day 2, with the exception of Tony Ruberto, who is sure to be in the field at some point today.  One player that was extremely happy to bag chips was Keith Nassetta, who was one-outed in the last level the night prior.  Nassetta entered the final level of Flight 1B well below average, but ended up adding to his stack before the bagging process began (60,600).  

Some other names to join Nassetta in bagging include Joseph Couden (232,100), Phillip Hui (151,100), Joshua Kay (148,000), and Joshua Beckley (136,400).  

Tournaments: The FSPC schedule sees the final Main Event flight on the schedule (12:00pm), along with an impromptu satellite to start at 11:00am ($175 No Limit Hold'em Turbo).  Flight 1C of the Main Event has the same structure at the days before, with players sitting down to starting stacks of 30,000 units, and playing levels that last (50) minutes (transitioning to 60 minutes on Day 2).  Registration is open throughout the day, and will stay open through the moment the first cards are off the deck on Day 2.  

The exact structure sheet for the 11:00am $175 No Limit Hold'em Turbo can be found in the poker room or by calling in via phone.

Promotions: The "standard" high hand promotions are in place for a good portion of the day/night, but the window from 12:00pm-11:00pm ("Spin To Win") is what most all of the players have circled.  Players that have the qualifying high hand each hour during that time period will earn the opportunity to spin the money wheel.  This Wednesday promotion is returning to the weekend for the first time in a while, which should bring out the crowds.

12:00pm - FSPC Event #20 (Flight 1C): $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)

FSPC Main Event (Flight 1B): Official End Of Flight 1B Chip Counts

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 1B Entries: 169

Flight 1B Players Remaining: 46

Pedro	Idrovo	262,100
Joseph	Couden	232,100
Abbey	Daniels	231,500
Ivan	Starostin	200,000
David	Bell	175,800
Josias	Santos	166,800
Andres	Morales	158,000
Phillip	Hui	151,100
Josh	Kay	148,000
Maurice	Hawkins	146,800
Ryan	Gianquitti	146,500
Bradley	Ruben	142,100
Andrew	Becker	137,500
Devon	Shalmi	137,300
Jonathan	Borenstein	136,700
Joshua	Beckley	136,400
AJ	Gambino	135,000
Paul	Balzano	116,200
Michael	Merisier	108,100
Amit	Savani	100,900
Ian	Ohara	93,600
Robert	Transue	92,200
Fred	White	91,800
Tom	Gity	90,300
Skip	McDonough	89,000
Lenny	Duudivais	84,000
Armando	Tate Palacio	82,600
Lowell	Kim	82,400
Jacquelyn	Scott	80,900
Nicholas	Davidson	74,500
Anthony	Barbera	70,800
Paula	Alibrandi	70,700
Patrick	Biangone	69,800
Mark	Brannick	64,900
Vlad	Mezheritsky	63,900
Frank	Scala	62,000
Mike	Chiappetta	61,800
Keith	Nassetta	60,600
Loni	Harwood	55,000
David	Poces	54,900
Harry	Silver	48,900
Scott	Davies	47,000
Sheldon	Gross	44,300
Hans	Winzeler	43,000
Jose	Ordonez	41,400
Danielle	Bastarache	32,100