Saturday, February 2, 2019

$360 NLH $50,000 GTD (Day 2): Zachary Mullennix Wins $360 NLH $50,000 GTD, Gary Fitzgerald Runner-Up

$360 No Limit Hold'em
$50,000 GTD
Level 27 (Blinds 30,000/60,000/60,000)
Total Entries: 182
Players Remaining: 1

Zachary Mullennix (Pittsburgh, PA) 1st Place - $15,515

Gary Fitzgerald (Miami, FL) 2nd Place - $9,770

$360 NLH $50,000 GTD (Day 2): Sheldon Gross Exits In 3rd Place ($5,800), Mullennix And Fitzgerald Now Heads-Up

$360 No Limit Hold'em
$50,000 GTD
Level 26 (Blinds 25,000/50,000/50,000)
Total Entries: 182
Players Remaining: 2


Sheldon Gross (Hillsboro Beach, FL) 3rd Place - $5,800

$360 NLH $50,000 GTD (Day 2): Updated Three-Handed Chip Counts

$360 No Limit Hold'em
$50,000 GTD
Level 26 (Blinds 25,000/50,000/50,000)
Total Entries: 182
Players Remaining: 3


As action continues on three-handed, we bring you the updated counts from the level's transition:
  1. Zachary Mullennix - 1,525,000 (30bb)
  2. Gary Fitzgerald - 1,650,000 (33bb)
  3. Sheldon Gross - 500,000 (10bb)

$360 NLH $50,000 GTD (Day 2): Myles German Eliminated In 4th Place ($3,495)

$360 No Limit Hold'em
$50,000 GTD
Level 25 (Blinds 20,000/40,000/40,000)
Total Entries: 182
Players Remaining: 3

Myles German (Boca Raton, FL) 4th Place ($3,495)


$360 NLH $50,000 GTD (Day 2): Mark Dube's Title Run Ends, Eliminated In 5th Place ($2,720)

$360 No Limit Hold'em
$50,000 GTD
Level 23 (Blinds 15,000/25,000/25,000)
Total Entries: 182
Players Remaining: 4

Mark Dube (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) 5th Place - $2,270

Mark Dube (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) entered Day 2 as one of the most accomplished players in the field (along with Scott Baumstein), boasting a resume with over $2,216,000 in lifetime earnings.  Even though he started the final table as one of the shorter stacks, he was able to build, but busted from the tournament just moments ago (earning $2,720 for his fifth place finish).

$360 NLH $50,000 GTD (Day 2): Jean-Pierre Gagnon's Run End With A 6th Place ($2,275) Finish

$360 No Limit Hold'em
$50,000 GTD
Level 23 (Blinds 15,000/25,000/25,000)
Total Entries: 182
Players Remaining: 5

Jean Pierre Gagnon (Quebec) 6th Place - $2,275

Not much was known about Jean Pierre Gagnon (Quebec) during Flight 1A of this event, but he quickly became a popular name during the action, eventually bagging 112,000 for today's Day 2.  Today's sixth place finish was good for $2,275, which is more than double Gagnon's lifetime earnings when he started the day.

$360 NLH $50,000 GTD (Day 2): No Short-Stacked Miracle For Joel Lumpkins, Eliminated In 7th Place ($1,970)

$360 No Limit Hold'em
$50,000 GTD
Level 22 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/20,000)
Total Entries: 182
Players Remaining: 6

Joel Lumpkins (Lauderhill, FL) 7th Place - $1,970

After surviving an all-in on the bubble, Joel Lumpkins (Lauderhill, FL) was able to spin his stack up, and found himself in the middle of that pack, when the final table started.  Once the final table got underway though, he trended steadily downward, and returned from the most recent break with just four big blinds.   He was not able to find himself a double, and would be eliminated in 7th place, earning $1,970 for his efforts.  This was Joel's first recorded cash since last June, and helped bring his lifetime earnings above $19,000.

$360 NLH $50,000 GTD (Day 2): Two Quick Eliminations, As Scott Levitt (9th Place) And Michael Garavuso (8th Place) Fall Before Break

$360 No Limit Hold'em
$50,000 GTD
Level 22 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/20,000)
Total Entries: 182
Players Remaining: 7

Michael Garavuso (Glendale, NY) 8th Place - $1,750

Michael Garavuso (Glendale, NY) came into the day with the fourth largest stack, but just saw his final table run end in eighth place ($1,750).  This was Michael's first final table since an event at Tampa in October of last year.  The cash from today's efforts brings his lifetime earnings over $102,000, with today's result his first recorded at the Isle Poker Room this year.

Scott Levitt (Delray Beach, FL) 9th Place - $1,550

"It's been a while," Scott Levitt (Delray Beach, FL) said to start the day, referencing his gap between scores here at the Isle.  While he came into the day as the overall chip leader, the cards just didn't quite cooperate with him today, as he earns $1,550 for his ninth place finish.


$360 NLH $50,000 GTD (Day 2): Updated Chip Counts At Break, Returning To Level 22

$360 No Limit Hold'em
$50,000 GTD
Level 22 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/20,000)
Total Entries: 182
Players Remaining: 7


The remaining final table players are currently on break, and will be returning to Level 22, with new blinds of 10,000/20,000/20,000.  Updated chip counts from the final table are posted below:
  1. Jean Pierre-Gagnon - 385,000 (19bb)
  2. Mark Dube - 295,000 (14bb)
  3. Zachary Mullennix - 850,000 (42bb)
  4. Gary Fitzgerald - 580,000 (29bb)
  5. Myles German - 1,000,000 (50bb)
  6. Sheldon Gross - 550,000 (27bb)
  7. Joel Lumpkins - 88,000 (4bb)

$360 NLH $50,000 GTD (Day 2): Robert Christensen First To Exit Final Table, Out In 10th Place ($1,360)

$360 No Limit Hold'em
$50,000 GTD
Level 21 (Blinds 8,000/16,000/16,000)
Total Entries: 182
Players Remaining: 9

Of the (34) players that returned for today's Day 2, Robert Christensen was dead last in chips, but made his way to the final table.

To say Robert Christensen's (Homosassa, FL) run to the final table was a surprising one, would have to be an understatement...considering he came into Day 2 with the shortest stack (30,000).  Christensen was able to find an early double, and continued the upward trend from there.  Today's cash is Robert's first since 2014, when he finished third in a "Seniors 50+" event ($2,624).  While he may have fallen short of his ultimate goal, Robert has to be pleased with the $1,360 cash for tenth place.

$360 NLH $50,000 GTD (Day 2): Myles German Leads Final Table, New Seating Assignments (With Chip Counts)

$360 No Limit Hold'em
$50,000 GTD
Level 20 (Blinds 6,000/12,000/12,000)
Total Entries: 182
Players Remaining: 10


After the elimination of Scott Baumstein (New York, NY) in 11th place, the remaining players were given their new final table seating assignments.  The lineup for the final table is listed below, along with their updated chip counts:
  1. Jean Pierre-Gagnon - 460,000
  2. Mark Dube - 160,000
  3. Scott Levitt - 135,000
  4. Zachary Mullennix - 390,000
  5. Richard Christensen - 295,000
  6. Gary Fitzgerald - 253,000
  7. Myles German - 735,000
  8. Michael Garavuso - 220,000
  9. Sheldon Gross - 600,000
  10. Joel Lumpkins - 460,000

$360 NLH $50,000 GTD (Day 2): 11th-12th Places ($1,360)

$360 No Limit Hold'em
$50,000 GTD
Level 20 (Blinds 6,000/12,000/12,000)
Total Entries: 182
Players Remaining: 10

The following players have been eliminated from Day 2 of the $360 No Limit Hold'em ($50,000 GTD), and have cashed for $1,360:

11. Scott Baumstein (New York, NY)
12. Robert Flacco (Ambler, PA)

$360 NLH $50,000 GTD (Day 2): 13th-15th Places ($1,180)

$360 No Limit Hold'em
$50,000 GTD
Level 20 (Blinds 6,000/12,000/12,000)
Total Entries: 182
Players Remaining: 12

The following players have been eliminated from Day 2 of the $360 No Limit Hold'em ($50,000 GTD), and have cashed for $1,180:

13. Marc Duquette (Boca Raton, FL) 
14. Jerry Willis (Margate, FL)
15. Christopher Arcidiacano (Rochester, NY)

$360 NLH $50,000 GTD (Day 2): 16th-18th Places ($1,015)

$360 No Limit Hold'em
$50,000 GTD
Level 19 (Blinds 5,000/10,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 182
Players Remaining: 15

The following players have been eliminated from Day 2 of the $360 No Limit Hold'em ($50,000 GTD), and have cashed for $1,015:

16. Evan Kahan (Boca Raton, FL)
17. Riley Fuller (Boca Raton, FL)
18. Carlos Rodriguez (Miami, FL)

$360 NLH $50,000 GTD (Day 2): Joel Lumpkins Doubles Through Myles German, No Sweat Needed

$360 No Limit Hold'em
$50,000 GTD
Level 18 (Blinds 4,000/8,000/8,000)
Total Entries: 182
Players Remaining: 16

Joel Lumpkins (Lauderhill, FL) is all smiles, after doubling up through Myles German, as he now sits with 190,000.

We passed Table 3 just as there was an all-in (Joel Lumpkins) and a call (Myles German), with the board reading K K♣ J♣ 9.  Lumpkins quickly tabled K 9, having turned a full house, with German rolling over Q10♠ (turning the straight).  Regardless of the river, Joel was doubling up to 190,000, while German saw his stack almost cut in half.

Joel Lumpkins - 190,000 (23bb)
Myles German - 116,000 (14bb)

$360 NLH $50,000 GTD (Day 2): Updated Seating Assignments (Post Re-Draw)

$360 No Limit Hold'em
$50,000 GTD
Level 17 (Blinds 3,000/6,000/6,000)
Total Entries: 182
Players Remaining: 18


After the elimination of Nagui Yassa, the remaining players were given new seating assignments, with the final re-draw coming at the final table.  The new table lineups for the final eighteen players are posted below:

Table 1
  1. Robert Christensen
  2. Zachary Mullennix
  3. Evan Kahan
  4. Mark Dube
  5. Sheldon Gross
  6. Scott Levitt 
  7. Joel Lumpkins
  8. Michael Garavuso
  9. Jean-Pierre Gagnon
Table 3
  1. Riley Fuller
  2. Robert Flacco
  3. Gary Fitzgerald
  4. Myles German
  5. Marc Duquette
  6. Jerry Willis
  7. Carlos Rodriguez
  8. Scott Baumstein
  9. Chris Arcidiacano

$360 NLH $50,000 GTD (Day 2): Nagui Yassa Eliminated On The Money Bubble (By Gary Fitzgerald)

$360 No Limit Hold'em
$50,000 GTD
Level 17 (Blinds 3,000/6,000/6,000)
Total Entries: 182
Players Remaining: 18

Gary Fitzgerald (Miami, FL) went from thinking he was the bubble boy, to relaxing back in his chair, while the dealer pushed him a pot close to 200,000.

On the eleventh hand of the bubble, Nagui Yassa would open for a raise at Table 1.  Action folded around to Gary Fitzgerald, who was in the big blind, and ended up three-bet shoving.  Yassa quickly made the call, with the two player's stacks very close in size:

Yassa: A Q♣
Fitzgerald: 10♠ 10

Runout: 4 K 9 5 Q

Fitzgerald locked up the hand on the turn, having made a flush, but actually thought he was eliminated with the queen on the river.  He was made aware that he had the winning hand, and watched as the dealer cut out both stacks.  Gary had 2,000 more than Yassa, meaning Nagui would be the event's "bubble boy."  The field is now going through it's first redraw, with updated seating assignments to follow.

$360 NLH $50,000 GTD (Day 2): Zachary Mullennix Eliminates Shawn Vrenna On The "Double Bubble"

$360 No Limit Hold'em
$50,000 GTD
Level 16 (Blinds 3,000/5,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 182
Players Remaining: 19

Zachary Mullennix (Pittsburgh, PA) got max-value out of his nut-flush, and eliminated Shawn Vrenna in the process.  The field is now one off the money.

The field has now entered the "hand-for-hand" process, as we are one of the money...courtesy of Zachary Mullennix.  With a board reading A♣ J J♣ 9♣, Mullennix was heads up with Shawn Vrenna, and had just bet 18,000 (into a pot close to 50,000).  Vrenna only had 44,000 total, so he wasn't too quick to make his decision, knowing he'd likely have to face a river-bet as well (for all of his chips).  Vrenna did decide to make the call, and sure enough, Mullennix would bet enough to put Vrenna all-in (after the 6 completed the board).  Shawn stood up from his chair and made the call, pretty much resigned to the fact he had the losing hand.  Zack turned over K♣ 7♣, having turned the nut-flush, which was good enough to win the pot (Vrenna had A♠ 7♠).

The field is now on it's fourth hand of bubble play, with two minute removed from the clock each completed hand.

$360 NLH $50,000 GTD (Day 2): One Of The Leaders Coming Into Day 2 (Thomas Millward), Heads To The Exit

$360 No Limit Hold'em
$50,000 GTD
Level 16 (Blinds 3,000/5,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 182
Players Remaining: 28

Sheldon Gross wasn't camera shy, giving his best celebration pose, after knocking out Thomas Millward.

Thomas Millward (Boca Raton, FL) came into Day 2 with a stack of 171,000, which was the fifth largest (of the 34 returning).  He's now out of the tournament, after being eliminated by Sheldon Gross.  Table 4 was approached on the turn, with the board reading Q♠ 10 5 6♣.  Michael Garavuso had bet 13,000, with Sheldon Gross raising to 55,000.  Millward then three-bet shoved (for just over 70,000), which caused Garavuso to release his hand.  Sheldon quickly made the call, and the cards were turned over:

Gross: Q 6
Millward: K♠ Q♣

River: 8♠

Millward saw the bad news when the cards were tabled, as his hand that was ahead on the flop, got out-turned by Sheldon.  Gross's two-pair would hold up after the river, and he'd chip up to 200,000, while Millward collecting his things and left the tournament area.

Sheldon Gross - 200,000 (40bb)

$360 NLH $50,000 GTD (Day 2): Scott Baumstein Has His Sights On One Goal...Grabbing The $15,510 Up Top

$360 No Limit Hold'em
$50,000 GTD
Level 15 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/4,000)
Total Entries: 182
Players Remaining: 31

If Scott Baumstein wasn't on the poker world's radar prior to the PCA, he surely is now, after finishing fourth in the $25,000 No Limit Hold'em Players Championship.

There are a lot of times that we see events like this end in a chop, but you can be sure there is one player in the field that has no interest in making deals.  Scott Baumstein (New York, NY) came into Day 2 with 107,000, which puts him right in the middle of the pack.  Regardless of his standing coming back, Baumstein has to be considered one of the more dangerous players in the field, especially coming off his most recent result.  Baumstein returned from the PCA just a few weeks ago, off the heels of a fourth place finish in the coveted $25,000 No Limit Hold'em Players Championship.  The result was worth $1,657,000, and stands as Scott's largest career cash.  His lifetime earnings are now $3,562,970, and his quickly cementing himself as one of the top tournament players in the world.  

Just as we finished writing up this piece on Baumstein, he would take a massive blow to his stack.  Baumstein would three-bet shove (after three players called a raise pre), with Christopher Lawson making the call for less (from the big blind), and the rest of the players folding behind.  Scott's 8♠ 8 was well behind Christopher's K♣ K♠, with the runout holding up for Lawson.  Baumstein is now left with less than five big blinds, and needs some serious heat to return.

$360 NLH $50,000 GTD (Day 2): Scott Levitt Leads The Group, As Day 2 Action Now Underway

$360 No Limit Hold'em
$50,000 GTD
Level 14 (Blinds 2,000/3,000/3,000)
Total Entries: 182
Players Remaining: 34

Scott Levitt (Delray Beach, FL) comes into the day with the overall chip lead, sitting down to a Day 2 stack of 205,000.

The rules announcement has been made by Tournament Supervisor Ralph Brandt, and Day 2 of the $360 No Limit Hold'em ($50,000 GTD) is now underway.  Play resumes in Level 14, with blinds of 2,000/3,000, and a 3,000 big blind ante.  The group of (34) players to start the day is led by Scott Levitt (Delray Beach, FL), who is coming off his best statistical year of tournament poker.  Levitt earned over $164,000 in 2018, with results that included a $22,740 score in a stand-alone $360 No Limit Hold'em event (in January), and a third place finish in the $1,000 No Limit Hold'em Single-Ante that ran in April ($24,805).

The tournament will continue with (30) minute levels through it's conclusion, with just over half of the field reaching the money (18 players get paid in this event).  Updates will be posted throughout the day, including official results (as each pay jump is reached).

$360 NLH $50,000 GTD (Day 2): Official Day 2 Chip Counts (Seating Assignments)

$360 No Limit Hold'em
$50,000 GTD
Level 14 (Blinds 2,000/3,000/3,000)
Total Entries: 182
Players Remaining: 34


$360 NLH $50,000 GTD (Day 2): Official Payouts, $15,515 Scheduled To First Place

$360 No Limit Hold'em
$50,000 GTD
Level 14 (Blinds 2,000/3,000/3,000)
Total Entries: 182
Players Remaining: 34


Saturday, February 2nd: Day 2 Of $360 No Limit Hold'em ($50,000 GTD) Headlines, With $150 No Limit Hold'em ($5,000) Taking Second Billing

ICYMI: Yesterday's tournament schedule hosted three starting flights for the $360 No Limit Hold'em ($50,000 GTD).  For the first time in a while, we saw an event that had just one day of flights, followed by a Day 2 the following afternoon...and the players seemed to love the format.  The posted guarantee was eclipsed early in the evening (as Flight 1C began), with the tournament officially attracting (182) entries, which equates to a prize pool of $55,510.  Of the combined entries from the three flights, (34) players bagged chips for today's Day 2, with action resuming at 1:00pm.  Posted below, are the top five chip counts heading into Day 2:

Scott Levitt205,000
CarlosRodriguez183,000
MarkDube180,000
MichaelGaravuso174,500
Thomas Millward171,000

The official payouts for the $360 No Limit Hold'em ($50,000 GTD) will be released shortly, with updates on the action posted throughout the afternoon/evening.

Tournaments: Saturday's schedule gets started at 11:00am, with a $40 No Limit Hold'em Satellite into this afternoon's $150 No Limit Hold'em ($5,000 GTD).  The satellite is scheduled with 10,000 unit starting stacks, (15) minute levels, and registration that is open through Level 8.  The satellite will run with a (5) seat guarantee.

As mentioned above, players will be returning at 1:00pm for Day 2 of the $360 No Limit Hold'em ($50,000 GTD).  Action will resume with (34) players, posting blinds of 2,000/4,000/4,000 (in Level 14), and playing (30) minute levels for the rest of the tournament.

At 4:00pm, the action gets underway for the $150 No Limit Hold'em ($5,000 GTD).  The tournament is structured with 20,000 unit starting stacks, (20) 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-9:00am, the high hand will be awarded $100 every (60) minutes.

11:00am - $40 No Limit Hold'em Satellite Into $150 No Limit Hold'em ($5,000 GTD) 5 Seats GTD

- 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

1:00pm - $360 No Limit Hold'em ($50,000 GTD) Day 2

- 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

4:00pm - $150 No Limit Hold'em ($5,000)

- 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