$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Day 2): Players Agree To Nine-Way Deal, Rodney Moret-Rojas Takes Home First Place Money

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

Level 29 (Blinds 50,000/100,000/100,000)

Total Entries: 1,126

Players Remaining: 9

Once players returned from break, the idea of looking at the ICM numbers was brought up.  After hearing the numbers, and some negotiations...a deal was agreed to.  Rodney Moret-Rojas was declared the tournament's winner, taking home $18,764.  The official details of the deal are listed below:

1. Rodney Moret-Rojas (Troy, MI) $18,764
2. Robert Transue (North Lauderdale, FL) $13,863
3. Michael Pawelek (Buffalo, NY) $12,041
4. Dennis Brinn (Lake Worth) $12,000
5. Pedro Palacio (Coconut Creek, FL) $11,426
6. Al Gomez (Miami, FL) $10,500
7. Allan Bieler (Florida) $10,471
8. Enrique Perez (Miami, FL) $10,357
9. David Albertson (Coral Springs, FL) $7,406

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Day 2): Final Table Set, Seating Assignments (With Chip Counts To Follow)

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

Level 29 (Blinds 50,000/100,000/100,000)

Total Entries: 1,126

Players Remaining: 9

Devin Weinberg (11th place) and Louis Raton (10th place) were both eliminated moments ago (at separate tables), with the clock then pausing to redraw for the final table.  Listed below are the new seating assignments, with updated chip counts to be posted during the next break (in five minutes):

1. Allan Bieler - 1,500,000 (15bb)
2. Robert Transue - 3,500,000 (35bb)
3. Pedro Palacio - 2,400,000 (24bb)
4. Michael Pawelek - 2,700,000 (27bb)
5. Al Gomez - 2,000,000 (20bb)
6. Rodney Moret-Rojas - 5,900,000 (59bb)
7. Dennis Brinn - 2,600,000 (26bb)
8. Rick Perez - 1,800,000 (18bb)
9. David Albertson - 1,100,000 (11bb)

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Day 2): 10th-12th Places ($2,635)

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

Level 28 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/80,000)

Total Entries: 1,126

Players Remaining: 9

The following players have been eliminated from the $200 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD) "Isle New Year Kickstart," and have cashed for $2,635:

10. Louis Raton (Miami, FL) 

11. Devin Weinberg (Delray Beach, FL) 

12. Ken Arnaez (Boca Raton, FL) 

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Day 2): 13th-15th Places ($2,090)

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

Level 28 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/80,000)

Total Entries: 1,126

Players Remaining: 12

The following players have been eliminated from the $200 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD) "Isle New Year Kickstart," and have cashed for $2,090:

13. Steve Zukowski (Pompano Beach, FL) 

14. Ed Lark (Las Vegas, NV) 

15. Joseph Farinella (Chicago, IL)

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Day 2): 16th-18th Places ($1,730)

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

Level 28 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/80,000)

Total Entries: 1,126

Players Remaining: 15

The following players have been eliminated from the $200 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD) "Isle New Year Kickstart," and have cashed for $1,730:

16. Raymond Winters (Jupiter, FL) 

17. Javier Sarache (Wellington, FL)

18. Michael Weinberg (Delray Beach, FL) 

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Day 2): First Of Two Redraws, New Seating Assignments

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

Level 26 (Blinds 25,000/50,000/50,000)

Total Entries: 1,126

Players Remaining: 18

After the elimination of Gregg Weiss, the tournament clock was paused, as players were given new seating assignments (redraw at eighteen).  Listed below, are the new table lineups for the remaining players in the field:

Table 1

1. Ken Arnaez
2. Dennis Brinn
3. Raymond Winters
4. Michael Pawelek
5. Rodney Moret-Rojas
6. David Albertson
7. Allan Bieler
8. Javier Sarache
9. Louis Raton

Table 2

1. Pedro Palacio
2. Michael Weinberg
3. Steve Zukowski
4. Al Gomez
5. Devin Weinberg
6. Rick Perez
7. Joe Farinalla
8. Robert Transue
9. Ed Lark

In an interesting side note, you'll see two players at Table 2 with the last name Weinberg.  That would be the father (Michael) and son (Weinberg) combo that have managed to make it this far.  We've seen father/son combos cash in recurring events, but if the two were to make the final table, it would be the first time in an Isle Poker major event.

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Day 2): 19th-21st Places ($1,420)

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

Level 26 (Blinds 25,000/50,000/50,000)

Total Entries: 1,126

Players Remaining: 18

The following players have been eliminated from the $200 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD) "Isle New Year Kickstart," and have cashed for $1,420:

19. Gregg Weiss (Delray Beach, FL) 

20. Julio Fernandez (Miami, FL) 

21. Shamica Lamar (Wellington, FL) 

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Day 2): 22nd-24th Places ($1,205)

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

Level 26 (Blinds 25,000/50,000/50,000)

Total Entries: 1,126

Players Remaining: 20

The following players have been eliminated from the $200 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD) "Isle New Year Kickstart," and have cashed for $1,205:

22. Irwin Block (Deerfield Beach, FL) 

23. Tom Gity (Pompano Beach, FL) 

24. Andre Bryan (Pembroke Pines, FL) 

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Day 2): 25th-27th Places ($1,005)

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

Level 26 (Blinds 25,000/50,000/50,000)

Total Entries: 1,126

Players Remaining: 20

The following players have been eliminated from the $200 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD) "Isle New Year Kickstart," and have cashed for $1,005:

25. Trevor Samuels (Miami, FL) 

26. Kevin McGillicuddy (Tamarac, FL)

27. Dmitry Agrachov (Delray Beach, FL) 

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Day 2): Andre Bryan And Michael Pawelek Shoot To The Top

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

Level 25 (Blinds 20,000/40,000/40,000)

Total Entries: 1,126

Players Remaining: 27

Michael Pawelek (Buffalo, NY) became the overall chip leader, after his elimination of Anderson Patino.

We have two new "millionaires" in the field, as Andre Bryan and Michael Pawelek win massive pots late in Level 24.  Bryan went all-in for just over 530,000 on a 2♠ 4♥ 6♦ flop, with Gavin Gowie (who had him covered) going deep into the tank.  Gowie eventually found a call, which didn't excite Bryan, as he tapped the table and showed 3♥ 3♦.  Gavin held 7♠ 7♣, which was only in the lead for a moment, as Andre turned a 5♦ to make a straight.  Gowie then missed his outs on the river, meaning Bryan would chip up to 1,100,000.

Just a few hands later, Michael Pawelek was all-in pre-flop with K♥ K♠, agains the J♣ J♠ of Anderson Patino (who was at risk).  The two were playing for a pot worth over 1,700,000, which Pawelek won, after getting a clean runout.

Michael Pawelek - 1,750,000

Andre Bryan - 1,100,000

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Day 2): 28th-36th Places ($825)

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

Level 25 (Blinds 20,000/40,000/40,000)

Total Entries: 1,126

Players Remaining: 27

The following players have been eliminated from the $200 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD) "Isle New Year Kickstart," and have cashed for $825:

28. Michael Bonsignore (Hollywood, FL)

29. Stephen Bromfield (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

30. Frisner Stcyr (Miami, FL) 

31. Anderson Patino (Hialeah, FL) 

32. Gavin Gowie (Cape Coral, FL)

33. Sean Shah (Delray Beach, FL) 

34. William Handwerker (Rossland, NY) 

35. Mathieu Gaudette (Quebec)

36. Nathaniel Moore (Boca Raton, FL) 

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Day 2): 37th-45th Places ($715)

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

Level 24 (Blinds 20,000/30,000/30,000)

Total Entries: 1,126

Players Remaining: 36

The following players have been eliminated from the $200 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD) "Isle New Year Kickstart," and have cashed for $715:

37. Ryan Rackleff (Boca Raton, FL)

38. Douglas Decker (Port St. Lucie, FL)

39. Didier Bramy (Parkland, FL)

40. Marc Duquette (Boca Raton, FL) 

41. Cairo Kormann (Miami, FL) 

42. Tony Kern (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) 

43. Joseph Carrafa (Burlington, CT)

44. Evan Teitelbaum (Parkland, FL) 

45. Linda Lipkins (Boca Raton, FL)

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Day 2): Another Glance At Updated Day 2 Chip Counts

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

Level 23 (Blinds 15,000/25,000/25,000)

Total Entries: 1,126

Players Remaining: 45

With the blinds continually climbing, there larger stacks in the field are beginning to lean on their shorter stacked opponents.  The chip average still hovers around the twenty big blind mark, but within the next two levels, things will likely dip below that mark.

David Albertson - 1,600,000

Anderson Patino - 1,300,000

Tom Gity - 1,200,000

Dmitry Agrachov - 1,100,000

Steve Zukowski - 1,000,000

Rodney Moret-Rojas - 970,000

Pedro Palacio - 880,000

Allan Bieler - 750,000

Andre Bryan - 750,000

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Day 2): 46th-54th Places ($635)

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

Level 22 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/20,000)

Total Entries: 1,126

Players Remaining: 45

The following players have been eliminated from the $200 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD) "Isle New Year Kickstart," and have cashed for $635:

46. Jeffrey Bohanek (Lake Worth, FL)

47. Donald Gordon (Boynton Beach, FL)

48. Randy Burnstein (Aventura, FL)

49. Marc Bronstein (Delray Beach, FL) 

50. Sandra Seligman (Sunny Isles, FL)

51. Ariel Rosello (Hialeah, FL)

52. David Bleau (Jupiter, FL)

53. Edgard Mendes (Deerfield Beach, FL)

54. Michael Bleeker (Boca Raton, FL)

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Day 2): 55th-63rd Places ($575)

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

Level 22 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/20,000)

Total Entries: 1,126

Players Remaining: 50

The following players have been eliminated from the $200 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD) "Isle New Year Kickstart," and have cashed for $575:

55. Carey Pickus (Palm Beach Gardens, FL)

56. Jean Holland (Palm Beach Gardens, FL)

57. Kevin Blackwood (Pembroke Pines, FL)

58. Stephen Smith (Pembroke Pines, FL) 

59. David Seager (Wellington, FL)

60. Kemhall Grant (Pembroke Pines, FL)

61. Isamail Zaid (Sunrise, FL)

62. Scott Efron (Sunrise, FL)

63. David Maslowski (Lake Worth, FL)

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Day 2): Steve Zukowski Scoops Pot Of The Tournament To Assume Chip Lead

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

Level 21 (Blinds 8,000/16,000/16,000)

Total Entries: 1,126

Players Remaining: 50

Steve Zukowski (Pompano Beach, FL) is all smiles, as he stacks up some chips to color up.

Moments before the most recent break, Steve Zukowski (Pompano Beach, FL) took down the pot of the tournament, which vaulted him into the chip lead.  Zukowski raised under-the-gun with A♣ 10♣, and got calls from the cutoff, button, and small blind.  After the J♦ 3♣ 4♣ flop, Steve continued for 30,000, with the cutoff raising to 100,000.  The player on the button then shoved for 360,000, followed by another shove from the small blind (280,000).  Both Steve and the player in the cutoff made the call, and we'd have a four way all-in for a pot worth 1,300,000:

Small Blind: 3♦ 3♥

Cutoff: J♥ J♠

Button: J♣ 9♣

Zukowski: A♣ 10♣

Turn: 2♣

River: 9♥

With two sets, and two flush draws tabled, the but-flush would end up winning the hand.  Zukowski headed to break with a 1,300,000 stack, and is now the Day 2 chip leader.

Steve Zukowski - 1,300,000

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Day 2): 64th-72nd Places ($525)

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

Level 21 (Blinds 8,000/16,000/16,000)

Total Entries: 1,126

Players Remaining: 60

The following players have been eliminated from the $200 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD) "Isle New Year Kickstart," and have cashed for $525:

64. Paul Humphrey (Opalocka, FL)

65. Luis Galicia (Miami, FL)

66. Noel Atherley (Lake Worth, FL)

67. Jason Atherley (Lake Worth, FL)

68. Dan Avitsur (Miami Beach, FL)

69. Paulo Treu (San Jose, CA) 

70. John Mayers (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

71. George Lukawski (Parkland, FL)

72. Julien Durity (Miramar, FL)

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Day 2): 73rd-81st Places ($475)

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

Level 20 (Blinds 6,000/12,000/12,000)

Total Entries: 1,126

Players Remaining: 70

The following players have been eliminated from the $200 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD) "Isle New Year Kickstart," and have cashed for $475:

73. Pedro Olivo (West Palm Beach, FL)

74. Tracy White (Palm Beach Gardens, FL)
75. Ovenson Benoit (Delray Beach, FL) 
76. Thomas Macey (Boca Raton, FL)
77. William Farnan (Jupiter, FL)
78. Joseph Quiader (Tamarac, FL)

79. Jeffrey Oldakowksi (Pompano Beach, FL)

80. Marcin Plewinski (Coconut Creek, FL)

81. Oleg Karpov (Staten Island, NY)

$200 NLH "Isle New Year Kickstart" (Day 2): Updated Chip Counts From The Field

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

Level 20 (Blinds 6,000/12,000/12,000)

Total Entries: 1,126

Players Remaining: 72

Players are now four levels into Day 2, with the field shrinking down at a rapid pace.  We are also seeing the stack sizes getting shallow, as the current chip average is just over twenty big blinds.  A recent lap of the field yielded some of the larger remaining stacks:

David Albertson - 1,150,000 (95bb)

Rodney Moret-Rojas - 795,000

Mathieu Gaudette - 760,000

Kevin McGillicuddy - 700,000

Sean Shah - 680,000

Ken Arnez - 600,000

Julio Fernandez - 600,000

Tom Gity - 590,000

Evan Teitelbaum - 515,000 (42bb)