$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Flight 1E): Official End Of Flight 1E Chip Counts

"Isle New Year Kickstart"
$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 GTD

Level 16 (Blinds 2,500/5,000/5,000)

Total Flight 1E Entries: 112

Flight 1E Players Remaining: 12

Michael	Weinberg	350,500
Al	Gomez	283,500
Allan	Bieler	282,000
Devin	Weinberg	251,000
Larry	Stoddard	204,000
Ariel	Rosello	190,500
Bill	Farnan	171,500
William	Swickhi	139,500
Dave	Richard	123,000
Mike	Bonsignore	109,000
Enrique	Perez	84,000
German	Zaga	42,500

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Flight 1E): Entering Final Level Of Play, Official Flight 1E Chip Counts To Follow

"Isle New Year Kickstart"
$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 GTD

Level 16 (Blinds 2,500/5,000/5,000)

Total Flight 1E Entries: 112

Flight 1E Players Remaining: 15

The tournament clock just transitioned over to Level 16, which is the final scheduled level of Flight 1E.  When there are 10:00 minutes remaining in the level, the clock will be paused, and the tournament supervisor will announce how many hands remain.  Once those hands are completed at each table, the bags will be brought out, and players will be handed their "ticket" for Day 2 (Sunday at 12:00pm).  There is a small caveat though...if the field reaches the 10% mark before the ten minute mark, the flight will end there.

Once the bagging process is completed, official chip counts from Flight 1E will be posted.

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Flight 1E): Remaining Players In The Flight 1E Field

"Isle New Year Kickstart"
$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 GTD

Level 15 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/4,000)

Total Flight 1E Entries: 112

Flight 1E Players Remaining: 19

As the tournament clock transitions to Level 15, just two tables remain active in the Flight 1E field.  Listed below, are the lineups of those tables, updating followers on every players that is still left:

Table 1

1. Dennis Brinn
2. Andy Davis
3. Ariel Rosello
4. Bob Mullen
5. Daniel Richard
6. Devin Weinberg
7. Al Gomez
8. Michael Weinberg
9. William Swicicki
10. Allan Bieler

Table 9

1. Ricky Perez
2. German Zaga
3. Gino Cham
4. Benjamin Robinson
5. Mark Proman
6. Larry Stoddard
7. Michael Bonsignore
8. Jeff Bohanek
9. Bill Farnan

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Flight 1E): Special January High Hand Promotion Begins At 6:00PM....Up To $500 Every (20) Minutes!!!

"Isle New Year Kickstart"
$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 GTD

Level 14 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/3,000)

Total Flight 1E Entries: 112
Flight 1E Players Remaining: 22

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Flight 1E): Updated Chip Counts Following Flight 1E's Final Break

"Isle New Year Kickstart"
$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 GTD

Level 13 (Blinds 1,500/2,500/2,500)

Total Flight 1E Entries: 112
Flight 1E Players Remaining: 24

The cards are in the air for Level 13, with players now posting blinds of 1,500/2,500/2,500 (93,000 chip average).  Four scheduled levels remain in the flight, with play concluded earlier, only if the 10% mark is reached (12 players).  Updated chip counts tallied during break are listed below:

Allan Bieler - 305,000 (122bb)

Michael Weinberg - 220,000 (88bb)

William Swicicki - 160,000 (64bb)

Devin Weinberg - 125,000 (50bb)

Ariel Rosello - 120,000 (48bb)

Bill Farnan - 105,000 (42bb)

Bob Mullen - 100,000 (40bb)

Andy Davis - 100,000 (40bb)

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Flight 1E): Allan Bieler Has Been Here Before...In Fact, It Was Less Than (24) Hours Ago

"Isle New Year Kickstart"
$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 GTD

Level 12 (Blinds 1,000/2,000/2,000)

Total Flight 1E Entries: 112
Flight 1E Players Remaining: 27

Allan Bieler looked to be heading towards finding a bag yesterday, but ended up busting Flight 1C short of his goal.

Around this time yesterday afternoon, Allan Bieler found himself atop the leaderboard, but ended up fizzling out before the bagging process.  While he's in a similar position today, his stack size is totally different, and should correlate with reaching the bagging process.  Bieler sits with close to 300,000, as play heads towards the final break of the day.  With four levels remaining after said break, and the memory of exiting the tournament field late in Flight 1C (without a bag), it's likely that Allan will take a different approach today.

Once players return from the flight's final break, we will update followers will chip counts from the field.

Allan Bieler - 315,000 (150bb)

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Flight 1E): Most Of The Chips Sitting At Table 1, So Big Pots Likely To Follow

"Isle New Year Kickstart"
$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 GTD

Level 11 (Blinds 800/1,600/1,600)

Total Flight 1E Entries: 112
Flight 1E Players Remaining: 31

Andrew Davis (Delray Beach, FL) is looking very comfortable at the moment, as he should, sitting with one of the largest stacks in the field.

There are currently four active tables in the field at the moment, which is going to get knocked down to three, after the next player elimination.  With the way the tables have broken since the last break, four of the top five stacks in the field have found themselves at Table 1:

William Swicicki - 170,000

Andy Davis - 140,000

Hal Pawluk - 140,000

Allan Bieler - 120,000

Andrew Davis (Delray Beach, FL) is looking to recapture his magic from two years ago, when he was part of an eight-way chop that ended a $75 No Limit Hold'em ($50,000 GTD) event ($6,071 for fourth place money).  Davis only had one recorded tournament result last year, and can eclipse that number with just a min-cash in this event. 

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Flight 1E): Updated Chip Counts From The Flight 1E Field

"Isle New Year Kickstart"
$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 GTD

Level 10 (Blinds 600/1,200/1,200)

Total Flight 1E Entries: 112
Flight 1E Players Remaining: 41

Players are now one level removed from the registration break, with (41) left in the field, all hoping to find bags at the end of this flight.  Some updated chip counts from the field are posted below:

A. Nonymous - 150,000 (125bb)

Andy Davis - 137,000 (114bb)

Allan Bieler - 130,000 (108bb)

William Swicicki - 125,000 (104bb)

Randy Matienzo - 100,000 (83bb)

Hal Pawluk - 100,000 (83bb)

Michael Weinberg - 95,000 (79bb)

Nagui Yassa - 85,000 (70bb)

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Flight 1E): Official Flight 1E Numbers Are In, And We're Just A Solid Evening Flight Away From Eclipsing The $100,000 Guarantee

"Isle New Year Kickstart"
$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 GTD

Level 9 (Blinds 500/1,000/1,000)

Total Flight 1E Entries: 112
Flight 1E Players Remaining: 42

Players have now returned to their seats, and cards are in the air for Level 9 of Flight 1E.  The fifth flight of the tournament saw registration close with (112) entries, of which (42) still remain active in the field.  The $17,696 from this flight added to the number prior, brings the combined total to $84,314, leaving us just one solid flight away from reaching the posted guarantee.  The likelihood is very high that we will see the $100,000 mark reached this evening, making tomorrow just a "pot builder."  

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Flight 1E): As Registration Window Closes, William Swicicki Heads To Break With The Chip Lead

"Isle New Year Kickstart"
$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 GTD

Level 8 (Blinds 400/800/800)

Total Flight 1E Entries: 103

William Swicicki (Tamarac, FL) has been recording tournament results here in Florida since 2012, with his last win coming in May of 2016.

Level 8 started just moments ago, and will be the final level of the flight with open registration.  There will be a (10) minute break at the end of the level, with the window closing once the first hand is dealt in Level 9.  Entering Level 8, the overall chip leader is William Swicicki (Tamarac, FL), who is the only player in the field over the century mark.  William currently sits with just over 140,000, which is a mark that's going to be tough to eclipse over the next thirty minutes (considering no other player is over 100,000).

William cashed in six events last year, all of which happened to be here at the Isle Poker Room.  His best result came during a $175 No Limit Hold'em ($50,000 GTD) multi, that ran in September (stand-alone).  Swicicki reached the final table of the event, finishing in eighth place, and earning himself $1,520.

William Swicicki - 144,000 (180bb)

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Flight 1E): Nagui Yassa Just Casually Flops...And Fades

"Isle New Year Kickstart"
$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 GTD

Level 7 (Blinds 300/600/600)

Total Flight 1E Entries: 97

For those that don't know Nagui Yassa (Ft. Lauderdale, FL), you can always spot him wearing his patented "WTF" hat.

Electronic devices are very prevalent at the poker tables, as players use them to "pass the time" between hands, and keep from boredom turning into catastrophe.  Passing Table 1, Nagui Yassa (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) was playing a game on his phone (what looked like the old school Nintendo game Arkanoid), seemingly oblivious to what was going on at the table.  That would explain our surprise, when we suddenly saw Yassa dump his remaining 14,000 stack across his cards, on a flop of J♥ 10♥ 3♦. Nagui was actually involved in a hand, and would get called by a shorter stacked player.  When the cards were tabled, it would be Nagui's J♠ 3♠ (flopped two-pair) against K♥ Q♦ (open ended straight draw, with running flush possibilities).  The turn (6♠) and river (8♠) ran out clean for Yassa, who knocked out his opponent, and chipped back up above the starting stack.

Yassa is coming off a solid 2018, which was headlined by a win in the $360 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD) stand-alone event, that ran in November (the win was worth $20,750).

Nagui Yassa - 30,000 (50bb)

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Flight 1E): When You're Winning A Pot, Nothing Is Too Small

"Isle New Year Kickstart"
$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 GTD

Level 6 (Blinds 300/500/500)

Total Flight 1E Entries: 93

Michael Weinberg (Delray Beach, FL) has over $26,000 in lifetime tournament earnings, including a $10,500 score in a $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD) last April (here at the Isle Poker Room).

Passing Table 2, we'd spot one of the early chip leaders (Michael Weinberg) scooping up a sizable pot, having just knocked out an opponent.  The very next hand, six players went to the flop in a limped pot, including Weinberg (in position).  The action would check around on the 8♠ 7♣ 2♥ flop, with a player in middle position then wagering 400, after the 6♥ on the turn (with three players calling, including Weinberg).  Once the K♦ completed the board on the river, action checked around again, with two players announcing they had a six.  Weinberg followed by saying he had a seven, tabling the 7♦, and winning the "small-ish" sized pot.  Regardless of the size, it helped increase Michael's stack, and puts him atop the leaderboard.

Michael Weinberg - 90,000 (180bb)

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Flight 1E): Early Look At Updated Chip Counts From The Flight 1E Field

"Isle New Year Kickstart"
$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 GTD

Level 5 (Blinds 200/400/400)

Total Flight 1E Entries: 88

Players have just returned from their first break of the day, which signifies the halfway point of the open registration period.  The blinds in Level 5 have increased to 200/400, with a 400 big blind ante, allowing someone to buy-in now with (50) big blinds.  While it is early in the action, it's never "too early" to take a look at some updated chip counts from the field.

Ricky Perez - 85,000 (212bb)

A. Nonymous - 70,000 (175bb)

Paul Winters - 65,000 (162bb)

Dan Wason - 60,000 (150bb)

Michael Weinberg - 55,000 (137bb)

Daniel Genachte - 45,000 (112bb)

Scott Efron - 42,000 (105bb)

Allan Bieler - 40,000 (100bb)

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Flight 1E): After A Failed Bluff Attempt Ended His Afternoon Yesterday, Thomas Gari Back In Action

"Isle New Year Kickstart"
$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 GTD

Level 4 (Blinds 200/300/300)

Total Flight 1E Entries: 83

Thomas Gari (Hollywood, FL) took what he thought was a good line in his final hand of Flight 1C, but unfortunately ran into an opponent who was never going to fold his holdings. 

Thomas Gari (Hollywood, FL) is a long-time veteran of tournament poker, so he's pretty much found himself in most every position a player can.  Late in yesterday's flight, Gari was heads up on the river against Dai Lam, with a board reading J♦ 7♦ 8♠ Q♥ 9♣.  There was a pre-flop raise, and bet-call on the flop, with the action going check-check on the turn.  The two players were holding similar sized stacks, so the outcome of said hand was going to pretty much determine the future for one of the two players.  Lam ended up leading out for 11,000 on the river (which was a pot sized bet), and with just over 35,000 left, Gari announced himself all-in.  Lam quickly made the call, and watched as Gari tabled A♦ 9♥, turning his rivered pair into a bluff.  Unfortunately for Gari, Lam held 10♠ 5♠, having rivered the straight (which was the winning hand).  The stacks were counted down, and that would be the end of the line for Thomas's Flight 1C efforts.

Gari is back in the field today, putting his failed bluff attempt behind, and looking to once again reach the later stages of the flight.  Thomas headlines our second look at notables in today's field, joining the likes of:

Kenneth Bruno

Levi Pruss

Mark Wasserman

Elliot Goldman

Alan Saltzman

Richard Stein

Larry Stoddard

Luiz Stadler

Hugh Hardy

Philip Consolo

Irwin Block

Glen Canelstein

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Flight 1E): To No Surprise, Flight 1E Of The "Kickstart" Firing Right Out Of The Gate

"Isle New Year Kickstart"
$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 GTD

Level 3 (Blinds 100/200/200)

Total Flight 1E Entries: 70

Blaine McRae (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) has made a habit of final tabling recurring events here at the Isle, but will never shy away from a multi that offers value such as this tournament.

We are only three levels into Flight 1E, and it's already clear that things are going to be even busier than the afternoon flight from yesterday (Flight 1C).  The tournament area has seven active tables at the moment, with that number expected to grow, with still five levels of open registration remaining.  One of the first notables spotted in the field may not be a name familiar to those following the "live blogged coverage" of major events, but if you are checking the results on a daily basis, than you recognize Blaine McRae (Ft. Lauderdale, FL).  McRae is a recurring event "crusher" here at the Isle, cashing in what seems like numerous events every week.  In 2018, he totaled over $25,600 in tournament earrings, most of which were from recurring event results.  Blaine did have one headlining score just under a year ago, when he was part of a six-way chop in a $250 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD) event (outside of a series, here at the Isle Poker Room).  His sixth place share of the chop was worth $10,620, and still stands as Blaine's largest tournament cash.

McRae is joined in this early Flight 1E field by other notables, such as:

Stuart Greenbaum

Yi Ding

Daniel Genachte

Allan Bieler

Joseph Mancuso

Zaki Lichaa

Michael Weinberg

Abraham Mevorah

Vicki Holmes

William Reich

Ariel Rosello

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Flight 1E): Official Chip Counts (Flight 1A-Flight 1D)

"Isle New Year Kickstart"
$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 GTD

Level 2 (Blinds 100/200)

Total Flight 1E Entries: 45

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Flight 1E): With The Weekend Underway, Some Solid Showing Are Expected For Friday's Flights

"Isle New Year Kickstart"
$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 GTD

Level 1 (Blinds 100/100)

Total Flight 1E Entries: N/A

After three successful days to start the $200 No Limit Hold'em "Isle New Year Kickstart" ($100,000 GTD), we have reached the halfway point of the "starting period" for the event.  With four flights in the books, the "Kickstart" now has a total of (421) entries, and (48) players already heading to Sunday's Day 2.  The current prize pool sits at $66,618, and with the crowds expected this afternoon (and evening), we should see the $100,000 guaranteed number eclipsed tonight.  

Players are already seated in the field for Flight 1E, with the cards to start flying just minutes form now.  Today's live blogged coverage will begin with an post featuring full Day 2 chip counts to this point, followed by a look at notables in the Flight 1E field.

Friday, January 4th: "Kickstart" Continues To Impress, Should Eclipse Guarantee This Evening

ICYMI: The $200 No Limit Hold'em "Isle New Year Kickstart" ($100,000 GTD) continued it's impressive form yesterday, as Flight 1C and Flight 1D attracted a combined total of (212) entries.  There were (26) players that successfully booked their tickets to Day 2, with (15) coming out of Flight 1C, and (11) from Flight 1D.  The official chip counts from Flight 1C are listed below:

Nathaniel Moore - 248,000
Pedro Palacio - 224,500
Jason Atherley - 218,000
Michael Pawelek - 200,000
Linda Lipkins - 192,500
Noel Atherley - 172,500
Thomas Svensen - 144,000
John Mayers - 126,500
Andre Rakusa - 120,000
Michael Ingber - 93,000
Alexander Perez - 85,500
Kimberly Jones - 72,000
David Bleau - 65,000
Julian Wohlgemuth - 53,500
Randy Burnstein - 46,500

The two largest stacks (to this point) came out of Flight 1D, with the official chip counts from the evening flight listed below:

Rodney Moret-Rojas - 417,500
Douglas Decker - 414,000
Steven Krackomberger - 300,000
Kemball Grant - 247,500
Richard Saunders - 204,000
Jean Holland - 140,500
Paulo Treu - 131,000
Michael Zelen - 128,000
Leroy Jones - 114,000
Carey Pickus - 66,5000
Andrew Daire - 48,000

The "Kickstart" now has a total of (421) entries, of which (48) players have bagged chips for Day 2.  The current prize pool of $66,518 is more than halfway towards the posted guarantee ($100,000), with the number to potentially be eclipsed at some point today.

Tournaments: Today's schedule focuses strictly on the "Isle New Year Kickstart" with two starting flights (and a satellite) on the slate.  Flight 1E (at 11:00am) and Flight 1F (6:00pm) both carry the same structure: with 20,000 unit starting stacks, (30) minute levels, and registration that is open through Level 8.  Play is scheduled to conclude after Level 16, or if the 10% mark is reached before that point (which has happened the first two flights of the event).

At 2:00pm, there is a $55 No Limit Hold'em Satellite into the "Isle New Year Kickstart." The satellite it structured with 10,000 unit starting stacks, (15) minute levels, and registration that is open through Level 8.

Promotions: The high hands will run from 9:00am-12:00am, 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.  

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).

From 12:00am-3:00am, the high hand will be awarded $100 every (60) minutes.

11:00am - $200 No Limit Hold'em "Isle New Year Kickstart" ($100,000 GTD) Flight 1E

- 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 (30) minutes

- Day 2 on Sunday, January 6th (12:00pm)

2:00pm - $55 No Limit Hold'em Satellite Into "Isle New Year Kickstart"

- Players start with 10,000 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 (15) minutes

6:00pm - $200 No Limit Hold'em "Isle New Year Kickstart" ($100,000 GTD) Flight 1F

- 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 (30) minutes

- Day 2 on Sunday, January 6th (12:00pm)

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Flight 1D): Official End Of Flight 1D Chip Counts

"Isle New Year Kickstart"
$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 GTD

Level 16 (Blinds 2,500/5,000/5,000)

Total Flight 1D Entries: 110

Fight 1D Players Remaining: 11

Rodney	Moret	417,500
Douglas	Decker	414,000
Steve	Krackomberger	300,000
Kemball	Grant	247,500
Richard	Saunders	204,000
Jean	Holland	140,500
Paulo	Treu	131,000
Michael	Zelen	128,000
Leroy	Jones	114,000
Carey	Pickus	66,500
Andrew	Daire	48,000