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

"January $100,000 II"
$250 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 15 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/500)
Total Flight 1E Entries: 216
Flight 1E Players Remaining: 32

Rob	Jonsson	306,500
Larry	Hirschfield	273,000
Greg	Rosen	272,000
Joseph	Conti	248,500
Steve	Lake	234,000
Christopher	Lawson	180,500
Donald	Francois	175,500
Waymond	Jones	173,500
Fred	White	145,500
Raymond Paul	Winters	136,000
Sergio	Amato	130,000
Jeff	Satinoff	129,000
Ron	Levy	126,000
Sebastian	Kos	115,500
Dolline	Willis	114,000
Frank	Traino	113,500
Jonathan	Marks	111,000
Fernando	Pages	105,000
Tom	Starkey	102,500
Rob	Kessler	102,500
Ashley	Causey	79,500
Piotr	Wielopolski	73,000
Matt	Le Conche	69,000
Alejandro	Funes	54,000
Michael	Tufaro	54,000
Leroy	Jones	52,000
Horalambos	Sidoris	48,000
Hoa	Lang	43,500
Al	Gomez	43,000
Eduardo	Christ	36,500
Jonathan	Roberge	32,000
Carl	Cajuste	18,000

"January $100,000 II" (Flight 1E): Wrapping Up Flight 1E, Final Flight Already Underway

"January $100,000 II"
$250 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 15 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/500)
Total Flight 1E Entries: 215
Flight 1E Players Remaining: 28

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 1E): Updated Post-Break Chip Counts

"January $100,000 II"
$250 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 13 (Blinds 1,000/2,000/300)
Total Flight 1E Entries: 215
Flight 1E Players Remaining: 41

Ron Levy (Lake Worth, FL) is seated next to two of the top ten stacks remaining in the field, but has not been shy about getting involved in pots with them.

Flight 1E of the "January $100,000 II" has seen registration close with (215) entries, which has been the largest field by far.  The overall prize pool is now $127,459, and should soar past $150,000 by the time tonight's Flight 1F sees registration close.  Steven Lake still leads after the final break, but there are a handful of players capable of eclipsing his number with just one hand:

Steven Lake - 240,000
Joey "Mush" - 180,000
Ron Levy - 180,000
Greg Rosen - 165,000
Tom Starkey - 160,000
Dan Oshry - 155,000
Chris Lawson - 150,000
Ashley Causey - 140,000
Rob Kessler - 140,000
Paul Winters - 135,000

"January $100,000 II" (Flight 1E): Steven Lake Leads, As Players Head On Final Break

"January $100,000 II"
$250 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 12 (Blinds 800/1,600/300)
Total Flight 1E Entries: 214

Steven Lake (Pompano Beach, FL) maybe under the hood, but he's no longer under the radar, heading to the final break with the flight's chip lead.

Players are currently in the final level of open registration for Flight 1E, with the window shut completely once the break concludes at the end of this level.  With the size of the field, once would think that the larger stacks (this late in the flight) would be eye-popping, but there is currently just one player over the 200,000 mark...Steven Lake (Pompano Beach, FL).  More entries means more chips, which usually brings out some larger stacks...but things are spread pretty evenly across the field.

Lake has just over 218,000, and is looking to book his third tournament cash of the year, after recording two results during the Lucky Hearts Poker Open.  Players will return from the final break in Level 13, with new blinds of 1,000/2,000/300, and three scheduled levels to play.  Once action resumes, we will take a final look at updated counts from those remaining.

"January $100,000 II" (Flight 1E): Causey Gets Value, Eclipses The Century Mark

"January $100,000 II"
$250 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 11 (Blinds 600/1,200/200)
Total Flight 1E Entries: 210

Ashley Causey (McDonough, GA) hasn't cashed in a tournament since September of 2016, but looks to be putting herself in position to change that tomorrow afternoon.

Table 9 was approached with four players on a flop of A♠ 9♠ 4♣, with an unknown player in the small blind leading out for 2,500.  Linda Lipkins (big blind) and Ashley Causey (cutoff) made the call, as the three players watched the 6♣ fall on the turn.  Both blinds checked to Causey, who put out a healthy bet of 22,000, which was called by Lipkins.  The dealer than put down the K♦ on the river, with Lipkins checking to Ashley once again.  Causey continued her strong line, placing forth a bet of 25,000, which was called by Linda.

Ashley tabled 9♣ 9♥, having flopped middle set, which was good enough to take down the over 100,000 pot. Lipkins would be left with just 10,000 after absorbing the loss, while Causey chipped up to 120,000.

Ashley Causey - 121,000 (100bb)
Linda Lipkins - 10,000 (8bb)

"January $100,000 II" (Flight 1E): Cantatore Very Happy With Winter's Fold

"January $100,000 II"
$250 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 10 (Blinds 500/1,000/200)
Total Flight 1E Entries: 209

Giovanni Cantatore (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) is less than a week removed from his last tournament win, shipping the "Big Stack Turbo Bounty" on Monday.

Table 4 would be approached just as Andre Rakusa went all-in for 27,200, on a flop of A♦ 8♦ 3♣.  Donald Francois had just folded his hand (on the button), with action on Giovanni Cantatore (Ft. Lauderdale, FL).  After a few moments of thought, Cantatore decided to just flat, leaving himself about 10,000 behind.   Paul Winters was the final player left to act, and with one of the largest stacks in the field, he looked like he was cutting out enough to put Giovanni all-in as well.  

Winters then took the chips he had in his hand, dropped them back on his stack, and announced a fold. Before Andre and Giovanni tabled their hands, Winters showed that he folded K♦ 6♦, which was the nut flush draw.  Andre then turned over A♠ 9♣, which was behind the A♣ 10♠ of Cantatore, and stayed that way through the runout.  A runout which did bring the 2♦ on the turn, a card that would have eliminated Cantatore as well (had Winters made the call).  

Giovanni jokingly threw a chip Winters way, mimicking a tip, and thanking Paul for folding.  Cantatore is now up to 80,000, which is well above the current chip average of 51,500.  

"January $100,000 II" (Flight 1E): It's "Carlito's Way" Returning From Break

"January $100,000 II"
$250 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 9 (Blinds 400/800/100)
Total Flight 1E Entries: 204

Carlito Cajuste (Coconut Creek, FL) is hoping to recapture the same magic he experienced a year ago yesterday, when he recorded his first ever tournament win.

With players now back from break, we were able to take a lap around the field, looking to spot the top stacks across the tournament area.  Carlito Cajuste (Coconut Creek, FL) returned from break as the flight's chip leader, sitting back down to a stack just shy of 150,000.  Cajuste recorded (17) cashes last year, totaling a career best $23,689 in earnings.  His best result of the year actually came one year to the day (yesterday), when he shipped a $150 No Limit Hold'em "Structure Beast" on the recurring tournament schedule ($6,998).  

Listed below are the top five stacks in the field (as Level 9 started):

Carlito Cajuste - 148,000
Paul Winters - 145,000
Tom Starkey - 135,000
Robert Jonsson - 126,000
Donald Francois - 115,000

"January $100,000 II" (Flight 1E): Jonsson Finds Himself In A Familiar Position, Looks To Capitalize

"January $100,000 II"
$250 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 8 (Blinds 300/600/75)
Total Flight 1E Entries: 200

"How's my hair," Robert Jonsson (Deerfield Beach, FL) jokingly asked, after having his picture taken mid-hand.

Robert Jonsson (Deerfield Beach, FL) has found himself atop the Day 2 leaderboard numerous times over the past year, showing a propensity to bag up sizable stacks.  While that's an accomplishment, it's what happens on Day 2 that actually matters most, with Jonsson turning those stacks into sizable results.  Jonsson's best run came during last year's Isle Open, when he finished fifth in Event #15 ($1,100 No Limit Hold'em).  The result saw a return of $8,349, which still stands as his largest lifetime cash.  

With players about to head on their second break of the flight, Jonsson finds himself with a top three stack in the field, sitting with just over 100,000.  Players will take their ten minute break, and will be returning to Level 9, with new blinds of 400/800/100.  Once the cards are back in the air, we will bring followers the first look at updated chip counts from the field.

"January $100,000 II" (Flight 1E): Donald Francois Regrets...Then Forgets

"January $100,000 II"
$250 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 7 (Blinds 250/500/75)
Total Flight 1E Entries: 195

Donald Francois (Delray Beach, FL) was happy to see he was flipping against Craig Witz, ending up on the winning side of the race.

During one of the first hands of Level 7, Donald Francois (Delray Beach, FL) had two players all-in in front of him, both for sizable amounts (over 15,000 each).  He took some time with his decision, but with a call worth more than half of his stack, he chose to fold his hand.  Donald would have been in third place with pocket nines, up against pocket jacks and pocket kings.  The flop ended up bring a nine, which would have been good enough to win the hand through the runout.  Francois was visibly upset about his decision, thinking about "what could have been."

One orbit later, Francois would open from the button, and watch as Craig Witz three-bet shoved for close to 20,000.  It was a large three-bet, but it didn't deter Donald, who made the call pretty quickly.  The two would be flipping, with Witz holding 10♠ 10♣ against the K♠ J♠ of Francois.  Craig's request to "hold" were dismissed, as the dealer fanned out a flop of A♥ K♦ Q♥.  The turn and river stayed clean for Francois, who was pushed the pot, putting him over the 80,000 mark.

Donald Francois - 82,000 (164bb)

"January $100,000 II" (Flight 1E): Lots Of Action Across The Field, Hadida Holds With Pocket Kings

"January $100,000 II"
$250 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 6 (Blinds 200/400/50)
Total Flight 1E Entries: 187

Ilan Hadida (Boca Raton, FL) was not shy at all in front of the camera, happily posing as one of the chip leaders in the Flight 1E field.

The tournament area is growing by the moment, as tables are now scattered across all areas of the poker room.  Walking past Table 13, we caught a three-way all-in, with Ilan Hadida covering both of his opponents (and holding the best hand with K♥ K♦).  Hadida was up against Q♥ 10♥ and 5♣ 5♦, primed to win a pot worth close to 20,000.  

The dealer would spread a flop of 8♥ 4♥ 3♠, giving one of his opponents a flush draw, and the other backdoor outs to a straight.  Even though both players were rooting for the cards they needed, the turn and river would stay clean for Hadida, who would chip up to 50,000 with the pot.

Ilan Hadida - 50,000 (125bb)

"January $100,000 II" (Flight 1E): Lots Of First Time Entries In the Field

"January $100,000 II"
$250 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 5 (Blinds 150/300/50)
Total Flight 1E Entries: 159

Jamie Wiegrefe (Miami, FL) is usually all business at the tables, but actually cracked a smile, after his pocket aces held up against Nagui Yassa's pocket eights.

There are a lot of players in this afternoon's field that are taking their first attempt at bagging for the tournament, including Jamie Wiegrefe (Miami, FL).  Jamie has been experiencing some solid tournament success as of late, booking two of his largest lifetime cashes over the last three months.  Wiegrefe was part of a six-way deal that ended the "November $200,000," a $360 buy-in event that headlined the Isle Poker's schedule for that month.  He earned $14,820 for his sixth place share, and just last week, he finished third in a $570 No Limit Hold'em event during the Lucky Hearts Poker Open ($11,480).  Jamie is already off to a solid start today, as his aces held up moments ago, knocking out Nagui Yassa from play at Table 2. 

Wiegrefe headlines a group of players that we are seeing in action for the first time during live blogged coverage of this event:

Francis Margaglione
Noel Atherley
Paula Alibrandi
Dolline Willis
Linda Lipkins
Steve Lipkins
Daren Stabinski
Al Gomez

"January $100,000 II" (Flight 1E): Parra Shifting Gears, Looking To Bookend The Month

"January $100,000 II"
$250 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 4 (Blinds 100/200/25)
Total Flight 1E Entries: 144

Jose Parra (Hialeah Gardens, FL) has to switch the his mindset from a $2,500 buy-in...to a $250 buy-in, but it's something he's done successfully before.

Jose Parra (Hialeah Gardens, FL) spent most of yesterday afternoon in the $2,500 No Limit Hold'em Single-Ante ($100,000 GTD), but eventually fell short of cashing, and left the poker room shortly after being eliminated.  He's back in today's Flight 1E field, and while the starting stack and structure are slightly different, the final table payouts will be similar (just a lot more people to get through in order to get there).  

Jose already has a cash in an Isle Poker multi this month, reaching the final table of the "January $100,000," a $360 buy-in tournament that ran the first weekend of the year.  Parra ended up finishing in eighth place, and earned $3,690 for his efforts.  The result brought his career earnings north of $176,000, which he hopes to improve on with a deep run tomorrow afternoon.  Parra is just one of a large group of notables in the field, including:

Evan Teitelbaum
Andre Rakusa
Giovanni Cantitore
Morris Heider
Edward Novak
Yigal Hen
Fernando Pages
Robert Jonsson
Bryce McVay

Players will be heading on their first break in just a few minutes, returning to Level 5, and new blinds of 150/300/50.

"January $100,000 II" (Flight 1E): Official Chips Counts Flight 1A-Flight 1D

"January $100,000 II"
$250 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 3 (Blinds 75/150/25)
Total Flight 1E Entries: 99

"January $100,000 II" (Flight 1E): Checking Out The Upcoming Month's Tournament Calendar

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

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 (calendar is also on the Isle Casino's main website).  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 1E): Final Pair Of Starting Flights About To Begin

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

After four completed starting flights, the "January $100,000 II" is down to the final pair, with Flight 1E to start in just a few moments (and Flight 1F to follow at 6:00pm).  To this point, the $250 buy-in tournament has attracted a total of (432) entries, and has a prize pool of $85,104.  With the busiest of the flights about to start, we should see the posted guaranteed surpassed at some point this afternoon.  

Players in today's flights will be looking to join the (62) players that have already bagged chips for tomorrow's Day 2.  Today's live blogged coverage will begin with a look at the upcoming month's tournament schedule, and will be followed by a list of those chip counts for the players that have bagged already.

Saturday, January 27th: Jerry Wong Ships The Single-Ante, "January $100,000 II" To Crush The Number

ICYMI: Yesterday's tournament schedule hosted the second pair of starting flights for the "January $100,000 II," as well as the $2,500 No Limit Hold'em Single-Ante ($100,000 GTD).  Flight 1C opened the action at 11:00am, and after twelve levels of open registration, a total of (97) entries made up the field.  Of those entries, (15) players would reach the bagging process, led by Demoy Thomas (308,500).  Thomas's final number was extremely impressive, considering that his two nearest competitors bagged close to 120,000 less than him (Jeffrey Silverstein - 188,500 and Sagi Zommer - 164,000).  A full list of chip counts from Flight 1C can be found by clicking here.

Flight 1D drew the largest field we've seen for the event, with (135) entries showing on the tournament clock at registration's close.  Even though the numbers were so high, the field still shrunk down to the teens, as (16) players bagged chips for tomorrow's Day 2.  Walter Bravo currently holds the overall chip lead, after bagging 341,000 with the flight's top bag.  John Magnetta (316,000) and Chad Millward (247,500) rounded out the top three, with a full list of Flight 1D chip counts found by clicking here.

With two more flights remaining for the tournament, the "January $100,000 II" now has a total of (432) entries, with (62) players already headed to tomorrow's Day 2.  The overall prize pool sits a $85,104, and should surpass the guaranteed number shortly into Flight 1E action.

While both flights were playing out, the $2,500 No Limit Hold'em Single-Ante ($100,000 GTD) was crowning a new winner.  A total of (42) entries made up the field, which equated to a $100,000 prize pool, and boasted a $42,000 top prize.  While it initially looked like the tournament was going to be all about Richard Kirsch (Ft. Lauderdale), we saw a final table that hosted a number of new names, including a player that won their seat via a "chip lead bonus" (earlier this month).  After an extremely rough start to the tournament, Jerry Wong (Margate, FL) turned things around at the final table, besting Justin Harvell (Delray Beach, FL) to grab the title.  The results from the tournament are listed below:

1. Jerry Wong (Margate, FL) $42,000
2. Justin Harvell (Delray Beach, FL) $24,000
3. Samuel Ganzfried (Miami Beach, FL) $14,000
4. Lukas Pribyl (Czech Republic) $9,000
5. Rodney Moret-Rojas (Boca Raton, FL) $6,000
6. Joshua Kay (Boca Raton, FL) $5,000

Tournaments: Saturday's action once again focuses solely on the "January $100,000 II," with the final pair of starting flights on the schedule (starting with Flight 1E at 11:00am). 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).  Flight 1F will follow at 6:00pm, and expects to be the largest of the four to have been played.

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 1E

- 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 1F

- 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)

ICYMI: $2,500 No Limit Hold'em Single-Ante (Official Results)

$2,500 No Limit Hold'em "Single-Ante"

$100,000 Guaranteed Prize Pool

Total Entries: 42

Total Prize Pool: $100,000

Official Results

1. Jerry Wong (Margate, FL) $42,000
2. Justin Harvell (Delray Beach, FL) $24,000
3. Samuel Ganzfried (Miami Beach, FL) $14,000
4. Lukas Pribyl (Czech Republic) $9,000
5. Rodney Moret-Rojas (Boca Raton, FL) $6,000
6. Joshua Kay (Boca Raton, FL) $5,000

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

"January $100,000 II"
$250 No Limit Hold'em | $100,000 GTD
Level 15 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/500)
Total Flight 1D Entries: 135
Flight 1D Players Remaining: 16

Walter	Bravo	341,000
John	Magnetta	316,000
Chad	Millward	247,500
Barry	Sisselman	190,500
Justin	Margolis	189,500
Francis	Cruz	151,500
Kevin	Chan	150,500
Ross	Willner	147,500
Greg	Spinder	134,000
James	McCaffrey	128,500
Stephen	Harris	127,500
Tony	Burns	103,000
Stanley	Silverman	93,500
Michael	Ingber	57,000
Evan	Kahan	50,000
James	Clark	39,000