"January $100,000 II" (Flight 1A): Official End Of Flight 1A Chip Counts

"January $100,000 II"
$250 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 15 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/500)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 84
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 14

Will	Underdown	185,000
Scott	Zakheim	167,000
Larry	Kusch	139,000
Richard	Wetter	123,000
Clifford	Campbell	119,000
Bryan	Power	115,000
Rickie	Baboolal	111,500
John	Page	102,500
William	Swicicki	97,000
Mike	Fryett	90,500
Brooks	Long	75,500
Abbey	Daniels	72,000
Glenn	Popkin	64,000
Ken	Bruno	51,000

"January $100,000 II" (Flight 1A): Entering Final Level Of Play, Preparing To Bag For Sunday

"January $100,000 II"
$250 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 15 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/500)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 83

Play is about to enter Level 15, which is the final scheduled level of play for the day.  The clock will be paused when 10:00 minutes remain in this level, with those players still remaining then finding out how many hands are left in the flight.  Once those hands are completed at each table, the bags will be broken out, and players will pack their chips up for Sunday's Day 2.  A complete list of official chip counts will be posted shortly thereafter (around 8:00pm).

"January $100,000 II" (Flight 1A): Chip Counts After Flight's Final Break

"January $100,000 II"
$250 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 13 (Blinds 1,000/2,000/300)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 83

Larry Kusch (Sumterville, FL) assumed the chip lead a few levels ago, and has since been the boss at Table 9.  He sits well ahead of his nearest competitor, who has about 30,000 less than him (William Underdown).

The remaining (22) players are back in their seats, with registration now closed for Flight 1A of this event.    This opening flight attracted a total of (83) entries, with $16,351 going towards the overall prize pool.  The event would just reach the guarantee at this pace, but you can expect for the numbers to grow as the weekend approaches.  Listed below are the top ten stacks returning from break:

Larry Kusch - 195,000
William Underdown - 160,000
David Page - 105,000
Scott Zakheim - 100,000
Mike Fryett - 77,000
Donald Hagen - 75,000
Mitchell Smith - 68,000
Moshe Wasser - 70,000
Tim Kegel - 65,000

"January $100,000 II" (Flight 1A): As The Field Shrinks, We Look At Who Remains

"January $100,000 II"
$250 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 12 (Blinds 800/1,600/300)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 83

Play entered Level 12 just a few minutes ago, with those still remaining at the end of this level, heading on their final break of the flight.  Once the cards are in the air for Level 13, registration will be closed for the flight, and the numbers will be made official.  The (83) total entries (at the moment) should only change by a few, between now and that point, so we will take a look at the players still left.  There are three active tables across the tournament area, housing (24) players (that are listed below):

Table 1

1. Don Hagen
2. Ricky Baboolal
3. David Page
4. Paulius Bikus
5. Jose Delcid
6. Bill Swicki
7. Mike Fryett
8. Rich Wetter

Table 3

1. Vince Francavilla
2. Scott Zakheim
3. William Underwood
4. Moshe Wasser
5. Brian Power
6. Glen Popkin
7. Abbey Daniels

Table 5

1. Larry Kusch
2. Tim Kegel
3. Brooks Long
4. Mitchell Smith
5. Kenneth Bruno
6. Cliff Campbell
7. Roy Paulena
8. Justin Harvell

"January $100,000 II" (Flight 1A): Zakheim Holds, And Eclipses Century Mark

"January $100,000 II"
$250 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 11 (Blinds 600/1,200/200)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 82

Scott Zakheim (Davie, FL) found himself in a great position to almost double his stack, and ended up holding through the runout.

Just as the level was ending, Scott Zakheim (Davie, FL) found himself all-in with A♠ K♣ against A♥ 10♦, on a flop of A♦ K♠ Q♠.  It ended up that his opponent had a shorter stack than him, and although he wasn't at risk, a loss would leave him with less than ten big blinds.  The turn would bring the Q♦, which actually gave his opponent extra outs to a chop, but the river would be a blank, sealing the hand for Zakheim's top two-pair.  Scott is now over 100,000, and finds himself with a top five stack in the field.  Zakheim is looking for his second cash of the year, with his first coming in the multi that was run earlier this month here at the Isle Poker Room ($360 No Limit Hold'em).

Scott Zakheim - 118,000 (98bb)

"January $100,000 II" (Flight 1A): First Look At Updated Counts From The Field

"January $100,000 II"
$250 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 9 (Blinds 400/800/100)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 82

Vince Francavilla (Pompano Beach, FL) returns from the second break as chip leader, and hopes for things to continue that way through the rest of the flight.

Players are back from the second break of the day, and are now posting blinds of 400/800/100 (43,000 chip average).  We haven't seen any players really separate themselves from the field, as a large group sits between the 60,000-80,000 mark.  Vince Francavilla (Pompano Beach, FL) currently leads the way with just over 100,000, and stands as the only player above the century mark.

Vince Francavilla - 104,000
Michale Fryett - 80,000
David Page - 70,000
Paulius Bikus - 62,000
William Underdown - 60,000
Larry Kusch - 55,000
Cliff Campbell - 52,000
Justin Harvell - 35,000
Kenneth Bruno - 17,000
Abbey Daniels - 14,000

"January $100,000 II" (Flight 1A): Another Player Who Experienced Playing Under The "Bright Lights"

"January $100,000 II"
$250 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 8 (Blinds 300/600/75)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 80

Justin Harvell (Nashville, TN) is just a few weeks removed from the experience of a lifetime, reaching the live-streamed final table of the WPT DeepStacks $1,000 No Limit Hold'em ($1,000,000 GTD) event.

The first player that we featured this afternoon was Stephen Smith (Juno Beach, FL), as we referenced his recent score during the WPT DeepStacks opening event of the Lucky Hearts Poker Open.  Smith wasn't the only player that frequents the Isle Poker action to reach that final table, as our most recent entry also shared the felt with Smith that day.  

Justin Harvell (Nashville, TN) came into the final table as one of the top stacks, and assumed the chip lead during certain points of the day.  It just seemed to be Scott Baumstein's day though (who eventually won the event), as Justin bowed out in sixth place, earning a total of $45,398.  It was Justin's second largest tournament cash, and helped him eclipse the $200,000 lifetime earnings mark.  

Harvell joins a group of late entering players, including Jose Parra, Sebastian Kos, and Abbey Daniels.  Players will be taking their second break of the day at the end of this level, returning to Level 9, and new blinds of 400/800/100.

"January $100,000 II" (Flight 1A): Bernard Schmidt Making Most Of Earlier Good Fortune

"January $100,000 II"
$250 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 7 (Blinds 250/500/75)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 77

A few levels ago, Bernard Schmidt (Naples, FL) was thinking about potentially re-entering...now he's thinking about bagging one of the top stacks.

Before the first break of the day, Bernard Schmidt (Naples, FL) was all-in pre-flop, for his remaining 3,300.  He was the last player to call after four others were all-in, strictly playing the hand for the incredible odds he was getting.  His 9♠ 7♥ was the last place hand before the board ran out, well behind other hands like A♠ A♣ and A♥ K♠.  

The flop would come out 7♠ 7♣ 6♦, and Schmidt would grab a lead that never would be relinquished.  While there were side pots to work out, Bernard won the main pot, which was worth just over 15,000.  Schmidt has trended in the right direction since, chipping up to over 45,000, after just scooping in another pot.  On a board of 6♠ J♦ J♥ 6♣ K♠, Schmidt check-called bets on the flop and turn, eventually getting value on a river bet with his J♠ 10♣.  

Bernard Schmidt - 47,000 (94bb)

"January $100,000 II" (Flight 1A): Moshe Wasser Triples Up, Now Back Above Starting Stack

"January $100,000 II"
$250 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 6 (Blinds 200/400/500)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 67

Moshe Wasser (Boynton Beach, FL) looked like he didn't love the runout when he was all-in, but it was good enough to help him triple-up.

At Table 9, Kenneth Bruno would open the action with a raise to 1,025, with Moshe Wasser next to act.  Moshe was sitting with a stack that was just above (20) big blinds, and decided to three-bet shove for 6,300.  An unknown player behind just flatted, with Bruno also making the call when action was back on him.  The two active players then quickly checked each street of a K♠ 10♦ Q♥ 3♥ 10♠ runout, with Bruno turning over 4♠ 4♣, and the unknown player 5♠ 5♣.  

Moshe was able to beat both of those hands, tabling his J♥ J♦, which was good enough to more than triple up.  Wasser is now back above the starting stack (which was 18,000), but is still below the chip average of 25,500.

Moshe Wasser - 19,000 (63bb)

"January $100,000 II" (Flight 1A): Bieler Playing Early, Because He Has "Single-Ante" Plans For Tomorrow

"January $100,000 II"
$250 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 5 (Blinds 150/300/50)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 57

Allan Bieler (Boca Raton, FL) may have chosen a later flight to play in for this event, but now has a different plan for tomorrow's schedule.

To say that Allan Bieler has "flown under the radar,' would be a little of a stretch, as his name has been plastered all over the blog since it's inception (in October of 2016).  Those references have come during the daily updates that are provided every day (which contain the prior day's tournament results), opposed to during coverage of a "major event."  Bieler has over $368,000 in lifetime tournament earnings, but those "highlighting" cashes that occurred here at the Isle Poker Room, have been primarily during recurring events (with the exception of a tournament win during December's Isle Classic).  

Allan's first blog feature came back in June of last year, and he's making his photographed return today.  It's not occurring because of what's happening in today's event, but rather what he accomplished yesterday.  Bieler was one of two players to satellite into tomorrow's $2,500 No Limit Hold'em Single-Ante ($100,000 GTD), which will be running at the same time as tomorrow's pair of flights for this event. Bieler is hoping to bag chips on this first effort, because he surely has plans to make a deep run in tomorrow's prestigious event.

"January $100,000 II" (Flight 1A): "Where Everybody Knows Your Name, And They're Always Glad You Came"

"January $100,000 II"
$250 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 4 (Blinds 100/200/25)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 52

Thomas Gari (Hollywood, FL) is no stranger to events here at the Isle, and is looking to set himself up for yet another deep run in a multi.

As expected, this opening flight has attracted a good number of Isle Poker notables, many of which have become familiar to followers of the blog.  It's something we've repeated numerous times...about numbers players...but we have another notable coming off their best statistical year of tournament poker.  Thomas Gari (Hollywood, FL) has been recording cashes at a steady rate since 2014, and comes off a 2017 in which he recorded (21) results.  Those cashes equated to over $59,600 in earnings, which is his best year by over $20,000.

Thomas also started 2018 in strong fashion, as he took down a $120 No Limit Hold'em "Big Stack Turbo Bounty" event on last week's recurring tournament schedule.  The win was worth $1,008, and was actually followed by another final table finish justifier days later (also here at the Isle Poker Room).  A similar event to this was run late last November ($250 No Limit Hold'em with a $100,000 GTD), with Gari making a deep run, eventually finishing in 18th place ($1,300).  Thomas would surely sign up for another deep run like that, but first needs to find himself a bag, along with numerous others in the field with the same goal:

Steven Ekin
Scott Zakheim
Robert Flacco
Eric Piderit
Frank Traino
Michael Fryett
Preecha Taepakdee
Kenneth Bruno
Michael Tufaro

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

"January $100,000 II" (Flight 1A): Coming Off A Run Of A Lifetime, Smith Looks To Keep Solid Form

"January $100,000 II"
$250 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 3 (Blinds 75/150/25)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 49

Stephen Smith (Juno Beach, FL) is in today's early field, coming off an almost $75,000 cash in the opening event of the Lucky Hearts Poker Open.

Stephen Smith (Juno Beach, FL) had a breakout year in 2017, finishing with $65,199 in live tournament earnings, a majority of which came from successful runs here at the Isle Poker Room.  The year started strong for Smith, who shipped Event #2 of the 2017 Isle Classic (January), earning $28,462 after winning the $360 No Limit Hold'em event.  Stephen went on to cash in eleven more tournaments over the following twelve months, including a WSOP Circuit win during the final series at Palm Beach Kennel Club.  

Smith is looking to show a propensity for quick starts, as he just eclipsed his lifetime earnings in a single cash (during the Lucky Hearts Poker Open).  Stephen reached the final table of the WPT Deepstacks $1,100 No Limit Hold'em ($1,000,000 GTD) series opening tournament, and finished in fourth place, earning $74,549.  Not only did he earn the largest cash of his career, but he also had the invaluable experience of playing in front of the "bright lights" (as the final table was live streamed).  

Stephen has wasted little time getting back in action, as he was one of the first entrants in today's opening flight.  

"January $100,000 II" (Flight 1A): Taking A Look At The February 2018 Tournament Calendar

"January $100,000 II"
$250 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 2 (Blinds 50/100)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 40

This afternoon, followers of the blog are getting a first look at the February 2018 Tournament Calendar, which is pictured above, and will be posted on the @PokerIslePP Twitter handle later this afternoon (calendar will be on the Isle Casino's main website shortly).  The calendar has a "little bit of old," and a "little bit of new," as PLO makes it's triumphant return to the schedule.  The $150 No Limit Hold'em "Double Green Chip Bounty" is also a new addition the calendar, boasting a $5,000 guarantee on the final three Thursday evening's of the month.  

There are three multi-flight/large guarantee tournaments on the calendar, with the first beginning the moment the calendar turns.  The $360 No Limit Hold'em event carries a $100,000 guarantee, and a very player-friendly structure, with 20,000 unit starting stacks and (40) minute levels.  Four starting flights run on February 1st and 2nd, with players returning to Day 2 on February 3rd (Saturday).  There is then a $250 No Limit Hold'em tournament on February 16th-17th, which boasts a $50,000 guaranteed prize pool.  The final of the three multis then occurs the following week, with the $175 No Limit Hold'em ($50,000 GTD) running February 19th through February 21st.

There are also three "Single-Ante" tournaments, including the ever-popular $2,500 No Limit Hold'em "Single-Ante," which runs on February 23rd.

"January $100,000 II" (Flight 1A): Month's Final Multi Starts Momentarily

"January $100,000 II"
$250 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 1 (Blinds 25/50)
Total Flight 1A Entries: N/A

The second multi-day tournament of the month is only a few minutes away from beginning, with the cards about to fly for the $250 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD) event.  The event has six scheduled flights over the next three days, with opportunities for players to enter at either 11:00am (Flight 1A or Flight 1C), or 6:00pm (Flight 1B or Flight 1D).  Each of the flights have the same structure, with players sitting down to starting stacks of 18,000 units, and playing levels that last (30) minutes throughout the tournament.  Registration is open through Level 12 (and the break that follows), with action for each flight scheduled to end at the conclusion of Level 15.  Players who reach the end of the flight will bag up their chips, and return on Sunday for Day 2.

Live blogged coverage returns for this event, with level-by-level updates for each of the afternoon flights (Flight 1A and Flight 1C), and detailed Day 2 coverage on Sunday.  Early Flight 1A coverage will take a look at notables in the field, but not before we take in in-depth look at February's tournament calendar, which was released just a few days ago.

Thursday, January 24th: $250/$100,000 GTD Begins Today, With Pair Of Opening Flights

ICYMI: Yesterday's tournament action started with a second $275 No Limit Hold'em Satellite into tomorrow's $2,500 No Limit Hold'em Single-Ante ($100,000 GTD).  Once again, two seats were guaranteed into the prestigious event, with exactly that many seats awarded in the satellite (after 25 total entries).  There was also a third pay spot, which awarded $1,250 in cash, which was eventually won by Ian Cohen (Ft. Lauderdale, FL).  Listed below are the full results from the satellite:

1. Gregory Spinder (Parkland, FL) $2,500
2. Allan Bieler (Sunrise, FL) $2,500
3. Ian Cohen (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) $1,250

The evening time slot hosted a standard tournament, which was a $80 No Limit Hold'em event, which boasted a $2,500 guaranteed prize pool. The official prize pool would close at $3,363, after a total of (59) entries made up the field, with eight player scheduled to reach the money.  Play continued through the money bubble, with action halting after four people remained, as an even deal was agreed to.  The full results from the chop, as well as the final table, are listed below:

1. Celso Leroy (Delray Beach, FL) $667
2. Melissa Mancini (Oakland Park, FL) $667
3. Alexander Thomas (Gainesville, FL) $667
4. Robert Barney (Willmore, KY) $667
5. Randall Buttner (East Meadow, NY) $235
6. Marcel Deschamps (Canada) $185
7. Anthony Vulpis (Lauderdale By The Sea, FL) $151
8. Alan Werner (Cooper City, FL) $124

Tournaments: Today starts the final multi-day tournament of the month of January, and is a $250 No Limit Hold'em event, which carries a $100,000 guaranteed prize pool.  There are six starting flights over the next three days, with players who successfully bag chips, returning for Day 2 on Sunday.  Each of the flights are structured the same, with players sitting down to starting stacks of 18,000 units, and levels that last (30) minutes.  Registration is open until the end of Level 12 (and the break that follows), with opening flight play scheduled to conclude at the end of Level 15 (or if 10% of the field remains at any point beforehand).

This event will have live blogged coverage, with updates from each of the afternoon (11:00am) starting flights, as well as detailed Day 2 coverage.

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 - $250 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD) Flight 1A

- Players start with 18,000 in tournament chips

- Late and re-entries for the first (12) levels

- Alternates and late entries will start with a full stack

- Levels will last (30) minutes

- All Day 1's will play (15) complete levels or until 10% of the field remains (whichever comes first)

6:00pm - $250 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD) Flight 1B

- Players start with 18,000 in tournament chips

- Late and re-entries for the first (12) levels

- Alternates and late entries will start with a full stack

- Levels will last (30) minutes

- All Day 1's will play (15) complete levels or until 10% of the field remains (whichever comes first)