Friday, August 17th: Card Player Poker Tour Off To A Super Start, With Weekend Expected To Make This A Special Event

ICYMI: Yesterday was the opening flight for Event #1 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD) of the Card Player Poker Tour.  Flight 1A grew to a size that nobody could have expected, as registration closed with (129) entries.  Once play resumed after the registration break, players learned that (17) would reach the money, with (7) bagging chips for Monday's Day 2.  Raminder Singh would be eliminated by Eric Brewster on the money bubble, with the following players cashing in Flight 1A of Event #1:

8. Chris Fragakis (Jupiter, FL) $700
9. Nicholas Visconti (Delray Beach, FL) $700
10. Aaron Porter (Miami, FL) $700
11. Peter Udovik (Coconut Creek, FL) $600
12. Pasquale Caiazza (Davie, FL) $600
13. Earl Carroll (Lantana, FL) $600
14. Adam Arbuckle (Atlanta, GA) $500
15. Russ Richard (Hallandale Beach, FL) $500
16. Juan Barbosa (Miramar, FL) $500
17. Ido Ashkenazi (Davie, FL) $500

The seven players to bag chips for Day 2 are posted below, led by Michael Garavuso (624,000), who bagged the "chip lead bonus" (earning a free seat into Event #8 $1,100 No Limit Hold'em $250,000 GTD):

Michael Garavuso - 624,000
Tracy Scala - 518,000
Alexander Perez - 486,000
Joshua Duvdivani - 326,000

Eric Brewster - 250,000
Zachary Mullinex - 224,000
Charles Odenz - 154,000

The (129) entries from Flight 1A equated to a prize pool of $38,700, with five more starting flights to be played this weekend.  Considering the fact that the weekend flights alway attract larger numbers, we could be looking at something very special from this event.

Tournaments: There are two more starting flights for Event #1 on today's schedule, with Flight 1B beginning at 11:00am, followed by Flight 1C at 6:00pm. The event is structured with 20,000 unit starting stacks, and levels that last (30) minutes on Day 1 (transitioning to 40 minutes on Day 2).  Registration for each starting flight is open through Level 8 (and the break that follows), with play scheduled to conclude when the field reaches the 5% mark.  Day 1 payouts return, which was a wrinkle that we saw during the last major series (Florida State Poker Championship), as 12.5% make the money.  Players that bag chips in any of the opening flights will return on Monday for Day 2 (12:00pm).  Lets not forget about the "chip lead bonus," as the largest stack from each flight will earn entry into CPPT Event #8, which is the $1,100 No Limit Hold'em Main Event ($250,000 GTD).

At 2:00pm, players will have yet another opportunity to satellite into Event #1, with a $90 No Limit Hold'em Satellite, which boasts a (5) seat guarantee.  The satellite is structured with 10,000 unit starting stacks, (20) minute levels, and open registration through Level 8.

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, 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.  

It should also be noted that 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 -Card Player Poker Tour Event #1 (Flight 1B) | $360 No Limit Hold'em ($200,000 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

- Day 1 levels will last (30) minutes , transitioning to (40) minutes on Day 2

- Payouts: On each Day 1, 12.5% (1 in 8) of the field will be paid $450-$650 (depending on order of finish) down to 5% Day 2 field.

2:00pm - $90 No Limit Hold'em Satellite Into CPPT Event #1 ($360 NLH $200,000 GTD) 5 Seats GTD

- Players start with 10,000 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 (20) minutes

6:00pm -Card Player Poker Tour Event #1 (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 (8) levels

- Alternates and late entries will start with a full stack

- Day 1 levels will last (30) minutes , transitioning to (40) minutes on Day 2

- Payouts: On each Day 1, 12.5% (1 in 8) of the field will be paid $450-$650 (depending on order of finish) down to 5% Day 2 field.