Isle Casino Poker : 10/13/17

Friday, October 13, 2017

Isle Open Event 7 (Flight 1C): Official End Of Flight 1C Chip Counts

2017 Isle Open | Event #7
$360 No Limit Hold'em | $200,000 GTD
Level 15 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/500)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 144
Flight 1C Players Remaining: 22

Georges	Boyadjian ^C	381,500
Marco	Cantizani	328,500
Maurice	Hawkins	244,000
William	Handwerker	201,900
Theo	Lawson	180,500
Joseph	Patalano	172,000
Steve	Karp	160,000
Aftab	Shakoor	150,500
Solange	Lucas	130,500
Greg	Levine	126,500
Luis	Yepez	122,000
Skip	McDonough	120,000
Morris	Heider	108,000
Larry	Klur	103,000
Haim	Toorgeman	87,500
Oneil	McCalla	73,000
Vlad	Mezheritsky	66,500
Engelbarth	Varela	55,000
Errol	Massey	53,000

Isle Open Event 7 (Flight 1C): Players Bagging Up, Boyadjian Wins The Bonus

2017 Isle Open | Event #7
$360 No Limit Hold'em | $200,000 GTD
Level 15 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/500)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 144
Flight 1C Players Remaining: 22

Georges Boyadjian (Pompano Beach, FL) may have used the $1,100 bonus seat as a factor in his decision to call Michael Maresca's all-in, but regardless of his reasoning, it worked out for him.

The final three hands have been dealt at each of the tables, and those remaining are verifying their stacks, before putting the chips in their home for the next (36) hours. The race for the chip lead was super close, with Georges Boyadjian (Pompano Beach, FL) pulling away on the second to last hand. After Marco Cantizani opened, and Boyadjian called, Michael Maresca squeezed for just over 55,000. Cantizani laid down his hand, and after some thought (knowing his decision may determine the bonus), Georges made the call. His K♦ 10♥ would be racing with the 9♠ 9♣ of Maresca, hitting a ten on the river to scoop up the pot, which ended up making all of the difference. Boyadjian ended the flight with 365,500, just 20,000-30,000 more than Cantizani.

That will conclude the live blogged coverage of today's action, but followers can check back shortly for the official counts from Flight 1C (around 9:00pm), and in the early morning hours for Flight 1D chip counts (around 4:00am).

Isle Open Event 7 (Flight 1C): Heider Runs Out Perfect, Field Heads To Final Level

2017 Isle Open | Event #7
$360 No Limit Hold'em | $200,000 GTD
Level 15 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/500)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 144
Flight 1C Players Remaining: 24

Morris Heider (Boca Raton, FL) smiles at his table mate, after just saying how the river was "justice," with the best hand pre-flop coming out on top.

There was a collective reaction from Table 3, with Morris Heider (Boca Raton, FL) standing in celebration, hands raised in the air. Once the table was approached, we would see that Heider was all-in against Haim Tooregman and Walter Bravo. Morris was holding K♠ K♣ against Haim's 9♠ 9♦ and Bravo's 6♥ 6♠, with the board running out 5♥ 8♣ 9♣ 7♣ 10♣.

It was a roller coaster of emotion during the runout, with Haim flopping top set...Bravo turning a straight...and Heider rivering a club flush. Morris now has over 130,000 as he (and the rest of the field) heads to the final level of the day.

The clock will be paused when 10:00 minutes remain on the clock, and after three "final" hands, the bagging process will begin. The next post will feature the player to have won the chip lead bonus, followed by official counts from the flight.

Isle Open Event 7 (Flight 1C): Three Tables Remain, Full Lineup Listed

2017 Isle Open | Event #7
$360 No Limit Hold'em | $200,000 GTD
Level 14 (Blinds 1,200/2,400/400)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 144
Flight 1C Players Remaining: 26

The action has slowed down, with the stacks getting much deeper, as three tables now remain in the field. Listed below are the seating assignments for those tables:

Table 1:

Solange Lucas
Skip McDonough
Errol Massey
Engelbert Valera
Oneil McCalla
Alan Dobrow
Steven Karp
Luis Yepez
Maurice Hawkins

Table 2:

Michael Maresca
Greg Levine
Aftab Shakoor
Vlad Mezheritsky
Luis Santoni
Marco Cantizani
Georges Boyadjian
Bill Handwerker

Table 3:

Michael Russo
Joe Patalano
Larry Krul
Haim Toorgeman
Walter Bravo
Shawn Vrenna
Morris Heider
Jeff Cohen
Theo Lawson

Isle Open Event 7 (Flight 1C): Updated Counts After Final Break

2017 Isle Open | Event #7
$360 No Limit Hold'em | $200,000 GTD
Level 13 (Blinds 1,000/2,000/300)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 144
Flight 1C Players Remaining: 33

Georges Boyadjian (Pompano Beach, FL) needs to hold onto his chip lead for just over an hour, in order to solidify a free entry into Event #15 ($1,100 No Limit Hold'em | $150,000 GTD).

Players have returned from the final break of the night, with the "race for the chip lead bonus" beginning to take shape. If this was a horse race, the players would be "coming down the stretch," with Georges Boyadjian (Pompano Beach, FL) leading by a length. Boyadjian had been sitting with an above average stack for most of the afternoon, but caught heat over the last few levels. He's sitting with over 280,000, which is almost 50,000 chips clear of his nearest competitor.

Geroges Boyadjian - 285,000
Maurice Hawkins - 235,000
Aftab Shakoor - 230,000
Engelbert Varela - 150,000
Michael Maresca - 130,000

We would be remise if we didn't mention the official numbers for Flight 1C, with registration closing at (144) entries, and an official prize fund of $43,920 going towards the overall prize pool.

Isle Open Event 7 (Flight 1C): Kirsch About To Quadruple Stack, Until Unfortunate River

2017 Isle Open | Event #7
$360 No Limit Hold'em | $200,000 GTD
Level 11 (Blinds 600/1,200/200)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 134

Richard Kirsch (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) could have been sitting with over 50,000, had two players not hit a three-outer against him on the river.

We passed by Table 4, just as Richard Kirsch (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) raised all-in for 9,300, over a 6,000 flop bet (the flop was A♠ 6♣ 4♠). Three players called Kirsch's shove, including Joe Patalano and Luis Santoni. As the dealer was collected the chips from each player, Richard flashed his cards to the media, having flopped two-pair (A♦ 4♦).

After the dealer dropped the Q♦ on the turn, Patalano would bet 20,000, followed by Santoni making the call. Patalano would then check the J♣ on the river, with Luis Santoni then going all-in (for close to 50,000), and Patalano snap-calling. The two players simultaneously turned over Ax Jx, having rivered a three-outer to beat Kirsch, and split the pot.

Richard Kirsch lamented over his bad luck for an all but brief moment, and made his way to the cage to re-enter the flight.

Joe Patalano - 120,000
Luis Santoni - 90,000

Isle Open Event 7 (Flight 1C): "Who Runs Better Than Me?"

2017 Isle Open | Event #7
$360 No Limit Hold'em | $200,000 GTD
Level 10 (Blinds 500/1,000/100)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 132

"Who runs better than me," Christopher Gilkey (Lake Worth, FL) said to his neighbor, after flopping bottom set against the two-pair of Maurice Hawkins.

Event #1 winner Christopher Gilkey (Lake Worth, FL) returned to the poker room moment ago, the first time since heading an eight-way chop of the series' tournament. It just so happened that he was sat a Table 1, which was the exact setting for the Event #1 final table. A few minutes after sitting down, Gilkey was joined by Maurice Hawkins, who was moved there after Table 5 broke.

Just a few hands after Hawkins joined the group, he and Gilkey would get it all-in on a Q♥ 6♦ 3♠ flop, with Christopher looking to quickly double his starting stack. It was a cooler for Hawkins, as he held 6♣ 3♣ (bottom two-pair), against the 3♥ 3♦ of Gilkey (bottom set). Maurice would need to find a six on the turn or river (or running queens), in order to grab the lead back. The dealer did bring a Q♠ on the turn, but there would be no miracle comeback for Hawkins, who shipped over 23,000 the way of Gilkey. Christopher is now close to the current chip average (which is 53,000), and is playing a much more manageable stack.

Christopher Gilkey - 48,000 (48bb)

Isle Open Event 7 (Flight 1C): Updated Chip Counts From The Field

2017 Isle Open | Event #7
$360 No Limit Hold'em | $200,000 GTD
Level 9 (Blinds 400/800/100)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 130

Michael "LarryDavid23" Maresca (Oakland, NJ) is flying under the radar no more, as he assumes the chip lead, more than halfway through Flight 1C.

The cards are back in the air for Level 9 (400/800/100), with a new name now atop the leaderboard, as Michael "LarryDavid23" Maresca (Oakland, NJ) surpassed Maurice Hawkins earlier number. The New Jersey native sits with 140,000, and has the advantage of being "unknown." Maresca's resume boast results only from Atlantic City, with his most recent cash coming during the WPT Borgata Poker Open $3,500 Main Event (47th Place | $10,508). Each of Michael's six cashes are above $1,200, and are worth a combined total of $44,536.

Michael "LarryDavid23" Maresca - 140,000
Maurice Hawkins - 137,000
Engelbert Varela - 110,000
Glen Canelstein - 85,000
Ory Hen - 75,000
Michael Newman - 73,000
Skip McDonough - 70,000
Oneil McCalla - 68,000

Isle Open Event 7 (Flight 1C): Paterson Returns, Looking For Back-To-Back Titles

2017 Isle Open | Event #7
$360 No Limit Hold'em | $200,000 GTD
Level 8 (Blinds 300/600/75)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 127

The last time Stu Paterson (Boca Raton, FL) was featured on the blog, he was winning his first ever Isle Poker "major," taking down the $1,100 NLH event during the 2017 Florida State Poker Championships.

The notable names continue to file into the field, and while it seem pretty late for new entries, players entering now would be sitting down to over (30) big blinds. Registration is open through Level 12 (and the break that follows), with the window closing for this flight at approximately 5:30pm. One of the most recent players to take their seat was taking a winner's photo the last time he was here, with Stu Paterson (Boca Raton, FL) having just taken down Event #14 of the Florida State Poker Championships ($1,100 No Limit Hold'em). Paterson earned $55,000 as part of a heads-up deal with Alexander Fradin, bringing his career earnings north of $884,000. Stu is one of the more well-known and well-respected players in the community, having made name for himself playing both the live and online poker platforms.

Joining Paterson in the "super" late reg group are:

Matt Smith
Adel Jo
Tom Cuce

Players will be taking their second (of three) breaks at the end of this level, and will be returning to Level 9, with new blinds of 400/800/100. After the seats in the field are occupied once again, we will bring you the first look at updated chip counts from the field.

Isle Open Event 7 (Flight 1C): Hawkins Flying High To Start, Early Chip Leader

2017 Isle Open | Event #7
$360 No Limit Hold'em | $200,000 GTD
Level 7 (Blinds 250/500/75)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 120

It's very much a tale of two flights for Maurice Hawkins (Plantation, FL), who was only around for an hour yesterday. He's looking to stick around for the rest of the day after this start, and may have his eyes on the "chip lead bonus."

Maurice Hawkins (Plantation, FL) was featured during yesterday's Flight 1A coverage, but ended up making a quick departure, leaving the room before the first break. Things have been different for Maurice this afternoon, as he has shot to the top of leaderboard, with a stack of 120,000. This shouldn't come as much of a surprise to many though, as Hawkins is widely considered as a very active player, entering numerous pots (especially with a larger stack). It's rare that you'll find Maurice "grinding" a below average stack, in these beginning stages of a tournament such as this, as he plays with an "all or nothing" mentality.

Glen Canelstein (Coconut Creek, FL) is also above the century mark, and is looking for his first Isle Poker "major series" cash since the Isle Classic (January).

Isle Open Event 7 (Flight 1C): "Rake Free" Satellite Less Than A Week Away

2017 Isle Open | Event #7
$360 No Limit Hold'em | $200,000 GTD
Level 6 (Blinds 200/400/50)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 118

There was a "late addition" to the 2017 Isle Open schedule, inserted into the calendar after the collateral for the series was released. Posted above is the structure sheet for the $510 "Rake Free" NLH Satellite Into Event #14 ($2,500 Single-Day Series), which guarantees five seats into the event. This satellite has no entry fee (only a staffing fee), and will get players into one of the premier events of the series, for a quarter of the price. The satellite happens to run on an afternoon where there is a non-no limit hold'em event ($150 Omaha 8B Hi/Lo), so all those looking for a no limit event with super value, can circle that date.

The satellite begins at 12:00pm on Tuesday, October 17th...and offers players the opportunity to grab a five-figure score in just over (12) hours. The $2,500 NLH Single-Day Series saw it's first installment attract (75) entries, and a prize pool over $170,000...and that was without a guarantee on the tournament. With $100,000 guarantee...and having the event during a major series...it could bring numbers that exceed anyones expectation.

A copy of the tournament structure will be available by the brush stand, along with posted on the poker room's Twitter account (@PokerIslePP).

Isle Open Event 7 (Flight 1C): Century Mark Eclipsed, In More Than One Way

2017 Isle Open | Event #7
$360 No Limit Hold'em | $200,000 GTD
Level 5 (Blinds 150/300/50)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 105

James Salmon (Davie, FL) is about as international as it gets, with five different flags on his Hendon Mob resume (from this year alone), a number that some players take a career to reach.

With a small rush of players entering during break, the Flight 1C field has eclipsed the century mark, now with (105) entries. While these pair of afternoon showings from the players have been impressive, what's even more eye-opening, is the potential size of this tournament's prize pool. With the $32,330 already in this flight, the combined total from yesterday is also over the century mark, equaling $107,960. That's more than halfway towards the guaranteed number (of $200,000), with the three largest flights yet to come (this evening, and tomorrow's pair).

There have also been a number of new faces spotted across the tournament area, including James Salmon (Davie, FL). Salmon is one of the most well-traveled players in the field, making his way to numerous events all over the world. He's just a few weeks returned from Ireland, where he cashed in two events during the PokerStars Festival Dublin. James also has cashes this year in tournaments from places like Panama City, Monte Carlo, and Barcelona. Before the focus shifts to the play at the tables, rather than the players in the field, we take a look at more of the late arriving notables in the field:

Alfonso Perez
Marco Oliveira
Kevin Chan
William Beasley
Gary Viebahn
Michael Marks
Morris Heider
Patrick Sparks
Richard Leger

Isle Open Event 7 (Flight 1C): Karp Coming Off Deep Run Up North As Well

2017 Isle Open | Event #7
$360 No Limit Hold'em | $200,000 GTD
Level 4 (Blinds 100/200/25)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 59

Steve Karp's (Dona, FL) deep run in the WPT Borgata Poker Open Main Event was his second in three months, this after reaching the final two tables of the Florida State Poker Championships $1,500 Main Event.

Our second featured notable in the field is also coming off of a deep run at the Borgata, with Steve Karp (Dona, FL) reaching the final three tables of the WPT Borgata Poker Open $3,500 Main Event. Steve made Day 3 of the tournament, which had a prize pool over $3,600,000 (and over $789,000 up top). He'd find himself making a deep run with another Isle Poker Room notable (Joshua Kay), but ended up running pocket tens into pocket kings for a pot worth close to (40) big blinds. The result ($16,306) was Karp's second largest cash of 2017, and helped bring his total live tournament earnings just below $1,425,000.

Karp headlines the second look at notables in this Flight 1C field, joining names like:

Errol Massey
Oneil McCalla
Alan Dobrow
Frank Traino
Elliot Zaydman
Michael Russo
Nigel Murray
Ronald Levy
Luis Santoni
Allan Bieler
Charlemagne Benjamin
Giovanni Cantatore

Players will be taking their first break of the day at the conclusion of this level, and will return to Level 5, with new blinds of 150/300/50.

Isle Open Event 7 (Flight 1C): Claudemir Getting Comfortable Making The Trip

2017 Isle Open | Event #7
$360 No Limit Hold'em | $200,000 GTD
Level 3 (Blinds 75/150/25)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 52

Claudemir Osorio (Orlando, FL) was basically a stranger to the Isle Poker Room a few months ago, but has made numerous trips down from Orlando since his introduction.

The last time we saw Claudemir Osorio (Orlando, FL), it was during the "August $100,000" ($150 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD). Osorio made a deep run in the event, falling a few spots short of the final table, finishing in 14th place ($1,316). The following week, Claudemir would take a flight to Atlantic City, showing up just on time for the opening event of the WPT Borgata Poker Open. He would make yet another deep run in that event, this time finishing in 22nd place (out of 3,570 entries), earning a little more for his efforts ($7,283).

Osorio's drive to Pompano Beach is just over three hours, but he's been making the trip more frequently as of recent. He's one of the first notables spotted in the field, but joins a list of recognizable names already seated in the flight:

Zoltan Czinkota
Ory Hen
Daniel Pearlman
Michael Newman
Thomas Gari
Larry Krul

Isle Open Event 7 (Flight 1C): Official Chip Counts (Flights 1A-1B)

2017 Isle Open | Event #7
$360 No Limit Hold'em | $200,000 GTD
Level 2 (Blinds 50/100)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 40

Isle Open Event 7 (Flight 1C): Third Opening Flight Kicks Off The Weekend Action

2017 Isle Open | Event #7
$360 No Limit Hold'em | $200,000 GTD
Level 1 (Blinds 25/50)
Total Flight 1C Entries: N/A

The second "major" event of the 2017 Isle Open continues today, as the second pair of Event #7 ($360 No Limit Hold'em | $200,000 GTD) flights starts at 11:00am. The tournament boasts the second largest guarantee on the championship schedule ($200,000), and also offers one of the more "generous" structures. Players in the six opening flights sit down to starting stacks of 20,000 units, and play levels lasting (30) minutes (through Level 15). The time will then transition to (40) minutes (Levels 16+), and stay that way through the conclusion of the tournament. Registration is open through the first (12) levels of each flight, which is approximately 5:30pm. The "chip leaders bonus" is back, as the players with the largest stack from each flight will earn a seat into (Event #15 | $1,100 No Limit Hold'em | $150,000 GTD).

Yesterday afternoon was the start of Event #7 ($360 No Limit Hold'em | $200,000 GTD), and if Flight 1A was a sign of things to come...we are looking at yet another tournament that will exceed expectations.In total, there were (248) entries over the course of the first day of Event #7 action, with (31) players booking tickets to Sunday's Day 2. That equates to $75,640 towards the overall prize pool, and a pace that will see the number soar past the posted guaranteed.

Tournament Director Ralph Brandt will be going over the rules announcement in just a few moments, and the cards will be in the air for Flight 1C. The official combined counts will be posted shortly thereafter, followed by the first look at players in this afternoon flight.

Friday, October 13th: Strong Start Likely Means Big Numbers For Event #7, Two More Flights Today

ICYMI: Yesterday afternoon was the start of Event #7 ($360 No Limit Hold'em | $200,000 GTD), and if Flight 1A was a sign of things to come...we are looking at yet another tournament that will exceed expectations. The opening flight of the tournament saw registration close with (133) total entries, many of which were notable names to the poker room. Players like Maurice Hawkins, Tom Gity, Thomas Gari, Abbey Daniels, and numerous others, all made attempts at bagging chips for Sunday's Day 2. When the bagging process was reached (after Level 15), a total of (19) players would remain, with Gregory Spinder (Coral Springs, FL) taking home the chip lead (281,500). It was a close race between Spinder and Mark Kerness, but Greg would walk away with the bonus, and entry into Event #15 ($1,100 No Limit Hold'em | $150,000 GTD).

As Flight 1A was in it's final stages, the second of six starting flights would get underway, wit the cards in the air for Flight 1B at 6:00pm. A total of (115) entries made up the field, with (13) players successfully bagging chips. That group was led by Erik Nomberg, who bagged an impressive 353,500, over 70,000 more than his nearest competitor (Antoine Bahi).

In total, there were (248) entries over the course of the first day of Event #7 action, with (31) players booking tickets to Sunday's Day 2. That equates to $75,640 towards the overall prize pool, and a pace that will see the number soar past the posted guaranteed. A full list of chip counts will be posted shortly after "live blogged coverage" begins for the day.

Tournaments: The second "major" event of the 2017 Isle Open continues, as the second pair of Event #7 ($360 No Limit Hold'em | $200,000 GTD) flights starts at 11:00am. The tournament boasts the second largest guarantee on the championship schedule ($200,000), and also offers one of the more "generous" structures. Players in the six opening flights sit down to starting stacks of 20,000 units, and play levels lasting (30) minutes (through Level 15). The time will then transition to (40) minutes (Levels 16+), and stay that way through the conclusion of the tournament. Registration is open through the first (12) levels of each flight, which is approximately 5:30pm. The "chip leaders bonus" is back, as the players with the largest stack from each flight will earn a seat into (Event #15 | $1,100 No Limit Hold'em | $150,000 GTD). Live blogged coverage also returns for the event, with each afternoon flight (Flight A, Flight C, and Flight E), and Day 2 getting the "live look-in."

Promotions: From (9:00am-10:00am), the high hand 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 (Friday morning), players are eligible for $100 high hands every hour.

11:00am - 2017 Isle Open Event #7 (Flight 1C): $360 No Limit Hold'em ($200,000 GTD)

- Players start with 20,000 in tournament chips

- Late and re-entries for the first (12) levels

- Alternates and late entries will start with a full stack

- Levels will last (30) minutes through Level 15, and will the transition to (40) minutes Level 16+

- All Day 1's will play (15) 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 #7 (Flight 1D): $360 No Limit Hold'em ($200,000 GTD)