ICYMI: The Event #1 numbers continue to grow larger, as the second pair of starting flights attracted a combined (234) entries. That brings the total number of entries over four flights to (444) entries, which equates to a prize pool of $59,940. With the conclusion of Flight 1D being the halfway point of the eight starting flights, the same pace would see a final prize pool in the $120,000 range. Being that the weekend numbers are always larger, we could have an opening event that ends up with a $140,000-$150,000 prize pool.
Breaking down the numbers from yesterday, Flight 1C started the action, and saw registration close with (107) total entries. Once the "hand-for-hand" process concluded (at the end of Level 16), a total of (17) players would remain, with Paulius Bikus (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) bagging the flight's chip lead (318,500). Bikus took a chip lead around Level 12, and although he was challenged by Alfonso Perez late in the flight, Paulius had a pretty comfortable run to the "chip lead bonus."
If Bikus's run was "comfortable" in Flight 1C, then Cameron Collins' just made things look "easy" in Flight 1D. Cameron bagged an incredible stack of 512,500 to end the night, which was over 115,000 more than his nearest competitor (Michael Russo). Normally, Russo's stack of 393,000 would surely be good enough to win that "chip lead bonus," but he'll have to be happy entering Day 2 with a top ten stack. Some other notables to bag chips from Flight 1D included Juan Rodriguez (269,500), John Magnetta (257,000), Andreas Athanasopoulos (158,000), Dolphus Powers (129,000), and Andres Morales (89,500).
Tournaments: The numbers in a multi-flight tournament such as Event 1 usually grow as the weekend is reached, meaning that we could be looking at one of the largest opening event fields in the history of the Isle Open. There are six flights over the next three days, with the players that have bagged chips returning for Day 2 on Sunday. Each of the starting flights have the same structure, with entrants sitting down to starting stacks of 20,000 units, and playing levels that last (25) minutes over the course of the event. Registration for each flight is open through Level 8 (approx. 2:40pm), and is scheduled to conclude after Level 16 (approx. 6:10pm). The chip lead bonus is back, as the player to bag the largest stack from each flight will earn a seat into Event #15 ($1,100 No Limit Hold'em | $150,000 GTD).
Promotions: When the doors open for the day, the first hour (9:00am-10:00am) will award $150 every (30) minutes. The high hands will then transition from 10:00am-12:00am (midnight), with the opportunity to win $400 every (30) minutes. During that period, the promotion sees tournament players eligible each half-hour for $100 high hands, 2/2 limit hold'em players eligible for $200 high hands, 2/4 limit hold'em players eligible for $300 high hands, and all other raked games (1/2-5/10 NLH, 4/8 Omaha 8B, 6/12 O.E., etc.) eligible for $400 high hands. From 12:00am-3:00am, players are eligible for $100 high hands every hour.
11:00am - 2017 Isle Open Event #1 (Flight 1E): $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
- Players start with 20,000 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 throughout the event
- All Day 1's will play (16) complete levels or until 10% of the field remains (whichever comes first)
- The chip leader from each flight will earn a seat into Event 15 ($1,100 No Limit Hold'em)
6:00pm - 2017 Isle Open Event #1 (Flight 1F): $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
- Players start with 20,000 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 throughout the event
- All Day 1's will play (16) complete levels or until 10% of the field remains (whichever comes first)
- The chip leader from each flight will earn a seat into Event 15 ($1,100 No Limit Hold'em)
