"August $100,000" (Flight 1A): Official End Of Flight 1A Chip Counts

"August $100,000 GTD"
$150 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Level 16 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/500)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 84
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 13

Vitaly	Shafran	271,000
Alexander	Bastidas	149,500
Rick	Kalgstein	147,000
Eric	Asensio	137,000
Sal	Larosa	133,000
Kevin	Scarola	132,500
Zakarya	Wolgamott	110,500
Ronald	Arena	94,500
Seymour	Field	94,000
Iluta	Sutra	85,000
Stephen	Smith	73,000
Ross	Wilner	45,000
Morris	Heider	34,000

"August $100,000" (Flight 1A): Spadafore Rockets Up The Leaderboard

"August $100,000 GTD"
$150 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Level 15 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/500)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 84
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 20

Michael Spadafore (Delray Beach, FL) 

Rich Havran would open shove from UTG at Table 9 for 27,000, with Vitaly Shafran three-betting to 70,000 after one fold.  The rest of the table would fold around to Michael Spadafore, who was in the big blind.  Spadafore took a look at his cards, and then announced a call (for 59,000), with everyone at the table waiting to see the player's holdings.

Shafran: 9♥ 9♦

Havran: K♣ 10♠

Spadafore: A♠ K♠

The board would run out 10♥ 3♠ 3♣ A♥ 3♥, with Havran flopping the lead, only to see Spadafore spike an ace on the turn.  The ace would be good enough for Spadafore to more than double, and he'd become the chip leader with one level remaining in the afternoon (160,000).

"August $100,000" (Flight 1A): Scarola Spins It Up Since Level 11

"August $100,000 GTD"
$150 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Level 14 (Blinds 1,200/2,400/400)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 84
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 23

Kevin Scarola (West Palm Beach, FL) 

Rick Kalgstein had been the chip leader for most of the day, but after doubling up Seamus Hoban moments ago, Kalgtein slipped to second in chips.  The current chip leader of the (23) players remaining...Kevin Scarola (West Palm Beach, FL).  This is the same Kevin Scarola that was left with less than ten bigs, just moments before the end of Level 11, after losing a sizable pot to Iluta Sutra.  Scarola now sits with over 146,000, which leads the way with two levels remaining in the flight.

"August $100,000" (Flight 1A): Players Remaining In Flight 1A (Table Lineups)

"August $100,000 GTD"
$150 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Level 13 (Blinds 1,000/2,000/300)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 84
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 29

Players are now back from break, with the cards in the air for Level 13, and only four levels (including this one) remaining in the flight.  Posted below are the lineups for the three active tables left in the field:

Table 9:

1. Eli Math
2. Eric Asensio
3. Michael Negron
4. Ross Willner
5. Paul Shafran
6. Mike Spadafore
7. Rich Havran
8. Vitaly Shafran
9. Stephen Smith
10. A. Nonymous

Table 10:

1. John Marinacci
2. Kevin Scarola
3. Walter Miles
4. Martin Dumitrescu
5. Scott Bailey
6. Rick Kalgstein
7. Adam Koppel
8. Zakarya Wolgamott
9. Iluta Sutra
10. Seamus Hoban

Table 13:

1. Alex Basitdas
2. B. Nonymous
3. Earl Gallegos
4. Richard Leger
5. Sal Larosa
6. Corey Babapour
7. Morris Heider
8. Ron Arena
9. Benjamin Robinson

"August $100,000" (Flight 1A): Maybe Seamus Knew What He Was Doing

"August $100,000 GTD"
$150 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Level 12 (Blinds 800/1,600/200)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 84
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 31

Seamus Hoban (Palm Beach Gardens, FL)

Towards the end of the last break, Seamus Hoban (Palm Beach Gardens, FL) came up to the tournament supervisor (Adam Kemper), and said that he wanted to surrender his stack.  That is a very viable option for any player in these opening flights, giving them the opportunity to enter Level 9 with a full stack, rather than anything that they may hold at the moment.

Hoban would return to the table with Kemper, who would remove his old stack, and replace the full 18,000 starting stack in Seamus's seat.  Many of the players at his table were confused to as why he wouldn't have shoved each and every hand prior to break (either doubling his stack, or busting...which would allow him to buy-in with a full stack).  Regardless of the reasoning, Seamus has done exactly what he set out to do with that second effort, and has turned the starting stack into over 50,000.

Players are heading on their final break of the day (at the end of this level), and will be returning to Level 13, with new blinds of 1,000/2,000/300.

"August $100,000" (Flight 1A): Scarola Felt Like It Was A Set-Up The Whole Way

"August $100,000 GTD"
$150 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Level 11 (Blinds 600/1,200/200)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 84
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 35

Iluta Sutra (Sunny Isles Beach, FL)

Action in a hand between Kevin Scarola and Iluta Sutra was caught on the turn, with the board reading K♠ Q♥ Q♣ 10♣.  Iluta Sutra (Sunny Isles Beach, FL) had checked to Kevin, who took a solid thirty seconds before deciding to check back.  After the Q♠ on the river, Sutra casually tossed forward her remaining stack of 12,000, which was about a half-size bet.  

"I feel like I was set-up on the flop," Scarola said aloud, before tossing in the chips for a call.  Iluta would turn over K♣ K♥, having flopped a full house, and out flopping Scarola's  A♥ A♦.  Sutra would chip up to 43,000 with the pot, while Kevin dropped down to less than ten big blinds (10,200).

"August $100,000" (Flight 1A): Marinacci Eliminates A Pair, Chips Up To Double Average

"August $100,000 GTD"
$150 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Level 10 (Blinds 500/1,000/100)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 84
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 43

John Marinacci (Boca Raton, FL) 

Table 10 was approached just as the pre-flop action was completed in a multi-way all-in pot.  John Marinacci (Boca Raton, FL) was all-in with A♣ K♠, and had two players at risk (one of which was Terry Siele).  Siele held K♣ 10♠, and the third player in the hand held Q♦ 2♦, making Marinacci a small favorite heading to the flop.  The lead would quickly change though, after the dealer fanned out a flop of 9♠ 3♦ 2♥.  Marinacci would have five outs heading to the river, as the 7♣ on the turn didn't help his situation.  John did end up spiking a king on the river, eliminating both of his opponents, and chipping up to 70,000.

Marinacci is in the midst of his best statistical year of tournament poker, with over $16,000 in earnings to date.  Six of his fifteen cashes have come in 2017, with four of them final table finishes (sixth or better).

"August $100,000" (Flight 1A): Updated Chip Counts Post-Break

"August $100,000 GTD"
$150 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Level 9 (Blinds 400/800/100)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 84
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 48

Richard Leger (Lighthouse Point, FL)

Just over half of the field remains, as cards are in the air for Level 9, and registration is now closed for Flight 1A of the "August $100,000."  A total of (84) entries made up this opening flight, with (48) players remaining, and Rick Kalgstein (Sunrise, FL) still leading the way (with over 125,000).  Listed below are other players that have seen success over the first half of the flight:

Rick Kalgstein - 128,000
Vitaly Shafran - 67,000
Richard Leger - 63,000
Sal Larosa - 55,000
Jason Matos - 52,000
Kevin Scarola - 44,000
Zakarya Wolgamott  - 33,000

"August $100,000" (Flight 1A): Jose Parra Joins The Action Before Registration Closes

"August $100,000 GTD"
$150 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Level 8 (Blinds 300/600/75)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 75

Jose Parra (Hialeah Gardens, FL)

Jose Parra (Hialeah Gardens, FL) just took his seat in the Flight 1A field, another player that was in yesterday's $2,500 No Limit Hold'em "Single-Day Series."  Jose has seen a lot of tournament volume recently, and has the results to show, with almost $7,000 in earnings over the last month.  While Parra fell short of cashing yesterday, he did reach the money in the $1,100 No Limit Hold'em (Event #14) tournament during the Florida State Poker Championships (33rd for $1,914).  

Parra, along with the rest of the field (and players still interested in joining), have just under an hour to register this flight.  The registration window will close when the cards get in the air for Level 9 (approximately 2:46pm).

"August $100,000" (Flight 1A): Ritzie Stakes Claim In First Tournament Win

"August $100,000 GTD"
$150 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Level 7 (Blinds 250/500/50)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 74

Joseph Ritzie (Hamilton, OH)

Joseph Ritzie (Hamilton, OH) has over $178,000 in live tournament earnings, with a good percentage of that number coming from a WSOP final table finish in 2010 ($5,000 PLO 8B - 4th Place $113,444).  Joseph then followed by recording just five results over a period from 2010-2016, with his poker focus primarily on cash games.  Then came 2017, a year in which he's already cashed in more events than he did the last six years combined.

Ritzie most recent cash came just a few weeks ago, during the SHRPO, when he won Event #14 ($150 No Limit Hold'em) for $24,682.  The tournament win was the first of his career (recorded), and also happened to be his largest cash since the above mentioned WSOP final table.  Joseph was one of the newest entries into the field, joining good friend and Isle Poker notable Zakarya Wolgamott.

"August $100,000" (Flight 1A): The Blog Has Eyes Everywhere

"August $100,000 GTD"
$150 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Level 6 (Blinds 200/400/50)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 71

Rick Kalgstein (Sunrise, FL)

"Where were you for that one," Rick Kalgstein asked after busting an opponent from the flight.  What Rick didn't know is that we were right at the table as said hand went down, with an open from an unknown player to 2,300.  After one fold, action would be on Kalgstein, who three-bet to 5,300.  Action then folded back around to the original raiser, who four-bet shoved for just under the starting stack.  Kalgstein would quickly make the call, having his opponent covered, and turning over A♠ A♣.  Rick's opponent held J♦ J♣, and after the K♣ 8♦ 3♦ K♠ 2♣ runout, Kalgstein would chip up to over 70,000 (which currently leads the field).

Rick Kalgstein - 73,000

"August $100,000" (Flight 1A): Al Gomez's One Time...Literally

"August $100,000 GTD"
$150 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Level 5 (Blinds 150/300/25)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 62

Al Gomez (Miami, FL) 

Most players use their "one time" when they're looking for a card in a big all-in spot, but Al Gomez's (Miami, FL) one time is in regards to the flights he can play.  Al leaves later this evening for Las Vegas, and the Mayweather v. McGregor fight, returning on the red-eye Saturday night/Sunday morning.  That leaves his schedule open to play on Day 2 (Sunday), but he needs to book his ticket in order to get their.  Gomez has this flight...and this flight only to bag chips, and will be doing everything in his power to do so.Gomez is coming off of a nice score in last week's "August $150,000," earning fourth place money in the nine-way chop ($16,735).  Gomez has all his eggs in one basket this flight, and while he's just below starting stack at the moment, he still has another (90) minutes before registrations close.

"August $100,000" (Flight 1A): Tournament Area Beginning To Fill Up

"August $100,000 GTD"
$150 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Level 4 (Blinds 100/200)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 60

Kevin Scarola (West Palm Beach, FL) 

The Flight 1A field has more than doubled in size since the start of the day, with (60) entries making up the flight with (20) minutes remaining in Level 4.  Players will be taking their first break of the day at the end of this level, and will return to Level 5, with blinds going up to 150/300/25.  Some notables in this opening flight include:

Daniel Genachte
Rick Kalgstein
Stephen Smith
James Hamburger
Terry Siele
Zaki LIchaa
Kevin Scarola
Al Gomez

"August $100,000" (Flight 1A): Wolak Recovers, And Refocuses On A New Goal

"August $100,000 GTD"
$150 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Level 3 (Blinds 75/150)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 47

Marsha Wolak (Pompano Beach, FL)

Just over fourteen hours ago, Marsha Wolak (Pompano Beach, FL) was all-in and at risk on the stone bubble of the $2,500 Single-Day Series.  She had managed to do an incredible job just to get to that point, navigated her way with a stack that hovered around the 8-10 big blind mark.  She began to gain some traction just as the bubble was reached, and although there were some super short stacks in the field, Marsha was never folding K♠ K♣ when action was unopened to her on the button.

Jordan Redavid (Miami, FL), who was one of the bigger stacks at the time, would end up making the call.  Jordan held A♦ K♠, and would end up spiking an ace on the flop (and a flush draw), leaving Wolak drawing super thin.  She would be eliminated in eleventh place, falling just one spot short of the money, and earning the title of "bubble girl" for one day."

That's the best part about tournament poker though, is that the title only stands for that day, as she's in a new event this afternoon.  Marsha is looking to make another deep run, which starts with a solid opening flight, and good position heading into Day 2.

"August $100,000" (Flight 1A): Recapping Yesterday's $2,500 "Single-Day Series"

"August $100,000 GTD"
$150 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Level 2 (Blinds 50/100)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 27

Ian O'Hara ($2,500 Single-Day Series Winner)

In near flawless fashion, Ian O'Hara (Boca Raton, FL) bested a field of (75) entries to take down the inaugural $2,500 No Limit Hold'em "Single-Day Series," earning $51,750.  With just over ten days since the tournament was announced, there was a little bit of uncertainty surrounding the event, as players wondered what the overall numbers would look like.  Any doubts were quickly squandered though, as the field has (30) entries as the end of Level 1.  

Many of the Isle Poker notables that play in the "big game" were in attendance, including Chris Bolek, Jake Schwartz, Chad Eveslage, Ian O'Hara, Keith Nassetta, Jonathan Jaffe, Tony Ruberto, and Richard Kirsch.  There were also names that we hadn't seen at the Isle Casino Poker Room in years, with Barry Hutter, Benjamin Zamani, and Noah Schwartz joining the action early.  

After registration closed, the prize pool would be made official ($172,500), and player's focus would shift to reaching the money.  There would be ten spots paid in the event, and as the field drew closer to the money, we saw some short stacks depart short of the money (Richard Rice and Steven Karp).  Hand-for-hand play would last ten hands, with Marsha Wolak eliminated on the bubble, as her pocket kings were bested by Jordan Redavid.  Joshua Hillock was one of the beneficiaries of Wolak's departure, as he snuck into the money with less than five big blinds.  Satellite winner Charlemagne Benjamin was the first player eliminated in the money ($5,175), as play would then reach the final table.

Tony Ruberto would be the next go (9th Place - $6,900), followed by Barry Hutter (8th Place - $8,625), and then Jordan Redavid (7th Place - $10,350).  Michael Newman, who was the chip leader for most of the tournament, would depart in 6th Place ($12,075).  After about a lull in the action lasted about an hour, two players would bust in a span of three hands (Michael Aron in 5th Place for $13,800), and Richard Kirsch in 4th Place for $15,525).  That would leave two players that grinder short stacks for most of the final table (AJ Gambino and Joshua Hillock), and Ian O'Hara, who had more than 50% of the chips in play three-handed.  Gambino would succumb to the climbing blinds, exiting in 3rd Place ($17,250), leaving O'Hara and Hillock heads-up.  After discussions of a chop dissolved, heads-up play last less than a level, with O'Hara taking down the title.

"The Isle is rigged," O'Hara joked as he was waiting to get paid.  Ian was referencing his part in spreading the word about the event, and helping in making it a successful as it was...only to go on to ship the tournament.  

The "Single-Day Series" will look to continue it's success next month, as it returns on Friday, September 22nd (12:00pm).  There will be two satellites leading up to the tournament, one with a $275 buy-in, and the other a $570 buy-in.

"August $100,000" (Flight 1A): Cards In The Air For Opening Flight Of "August $100,000"

"August $100,000 GTD"
$150 No Limit Hold'em (Re-Entry)
Level 1 (Blinds 25/50)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 23

Tournament Supervisor David Berman finished up the rules announcement for the field just a few minutes ago, and the cards are now in the air for the "August $100,000."  The $150 buy-in tournament has eight starting flights over the next four days, with an afternoon (11:00am) and evening (6:00pm) flight each day.  

The event is structured with players sitting down to starting stacks of 18,000 units, and levels of (25) minutes, from Level 1 through Level 16.  Levels 17+ transition to (30) minutes, which happens to coincide with the beginning of Sunday's Day 2 (12:00pm).  All late registrants and re-entries will receive a full stack, with registration open for the first (8) levels.

Each of the afternoon starting flights (11:00am) will have "live blogged coverage," with today's first look at the field following a recap of yesterday's very successful $2,500 "Single-Day Series."

Wednesday, August 23rd: O'Hara Ships "Single-Day Series," "August $100,000" Begins Today

ICYMI: In a near flawless fashion, Ian O'Hara (Boca Raton, FL) bested a field of (75) entries to take down the inaugural $2,500 No Limit Hold'em "Single-Day Series," taking home $51,750.  With just over ten days since the tournament was announced, there was a little bit of uncertainty surrounding the event, as players wondered what the overall numbers would look like.  Any doubts were quickly squandered though, as the field has (30) entries as the end of Level 1.  

Many of the Isle Poker notables that play in the "big game" were in attendance, including Chris Bolek, Jake Schwartz, Chad Eveslage, Ian O'Hara, Keith Nassetta, Jonathan Jaffe, Tony Ruberto, and Richard Kirsch.  There were also names that we hadn't seen at the Isle Casino Poker Room in years, with Barry Hutter, Benjamin Zamani, and Noah Schwartz joining the action early.  

After registration closed, the prize pool would be made official ($172,500), and player's focus would shift to reaching the money.  There would be ten spots paid in the event, and as the field drew closer to the money, we saw some short stacks depart short of the money (Richard Rice and Steven Karp).  Hand-for-hand play would last ten hands, with Marsha Wolak eliminated on the bubble, as her pocket kings were bested by Jordan Redavid.  Joshua Hillock was one of the beneficiaries of Wolak's departure, as he snuck into the money with less than five big blinds.  Satellite winner Charlemagne Benjamin was the first player eliminated in the money ($5,175), as play would then reach the final table.

Tony Ruberto would be the next go (9th Place - $6,900), followed by Barry Hutter (8th Place - $8,625), and then Jordan Redavid (7th Place - $10,350).  Michael Newman, who was the chip leader for most of the tournament, would depart in 6th Place ($12,075).  After about a lull in the action lasted about an hour, two players would bust in a span of three hands (Michael Aron in 5th Place for $13,800), and Richard Kirsch in 4th Place for $15,525).  That would leave two players that grinder short stacks for most of the final table (AJ Gambino and Joshua Hillock), and Ian O'Hara, who had more than 50% of the chips in play three-handed.  Gambino would succumb to the climbing blinds, exiting in 3rd Place ($17,250), leaving O'Hara and Hillock heads-up.  After discussions of a chop dissolved, heads-up play last less than a level, with O'Hara taking down the title.

"The Isle is rigged," O'Hara joked as he was waiting to get paid.  Ian was referencing his part in spreading the word about the event, and helping in making it a successful as it was...only to ship the tournament.  

The "Single-Day Series" will look to continue it's success next month, as it returns on Friday, September 22nd (12:00pm).  There will be two satellites leading up to the tournament, one with a $275 buy-in, and the other a $570 buy-in.

There were two "recurring" tournaments on the schedule as well yesterday, the first of which was the $100 No Limit Hold'em "Monster Stack."  The field was made up of (40) entries, and saw registration close with an official prize pool of $3,080.

1. Stacy Thomas (Jupiter, FL) $616
2. Zaki Lichaa (Pompano Beach, FL) $616
3. Washington Gavilanes (Margate, FL) $616
4. Ronald Arena (Boynton Beach, FL) $616
5. Bruce Smith (West Palm Beach, FL) $616

The evening tournament was the $60 No Limit Hold'em ($8,000 GTD), which was comprised of a field with (171) total entries, and had a prize pool of $8,000.  The tournament would end in a seven-way deal, with Danilo Parada (Oakland Park, FL) declared the tournament's winner.

1. Danilo Parada (Oakland Park, FL) $1,245
2. Alfonso Perez (Deerfield Beach, FL) $1,042
3. Irwin Block (Deerfield Beach, FL) $803
4. Tuan Pham (West Palm Beach, FL) $800
5. Miguel Briganty (Sunrise, FL) $734
6. Allan Steinberg (Boynton Beach, FL) $619
7. Nancy Bernstein (Delray Beach, FL) $550

Tournaments: Today marks the beginning of the "August $100,000," the second multi-flight tournament of the month.  The $150 buy-in event mirrors the schedule of the "August $150,000" from the week before, and carries a similar structure, with the exception of the 18,000 unit starting stack and 25/30 minute levels.

Promotions: The high hand promotions are in full swing from the moment the doors open this morning, with the "Turbo High Hands" ($100 awarded every 10 minutes from 9:00am-12:00pm, with rollovers) distributing money at a rapid pace.  The transition at 12:00pm begins the "Spin To Win" promotion, which has awarded hundreds of thousands since it's inception.  It's the high hand promotion that makes all others jealous, and affords those that have a qualifying high hand (awarded every 30 minutes), an opportunity to spin the ever-popular "Money Wheel."  The total amount awarded...along with hourly breakdown, will be published tomorrow afternoon, here on the blog.

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

- Players start with 18,000 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 (25) minutes during Day 1 flights, transitioning to (30) minutes on Day 2

- All Day 1's will play (16) complete levels or until 13% of the field remains (whichever comes first)

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

- Players start with 18,000 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 (25) minutes during Day 1 flights, transitioning to (30) minutes on Day 2

- All Day 1's will play (16) complete levels or until 13% of the field remains (whichever comes first)