Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1E): Official End Of Flight 1E 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 1E Entries: 183
Flight 1E Players Remaining: 24

Julian	Gallo	326,000
Maurice	Hawkins	324,000
Andrew	Sassen	310,000
Tony	Ruberto	289,000
Daniel	Restrepo	277,000
Arthur	Gallinaro	242,500
Denian	Costa	192,000
David	Poces	168,500
Dale	Smith	134,500
Alfonso	Perez	132,500
Josh	Wasserman	127,000
Jason	Young	127,000
Sebastian	Sanchez	104,500
Lawrence	Paden	103,000
Fari	Borz	100,000
Noel	Atherley	99,000
Errol	Massey	91,000
Frank	DiMaria	90,500
Jamie	Sequeira	86,500
Scott	Zakheim	76,500
Mitch	Silver	76,000
Douglas	Mazzola	66,000
Todd	Powers	61,000
Michael Ray	Lutz	37,000

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1E): As Flight 1E Winds Down, Only One Starting Option Remains (Flight 1F)

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 16 (Blinds 2.000/4,000/500)
Total Flight 1E Entries: 183
Flight 1E Players Remaining: 35

Level 16 started moments ago, meaning that the (35) players that remain need only to reach the 10:00 minute mark (and through the five hands that follow).  Those five hands are untimed, as the tournament clock is paused while they are finishing up.  Once completed at each table, the bagging process will begin, with official chip counts to be posted shortly thereafter.

The final flight of the Event #18 schedule is also about to begin, with cards flying at 6:00pm for Flight 1F.  There will be no live blogged coverage of the flight, but official chip counts will be posted at it's conclusion.

Official Flight 1E chip counts will be posted about 45-60 minutes after the conclusion of play (approximately 7:15pm).

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1E): Things Getting Heated Over At Table 1

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 15 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/500)
Total Flight 1E Entries: 183
Flight 1E Players Remaining: 42

Alan Saltzman (pictured left) and Tony Ruberto shifting focus to the matter at hand...tournament poker.

In one of the final hands of Level 14, Tony Ruberto opened the action at Table 1, with a raise to 5,000 (from late position).  Action then folded to Alan Saltzman in the big blind, who decided to three-bet shove for just over 75,000 (about half of Ruberto's stack).  That was the moment that the table was approached, with Tony in the tank, deciding what his next course of action would be.  "Why would you do that," Ruberto said out loud, as he peered back down as his cards.

"If I fold, will you show me," Tony then asked Saltzman, who replied with a "yes."  Ruberto proceeded to then table Q♥ Q♠, and muck the hand.  Saltzman quickly tossed his cards into the muck (face down), and began collecting his chips.  The two players then began having words just a few minutes later, with both parties being pulled aside by the tournament supervisor, and given warnings.  It's been calm since that moment, but these players will have to share the table for another hour...but it looks like the poker is going to do the talking from here on out.

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1E): Sassen Continues To Climb, Extends Chip Lead

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 14 (Blinds 1,200/2,400/400)
Total Flight 1E Entries: 183
Flight 1E Players Remaining: 42

The focus has been an Andrew Sassen since players returned to break, as he just eliminated a player to help pad his chip lead.  Sassen opened the action after players folded to him, tossing in a raise to 5,000 (this was one of the final hands in Level 13).  The players next to act would three-bet shove for just under 30,000, with Mitch Silver giving things some though...before eventually folding his hand.  Sassen was likely itching for Silver to enter the pot in some form, as he quickly made the call (after action folded back around to him) with K♠ K♣.  He'd be up against A♣ K♥, but had little to no sweat through the runout.

That pot helped Andrew eclipse 275,000, as he continues to gain separation from the rest of the Flight 1E field.

Andrew Sassen - 280,000 (116bb)

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1E): Sassen Leads The Field, With Four Levels Until Bagging

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 13 (Blinds 1,000/2,000/300)
Total Flight 1E Entries: 183
Flight 1E Players Remaining: 49

Andrew Sassen (Tamarac, FL) flew under the radar up until the start of Level 13, but being the chip leader with four levels to go, will normally change that.

Players are back in their seats, and the cards are once again in the air, with only four levels remaining in this flight.  Players that are able to reach the end of Level 16, will then bag their chips up, and return at 12:00pm tomorrow for Day 2.  Andrew Sassen (Tamarac, FL) came back from break as the chip leader, currently the only player with over 200,000.  Sassen's Hendon Mob resume yields earnings of $4,783, spanning a handful of results over the past six years.  Andrew's largest lifetime cash happened to be his first, when he finished in 16th place ($2,648) during a $550 No Limit Hold'em event that was part of the 2011 Battle At The Beach.

Andrew Sassen - 215,000
Tony Ruberto - 175,000
Mitch Silver - 165,000
Danny Restrepo - 150,000
Jeffrey Silverstein - 110,000
Maurice Hawkins - 110,000

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1E): It's Not The Full Field, But A List Of Notables That Remain

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 12 (Blinds 800/1,600/200)
Total Flight 1E Entries: 183
Flight 1E Players Remaining: 58

Craig Witz (Hypoluxo, FL) is one of the notables that is currently thriving in the field, sitting with just over 100,000, as players head on their final break of the day.

Players are about to head on their final break of the day, and will be returning to Level 13, and new blinds of 1,000/2,000/300.  For the smaller flights (in regards of field size), we have the opportunity to update followers on the full field that remains, but this afternoon we shift focus to the notables that remain.

Tony Ruberto

Alan Saltzman

Dale Smith

Craig Witz

Jeffrey Silverstein

Joshua Wasserman

Dolline Willis

Maurice Hawkins

Noel Atherley

Jason Young

Scott Zakheim
Michael Lutz
Nancy Birnbaum

Once the card are back in the air, we will take a lap around the tournament area, and bring followers the second look at updated chip counts.

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1E): Canelstein Triples Up, Hopes To Best Yesterday's Effort

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 11 (Blinds 600/1,200/200)
Total Flight 1E Entries: 183
Flight 1E Players Remaining: 64

Three players were standing at Table 4, which is usually an indication that something big is going on.  There was a three-way all-in pre flop, between Georges Boyadjian, Glen Canelstein, and an unknown player.  Boyadjian was the shortest stack player (with 14,500), holding J♥ 10♥ against the A♥ K♦ of A. Nonymous, and Q♥ Q♦ of Canelstein.

"Come on queens," Canelstein said aloud, as he was interested in the 50,000 chip side pot.  The dealer would run out a board of Q♣ 9♠ 4♠ J♣ 5♣, giving Glen a set on the flop, but also Boyadjian eight outs to a straight.  The J on the turn meant that Canelstein needed to fade any eight, ten, or king...which he ended up doing.  The main and side pot would be pushed Glen's way, as he sat back down to a stack of 105,000.

Glen Canelstein - 105,000 (87bb)

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1E): IF They Won't Give Respect, He'll Give Them A Reason To

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 10 (Blinds 500/1,000/100)
Total Flight 1E Entries: 183
Flight 1E Players Remaining: 90

Mitch Silver (Parkland, FL) is just one, in a large group of players this series, that is in the midst of their best statistical year of tournament poker.

It only took one level after break for Mitch Silver (Parkland, FL) to assume the flight's chip lead, shooting up the leaderboard with a stack of 125,000.  Silver was under-the-gun moments ago (at Table 9), and would open the action with a raise to 2,800.  The big blind would become the fourth player at the table to call the raise, with a voice at the table saying, "you guys just don't respect."

The dealer placed down a flop of K♠ 9♣ 4♣, and after the player in the big blind checked, Silver pushed forward a 100,000 stack of yellow chips.  If there was no respect pre-flop, the sizable wager definitely garnered it, as each player swiftly released their hand.  The pot would help Mitch pad his chip leading stack, which is now up to 140,000.

Mitch Silver - 140,000 (140bb)

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

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 9 (Blinds 400/800/100)
Total Flight 1E Entries: 183
Flight 1E Players Remaining: 104

Tony Ruberto (Miami, FL) was one of the later additions to the field, but made quick work to turn his 20,000 starting stack into over 100,000.

The cards are back in the air, with registration now officially closed for Flight 1E of Event #18 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $100,000 GTD).  The second to last flight attracted a total of (183) entries, of which (104) player remain at the beginning of Level 9.  The combined prize pool now sits at $91,260, and should be surpassed within a few levels of this evening's Flight 1F.

There hasn't yet been a player to really "run away" with the chip lead, as a handful sit around the century mark at the moment.

Tony Ruberto - 105,000
Danny Restrepo - 102,000
Maurice Hawkins - 90,000
Frank DiMaria - 90,000
Noel Atherly - 85,000
Alan Saltzman - 80,000
Nancy Birnbaum - 70,000

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1E): Canelstein Pushing Away Customers, Players Reaching End Of Registration

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 8 (Blinds 300/600/75)
Total Flight 1E Entries: 170

We saw Glen Canelstein (Coconut Creek, FL) top the leaderboard during yesterday's Flight 1C, but he was unable to reach the bagging process.

Glen Canelstein (Coconut Creek, FL) was featured on the blog during yesterday's Flight 1C coverage, taking a line eerily similar to what we just saw at Table 4.  After making trips on the turn (in a multi-way pot), Canelstein bet 25,000 into a pot of 14,000, causing the rest of the players in the hand to release their hand.

In the hand we were just present for, five players were on a flop of J♠ 8♠ 4♦.  The pot had 3,700 in the middle, and Zaki Lichaa had just bet out 1,000.  One of the players made the call, and with action on Canelstein, he'd raise all-in (for over 35,000).  The sizing of the raise seemed to raise a few eyebrows at the table, including those of Stephen Smith, who thought for a few minutes before folding his hand.  The rest of the players followed suit, with Glen saying to the table, "nobody had anything to chase?" 

Canelstein proceeded to turn over 4♠ 4♥, having flopped bottom set...and potentially leaving some value on the table.  It's only the midway point of the flight, but Glen may be looking back at that hand later on, thinking about what could have been.

Players are about to take their second break of the day, which signifies the end of registration for the flight.  Once the cards are in the air for Level 9 (400/800/100), the only time left to register for Event #18, will be the 6:00pm flight (Flight 1F).

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1E): Hawkins Changing What's Not Broken

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 7 (Blinds 250/500/75)
Total Flight 1E Entries: 157

Maurice Hawkins (West Palm Beach, FL) has been his typical chatty self today, talking up a storm at Table 12...and winning pots at the same time.

Maurice Hawkins (West Palm Beach, FL) has over $2,925,000 in live tournament earnings, which include a result from just a few days ago, when he even-chopped Event #16 of this series ($130 No Limit Hold'em).  One would think that a resume such as that would mean a player is on top of his game, but Maurice continues to raise his own bar...as he's been vocal about on Twitter.  Things seem to be working this afternoon, as Hawkins becomes the second player in the field to eclipse the 100,000 mark.

Been ripping and tearing apart my game against many different Hold”em strategies. I truly feel I am the G.O.A.T , yet I need to to excel on a higher scale of Success. Thus a New creature/Game has been born.#HawksView#IWillPutMyR.O.IAgainstYourFavoritePlayer pic.twitter.com/ELg6OPmhAB

— Maurice Hawkins (@mauricehawkins) December 11, 2017

The new strategy addition to my game. Worked like a charm last night. I may be on to something. I am going to blow up like the Waffle Cone, real soon.#HawksView#IWillPutMy-R.O.I-AgainstYourFavoritePlayers

— Maurice Hawkins (@mauricehawkins) December 12, 2017

Won a tiny tournament today. I may be on to something, with my new approach. Can’t wait to crush a big bird/Big Tourney.#HawksView#IWillPutMy-R.O.I-AgainstYourFavoritePlayers

— Maurice Hawkins (@mauricehawkins) December 13, 2017

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1E): Pacheco Off To A Quick Start, Wolak Has To Re-Enter

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 6 (Blinds 200/400/50)
Total Flight 1E Entries: 155

Hector Pacheco (Laughlin, NV) has a propensity to bag large stacks in these multi-flight events, and he's already off to a hot start this afternoon.

There was a little commotion coming from Table 12, as Marsha Wolak was all-in and at risk against Hector Pacheco.  Pacheco had already tripled his starting stack, and had Marsha in rough shape, holding 4♦ 4♠ on a 4♣ 8♦ 10♦ flop (against Marsha's Q♠ Q♣).  The turn brought the 2♦, followed by the Q♦ on the river, which caused a roar from the table.  Unfortunately from Marsha, while she made a bigger set on the river, the Q♦ made a flush for Pacheco.  Hector chipped up to 95,000 with the pot, and stands as the clear chip leader in this early field. Wolak took a walk to the registration cage to re-enter, and is now an alternate waiting for a seat.

Hector Pacheco - 95,400 (238bb)

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1E): Sneak Peak At The January Tournament Calendar

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 5 (Blinds 150/300/50)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 142

The January Tournament Calendar hasn't yet been released on the Isle Casino Pompano Park website, but we are giving you an early look at the upcoming month's tournaments.  The "unofficial" calendar boasts two large guaranteed multi-flight events, including a $360 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD), and a $250 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD).  There are nine tournaments that offer a guarantee of $10,000 or higher, as well as a $100 No Limit Hold'em Survivor, which guarantees (5) $1,000 winners.  There are three single-ante format events, headlined by the $2,500 No Limit Hold'em Single Ante ($100,000 GTD), which has two satellites leading up to it.

There are a lot of great things to look for in 2018, as the Isle Casino Poker Room has some "things up it's sleeve," in regards to special announcements coming in the near future!

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1E): Jason Young Getting Back To Old Form

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 4 (Blinds 100/200/25)
Total Flight 1E Entries: 121

Jason Young (Suffern, NY) may have waited until the last day to try and bag chips, but he's in action at Table 12, and hoping to bag chips on this first attempt.

From 2008 through 2010, Jason Young (Suffern, NY) had live tournament earnings that equated to almost $700,000, including a WSOP bracelet win.  The five years that followed, Young would earn a combined $75,000 via tournaments, focusing out life outside of poker.  2017 has been a year of tournament rejuvenation for Jason though, as he's earned over $18,600 to this point.  A good portion of that number came in August, when he was part of a six-way chop that ended the "August $100,000."  The $150 No Limit Hold'em event had a $100,000 guarantee prize pool, but ended up crushing that number, which helped his second place money balloon to $12,174.  The result seemed to light a little tournament "fire" for Young, who proceeded to put in some real volume following the cash.

Young headlines our second look at notables in the field, joining the likes of:

Noel Fatherly
Scott Levitt
Hector Pacheco
William Underdown
Marsha Wolak
Scott Zakheim
Joseph Durso
Alan Saltzman

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

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1E): Checking In On The Notables In The Field

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 3 (Blinds 75/150/25)
Total Flight 1E Entries: 105

Dolline Willis (Plantation, FL) has two major series cashes to this point in the year, recording results in Event #1 and Event #7 of the Florida State Poker Championships.

By the fifth flight of a event, it's a rare occurrence to see many faces for the first time, but today's Flight 1E field hosts a bunch of players firing their first attempt at this large guaranteed event.  Dolline Willis (Plantation, FL) got a good amount of blog love during the Florida State Poker Championships, going deep in both the opening event (Event #1 | $175 No Limit Hold'em $100,000 GTD), and Event #7 ($360 No Limit Hold'em | $200,000 GTD).  Those were just two of her six tournament cashes this year, which is the best number of her career.  The total earnings for the year are her second best, behind 2014, when she won her WSOP Circuit ring ($365 No Limit Hold'em at Palm Beach Kennel Club).

Some other players that we are seeing for the first time this tournament, include names like:

Luis Santoni

Errol Massey

Steve Olivier

Maurice Hawkins

Alfonso Perez

Joshua Wasserman

Al Gomez

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1E): Official Chips Counts (Flight 1A-Flight 1D)

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 2 (Blinds 50/100)
Total Flight 1E Entries: 55

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1E): Afternoon Action Begins, Final Pair Of Event #18 Flights Upon Us

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

To this point of Event #18 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $100,000 GTD), there have been a total of (493) entries in the tournament, with (76) players already heading to tomorrow's Day 2.  Today's schedule hosts the final pair of starting flights for the tournament, with the first (Flight 1E) beginning in just a few moments.  

The rules for Flight 1E stay the same as those that came before it, 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 tomorrow's Day 2, with action resuming at 12:00pm, and playing down to a winner.

Combined chips counts (that include seating assignments) will lead the live blogged coverage for the day,follows by our first look at players in this second to last starting flight.

Saturday, December 16th: "Saturday...In The (Pompano) Park, I Think It Was The Final Flights"

ICYMI: Friday's Isle Classic schedule was all about Event #18 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $100,000 GTD), with the second pair of starting flights, which attracted some large fields.  Flight 1C saw registration close with (133) entries, and after the scheduled sixteen levels were finished, (28) players would be heading to Day 2 from the afternoon flight.  The number of players remaining was a little surprising (it was a very high number), but a first look at the chip counts help shed light into why.  Frank Scala bagged the Flight 1C chip lead with 181,500, and was packing up chips alongside names like David MacDonald (168,000), Joseph Mancuso (160,000), Preecha Taepakdee (159,500), Marc Sacheli (106,500), and Kevin Scarola (93,000).  There were no massive stacks, which helped the total chips from the flight get spread across that large numbers of players.

Flight 1D started just as the bagging process for Flight 1C was wrapping up, and ended with the largest field of the four starting flights to that point.  A total of (170) entries made up the field, with (20) players heading to Day 2.  Isle Poker tournament regular Pedro Palacio bagged the flight's chip lead, taking a pillow sized bag of 462,000 chips to Day 2.  Also heading to Day 2 from Flight 1D, were Bret Grebow (268,000), Elliot Zaydman (255,000), Elias Nassif (206,000), and Paul Louis (76,500).

After four completed starting flights, Event #18 has (493) total entries, with (76) players scheduled to return for Day 2.  The numbers equate to $66,555, meaning the final two starting flights need to average (124) entries each to reach the posted guarantee.

Tournaments:  Event #18 wraps up today, with the final 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 tomorrow'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 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

- 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 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

- Levels will last (25) minutes

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

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1D): Official End Of Flight 1D 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 1C Entries: 179
Flight 1C Players Remaining: 20

Pedro	Palacio	462,000
Bret	Grebow	268,000
Maan	Thakur	266,500
Elliott	Zaydman	255,000
Pedro	Olivo	242,000
Andrea	Athnasopoulos	230,000
Elias	Nassif	206,000
Antoine	Bahi	204,500
Steve	Raeman	195,000
Debra	Neser	164,500
Russ	Stampler	139,500
Manfred	Rosenow	130,000
Fabio	Baduy	121,500
Miguel	McDonald	120,000
Yousef	Nasir	94,500
Gilbert	Whorrie	86,000
Paul	Louis	76,500
Jacob	Boling	62,000
Arthur	Tomasi	57,000
Michael	Gutterman	34,000