ICYMI: The Deepstack Charity Festival had run for nine years, prior to it's arrival to the Isle Casino Pompano Park, growing in popularity each and every series. While the first seven events of the festival were a great success, the "Howard Frank Memorial" Deepstack Charity Classic turned out to be an event that exceeded all expectations. The tournament was scheduled to stat at 1:00pm, but hours beforehand, players and fans were arriving to the poker room. There was a meet and greet session with the celebrity "hosts" from the series, including Phil Hellmuth, Norman Chad, Jan Fisher, Linda Johnson, and Montel Williams. The line to take pictures and get autographs wrapped around the outer area of the poker floor, with Hellmuth manning the microphone, entertaining the crowd that stood and waited to get pictures and signatures.
Just before 1:00pm, the poker room was buzzing, as the tournament tables filled up across the room. After an announcement to thank the sponsors of the event, and an emotional tribute to Howard Frank (from his son Scott, who heads the entire series), the first hand of the 2018 "Howard Frank Memorial" Deepstack Charity Classic would be dealt. The field was a mixture of poker celebrities (Robert Mizrachi, Chad Powers, Brandon Cantu, Robert Williamson), Isle Poker notables (Tom Gity, Nagui Yassa, Francis Margalgione, Diane Linke, John Lane), and "newbies" to the room (from all over the country). The event started with (357) entries in the field, and after six levels of open registration, the official number would close at (390). Players in the event enjoyed a complimentary dinner buffet at 5:30, followed by a raffle for some incredible prizes. Once play resumed in Level 11 (after the hour long dinner break), the serious action began, as players focused on reaching the "money" (40 spots would reach the money, earning prizes, packages, and cash). The real focus was on the final table though, as every player who reached that point, was guaranteed a trip to Las Vegas (and a stay at the Venetian).
Once the money bubble burst, the field began to shrink at a very rapid rate, until the point where two tables remained. Play began to tighten up with some big money (packages) on the line, with Phil Hellmuth bowing out in 16th place. Phil, who had been emcee-ing the event for most of the day, immediately announced that he was donating his winnings to the charity. Rather than exit once he was eliminated, Hellmuth stayed in the tournament area, announcing the tournament action through it's conclusion (which was almost four hours after his bust out).
The real "bubble" drama came when (11) players remained, with those (10) Las Vegas packages on the line. Nobody wanted to be that 11th place finisher, and what we saw happen was nothing short of amazing. On seven different occasions (yes seven), we saw players with less than 8% equity hit miracle rivers to stay alive. After a more than thirty minute final table bubble, Brizelda Blagg (San Antonio, TX) was knocked out, giving us our final table of ten. One of those short-stacks to survive the bubble was Alvaro Perez (Naples, FL), who ended up finding some heat at the event's final table, winning the largest pot of the tournament against Michael Ross. Perez assumed the chip lead, and found himself heads-up against John Limoli for the title. The heads-up battle lasted almost an hour, with the chip lead shifting back and forth. Perez eventually got it all-in with a combo draw against Limoli, making a flush on the river, to become the 2018 "Howard Frank Memorial" grand champion. Official results from the tournament's final table are listed below:
- Alvaro Perez (Naples, FL) Venetian Prize Package Valued At $8,200, $2,700 Championship Watch and Ring Set, and $110 Cash
- John Limoli (Clermont, FL) Venetian Prize Package Valued At $4,800 & $100 Cash
- Stanley Avery (Cottondale, AL) Venetian Prize Package Valued At $4,800 & $100 Cash
- Michael Ross (Pompano Beach, FL) Venetian Prize Package Valued At $4,000 & $100 Cash
- George Job (Apopka, FL) Venetian Prize Package Valued At $4,000 & $100 Cash
- Joseph Nolin (Pawtucket, RI) Venetian Prize Package Valued At $3,800 & $100 Cash
- Scott Bailey (Loxahatchee, FL) Venetian Prize Package Valued At $3,800 & $100 Cash
- Chris Poole (Cape Coral, FL) Venetian Prize Package Valued At $3,800 & $100 Cash
- Paula Alibrandi (Miramar, FL) Venetian Prize Package Valued At $3,800 & $100 Cash
- Steven Sample (Ocala, FL) Venetian Prize Package Valued At $3,800 & $100 Cash
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| 2018 "Howard Frank Memorial" Deepstack Charity Classic Winner Alvaro Perez (Naples. FL) |
Tournaments: With the Deepstack Charity Festival now in the books, we shift focus back on the recurring tournament schedule. Monday afternoon's have become one of the headlining time slots on November's calendar, with the addition of the $150 No Limit Hold'em ($8,000 GTD) to the schedule. The tournament carries the largest daytime guarantee in the surrounding area ($8,000 guaranteed prize pool), along with one of the most player-friendly structures. Players in the event sit down to starting stacks of 20,000 units, and have the luxury of (30) minute levels throughout the course of the tournament. Registration is open through Level 10, and with the "new" 12:00pm starting time, players have the opportunity to join the action just after the work day ends.
The evening time slot also hosts a "new" event, with the cards getting in the air for the $90 No Limit Hold'em ($1,500 GTD) at 6:00pm. The tournament is structured with 15,000 unit starting stacks, (20) minute levels, and registration that is open through Level 8 (and the break that follows). There is an optional add-on at the beginning of each player's tournament, with the ability to increase their stack by 5,000 (for just $10). The add-on is only available prior to the player's first hand dealt.
Promotions: The high hands will run from 9:00am-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.
12:00pm - $150 No Limit Hold'em ($8,000 GTD)
- Players start with 20,000 in tournament chips
- Late and re-entries for the first (10) levels
- Alternates and late entries will start with a full stack
- Levels will last (30) minutes
6:00pm - $90 No Limit Hold'em ($1,500 GTD)
- Players start with 15,000 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 prior to each player's first hand played ($10 for 5,000 units)
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