Thursday, April 19, 2018

$175 NLH $100,000 GTD" (Flight 1C): Official End Of Flight 1C Chip Counts

$175 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 16 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/500)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 99

Flight 1C Players Remaining: 15


TomGity C212,500
DonaldWilliams200,500
RafaelCalero197,500
MikeBanas150,500
KenBruno147,500
AlanSaltzman117,000
JosephGotlieb109,000
JustinLevy109,000
NiallCostigan101,000
Joe Conti93,000
DavidMacDonald90,000
StevenRosen82,500
AaronFriedman76,000
JeffSilverstein49,500
AndreRakusa48,000

"$175 NLH $100,000 GTD" (Flight 1C): After Eventful Final Few Hands, Tom Gity Grabs The Chip Lead Bonus

$175 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 16 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/500)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 99

Flight 1C Players Remaining: 15

Tom Gity (Pompano Beach, FL) had the chip lead as the final three hands started...lost it to Rafael Calero...then Donald Williams...but regained the top spot on the final hand of the night.

The race for the chip lead bonus saw the lead change each of the final three hands, with Tom Gity picking up the blinds and antes on the final hand, to secure himself a $1,100 No Limit Hold'em ($200,000 GTD) seat.  Tom unofficially put 210,000 in his Day 2 bag, which was just a few thousand more than both Donald Williams and Rafael Calero.  

Official chip counts from the flight will be posted once all bags have been verified by tournament staff.  This will conclude live blogged coverage for the day, but followers can check back late this evening for official chip counts from Flight 1D.

"$175 NLH $100,000 GTD" (Flight 1C): Play Enters Final Level Of Flight 1C, Chip Lead Bonus Still Up For Grabs

$175 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 16 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/500)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 105

Flight 1C Players Remaining: 19



The tournament clock just transitioned into Level 16, which is the final scheduled level of flight.  Players will continue through the 10:00 minute mark, 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 Sunday (Day 2 at 12:00pm).

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

"$175 NLH $100,000 GTD" (Flight 1C): The Look From Atop The Leaderboard Has Changed Dramatically

$175 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 15 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/500)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 99

Flight 1C Players Remaining: 20

Mike Banas catapulted himself to the top of the leaderboard, after rolling through Levels 13 and 14, finding himself with 150,000 in chips.

The names that were once leading the flight (Joseph Gotlieb and Dafney Adisson) have dropped significantly...in fact, Adisson is no longer an active player in the field.  They have been replaced by names like Mike Banas and Alan Saltzman.  Both players hold just above 150,000, as we enter the final two levels of play.  While it may look like a two horse race at the moment, the chip lead bonus is a realistic possibility for basically everyone remaining in the field.

Mike Banas - 158,000 (52bb)
Alan Saltzman - 153,000 (51bb)

"$175 NLH $100,000 GTD" (Flight 1C): Seating Assignments For Final Three Tables In The Field

$175 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 14 (Blinds 1,200/2,400/400)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 99

Flight 1C Players Remaining: 26

As Flight 1C winds down, and the race for the chip lead bonus heats up, we offer a list of remaining players (by table lineup):

Table 1
  1. Richard Wetter
  2. Gary Blais
  3. Steve Cardarelli
  4. Andre Rakusa
  5. Alan Saltzman
  6. Mike Jones
  7. Dafney Adisson
  8. Donald Williams
Table 3
  1. Steven Rosen 
  2. Rafael Calero
  3. Eric Nichols
  4. Tracy White
  5. Yousef Nassr
  6. David MacDonald
  7. Niall Costigan
  8. Jeffrey Silverstein
Table 9
  1. Mike Banas
  2. Joseph Conti
  3. Tom Gity
  4. Marc Wolfe
  5. Spyder McCarthy
  6. Joseph Gotlieb
  7. Justin Levy
  8. Kenneth Bruno
  9. Aaron Friedman
  10. Wilnor Mercado




"$175 NLH $100,000 GTD" (Flight 1C): Updated Chip Counts After Final Break, Kings Good For Gity

$175 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 13 (Blinds 1,000/2,000/300)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 99

Flight 1C Players Remaining: 30


Tom Gity (Pompano Beach, FL) had been quiet for most of the day, but just shot up the leaderboard after securing a double-up.

Isle Poker tournament notable Tom Gity (Pompano Beach, FL) found himself all-in just a few hands back from break, holding K K♠ against Q♣ Q♠.  Tom would flop top set, and have his opponent drawing dead, after the board paired on the turn.  With that double, Gity went from the middle of the pack, to the top seven on the leaderboard.  Listed below, are the updated counts from the field, tallied just after play resumed:

Joseph Gotlieb - 165,000 (82bb)
Dafney Adisson - 120,000 (60bb)
Alan Saltzman - 100,000 (50bb)
Wilnor Mercado - 100,000 (50bb)
Tom Gity - 85,000 (42bb)
Andre Rakusa - 80,000 (40bb)
Justin Levy - 80,000 (40bb)
Joseph Conti - 70,000 (35bb)

"$175 NLH $100,000 GTD" (Flight 1C): Kenneth Bruno Binks The Flop To Stay Alive

$175 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 12 (Blinds 800/1,600/300)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 99

Flight 1C Players Remaining: 30


Kenneth Bruno (Lake Worth, FL) went as far as to start walking away from the table when he was all-in, convinced that his hand wasn't going to win.

Sitting with just over ten big blinds, Kenneth Bruno (Lake Worth, FL) shoved over an open from Mark Wolfe, racing for his tournament life:

Bruno: 8 8♣ 
Wolfe: A♠ K♣

Runout: 8♠ 54♠ 4♣ 2

"Excuse me...I'm on my way," Bruno said, even before the dealer began to fan out the flop.  The premature "goodbye" ended up working for Kenneth, who doubled up to over 40,000.  Grinding a short stack is familiar territory for Bruno, who would have to be considered one of the better players when faced with that hurdle.


"$175 NLH $100,000 GTD" (Flight 1C): Joseph Gotlieb Wins A Massive Pot To Grab Flight 1C Chip Lead

$175 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 11 (Blinds 600/1,200/200)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 99

Flight 1C Players Remaining: 32


Joseph Gotlieb (Hollywood, FL) called a bet on the flop to hopefully hit a gut shot, spiking the dream turn to eventually ship a massive pot.

Just as the final minutes were ticking off the clock in Level 11, the largest pot of the flight played out at Table 9.  Four players were all-in on the turn of a board that read 10♠ A♣ 9♠ 7, vying for a pot that was worth close to 150,000:

Board: 10♠ A♣ 9♠ 7

Joseph Gotlieb: 6♣ 8 (turned straight)
Dmitry Agrachov: A 7♠ (two pair)
Player X: Q J (open-ended draw)
Player Y: A♠ K♣ (ace-high)

River: 5

The 2017 WSOP Circuit $1,675 Main Event winner (from Seminole Hard Rock) turned a straight to take the lead, with his hand holding up after the river.  With over 150,000, Gotlieb is now the Flight 1C chip leader, with only five levels remaining in the afternoon.

"$175 NLH $100,000 GTD" (Flight 1C): Niall Costigan Eliminates Lawrence Klur, Quickly Gives Some Back

$175 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 10 (Blinds 500/1,000/200)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 99

Flight 1C Players Remaining: 43


Niall Costigan (Lake Worth, FL) was still able to smile, even after taking a rough beat to lose a pot worth close to 28,000.

At Table 5, Niall Costigan (Lake Worth, FL) would limp from UTG+1, and watch as Lawrence Klur shoved all-in (for 12,000), from middle position.  After the rest of the table folded back to Niall, he would quickly place the chip across his cards, putting Lawrence at risk:

Costigan: J J♠
Klur: 9♠ 7♠ 

Runout: A♠ 9 3♣ J Q♠

"I was just getting impatient," Klur said, as he tabled his cards and stood from his chair.   The runout would see him drawing dead on the turn, with Niall getting pushed the 26,000 pot.  That would bring him above 80,000, but just two hands later, Niall found himself in a very similar position.  He called another short stacked player's shove (13,000), holding 9♠ 9 against A♣ 10♣.  Niall faded the flop, but things got interesting after his opponent turned a club draw.  The flush would come on the river for Costigan's adversary, even with a little needle, as it was the 9♣.  Costigan still profited from the two hands, and now sits with 60,000.

Niall Costigan - 60,000 (60bb)

"$175 NLH $100,000 GTD" (Flight 1C): Updated Chip Counts From The Field, Adisson Looking For Another Deep Run

$175 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 9 (Blinds 400/800/100)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 99

Flight 1C Players Remaining: 52


Dafney Adisson (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) used to be an Isle Casino Pompano Park security guard, but now is protecting his tournament chips, as a player in the field.

It looks as if we spoke to soon in regards to the flight's chip leader after break, as Wilnor Mercado has been surpassed by Dafney Adisson (Ft. Lauderdale, FL).  Followers of the blog may remember Adisson's name, as he was part of the four-way deal that ended Event #16 of the Battles At The Beach ($360 No Limit Hold'em).  The former security guard, here at the Isle Casino, earned just over $13,450 for his second place share of the chop.  That cash was just a month after his breakout score, when Dafney reached the final table of the $1,675 No Limit Hold'em WSOP Circuit at Coconut Creek (6th Place - $47,573).

Dafney leads the field with over 115,000, and happens to be the only player above the century mark:

Dafney Adisson - 116,000 (145bb)
Wilnor Mercado - 98,000 (122bb)
Joseph Conti - 80,000 (100bb)
Alan Saltzman - 60,000 (75bb)
Frank Traino - 58,000 (72bb)
Tom Gity - 50,000 (62bb)
Justin Levy - 35,000 (43bb)

"$175 NLH $100,000 GTD" (Flight 1C): Wilnor Mercado Leads As Players Head To Second Break, Registration Window Closing

$175 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 8 (Blinds 300/600/75)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 96


Wilnor Mercado is a new name to the blog, but is introducing himself to the followers in a big way, as the chip lead of Flight 1C at registration's close.

Players are about to head on their second break of the day, and will be returning to Level 9, with new blinds of 400/800/100.  Once the first hand is dealt of Level 9, registration for Flight 1C will be close, with the numbers just slightly less than yesterday's pace.  Updated chip counts will follow the break, but we do know who the leader is going to be when action returns, as Wilnor Mercado left his table with just under 95,000.  Mercado is somewhat of a "wild card," as research yields just one recorded result on Hendon Mob, coming during a $100 buy-in recurring event in 2005 (from the Palms in Las Vegas).

Wilnor Mercado - 94,000 (156bb)

"$175 NLH $100,000 GTD" (Flight 1C): Steve Rosen Gets The Perfect Flop, More Than Doubles Up

$175 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 7 (Blinds 250/500/75)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 92



Steve Rosen (Delray Beach, FL) primarily plays in higher buy-in events, but decided that he didn't want to pass up on the potential value this event will carry.

There were three players standing at Table 6, which was a good indication that something big was unfolding.  It just so happened that three players were all-in pre-flop, for a pot worth close to 40,000, with the hands already face up on the table.  Steve Rosen (Delray Beach, FL) held a slim lead, but ended up basically securing the win on the flop:

Rosen: 8♣ 8
Player X: A K
Player Y: 6♣ 6♠

Runout: 8 4 4♠ J♣ 3

Steve flopped a full house, which he ended up needing every bit of, as the one opponent who had him at risk, ended up making a flush on the river.  Rosen, who has over $59,000 in live tournament earnings, is now well above the current chip average (26,000).

Steve Rosen - 41,000 (82bb)

"$175 NLH $100,000 GTD" (Flight 1C): Koppel Putting In The Hours, Hoping To See A Return With First Tournament Win

$175 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 6 (Blinds 200/400/50)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 85


Adam Koppel (Wellington, FL) is coming off both a Battles At The Beach and Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown series, in which he cashed in one event.

Adam Koppel (Wellington, FL) was one of the most recent entries into the field, and sits down off his best year of tournament poker.  Adam earned over $37,754 in 2017, which included his largest tournament cash to date (a 58th place finish in the $5,250 SHRPO Championship Event, worth $13,551).  Koppel has (20) recorded results on his tournament resume, but is still looking for his first title.  He's made four final tables, including a 7th place finish in Event #1 of the Florida State Poker Championships ($9,923).  A deep run in this event could become a highlighting score, but finding a bag is Adam's first goal.  Other notables not yet mentioned the field, that are also looking to find a bag, including names like:

Alan Kaplan
Frank Traino
Donald Williams
Justin Levy
Kenneth Bruno
Steven Rosen
Dmitry Agrachov
Jose Parra
Brenda Nelson

"$175 NLH $100,000 GTD" (Flight 1C): Adding their Name To The "Who Loves It More" List

$175 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 5 (Blinds 150/300/50)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 87


Scott Zakheim (Davie, FL) would be our leading candidate in the Flight 1C field for the coveted "Who Loves It More" list.

For those that may not know about the "who loves it more" movement, it's a running joke in the poker community, regarding tournament players that seemingly find themselves in every available event.  Someone like Ari Engel...who wins the Aussie Millions, and is then cashing in a tournament in Tunica just a few days later (not a true scenario, but just an example)...he would top the list.  There are a number of players in our group of notables that would be great candidates for the list, including Scott Zakheim (Davie, FL), who is currently in the Flight 1C field.

Zakheim has been cashing in tournaments since 2006, recording (142) results on Hendon Mob since that point.  Scott can be found playing events with buy-ins ranging from $100 to $3,500, and has seen success in many of those tournaments.  It's also easy to "love it more" when you have over $759,000 in career earnings, like Zakheim does.  Some other candidates in the Flight 1C field include:

Andre Rakusa
Garrick Young
Joseph Durso
Stephen Ekin
Robert Chusid
Thomas Gari
Michael Fryett
Shlomo Maman
Alberto Niebla
David Oshry

"$175 NLH $100,000 GTD" (Flight 1C): Steven Bennett Coming Off Career Highlighting Score

$175 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 4 (Blinds 100/200/25)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 72


Steven Bennett (Deerfield Beach, FL) sits down at the Isle Poker Room for the first time since earning the largest tournament cash of his career.

Looking at Steven Bennett's (Deerfield Beach, FL) tournament resume, one could say that he's one of the most overlooked players in the Florida community.  After recording his first tournament cash in August of 2012, Bennett went on to record an eye-popping (156) results since.  His career earnings entering the most recent Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open were just over $550,000, which was also very impressive to see.  Once the first event of the series was over...his earnings went up to $736,825, after shipping the $570 No Limit Hold'em (Event #1) tournament for $186,308.  Steven bested a field of 3,030 entries, to head a four-way deal that ended the event, helping him earn the largest score of his career.

Bennett would go on to cash in one more event during the series ($1,100 No Limit Hold'em WPT Deepstacks), and is now in the Flight 1C field.  Steven's is looking to best his largest Isle Poker Room score, which came back in October of 2015 ($570 No Limit Hold'em during the Isle Poker Open - 9th Place $18,605).  Some other notables in the field that are playing for the first time this tournament include:

Robert Campbell
Eddie Uehara
Ross Ramlal

Players will be taking their first break at the end of this level, returning to Level 5, and new blinds of 100/200/25.

"$175 NLH $100,000 GTD" (Flight 1C): Official Chip Counts (Flight 1A-Flight 1B)

$175 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 3 (Blinds 75/150/25)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 65




"$175 NLH $100,000 GTD" (Flight 1C): As This Event Grows, So Does The Buzz Surrounding Next Week's $200,000 GTD Single-Ante

$175 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 2 (Blinds 50/100)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 50





Before delving into today's action, we are going to give blog followers a brief reminder about next week's big tournament.  The $1,100 No Limit Hold'em Single-Ante ($200,000 GTD) is the poker room's first multi-flight event to use the single-ante format, which has become so popular since introducing it to the Florida poker community last August.  The $1,100 price point is also running outside of the series for the first time ever, boasting a very healthy guaranteed prize pool of $200,000.  If that number seems a little out of reach for players, there are numerous (which is an understatement) opportunities to join for a fraction of the prize.  Beginning on April 23rd (Monday), and running through the final opening day of the tournament, a wide array of satellites are offered for players.  The above structure sheet and flyer list all of the information players would need to know in regards to the tournament.

"$175 NLH $100,000 GTD" (Flight 1C): Numbers Expected To Grow, As Third Starting Flight About To Get Underway

$175 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 1 (Blinds 25/50)
Total Flight 1C Entries: N/A




Players are just taking their seats, as Tournament Supervisor Ralph Brandt finishes up the rules announcement for Flight 1C.  This third starting flight (of eight total) comes after a very successful opening day, as the first pair of flights attracted a total of (211) entries.  Those are some impressive numbers to start the action, especially when you consider the event started on a Wednesday (when most typically start on Thursday).  If things were to stay on that exact pace, the final prize pool would fall somewhere around $115,000...but trends have proved that the field sizes are only going to grow over the next three days.  Of the entries from yesterday, (24) players were able to bag chips for Day 2, led by Anthony Abdo (Flight 1A) and Joseph Marchese (Flight 1B).  Those players both earned seats into next week's $1,100 No Limit Hold'em Single-Ante ($200,000 GTD), courtesy of the flight's chip lead bonus.

Today's flights carry the same structure as those that came before, with starting stacks of 18,000 units, and levels that will last (25) minutes over the course of the event.  Registration is open through Level 8 (and the break that follows), with the day scheduled to end at the conclusion of Level 16 (or if the 10% mark is reached).  There are eight starting flights over the next four days, with an afternoon (11:00am) and evening (6:00pm) flight each day (Wednesday through Saturday).  Players that successfully bag chips for Day 2 will be returning this Sunday, with action resuming at 12:00pm.  The chip lead bonus is also back (as we just mentioned), with the top stack from each starting flight, earning a seat into next week's $1,100 No Limit Hold'em Single-Ante ($200,000 GTD).

Thursday, April 19th: Abdo And Marchese Top The First Pair Of $175 NLH $100,000 GTD Flights, As The Action Continues Today

ICYMI: Yesterday was the opening day of the $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD), with the first two (of eight total) flights for the event.  If yesterday was sign of things to come, then we are in for a pretty special event, as both flights eclipsed the century mark (in regards to entries).  With Flight 1A getting (105) entries, and Flight 1B attracting (106) entries, a total of $27,852 is already going towards the overall prize pool.  The pace would eventually give us a prize pool close to $115,000, but history shows that the numbers are going to grow even larger moving forward.  

While much of the focus would be on the players that bagged chips for Sunday's Day 2, the real interest was in regards to who would win the chip lead bonus from each flight.  Earning the $1,100 No Limit Hold'em ($200,000 GTD) seat from Flight 1A was Anthony Abdo (289,000), while Joseph Marchese (331,500) grabbed the bonus during Flight 1B.  A total of (24) players successfully bagged chip from both flights, including names like Bret Grebow (310,500), James Hamburger (247,500), Sagi Zommer (245,500), Michael Tait (183,000), and Julian Wohlgemuth (152,000).  

A new group of players will be arriving to the poker room over the course of today, as the second pair of flights for the tournament are on tap.

Tournaments: The $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD) continues today, as the month's first multi-day tournament grows even larger.  There will be six more flights over the next three days, with players that successfully bag chips, returning on Sunday for Day 2.  The tournament is structured with starting stacks of 18,000 units, and levels that will last (25) minutes over the course of the tournament.  Registration is open through Level 8 (and the break that follows), with the opening flights scheduled to play through Level 16 (or unless the 10% mark is reached before that point).  The chip lead bonus is back in a big way, as the largest stack bagged from each flight, will earn a seat into next week's $1,100 No Limit Hold'em Single-Ante ($200,000 GTD).  The next four days will have two flights each, with an afternoon flight (11:00am), and an evening flight (6:00pm).  Live blogged coverage will be available during each afternoon flight, as well as Day 2 (detailed 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 -  $175 No Limit Hold'em - Flight 1C ($100,000 GTD) 

- Players start with 18,000 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 - $175 No Limit Hold'em - Flight 1D ($100,000 GTD) 

- Players start with 18,000 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)