ICYMI: If yesterday's turnout was a sign of things to come, then we are going to be in for a very special series this year (and why shouldn't we, it's the tenth anniversary of the FSPC). The series kicked off yesterday afternoon, with the first pair of opening flights for Event #1, which is a $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD).
Between Flight 1A and Flight 1B, there were a total of (244) entries, which is really an impressive number for a Thursday. The combined prize pool sits at $32,940, which is already a third of the way to the posted guarantee, with six flights still remaining. As eye-popping as the numbers were, the end of day chip counts were even more surprising. Thomas Gari (Hollywood, FL) bagged the Flight 1A chip lead with 312,500, while Nathan Van Hare led Flight 1B with 356,500. David Albertson actually ended up bagging more than the Flight 1A leader (331,000), but missed out on an Event #9 seat because of Van Hare. The top ten stacks heading to Day 2 are rounded out by:
Kevin Naim - 304,500
Bret Grebow - 292,500
Tim Shane - 270,000
Joao Santos - 241,000
Michael Corbett - 228,500
Mihaly Lukacs - 227,500
Tom Gity - 209,000
That list will surely change over the next three days, as six flights are still left to be played, starting with today's Flight 1C (11:00am) and Flight 1D (6:00pm).
Tournaments: Today's schedule hosts the second pair of opening flights for Event #1 (of the 2018 Florida State Poker Championship), which is a $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD). There will be six starting flights over the next three days (Friday through Sunday), with players that bagged chips returning on Monday, for Day 2 action. Each of the flights have the same structure, with players sitting down to starting stacks of 20,000 units, and levels during the tournament that last (25) minutes. Registration for each flight is open through Level 8 (and the break that follows, allowing almost four hours for players to join the action. The "chip lead bonus" is back, as each of the flight's chip leaders will earn a seat into Event #9, which is an $1,100 No Limit Hold'em ($200,000 GTD).
Each of the afternoon flights will have live blogged coverage, kicking off at 11:00am, and offering updates through each of the flight's bagging process. Evening flights will have official counts posted at their conclusion, with follower's getting wall-to-wall coverage during Monday's Day 2.
Promotions: From (9:00am-10:00am), the high hand will award $150 every (30) minutes. The high hands will then transition from 10:00am-6:00pm, 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.
Then, from 6:00pm-12:00am, players can win up to $1,500 every (30) minutes. If the high hand is made on the flop, and then qualifies as the winning hand for the half hour, the player will be awarded $1,500 (no limit Hold'em games only). If the hand is flopped in a limit Hold'em game or tournament, and it holds up for the thirty minute period, they will be awarded $750.
Following that promotion, from 12:00am-9:00am, eligible high hands will be awarded $100 every hour.
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).
11:00am - 2018 Florida State Poker Championship Event #1 (Flight 1C) | $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 Florida State Poker Championship #1 (Flight 1D) | $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)
