Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1A): Official End Of Flight 1A Chip Counts

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 16 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/500)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 91
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 13

David	Coughlin	239,500
Iluta	Sutra	231,000
Shea	Smith	186,500
Yuejian	Wang	177,000
Rogelio	Padilla	165,000
Juan	Rodriguez	140,500
Garrick	Young	140,000
Jacquelyn	Scott	133,000
Olaf	Gornislewilz	123,000
Justin	Molis	106,500
Joe	Basso	92,000
Engelbert	Vardu	44,000
Elan	Zak	43,000

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1A): Wrapping Up The Flight 1A Action

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 16 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/500)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 91
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 19

The tournament clock just transitioned to Level 16, which is the last scheduled of the flight.  Action will play down to the 10:00 minute mark, at which point the clock will be paused, and players will find out how many hands remain.  Once those hands are completed at each table, the bagging process will begin, with official chip counts to be posted shortly thereafter.

There is another flight on the schedule this evening, with play beginning at 6:00pm for Flight 1B.  There will be no live blogged coverage of the flight, but official chip counts will be posted at it's conclusion.

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1A): The Final Two Tables In Play (Seating Assignments)

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 15 (Blinds 800/1,600/200)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 91
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 20

Flight 1A of Event #18 is now down to (20) players, with the following names still alive to bag chips for Sunday's Day 2.

Table 1

1. Shea Smith
2. James Wang
3. David Coughlin
4. Adrian Barcan
5. Garrick Young
6. James Sperruzi
7. Antonio Campbell
8. Roger Padilla
9. Harry Eisenberg
10. Justin Molis

Table 3

1. Juan Rodriguez
2. Phillip Consolo
3. A. Nonymous
4. Alecid Schmidt
5. Joseph Basso
6. Paulius Bikus
7. Jacquelyn Scott
8. Engelberth Varela
9. Iluta Sutra
10. B. Nonymous

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1A): Shea Smith Gets Well Needed Double As Level 14 Begins

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 14 (Blinds 1,200/2,400/400)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 91
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 22

Shea Smith (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) could not have asked for a better spot when he was all-in, having his opponent drawing to just five outs when the chips got in.

The Flight 1A field continues to shrink down, as action will be on two tables in just a short while.  As mentioned earlier in the day, action is scheduled to play through Level 16, or until 10% of the field remains (whichever comes first).

Table 5 was approached moments ago, just as Shea Smith's all-in was called by Roger Padilla.  The two players were on the flop, which read 10♦ 8♦ K♦, with Shea holding A♦ A♣ against Padilla's K♥ Q♦.  Smith held a commanding lead, with Padilla drawing to a king...or non-diamond queen.  After the 9♦ on the turn, Padilla would have one out, as the J♦ could make him a winning straight flush.  The river ended up pairing the board (10♥), securing Smith's double to over 73,000.

Shea Smith - 73,000 (30bb)
Roger Padilla - 48,000 (20bb)

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1A): Updated Chip Counts After Final Break

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 13 (Blinds 1,000/2,000/300)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 91
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 26

Iluta Sutra (Sunny Isles Beach, FL) has four Isle Poker cashes on her resume, and one score from the WSOP.

The cards are back in the air, and the remaining players are trying to make it through another four levels, so they can have two days off before Sunday's Day 2.  Iluta Sutra (Sunny Isles Beach, FL) may have been bemoaning an earlier pot lost, but she's since shot up the leaderboard, and sits with the only stack above 200,000.  Sutra has three cashes this year, two of which were recorded here at the Isle Poker Room, and one during the WSOP ($565 No Limit Hold'em Casino Employees Event #1).

Iluta Sutra - 220,000
James Wang - 170,000
Justin Molis - 120,000
Joseph Basso - 110,000
Garrick Young - 100,000

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1A): Who Is Left In The Flight 1A Field

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 12 (Blinds 800/1,600/200)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 91
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 31

The minutes are winding down in Level 12, with players heading on their final break of the day at the level's conclusion.  Action will resume in Level 13, with new blinds being posted of 1,000/2,000/300, and four scheduled levels remaining in the flight.  The players still trying to reach the bagging process are listed below (by seating assignment):

Table 1

1. Hoa Lang
2. James Wang
3. Jeff Kessler
4. Garrick Young
5. James Sperruzi
6. Giovanni Cantatore
7. Harry Eisenberg
8. Brendan Colter

Table 3

1. James Rodriguez
2. Phillip Consolo
3. Steve Ekin
4. Stephen Smith
5. Joseph Basso
6. Charlie Horton
7. Jacquelyn Scott
8. Engelberth Vorela

Table 4

1. Roger Padilla
2. Neil Blumenfield
3. Ryan Ricci
4. Antonio  Campbell
5. Elan Zak
6. Paulius Bikus
7. Adrian Barcan
8. Mervick Nunez

Table 5

1. Shea Smith
2. Olaf Gornisiewicz
3. Justin Molis
4. Iluta Sutra
5. David Coughlin
6. Nancy Thomas
7. Alecid Schmidt

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1A): Sutra Doesn't Like The Call

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 11 (Blinds 600/1,200/200)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 91
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 38

Justin Molis (North Bay Village, FL) is looking to record his first tournament cash since July, when he cashed in a $60 buy-in recurring tournament here at the Isle Poker Room.

Action at Table 5 was opened by Shea Smith, who put out a raise to 2,300 (on the last hand of Level 10).  He would be called by Justin Molis (button), Iluta Sutra (small blind), and David Coughlin (big blind).  After the 9♦ 8♥ 6♠ flop, Sutra would lead for 5,000, with the rest of the players in the hand making the call.  The board then paired on the turn with the 8♣, with action checking around, and players watching the Q♣ fall on the river.  

Sutra took the same action as the flop, putting out a bet of 5,000, with both Coughlin and Smith releasing their hands.  Justin Molis casually made the call, and after seeing Sutra turn over 10♦ 10♣, tabled his K♥ Q♥.  "That's just so sick," Sutra said aloud, making reference to his call on the flop.  Iluta continued to voice her displeasure for a few moments, before focusing on the next hand.

Justin Molis - 108,000 (90bb)
Iluta Sutra - 96,000 (80bb)

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1A): Wasser Makes James Wang A Believer, But Ends Up The Loser

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 10 (Blinds 500/1,000/100)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 91
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 42

Yue-Jian Wang (Boca Raton, FL) is looking to bag chips for Day 2, and earn his second cash of the series.

Walking through the field, a hand would be unfolding at Table 10, between James Wang and Moshe Wasser.  The two were on the turn of a board reading Q♥ J♣ 6♣ 7♠, with Wasser having just gone all-in for 36,000.  With already 24,000 in the pot, Wang (who held 23,000) was not so quick to release his hand, and ended up making the call after about a minute.  James wasn't happy when he saw Wasser turn over J♥ 6♥, well ahead of his Q♦ 10♥.  

"I just didn't think you had two pair in that spot," Wang said to Wasser, as he began to stand from his seat.  The dealer than placed down the 7♥ on the river, pairing the board, and counterfeiting Moshe's two-pair.  James lifted his hands in celebration, as he watched the collect the chips from Wasser to match his stack.

James Wang - 70,000 (70bb)
Moshe Wasser - 13,000 (13bb)

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1A): Updated Chip Counts, Official Flight 1A Numbers Are In

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 9 (Blinds 400/800/100)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 88

Joseph Bassa (Omaha, NE) has been the chip leader in the field since early in Level 2, and currently sits as the only player above the century mark.

With the cards now in the air for Level 9, registration has closed for Flight 1A of Event #18 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $100,000 GTD).  The opening flight of the tournament attracted a total of (91) entries, with $12,285 going towards the overall prize pool.  Joe Basso (Omaha, NE) still leads the field, jumping out to a very early chip lead, and holding onto it through the second break of the day.

Joseph Basso - 105,000
David Coughlin - 87,000
Justin Molis - 87,000
Paulius Bikus - 78,000
Adrian Barcan - 72,000
Rodney Moret-Rojas - 60,000
Frank Scala - 50,000
Jeffrey Fogel - 47,000

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1A): Jeffrey Fogel's Series To Remember

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 8 (Blinds 300/600/75)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 82

Jeffrey Fogel (Pembroke Pines, FL) spent the final week of November crushing tournaments during the Rock N' Roll Poker Open.

Jeffrey Fogel's story is an inspirational one, having been diagnosed with ALS in 2012, and only given three to five years to live from doctors.  While many may have let news like that bring their life to a crumbling halt, Jeffrey continued on doing everything that he enjoyed.  "Coach," as he was known by the numerous players on teams he headed (both flag football and basketball), found himself on the fields and courts, as well as at the poker table (another of Fogel's passions).

Since his first tournament win in 2012, Fogel has amassed earnings over $80,000, a good portion of which was won during the most recent Rock N' Roll Poker Open at Seminole Hard Rock.  Fogel cashed in two events, but made the most of his scores, which combined for just over $34,000.  Jeffrey  won his first major title (Event #10 | $360 No Limit Hold'em Turbo) for $3,939, and earned his largest ever tournament cash, taking fourth place money in a six-way deal that ended Event #6 ($570 No Limit Hold'em | $30,019.

Fogel hasn't been as active during this series, but is now in the Flight 1A field, and looking to bag chips for Sunday's Day 2.  Players will be heading on their second break of the day (at the end of this level), with action resuming in Level 9, and new blinds being posted of 400/800/100.

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1A): Goldman Had One Foot Out The Door, But Is Saved On The River

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 7 (Blinds 250/500/50)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 78

Elliot Goldman (Delray Beach, FL) was getting ready to re-enter the flight, but found himself with the starting stack once again.

Passing by Table 3, Elliot Goldman (Delray Beach, FL) was all-in for just over 8,000, on the turn of a board reading Q♠ 8♥ 5♦ 5♣.  Joe Basso, who is currently the flight's chip leader, took a good amount of time before releasing his hand.  That would then leave Charlie Horton, who had originally led out on the street for 5,000.  Charlie quickly made the call, and watched as Goldman turned over 5♥ 7♥.  Elliot's hand would be behind though, as Horton tabled A♠ 5♠, having Goldman out-kicked.

Elliot began to lament his bad luck, but received a fortunate river, as the 7♣ gave him a winning full house.  Basso just shook his head in disgust, as Elliot collected the pot, which was worth just over 20,000.

Elliot Goldman - 21,000 (42bb)
Charlie Horton - 9,600 (19bb)

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1A): Burdeen Back In The Classic, With A Renewed Focus

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 6 (Blinds 200/400/50)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 75

Jeff Burdeen (Delray Beach, FL) is hoping to bookend 2017 with another Isle Classic score...what would be his second cash of the series (there were two Isle Classics run this year).

The last time Jeff Burdeen (Delray Beach, FL) was featured on the blog, the content of the post revolved around the "re-working" of his game.  Burdeen was coming off his best year of tournament poker (2016), one in which he had three five-figure scores.  There was a two week period during the 2016 Florida State Poker Championships where Burdeen won Event #2 ($140 No Limit Hold'em) for $20,102, and followed that up with a fourth place ($18,418) in Event #7 ($360 No Limit Hold'em).

Jeff won a total of $55,059 in 2016, and after a cash in the Isle Classic (in January of this year), it seemed as if he was off to another solid year of tournament results.  That would end up being Burdeen's last recorded tournament result of this year, with his total earnings for 2017 sitting at $693.  "I've been working on my game, studying a lot and changing things up a little," Jeff explained in a discussion two months ago.  While his time away didn't immediately show results, Burdeen has already doubled his starting stack this afternoon, and may be seeing the hard work pay off already.

Burdeen is just one of the many names that we are familiar with, but haven't seen much of, over the course of this series:

Ruth Comeau
Bill Oderat
Joseph Durso
Ian Bishop
Jennifer Parker

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1A): Michael Lutz Is Going To "Keep On Truckin'"

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 5 (Blinds 150/300/50)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 67

Michael Lutz (Austin, TX) came for the music...but ended up staying for the poker.

Michael Lutz (Austin, TX) originally came to Florida to see two Dead And Company concerts (members of the Grateful Dead, with John Mayer in place of Jerry Garcia), but unfortunately saw his plans fall apart.  John Mayer had an emergency appendectomy, causing the shows in Florida to be canceled.  In the "Sunshine State," and now without a direct itinerary, Lutz decided to find a poker room to play in.  With the Isle Classic currently running, Michael decided to jump into Event #10 ($360 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD)...which turned out to be a wise decision.

Lutz ended up reaching the final two tables of the tournament, eventually finishing in fifteenth place, and earning himself $2,595.  With work coming up in Orlando, Lutz chose to stick around the area, and is now one of the early notables in in the Event #18 (Flight 1A) field.  Some other familiar names already in the action include:

Jacquelyn Scott
Neil Blumenfield
Alan Saltzman
Tracy Scala
Frank Scala
Paulius Bikius
Zaki Lichaa

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1A): Action Underway For Opening Flight Of Event #18

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 1 (Blinds 25/50)
Total Flight 1A Entries: N/A

The 2017 Isle Classic may be winding down, but there are still two headlining events remaining, the first of which begins in just a few moments.  Event #18 is a $175 No Limit Hold'em tournament, which boasts a $100,000 guaranteed prize pool, and six starting flights spread over the next three days.  

Flight 1A gets underway at 11:00am, with a structure that sees players sitting down to starting stacks of 20,000 units.  Levels in the tournament will last (25) minutes throughout, with registration open through the first eight levels of each flight (including the break that follows Level 8).  The starting flights are scheduled to end at the end of Level 16, or if the field reaches the 10% mark, whichever comes first.  Those players remaining at the end of each flight will bag up their stacks for Sunday's Day 2, with action resuming at 12:00pm, and playing down to a winner.

Looking back at the history of the Isle Classic, this tournament was Event #16 earlier this year, with a slightly lower buy-in.  The $150 No Limit Hold'em also carried a $100,000 guarantee, and attracted a total of (1,021) entries, with an official prize pool of $117,415.  The event ended in a six-way deal, headed by Robert Tanner (Wellington, FL), who took home $14,202.

There will be live blogged coverage for each of the afternoon flights (Flight 1A, Flight 1C, and Flight 1E), beginning in just a short while, as we allow for the tournament area to fill up (before we take a look at some of the earlier notables in the field).

Thursday, December 14th: After A Successful Event 16, Two Headlining Event Close Out The 2017 Isle Classic

ICYMI: Wednesday's tournament action began at 11:00am, with the cards flying for Event #16 of the Isle Classic.  The $1,100 No Limit Hold'em Single Ante tournament boasted a $50,000 guarantee, and was the tournament that all of the "chip lead bonus" were returning to play.  After eight levels of open registration, the event would close with (66) total entries, and a prize pool of $64,680.  Once the payouts were posted, the players that remained learned that the final table of nine would reach the money, with a lot of focus on the $22,637 first place prize.  The money bubble burst just as Level 15 was beginning, with a final table full of notables players.  It's rare that an event such as this ends in a multi-way chop, and it looked as if we were going to see an outright winner.  After about fifteen hands of heads-up play, Anthony Utnage and Ian Cohen agreed to a deal, with the former taking home the trophy (and $18,700).  Cohen earned $16,873 for his "runner-up" finish, recording his fourth cash of the series.  Listed below are the official results for Event #16 of the Isle Classic:

1. Anthony Utnage Jr. (Bloomington, IN) $18,700
2. Ian Cohen (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) $16,873
3. Timothy Miles (Miami, FL) $7,923
4. Gregory Spinder (Parkland, FL) $5,660
5. Gregory Baird (Hinsdale, IL) $4,336
6. Kao Saechao (Portland, OR) $3,396
7. Alex Gladunov (Palm Beach Gardens, FL) $2,911
8. Joshua Hillock (Lighthouse Point, FL) $2,587
9. Michael Tait (Parkland, FL) $2,264

As the afternoon event was reaching it's homestretch, players were arriving for Event #17 ($60 No Limit Hold'em $8,000 GTD), which got underway at 6:00pm.  The tournament's $8,018 prize pool was comprised of (159) entries (with the optional add-ons included in the number), with (20) players reaching the money.  Once the money bubble burst, we would see a number of notable players listed on the payouts, including Michele Milker, Manny Perez, Lona Rubenstein, Michael Guttermann, and Daniel Shortley.  The particular tournament had a history of multi-way deals during the series, but last night's event was a little different.  Action played down to heads-up play, at which point we would see our second heads-up chop of the day.  Welly Duroseau (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) was the event's "declared winner," taking home $2,055 for his efforts.  The final table results from the final table are listed below:

1. Welly Duroseau (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) $2,055
2. Gary Mazzeo (Palm Beach Gardens, FL) $1,500
3. Anthony Zambrowski (Chandler, AZ) $824
4. Richard Freedman (Tamarac, FL) $501
5. William Belcher Jr. (Yulee, FL) $387
6. Jose Ordonez (Miami Beach, FL) $321
7. Patricia Conrad (Delray Beach, FL) $279
8. Kamal Mohammed (Pompano Beach, FL) $250
9. Brandon Ray (Vero Beach, FL) $216
10. Justin Gelato (Glen Burnie, MD) $188

Tournaments: There are three events remaining on the Isle Classic schedule, two of which are larger guaranteed...multi-flight events.  Event #18 begins this afternoon, with the first pair of six starting flights, for the $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD) event.  Players in the tournament sit down to starting stacks of 20,000 units, and will be playing (25) minute levels throughout the entire event.  Registration for each flight is open until the end of Level 8 (and the break that follows), with action scheduled to play a full sixteen levels (or until 10% of the field remains, whichever comes first).  Players that remain will then bag chips for Sunday's Day 2 (12:00pm), which also happens the be the start of Event #19 ($100 No Limit Hold'em $50,000 GTD), with cards flying at 6:00pm.

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 (Isle Open events not eligible for high hand) 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-9:00am, players are eligible for $100 high hands every hour.

It should also be noted that started back on November 1st, players are able to win the high hand using only one card in their hand!!!  The payouts for those that use one card are different than the standard numbers listed above, and can be found (full listing of one-card payouts on flyers in the poker room).

11:00am - 2017 Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1A) | $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

- Levels will last (25) minutes

- All Day 1's will play (16) complete levels or until 10% of the field remains (whichever comes first)

6:00pm - 2017 Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1B) | $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

- Levels will last (25) minutes

- All Day 1's will play (16) complete levels or until 10% of the field remains (whichever comes first)