Wednesday, October 31st: Ido Ashkenazi Wins The Isle Open Main Event, Only One Day Away From A Very Special Weekend

ICYMI: Yesterday was a very special day in the tournament history of the Isle Poker Room, as Day 3 of the Isle Open Main Event Brough back some of the biggest names in tournament poker.  Players with WSOP bracelets, WPT titles, PCA Main Event titles, and millions of dollars worth of earnings.  It could only be described as a group of "heroes" trying to both add to their resume, and find a breakout score for their resume.  A full recap of the Main Event's final day will be posted later this afternoon, but it's no secret that the Isle Open Main Event ended in a heads-up chop between Ido Ashkenazi and Matt Smith.  Ido was awarded the trophy, and declared the event's winner, while Matt was the event's runner-up.

As the Main Event final table was wrapping up, Event #14 of the Isle Open was just getting underway.  The $175 No Limit Hold'em event was the final tournament of the series, and boasted a $25,000 guaranteed prize pool.  After ten levels of open registration, the field would close with (204) entries, and an official prize pool of $27,540.  The top (26) players were scheduled to reach the money, with the tournament clock showing a $6,777 first place prize.  The top four numbers were altered, as the event ended in a chop, with Anthony Kern (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) being awarded first place money in the deal (along with the trophy).  Results from the deal, along with the rest of the final table, are listed below:

1. Anthony Kern (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) $5,174
2. Michael Corbett (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) $4,078
3. Dan Gonzalo (Margate, FL) $3,992
4. Sylvain Fontaine (Canada) $2,775
5. David Moreno (Hallandale Beach, FL) $1,326
6. Michael Spadafore (Boynton Beach, FL) $1,099
7. Alan Dobrow (Melville, NY) $936
8. Paul Darpino (Binghamton, NY) $807
9. Joseph Gotlieb (Hollywood, FL) $677
10. Joshua Wasserman (Deerfield Beach, FL) $589

Tournaments: With the 2018 Isle Open now in the books, we shift focus (for one day) towards the recurring tournament schedule.  There are two events on the schedule today, starting at 11:00am, with an $80 No Limit Hold'em tournament.  The event is structured with 12,000 unit starting stacks, levels that last (20) minutes, and registration open through Level 8. There is also an optional add-on at the end of Level 8, with players seeing a return of 10,000 units for $20 (100% of add-on money goes towards the prize pool).

The 6:00pm time slot hosts the same $80 No Limit Hold'em tournament, which also carries the same exact structure.

Promotions: The day begins with the "New Early Bird" Full House Promotion, which started August 27th, and runs every Wednesday.  Opposed to the full house promotion that includes all games, this particular promotion is for the limit hold'em players.  Starting at 9:00am, the first (25) full houses (in a limit game), will be awarded $40 each. 

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).

From 12:00am-3:00am, the high hand will be awarded $100 every (60) minutes.

11:00am - $80 No Limit Hold'em 

- Players start with 12,000 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

- Optional add-on after Level 8 ($20 for 10,000 units)

6:00pm - $80 No Limit Hold'em 

- Players start with 12,000 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

- Optional add-on after Level 8 ($20 for 10,000 units)

Isle Open Event #11 (Day 3): Ido Ashkenazi ($70,550) Wins Isle Open Main Event In Heads-Up Deal With Matt Smith ($68,113)

2018 Isle Open | Event #11
$1,500 No Limit Hold'em Main Event ($300,000 GTD)
Level 26 (Blinds 25,000/50,000/50,000)
Event #11 Entries: 267
Event #11 Players Remaining: 2

2018 Isle Open Main Event winner Ido Ashkenazi ($70,550)

After nineteen heads-up hands, the two players ran the ICM numbers, and agreed to a deal.  Ido Ashkenazi, who had the chip lead by just over 1,000,000, earns $70,550 in the deal.  Matt Smith takes $68,113 for second place.

2018 Isle Open Main Event Runner-Up Matt Smith ($68,113)

Isle Open Event #11 (Day 3): Current Heads-Up Chip Counts, Ido Ashkenazi Grabs The Lead

2018 Isle Open | Event #11
$1,500 No Limit Hold'em Main Event ($300,000 GTD)
Level 26 (Blinds 25,000/50,000/50,000)
Event #11 Entries: 267
Event #11 Players Remaining: 2

Heads-up play has only been going on for seven hands, but Ido Ashkenazi has quickly reclaimed the chip lead:

1. Ido Ashkenazi - 6,300,000
2. Matt Smith - 4,300,000

Isle Open Event #11 (Day 3): Heads-Up For The Title, As Heinz Schluter Is Eliminated In 3rd Place ($36,845)

2018 Isle Open | Event #11
$1,500 No Limit Hold'em Main Event ($300,000 GTD)
Level 26 (Blinds 25,000/50,000/50,000)
Event #11 Entries: 267
Event #11 Players Remaining: 2

Heinz Schlüter (Germany) had a great week here at the Isle, chopping Event #10 heads-up, and finishing third in the Isle Open Main Event.

Heinz Schluter's final hand was caught on the flop of 10♥ 7♠ 5♣, with Ido Ashkenazi check-raising Schluter's 150,000 flop bet to 325,000.  Schluter would announce himself all-in (1,700,000), with Ido immediately making the call:

Schluter: 10♠ 6♠
Ashkenazi: 10♣ 7♦

Turn: 5♠
River: A♥

The turn would bring Schluter outs to a flush (and a potential chop if the case ten fell), but he would end up bricking the river.

Ido and Matt are now heads-up for the Isle Open Main Event title.

Isle Open Event #11 (Day 3): Players Taking Third Break Of The Day, Updated Final Table Chip Counts

2018 Isle Open | Event #11
$1,500 No Limit Hold'em Main Event ($300,000 GTD)
Level 26 (Blinds 25,000/50,000/50,000)
Event #11 Entries: 267
Event #11 Players Remaining: 3

Players are currently on another ten minute break, and will be returning to Level 26, with new blinds of 25,000/50,000 (with a 50,000 big blind ante).  Updated three handed chip counts are posted below:

1. Heinz Schluter - 1,650,000
2. Ido Ashkenazi - 3,300,000
3. Matt Smith - 5,825,000

Isle Open Event #11 (Day 3): Matt Smith Picking Up Steam, Eliminates Mark Kerness In 4th Place ($22,474)

2018 Isle Open | Event #11
$1,500 No Limit Hold'em Main Event ($300,000 GTD)
Level 25 (Blinds 20,000/40,000/40,000)
Event #11 Entries: 267
Event #11 Players Remaining: 3

Mark Kerness (Delray Beach, FL) earns his second largest tournament score with this result, which is also his second five-figure cash.

Heinz Schlüter raised to 80,000, with Ido Ashkenazi flatting the button, and both blinds coming along (our first family pot of the final table).  The dealer fanned out a J♠ 9♦ 6♦ flop, and after Matt Smith checked, Mark Kerness went all-in for just under 800,000.  Both Heinz and Ido folded, and after peering back at his cards, Smith made the call:

Kerness: J♣ 2♣
Smith: 9♣ 9♥

Turn: 2♦
River: 7♦

Smith was in dominating shape, having flopped middle set against Kerness's top pair, with Mark drawing dead on the turn.  The pot helps Smith close the gap on Ido, with updated chip counts to be posted in six minutes.

Isle Open Event #11 (Day 3): Updated Four-Handed Chip Counts At Level's Transition

2018 Isle Open | Event #11
$1,500 No Limit Hold'em Main Event ($300,000 GTD)
Level 25 (Blinds 20,000/40,000/40,000)
Event #11 Entries: 267
Event #11 Players Remaining: 4

The blinds are up once again (with Level 25 starting moments ago), with the remaining players now posting 20,000/40,000 (with a 40,000 big blind ante).  Updated chip counts are listed below:

1. Heinz Schlüter - 1,500,000
2. Ido Ashkenazi - 5,000,000
3. Matt Smith - 2,800,000
4. Mark Kerness - 1,100,000

Isle Open Event #11 (Day 3): Joshua Lowing Runs Into "Hurricane Ido," Exits The Final Table In 5th Place ($17,356)

2018 Isle Open | Event #11
$1,500 No Limit Hold'em Main Event ($300,000 GTD)
Level 24 (Blinds 15,000/30,000/30,000)
Event #11 Entries: 267
Event #11 Players Remaining: 4

Joshua Lowing (Pensacola, FL) earns his largest tournament cash in over a year, taking home $17,356 for his Main Event 5th place finish.

Ido Ashenazi opened the button with a raise to 65,000, with Joshua Lowing flatting out of the big blind.  After the A♣ 5♦ 6♠ flop, Lowing checked to Ido, we once again put out a bet of 65,000.  Joshua then check-raised to 230,000, with Ido showing resistance, and shoving all-in (putting Joshua at risk).   Lowing made the call, and the cards were tabled:

Lowing: A♥ K♥

Ashkenazi: 7♣ 8♠

Turn: 9♠

The river was insignificant, as Lowing was drawing dead on the turn, with Ido making a straight.  Ashkenazi continues to run super hot, and now has more than half of the chips in play.

Isle Open Event #11 (Day 3): Ido Ashkenazi Extends Lead, Eliminates Chad Eveslage In 6th Place ($14,382)

2018 Isle Open | Event #11
$1,500 No Limit Hold'em Main Event ($300,000 GTD)
Level 24 (Blinds 15,000/30,000/30,000)
Event #11 Entries: 267
Event #11 Players Remaining: 5

A month removed from a close to $20,000 score at the WSOP Circuit (Coconut Creek), Chad Eveslage records another impressive result here at the Isle Open Main Event.

After coming into the day third in chips, Chad Eveslage (Ramsey, IN) experienced a similar final table downswing as Harrison Gimbel, entering this level as the shortest stack of the six players remaining.  About halfway through Level 24, Eveslage would get it all-in pre against Ido Ashkenazi:

Eveslage: 3♠ 3♣

Ashkenazi: A♥ 8♥

Runout: Q♠ Q♣ 5♥ K♠ K♣

The paired flop gave more outs to Ido, who ended up winning the hand, after the board double paired on the river.  Chad collects $14,382 for his 6th place finish, while Ido extends his final table chip lead, no holding close to 40% of the chips in play.

Isle Open Event #11 (Day 3): Updated Six-Handed Chip Counts At Break

2018 Isle Open | Event #11
$1,500 No Limit Hold'em Main Event ($300,000 GTD)
Level 24 (Blinds 15,000/30,000/30,000)
Event #11 Entries: 267
Event #11 Players Remaining: 6

Players are on their second break of the day, and will be returning to Level 24, with new blinds of 15,000/30,000 (and a 30,000 big blind ante).  Updated six-handed chip counts are posted below:

1. Heinz Schlüter - 1,400,000
2. Ido Ashkenazi - 4,100,000
3. Matt Smith - 1,700,000
4. Joshua Lowing - 1,200,000
5. Mark Kerness - 1,600,000
6. Chad Eveslage - 700,000

Isle Open Event #11 (Day 3): Harrison Gimbel's Incredible Run Ends With A 7th Place Finish ($12,075)

2018 Isle Open | Event #11
$1,500 No Limit Hold'em Main Event ($300,000 GTD)
Level 23 (Blinds 15,000/25,000/25,000)
Event #11 Entries: 267
Event #11 Players Remaining: 6

Harrison Gimbel (Jupiter, FL) was considered one of the favorites to win coming into Day 3, especially entering play with the second largest Day 3 stack.

When Day 2 resumed yesterday afternoon, Harrison Gimbel (Jupiter, FL) returned to play with a stack of 5,600 (that was just over five big blinds).  Gimbel was able to spin that stack up pretty quickly, and found himself bagging chips for Day 3.  After coming into Day 3 second in chips, Gimbel began to see his stack slip at the final table, losing a critical pot to Iso Ashkenazi (which left him with just over 300,000).  Ido would eventually be the player to knock him out, as Harrison's pocket sixes ran into the Ashkenazi's pocket aces.  

Ido Ashkenazi - 
Harrison Gimbel - Eliminated (7th Place - $12,075)

Isle Open Event #11 (Day 3): Second Short Stack Falls, As Lawrence Klur Departs In 8th Place ($10,093)

2018 Isle Open | Event #11
$1,500 No Limit Hold'em Main Event ($300,000 GTD)
Level 23 (Blinds 15,000/25,000/25,000)
Event #11 Entries: 267
Event #11 Players Remaining: 7

Lawrence Klur (Pembroke Pines, FL) has been around the game for a long time, and just wraps up his best Isle Poker series in a while, with two cashes worth close to $15,000.

After an open from Harrison Gimbel, and three-bet to 140,000 from Chad Eveslage, Lawrence Klur (Pembroke Pines, FL) shoved for his remaining 220,000.  Both Gimbel and Eveslage called, and the three saw a flop of K♠ Q♣ 4♣.  Gimbel checked to Chad, who bet 100,000, causing Harrison to fold his hand.  The cards would then be tabled, with Eveslage's A♠ K♣ ahead of Klur's 5♥ 5♦.  Things stayed that way through the runout, making Lawrence our 8th place finisher ($10,093).  This was Klur's second cash of the series, and second final table, after finishing 9th in Event #6.

Chad Eveslage - 1,550,000

Lawrence Klur - Eliminated (8th Place - $10,093)

Isle Open Event #11 (Day 3): Loni Harwood Eliminated In 9th Place ($8,139) By Joshua Lowing

2018 Isle Open | Event #11
$1,500 No Limit Hold'em Main Event ($300,000 GTD)
Level 23 (Blinds 15,000/25,000/25,000)
Event #11 Entries: 267
Event #11 Players Remaining: 8

Loni Harwood (Staten Island, NY) is widely considered one of the best tournament players in the community, and showed why this past weekend, continuing her solid run of Isle Poker main event finishes. 

Loni Harwood and Lawrence Klur were the shortest stacks at the final table, with Loni the first to shove her stack.  She'd get called by Joshua Lowing, and her 8♦ 7♦ would be bested by Lowing's J♦ 10♠, sending her out in 9th place.  Since the blog was launched in October of 2016, Loni has seen a lot of success in these main events, but has made a habit of bowing out in the 9th-16th place range.  Her 9th place finish this afternoon was worth $8,139, bringing her career earnings close to $2,910,000.  Since 2013, Loni has cashed for six-figures each year, with all but one year being over $250,000.  Harwood will have another opportunity to get over the "ninth place hump" in December, during the Isle Holiday Classic.

Joshua Lowing - 
Loni Harwood - Eliminated (9th Place - $8,139)

Isle Open Event #11 (Day 3): End Of Level 22 Chip Counts, Ido Ashkenazi With Big Chip Lead

2018 Isle Open | Event #11
$1,500 No Limit Hold'em Main Event ($300,000 GTD)
Level 23 (Blinds 15,000/25,000/25,000)
Event #11 Entries: 267
Event #11 Players Remaining: 9

Play just entered Level 23, with the blinds going up to 15,000/25,000, and a 25,000 big blind ante.  Updated final table chip counts from the level's transition are posted below:

1. Heinz Schlüter - 1,350,000
2. Lawrence Klur - 340,000
3. Ido Ashkenazi - 2,900,000
4. Matt Smith - 420,000
5. Joshua Lowing - 1,350,000
6. Harrison Gimbel - 1,200,000
7. Loni Harwood - 380,000
8. Mark Kerness - 1,300,000
9. Chad Eveslage - 1,450,000

Isle Open Event #11 (Day 3): Skip McDonough First To Exit Final Table, Knocked Out In 10th Place ($6,849) By Chad Eveslage

2018 Isle Open | Event #11
$1,500 No Limit Hold'em Main Event ($300,000 GTD)
Level 22 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/20,000)
Event #11 Entries: 267
Event #11 Players Remaining: 9

Skip McDonough (Jupiter, FL) has been the model of tournament poker consistency, reaching at least $40,000 in earnings the past three years.

Just a few hands into the final table, Skip McDonough (Jupiter, FL) opened the action with a raise, and got called by Chad Eveslage (who was on the button).  The K♦ 10♦ 5♣ flop action would go check-check, with Skip getting his remaining 400,000 in on the Q♦ turn.  Chad made the call, and the hands were exposed:

McDonough: K♠ K♣ 

Eveslage: A♦ 8♦

River: J♠

Skip flopped top set, but lost his lead on the turn, when Chad made the nut-flush.  McDonough needed the board to pair, but the river brought the J, sealing the win for Eveslage.

Chad Eveslage - 1,450,000

Skip McDonough - Eliminated (10th Place - $6,849)

Isle Open Event #11 (Day 3): Official Final Table Seating Assignments (With Updated Chip Counts)

2018 Isle Open | Event #11
$1,500 No Limit Hold'em Main Event ($300,000 GTD)
Level 22 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/20,000)
Event #11 Entries: 267
Event #11 Players Remaining: 10

The final table redraw is now complete, and the cards are once again in the air.  The seating assignments for the final table are listed below:

1. Heinz Schlüter - 1,750,000
2. Lawrence Klur - 230,000
3. Ido Ashkenazi - 1,950,000
4. Matt Smith - 900,000
5. Joshua Lowing - 1,600,000
6. Harrison Gimbel - 1,150,000
7. Loni Harwood - 510,000
8. Skip McDonough - 470,000
9. Mark Kerness - 1,300,000
10. Chad Eveslage - 800,000

Isle Open Event #11 (Day 3): With Marvin Rettenmaier's Elimination In 11th Place ($6,849), Event #11 Has Reached It's Final Table

2018 Isle Open | Event #11
$1,500 No Limit Hold'em Main Event ($300,000 GTD)
Level 22 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/20,000)
Event #11 Entries: 267
Event #11 Players Remaining: 10

Marvin Rettenmaier (Germany) had a nice week here at the Isle, winning a trophy event on Wednesday ($1,100 No Limit Hold'em 6-Max), and making this run in the Main Event.

Action at Table 3 folded around to Joshua Lowing (in the small blind), and he would complete, leaving the action on big blind Marvin Rettenmaier (Germany).  Marvin raised all-in (for just over 400,000), and was called by Lowing:

Rettenmaier: A♠ 6♠
Lowing: 5♣ 5♦

Runout: 8♠ 7♥ 6♣ 3♣ 4♠

Marvin grabbed the lead by spiking a pair of sixes, but Lowing grabbed some extra outs to a straight, and would end up hitting one of those outs on the river.  Rettenmaier falls one spot short of the final table, as the remaining players are redrawing for their new seating assignments.

Joshua Lowing - 1,800,000
Marvin Rettenmaier - Eliminated (11th Place - $6,849)

Isle Open Event #11 (Day 3): Updated Chip Counts From Day's First Break

2018 Isle Open | Event #11
$1,500 No Limit Hold'em Main Event ($300,000 GTD)
Level 22 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/20,000)
Event #11 Entries: 267
Event #11 Players Remaining: 11

Players are currently on their first break of the day, returning to Level 22, and new blinds of 10,000/20,000 (with a 20,000 big blind ante).  Updated chip counts from the final two tables are posted below:

Table 1

1. Loni Harwood - 650,000
2. Matt Smith - 600,000
3. Ido Ashkenazi - 2,000,000
4. Lawrence Klur - 370,000
5. Skip McDonough - 605,000
6. Heinz Schlüter - 1,350,000

Table 3

1. Joshua Lowing - 1,135,000
2. Marvin Rettenmaier - 375,000
3. Mark Kerness -  1,300,000
4. Chad Eveslage - 870,000
5. Harrison Gimbel - 1,400,000

Isle Open Event #11 (Day 3): After Fred White Elimination In 12th Place ($6,849), Event #11 Now On Final Table Bubble

2018 Isle Open | Event #11
$1,500 No Limit Hold'em Main Event ($300,000 GTD)
Level 21 (Blinds 8,000/16,000/16,000)
Event #11 Entries: 267
Event #11 Players Remaining: 11

Fred White (Coral Springs, FL) now has lifetime earnings over $160,000 with today's 12th place finish, in which he earned $6,849.

Fred White (Coral Springs, FL) found himself blinded down to just 60,000, and after Mark Kerness opened the button with a raise (Table 3), White shoved his remaining stack.  Chad Eveslage folded his big blind, and Kerness made the easy call:

White: 4♠ 3♥

Kerness: K♣ 9♣

Runout: A♦ 9♥ 3♣ J♦ 2♦

White got a little sweat on his final hand, but was unable to steal away the pot to double-up.

Mark Kerness - 1,300,000

Fred White - Eliminated (12th Place - $6,849)

Isle Open Event #11 (Day 3): Loni Hardwood Eliminates Corey Burbick In 13th Place ($6,849)

2018 Isle Open | Event #11
$1,500 No Limit Hold'em Main Event ($300,000 GTD)
Level 21 (Blinds 8,000/16,000/16,000)
Event #11 Entries: 267
Event #11 Players Remaining: 12

Corey Burbick (Davie, FL) went almost a year between Isle Casino Poker tournament cashes, having last recorded a result in September of last year.

Corey Burbick's (Davie, FL) was really a formality, as a majority of his stack was lost after he called a 350,000 river bet in a hand against Ido Ashkenazi (board was 9x 9x 4x 8x 6x, and Ido held 8x 8x).  With only 66,000, Burbick opened for 60,000, and got called by both Harwood and Ashkenazi.  After the 10♣ 7♣ 5♠ flop, Burbick check-called off his final 6,000, after Harwood bet 100,000.  His Q♣ 10♥ was behind Loni's J♠ J♦, and things would stay that way through the runout.

Loni Harwood - 715,000

Corey Burbick - Eliminated (13th Place - $6,849)