BATB Event #1 (Flight 1E): Official End Of Flight 1E Chip Counts, Albertson And Scala Bag Chip Lead

2018 Battles At The Beach
Event #1 | $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 16 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/500) | Structure 
Total Flight 1E Entries: 188
Flight 1E Players Remaining: 22

David	Albertson*	494,000
Frank	Scala*	329,000
Derrick	Cutler	289,500
Haralambos	Sideris	275,500
Robert	Williamson	263,500
Jake	Embres	254,500
Dennis	Brinn	238,500
Nancy	Thomas	215,000
Angelo	Castaldi	180,500
Zaki	Lichaa	150,500
John	Nguyen	148,500
Michael	Ortiz	140,000
Andrew	Kicklighter	129,000
Nicholas	Hartmann	118,500
Sean	Shah	113,000
Melvyn	Littman	72,000
Eric	Mutschler	70,000
Michael	Marks	69,500
Marc	LeBranc	64,500
Robert	Flacco	60,500
George	Duffield	46,500
George	Lukawski	39,000

BATB Event #1 (Flight 1E): Wrapping Up Flight 1E, With One Final Opportunity To Try And Bag Available

2018 Battles At The Beach
Event #1 | $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 16 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/500) | Structure 
Total Flight 1E Entries: 188
Flight 1E Players Remaining: 27

Play has just entered Level 16, which is the final scheduled level of the day, with players now posting blinds of 2,000/4,000/500.

Players will continue through the 10:00 minute mark of this level, at which point the clock will be paused, and the amount of hands remaining will be announced.  Once those hands are finished at each table, the bagging process will begin, and players will pack up their chips for Wednesday (Day 2 at 12:00pm).

The official chip counts from the flight, along with the winners of the chip lead bonus, will be posted once all bags have been verified.

Those that are still interested in joining the action, have until around 9:30pm to enter Flight 1F, which will be getting underway in just a few moments.

BATB Event #1 (Flight 1E): Andy Kicklighter Now The Leader, After Hitting One-Outer

2018 Battles At The Beach
Event #1 | $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 14 (Blinds 1,200/2,400/400) | Structure 
Total Flight 1E Entries: 188
Flight 1E Players Remaining: 42

Andy Kicklighter (Nashville, TN) continues today's trend of "new" players to the blog, introducing himself in a big way, as the late chip leader in Flight 1E.

Moments ago at Table 4, Andy Kicklighter (Nashville, TN) had a short-stacked opponent at risk, but was behind with 9♥ 9♦ against J♠ J♣.  The flop would come out Q♠ 9♠ 7♠, with Kicklighter flopping middle set to grab the lead away.  His opponent still had outs to a higher set and flush, but ended up bricking the turn and river.  The 40,000 pot would help Kicklighter eclipse the 220,000 mark, making him the chip leader, with just over two levels left to play.  Once the hand was completed, one of Andy's table mates let him know that he folded K 9, meaning Kicklighter hit a one-outer to win that hand.

Andy Kicklighter - 224,000 (93bb)

BATB Event #1 (Flight 1E): Updated Chip Counts From The Field

2018 Battles At The Beach
Event #1 | $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 13 (Blinds 1,000/2,000/300) | Structure 
Total Flight 1E Entries: 188
Flight 1E Players Remaining: 53

Robert Williamson (Jupiter, FL) is currently leading the race for this flight's bonus, but as we know all too well...things can change very quickly over these final four levels.

The cards are back in the air, as (53) players are trying to navigate their way through four more levels.  Robert Williamson (Jupiter, FL) returned from break as the flight's chip leader, but hasn't pulled away from the rest of the field, like we've seen top stacks do the past few days.  One player right on his heels is David Albertson (Coral Springs, FL), who already has two Isle Poker tournament wins under his belt (along with $209,000 in lifetime earnings).

Robert Williamson - 195,000
David Albertson - 190,000
Willy Abdelraheem - 150,000
Eric Mutschler - 140,000
Jake Embres - 135,000
Nick Hartmann - 130,000
Derrick Cutler - 120,000
Harry Sideris - 100,000

BATB Event #1 (Flight 1E): Players Heading On Final Break Of The Flight

2018 Battles At The Beach
Event #1 | $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 12 (Blinds 800/1,600/200) | Structure 
Total Flight 1E Entries: 188
Flight 1E Players Remaining: 58

Players are about to head on their final ten minute break of the flight, and will be returning to Level 13, and new blinds of 1,000/2,000/300 (65,000 chip average).  Once play resumes, we will list some updated chip counts from the field, as the "race for the chip lead bonus" really begins to heat up.

BATB Event #1 (Flight 1E): Sean Shah Going For His Goal, But Sees Resistance From Derrick Cutler

2018 Battles At The Beach
Event #1 | $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 11 (Blinds 600/1,200/200) | Structure 
Total Flight 1E Entries: 188
Flight 1E Players Remaining: 68

Derrick Cutler (Marietta, GA) may not be a familiar name to followers of the blog, but he has over $379,000 in lifetime tournament earnings, including an eighth place finish in the 2013 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship Event ($232,700).

When Sean Shah (Delray Beach, FL) took his seat in the field, he made it clear (to the media at least) that his goal was to bag the chip lead.  So after he re-shoved over an all-in from a player in earlier position, it wasn't much of a surprise to find out he only looked at one card.  Shah showed his opponent (Derrick Cutler) just the A♥, and slowly peeled the second card as the rest of the table watched.  "At least I can flop the wheel," Shah said aloud, after seeing the 5♦ behind the ace.  Cutler then tabled his hand, and would be at risk:

Cutler: J♦ J♣
Shah: A♥ 5♦

Runout: A♦ K♠ Q♥ 7♦ J♠

Shah immediately claimed the lead on the flop, and had Cutler calling for a ten on the turn or river.  While it wasn't what he called for, the J on the river would give him the winning hand, as he doubled to over 80,000.

Derrick Cutler - 83,000 (69bb)
Sean Shah - 50,000 (41bb)

BATB Event #1 (Flight 1E): Jake Embres Knocks Out A Big Stack, And Assumes Chip Lead

2018 Battles At The Beach
Event #1 | $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 10 (Blinds 500/1,000/100) | Structure 
Total Flight 1E Entries: 188
Flight 1E Players Remaining: 75

Jake Embres (Florida) is another relatively unknown player, that's currently making a name for himself in this flight of Event #1.

The action from the hand has yet to have been confirmed, but Jake Embres (Florida) eliminated Francisco Pulido a few hands back from break, and now sits with over 150,000.  A Hendon Mob search of Embres yields a resume with just one recorded result, coming from Seminole Coconut Creek, in May of last year.  The cash was a final table finish during one of their recurring $20,000 guaranteed events ($130 No Limit Hold'em), and was worth $1,999 (sixth place money in a nine-way chop).

Jake Embres - 155,000 (155bb)

BATB Event #1 (Flight 1E): Registration Closes At The Largest Flight To Date, Updated Chip Counts From The Field

2018 Battles At The Beach
Event #1 | $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 9 (Blinds 400/800/100) | Structure 
Total Flight 1E Entries: 188

Angelo Castaldi (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) last cashed in the opening event of the Hard Rock's Escalator Series, and is hoping to book his first Isle Poker Room cash since the 2017 Isle Open.

Registration for Flight 1E is now closed, with the final number of entries closing at (188), which makes this the largest flight (of the five to have been played).  The $25,380 going towards the overall prize pool, means that the guarantee will be eclipsed the moment Flight 1D starts (at 6:00pm).  We would potentially see close to 1,000 entries for this event when things are all said and done, with a first place prize somewhere in the $25,000-$30,000 range.

Angelo Castaldi (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) leads the field at the second break, and will be returning to Level 9 with 115,000.  There is a large group within striking distance of that top spot, including the likes of Ellton Chester, Sean Mooney, and Harry Sideris.

Angelo Castadli - 115,000 (143bb)
Harry Sideris - 100,000 (125bb)
Sean Mooney - 100,000 (125bb)
Franciso Pulido - 95,000 (118bb)
Rodney Moret-Rojas - 95,000 (118bb)
Ellton Chester - 90,000 (112bb)

BATB Event #1 (Flight 1E): Ellton Chester Continues The Run Good

2018 Battles At The Beach
Event #1 | $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 8 (Blinds 300/600/75) | Structure 
Total Flight 1E Entries: 145

From having never been mentioned on the blog, to two feature posts...Ellton Chester (Florida) is having a fun Tuesday afternoon.

Ellton Chester may have entered this event as a relative unknown, but he's stealing all of the headlines to start the day.  On a flop of 2♠ 2♦ 4♦, the player in the big blind would shove for 8,275 (after raising pre-flop), with Ellton Chester making the call, along with the small blind.  The three would watch as the dealer placed down the 8♦ on the turn, with the small blind check-calling Ellton's 10,000 bet.  Now with a side pot in play, the two would both check after the K♣ completed the board, with Chester turning over 9♦ 7♦ (having made a flush on the turn).  Since all hands have to be tabled in an all-in situation, we learned that the small blind had 6♠ 2♣ (trip deuces), and the eliminated big blind had A♦ K♠.

Chester is now over 130,000, and looks to be heading to the second break of the day as the chip leader.  Players will be away from the table for ten minutes at Level 8' s conclusion, at which point registration for this flight will be closed.  Once play resumes, we will bring you the final numbers from the flight, along with updated chip counts from the field.

Ellton Chester - 133,000 (221bb)

BATB Event #1 (Flight 1E): Mitchell Smith Looking For Another Outright Win

2018 Battles At The Beach
Event #1 | $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 7 (Blinds 250/500/50) | Structure 
Total Flight 1E Entries: 155

Mitchell Smith (Winnsboro, SC) took a little break from poker after winning the "February $50,000 II," but is now entered into this Flight 1E action.

One of the most recent entries in the field was Mitchell Smith (Winnsboro, SC), a name that might sound familiar to recent followers of the blog.  Mitchell was the winner of the "February $50,000 II," a $175 No Limit Hold'em multi that ran from February 19th-21st.  The event attracted a total of (552) entries, and finished up with a prize pool of $75,624.  After besting Eric Mutschler during heads-up play, Smith would earn $15,089.  The result brought his career earnings above $320,000, and happened to be his first tournament win in almost three years.  

Smith wasn't the only notable to enter the action late, as the following players also chose the fashionably late option:

Sean Shah
Georges Boyadjian
Joseph Conti
Steven Zukowski
Steven Lipkins
Linda Lipkins

BATB Event #1 (Flight 1E): Gilkey's Good Run At The Table Games Has Him Back In The Field

2018 Battles At The Beach
Event #1 | $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 6 (Blinds 200/400/50) | Structure 
Total Flight 1E Entries: 145

Christopher Gilkey (West Palm Beach, FL) knew that a break was upcoming, so after he busted the day's first entry, he jumped over the the three card poker table.

For those that follow the action for afar, or have never physically been in the poker room...there are also table games available in the casino (located right outside the poker room).  Players have the option to choose between Ultimate Texas Hold'em or Three Card Poker, both with minimum bets that start at $5.  After getting eliminated by Ellton Chester (in the prior mentioned hand), Christopher Gilkey (Lake Worth, FL) headed to the Three Card Poker table, where he ended up catching fire.  Some of the winnings then became a second entry into today's flight, for the Isle Open trophy winner.  Gilkey headed a chop of the opening event, which was also a $175 No Limit Hold'em event.  The "win" was worth $13,765, which still stands as his largest career tournament cash.

Christopher Gilkey - 20,000 (50bb)

BATB Event #1 (Flight 1E): Elton Chester Never Expected The Action He'd Get

2018 Battles At The Beach
Event #1 | $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 5 (Blinds 150/300/25) | Structure 
Total Flight 1E Entries: 130

Elton Chester (Florida) had a big smile on his face, reacting to the commotion that followed his all-in with pocket queens.

At Table 9, Ellton Chester (Florida) would be sitting with Q♠ Q♣ on a 7♦ 4♣ 3♠ flop, having just shoved for his remaining 6,250.  The action would then proceed to go: all-in for 24,000...all-in for 11,000...and then all-in for 25,000.  That would be three consecutive all-ins after that of Chester, who could only look up and smile, as the dealer figured out the side pots.  Once everything was organized, the hands would be tabled:

Flop: 7♦ 4♣ 3♠

Chester: Q♠ Q♣
Player X: 4♦ 8♦
Player Y: 3♥ 4♥
Player Z: 3♣ 6♠

Turn: 2♠
River: 2♣

Ellton may have thought his hand wasn't the best with all the action that followed, so it didn't come as much surprise to see someone else holding two-pair.  Luckily for Chester, the turn and river would come running deuces, counterfeiting his opponents two-pair.  Ellton scooped up the main pot, which was worth over 35,000, putting him well above the early chip average (26,600).

Ellton Chester - 35,500 (118bb)

BATB Event #1 (Flight 1E): Michael Marx Now Known As "Mr. Multi"

2018 Battles At The Beach
Event #1 | $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 4 (Blinds 100/200) | Structure 
Total Flight 1E Entries: 120

Michael Marks (North Lauderdale, FL) would have to be considered a favorite in any multi-flight event at the Isle Poker Room, with his recent history in these tournaments.

To say that Michael Marks (North Lauderdale, FL) started off the year strong, would be nothing less than an understatement.  Within the first five weeks of 2018, Marks recorded two five figure scores, including a win in a $250 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD) event in late January.  The "win" was first place money in a six-way deal that ended the tournament, which was worth $20,094.  The following week, Marks would be part of a three-way deal that ended a $360 No Limit Hold'em multi (with a $100,000 GTD), worth $14,499.  Add the fourth place money from a multi he chopped in November of 2017 ($8,631), and it's no surprise Michael has eclipsed the $100,000 mark in lifetime earnings.  

Marks has a sense comfort in this large field events, and now the knowledge and experience that it takes to make multiple deep runs.  One thing that may help, is the familiarity and history with players he shares the table with, as we see many more notables in todays field (that frequent these multi-flight tournaments):

Pedro Palacio
Eric Mutschler
Daniel Genachte
Sean Mooney
Craig Witz
David Albertson
Zaki Lichaa
Moshe Wasser
Haim Toorgeman

Players will be taking their first break at the end of this level, returning to Level 5, and new blinds of 150/300/25.

BATB Event #1 (Flight 1E): Checking In On The Early Field

2018 Battles At The Beach
Event #1 | $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 3 (Blinds 75/150) | Structure 
Total Flight 1E Entries: 100

Marc Wolfe (Miami, FL) has broken out on the recurring tournament scene, recording five straight final table finishes to begin his resume.

When Marc Wolfe (Miami, FL) cashes in tournaments, he just always makes them final table finishes...well at least that's what his Hendon Mob resume shows.  New to the Isle Poker Room tournament scene, Wolfe has a total of five recorded results, with his first coming just three months ago (December 2017).  Each of those five cashes have been at least a sixth place finish, with his most recent score a heads-up chop (with Marc taking first place).  Marc is now graduating from recurring events to multi-flight action, so it will be interesting to see how he does over the next few hours.  Wolfe may not be a "notable" just yet, but he's looking to join the tournament regulars we've come to know and love (who happen to be in this flight), including the likes of:

Zoltan Czinkota
Charlemagne Benjamin
Myles German
Christopher Gilkey
Ory Hen
Marianne Dewitt
Patricia Miles
Nancy Thomas
Rodney Moret-Rojas

BATB Event #1 (Flight 1E): Official Chip Counts Flight 1A-Flight 1D

2018 Battles At The Beach
Event #1 | $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 2 (Blinds 50/100) | Structure 
Total Flight 1E Entries: 83

BATB Event #1 (Flight 1E): Action Underway For Final Pair Of Event #1 Flights

2018 Battles At The Beach
Event #1 | $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 1 (Blinds 25/50) | Structure 
Total Flight 1E Entries: 50

The first Flight 1E hand of Event #1 (Battles At The Beach) was dealt just moments ago, as another group of players begin their journey towards finding a bag for tomorrow's Day 2.  The $175 No Limit Hold'em event has already exceeded expectation, with (538) entries over the tournament's first four flights.  The combined prize pool coming into today's action was already over $72,000, and has a chance to eclipse the $100,000 guarantee later this afternoon.

Just like the four flights that came before this, players will be sitting down to starting stacks of 20,000 units, with levels of (25) minutes over the course of the day's action.  Registration is open through the break after Level 8, with the flight scheduled to conclude after Level 16.  There have been a total of (75) players to bag chips for tomorrow's Day 2, with eight "chip lead bonuses" awarded.  The list below denotes the players to have bagged those stacks, including what flight they were from:

Omar Yates - 412,000 (Flight 1B)

Donald Williams - 341,500 (Flight 1C)

Joshua Zur - 338,000 (Flight 1B)

Anthony Albano - 303,500 (Flight 1D)

Frederico Camara - 302,500 (Flight 1C)

Scott Efron - 279,000 (Flight 1D)

Tuan Phan - 269,000 (Flight 1A)

Thomas Moran - 247,000 (Flight 1A)

A full list of combined chip counts will be posted shortly, followed by our first look at players in this early Flight 1E field.

Tuesday, March 13th: Event #1 To Crush The Number, Final Pair Of Flights On Today's Schedule

ICYMI: After an incredibly strong start to Event #1 of the Battles At The Beach, things were even more successful during yesterday's pair of flights.  Flight 1C and Flight 1D drew a total of (320) combined entries, which brings the running total for the tournament to (538).  The official prize pool sits at $72,630, and could reach the $100,000 guaranteed number before this evening's Flight 1F even starts.

Of the (320) entries from yesterday's flights, (48) players were able to bag chips for tomorrow's Day 2, led by Donald Williams (341,500).  Williams was just a few hours removed from a deep run in Hard Rock's Escalator Series, in which he earned a lifetime best cash.  Being one of the top two stacks in Flight 1C, Donald would earn himself the chip lead bonus (a seat into Event #10), and would be joined by Frederico Camara (302,500).  Bagging the bonuses in Flight 1D were Anthony Albano (303,500), and Scott Efron (279,000).  Some other notables to bag during the second day of action were Brett Biegler (213,500), Michael Tait (177,000), Amy Wan (169,000), and Brian Haines (147,000).

Event #1 action will resume at 11:00am (with Flight 1E), as today's schedule offers the final opportunities to join this opening tournament of the series.

Tournaments: The 2018 Battles At The Beach series rolls, with the final pair of Event #1 starting flights.  The $175 No Limit Hold'em event boasts a $100,000 guarantee, which should be eclipsed before tonight's Flight 1F even starts.

The tournament is structured with starting stacks of 20,000 units, and levels that last (25) minutes over the course of the event.  Registration for each starting flight is open through Level 8 (and the break that follows), with the action scheduled to conclude after Level 16 (unless the field reaches the 10% mark before that point).  

Flight 1E (11:00am) and Flight 1F (6:00pm) are the last chances for those still looking to bag chips, with Day 2 action resuming tomorrow at 12:00pm (Wednesday).

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 - 2018 Battles At The Beach Event #1 (Flight 1E) | $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 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

- Levels will last (25) minutes

- All Day 1's will play (16) complete levels or until 10% of the field remains (whichever comes first)

6:00pm - 2018 Battles At The Beach Event #1 (Flight 1F) | $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 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

- Levels will last (25) minutes

- All Day 1's will play (16) complete levels or until 10% of the field remains (whichever comes first)

BATB Event #1 (Flight 1D): Official End Of Flight 1D Chip Counts,

2018 Battles At The Beach
Event #1 | $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 16 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/500) | Structure 
Total Flight 1D Entries: 170
Flight 1D Players Remaining: 26

Anthony	Albano*	303,500
Scott	Efron*	279,000
Ronald	Morone	233,500
Brett	Biegler	213,500
Charbel	El Beyrouti	210,000
Steve	Raeman	207,000
John	Dermody	181,000
Michael	Tait	177,000
Jason	Kudron	160,000
Gregg	Jaffy	128,000
Eric	Polirer	122,500
Dimitry	Agrachov	119,500
Pinchas	Chakchakov	118,500
Luckenson	Pericles	112,500
Salvador	Germosen	97,000
Marlon	Ramos	97,000
Nikki	Morgan	93,000
Elliott	Zaydman	92,000
Marco	Cantizani	89,500
Sal	Accardi	76,000
Manny	Perez	71,500
Robert	Feinstein	64,500
David	Rivera	60,500
John	Bilas	47,000
Luis	Abedtabbo	42,500
Michelle	Keller	37,000