Event 1 (Flight 1E): Frederico Is "Better Than Ezra"

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 15 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/500)

Total Flight 1E Entries: 132

Frederico Camara (Oakland, FL)

Rami Ezra was incredibly aggressive at his second table of the day, seemingly in every hand that was dealt.  His unorthodox style was giving some players at the table fits, but after his tablemates had about an hour to play with him, the downward spiral began.  John Palace was the first to take a large portion of Rami's chips, but it would be Frederico Camara that finished him off for the flight.  Camara is now the flight's chip leader with just under (30) minutes remaining in the day (360,000).  There are some players in the 200-300,000 range, but Carmara is currently the clear favorite to bag the "chip lead bonus."

Camara has over $64,000 in live tournament earnings, with more than half of that coming from a July of last year, when he won a $120 No Limit Hold'em "Little Slick" event at Hard Rock Tampa ($39,797).

Event 1 (Flight 1E): Full Field Lineup (By Seating Assignment)

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 14 (Blinds 1,200/2,400/400)

Total Flight 1E Entries: 132

Here is a list of the players remaining in Flight 1E of Event 1, listed by seating assignments:

Table 7:

1. "Roger"
2. Susana Haedelt
3. Rob Jonsson
4. Omar Nassif
5. Bob Tinsbloom
6. Matthew Kelley
7. Ian Bishop
8. Paul Shafran
9. Frank Katana
10. Dolphins Powers

Table 10:

1. John Palace
2. Sahadeo Seenarraine
3. Dave Richard
4. Lynette Robinson
5. Kevin Scarola
6. Francis Margaglione
7. Frederico Camara
8. Rami Ezra
9. Will McCreany
10. Omar "Taxi" Ghanim

Table 11:

1. A. Nonymous
2. Ory Hen
3. Zaki Lichaa
4. Prince Rogers
5. Alan Chernotsky
6. B. Nonymous
7. Ariel Williams
8. Dave Miller
9. Joe Carrata
10. Michel Gariepy

Event 1 (Flight 1E): Updated Counts Before Field Is Revealed

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 13 (Blinds 1,000/2,000/300)

Total Flight 1E Entries: 132

There are currently (32) players remaining in this Flight 1E, and as we've been doing since Wednesday, a full lineup of the players remaining will be posted once we get down to three tables.  Here are some of the updated chip counts tallied from the middle of Level 13:

John Palace - 270,000

Michel Gariepy - 150,000

Rami Ezra - 120,000

Kevin Scarola - 120,000

Ory Hen - 115,000

Event 1 (Flight 1E): Palace Is Now Building Towers

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 12 (Blinds 800/1,600/200)

Total Flight 1E Entries: 132

John Palace (Jupiter, FL)

Only a few minutes after Rami Ezra won that massive pot against Francis Margaglione, the table broke, and Ezra was off to join some new tablemates.  Ezra stormed into his new table, playing nearly every hand, and pushing around a lot of chips.  He got involved in a hand where he check-shoved a four-way field after John Palace bet in position (on a K♦ J♥ 3♣ board).  Palace made the call with Q♥ Q♠, and would double up after besting Ezra's 2♠ 2♣, with the turn and river running out clean for John.

Palace then opened from early position to 3,200 (about four hands later), and after one player made the call, Ezra three-bet shoved for over 200,000.  Palace now had a very playable stack of 111,000, but took no time in announcing the call.  After the third player in the hand folded, both players hands were tabled:

Palace: A♦ A♠

Ezra: 10♠ 10♣

Runout: J♠ J♣ 3♥ 8♦ 9♦

Palace's pocket aces would hold, and in the matter of just (10) minutes, Palace would go from an average stack...to the chip leader with 230,000.

Event 1 (Flight 1E): Rami Runs Good With The Last Second Entry

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 11 (Blinds 600/1,200/200)

Total Flight 1E Entries: 132

Rami Ezra (Hallandale Beach, FL)

Of the (132) entries in this flight, Rami Ezra (Hallandale Beach, FL) was the absolute final entry into the field.  On the first hand of Level 9, Ezra was all-in and at risk, but happened to sit down to pocket ace...and doubled up.  Rami would pick up a few sizable pots over the course of the next (40) minutes, and after Francis Margaglione opened to 4,000 moments ago, Ezra would make the call in a heads-up pot.

The dealer placed down a flop of 10♥ 3♥ 3♦, with Ezra open-shoving for 104,000...almost ten times pot.  Francis snap-called, but was disgusted when he saw Ezra roll over J♣ 3♣, leaving his J♥ J♠ looking for some serious help.  The turn and river would close the door on those hopes, and Ezra would take the chip lead with over 200,000.

Margaglione was left with only 8,500, but in the matter of only four hands, is back up to 70,000.

Event 1 (Flight 1E): Katana Quadruples Up

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 10 (Blinds 500/1,000/100)

Total Flight 1E Entries: 132

Frank Katana (Toronto, Canada)

Percentages tend to flatten out when there are more than to or three players all-in pre-flop, so when Frank Katana (Toronto, Canada) rolled over the best hand in a four-way all-in situation, he wasn't feeling quite as strong about the potential results.  Katana had just over (10) big blinds, and was at risk:

Katana: 10♣ 10♦

Player X: 9♣ 9♦

Player Y: 8♠ 8♥

Player Z: K♦ Q♦

Runout: 9♠ 2♣ 4♠ 10♥ 2♠

Frank looked as if he'd be looking for another flight to enter, but after spiking the ten on the turn, he'd only need to fade a few of his opponents outs to scoop the pot.  With the board pairing on the turn, Katana turned his 13,100 into a much more playable stack of 51,000.

Event 1 (Flight 1E): Updated Chip Counts Post-Break

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 9 (Blinds 500/1,000/100)

Total Flight 1E Entries: 132

Lynette Robinson (Miami, FL)

Players are back from break, and the cards are once again in the air, with (60) players hoping to navigate their way to the Flight 1E bagging process.  Kevin Scarola still holds the chip lead, but a handful of players have vaulted into contention for that top spot.

Kevin Scarola - 120,000

Francis Margaglione - 116,000

Michel Gariepy - 80,000

Paul Shafran - 70,000

Craig Schliseinger - 70,000

Lynette Robinson - 67,000

Event 1 (Flight 1E): "Lee-ding" At Registration's Close

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 8 (Blinds 300/600/75)

Total Flight 1E Entries: 124

Kevin "Lee" Scarola (West Palm Beach, FL)

There are certain times you want to be leading a tournament field, and while midway through a Day 1 flight won't earn you much, it's better than the rest of the field can say.  Kevin "Lee" Scarola (West Palm Beach, FL) was the first player to eclipse the 100,000 mark, and has continued to trend upwards since then.  Scarola could be entering uncharted territory, having only two lifetime cashes on his resume, totaling just $678.

At the end of this level, players will be heading on their second (10) minute break of the day, with registration closing once the cards are in the air for Level 9 (Blinds 400/800/100).

Event 1 (Flight 1E): Last Look At Notables In The Field

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 7 (Blinds 250/500/50)

Total Flight 1E Entries: 123

The registration window for Flight 1E is closing, with just under (50) minutes remaining to enter (or re-enter this field).  Once registration closes, our "live coverage" focus shifts to the action at the tables, opposed to those players that are seated at the tables.  Before we concentrate on all of the actual poker hands and chip counts, we bookend our list of notables not yet mentioned in the field:

Darcy Deconza

Craig Schlesinger

Michel Gariepy

Ian Bishop

Sandy Sanchez

Marc Brown

Glen Canelstein

Event 1 (Flight 1E): New Look For The Best Name In The Game

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 6 (Blinds 200/400/50)

Total Flight 1E Entries: 111

Charlemagne Benjamin (Miami, FL)

From 2012-2015, Charlemagne Benjamin (Miami, FL) was just "testing the waters" of the Florida tournament poker circuit, accumulating less than $15,000 in combined earnings of the course of the four years.  Then came 2016, and Benjamin would have his breakout year, introducing himself as a player to be reckoned with on tournament scene.  Charlemagne recorded a total of (20) cashes for the year, totaling earnings just over $133,000.  He had four five-figure scores, all from events at Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood, as well as a final table during last year's Battles At The Beach (Event 6 - $250 No Limit Hold'em Bounty).

Benjamin's trademark dreadlocks set him aside from most all other players in any poker room he entered, but today we are seeing the "new look" Charlemagne for the first time.  The locks have been retired, and Benjamin is all business this afternoon.  The change has already brought some good fortune his way, as he reached the WPT Deepstacks $1,100 Main Event final table last month during the Lucky Hearts Poker Open (5th Place - $77,127).

Event 1 (Flight 1E): Field Continues To Grow, Century Mark Eclipsed

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 5 (Blinds 150/300/25)

Total Flight 1E Entries: 107

This afternoon's flight is already shaping up to be the largest of the three daytime flights to have been played, with four full levels (and a break) left before registration closes.  The weekday flights are difficult for many players to attend, so we are seeing an influx of familiar faces that are making their initial Event 1 appearance today:

Ariel Williams

Pedro Palacio

Frank Traino

David Miller

Charlesmange Benjamin

Dolphus Powers

Brian O'Keefe

Karin Powsner

Kristen Kober

Bruce Klein

Event 1 (Flight 1E): Raising The Stakes

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 4 (Blinds 100/200)

Total Flight 1E Entries: 83

Poker players are extremely lucky in Florida, especially here in South Florida, as there are numerous poker rooms to choose from in a small radius.  While there are tournaments going on at each and every property, many of the bigger named Florida tournament pros are making their way here, looking to grab their share of this massive prize pool.

John Palace's (Jupiter, FL) tournament resume started two years ago, and it's been trending upwards at a pretty steady rate. His yearly earnings went up from 2015 to 2016, and at the rate he's going this calendar year, he may eclipse those combined marks before the summer.  Palace has recorded (7) cashes since the calendar year started, included two Isle Poker Classic results, and three Lucky Hearts Poker Open results.

Ory Hen (Cooper City, FL) could be considered the Florida tournament poker "OG," with over (111) recorded cashes in his career.  Hen has over $1,113,000 in career earnings, and (7) outright wins on his resume, including a WSOPC ring and a title here at the Isle (2010 Isle Poker Open - $1,100 No Limit Hold'em $40,527).  Ory is the picture of tournament consistency, ranking in the top 800 in cashes each year since 2014 (and that's out of a player pool in the millions).

It's not easy to find true "friends" in the poker community, but having someone to talk hand histories, strategies, and just everything poker is such a positive for players.  Bryce McVay (Jupiter, FL) and the above mentioned John Palace have been friends long before poker, and the two just happened to both take interests in playing for more than recreation.  McVay has over $178,000 in live tournament earnings, and has cracked the top 900 in cashes both in 2015 and 2016  (again, that's out of a player pool in the millions).

Event 1 (Flight 1E): Third Time's A Charm

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 3 (Blinds 75/150)

Total Flight 1E Entries: 66

Francis Margaglione (Davie, FL)

As the saying goes, "If at first you don't succeed, try and try again."  Francis Margaglione (Davie, FL) is living by those words, firing his third starting flight of this event.  Margaglione looked as if he was going to bag a healthy stack during Flight 1A, leading the field in the later stages of the flight.  Any tournament player knows though, that a few unlucky hands or tough spots, and it's a swift exit from the field.  Francis likes his chances though if he can find a bag for Day 2, with over $126,000 in live tournament earnings, this isn't his first rodeo.  Margaglione headlines the first wave of notables this afternoon, joining the likes of:

Debra Pope

Robert Flacco

Paul Shafran

Alan Dobrow

Dwight Pinkerton

Michael Newman

Kenneth Shockett

Frank Katana

Matthew Kelley

John Scigliano

Event 1 (Flight 1E): Official Chip Counts Flights 1A-1D

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 2 (Blinds 50/100)

Total Flight 1E Entries: 51

Event 1 (Flight 1E): Friday's Likely To Bring A Full House

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 1 (Blinds 25/50)

Total Flight 1E Entries: 42

Tournament supervisor Ralph Brandt just finished up with his third rules announcement of the week, and the cards are in the air for the fifth of eight Event 1 opening flights.  To this point, Event 1 has attracted a total of (448) entries, with (59) players from that group booking tickets to Sunday's Day 2.   The tournament is already half of the way towards the $125,000 guaranteed prize pool, and with four "weekend" flights left on the schedule, we should see a number well north of the guarantee.  Four players have earned Battles At The Beach Main Event seats via the "chip lead bonus," and those lucky runners are:

Robert Urspruch (Flight 1A) - 396,500

James Plate (Flight 1B) - 477,000

Matthew Zarcadoolas (Flight 1C) - 317,500

Maurico Duarte (Flight 1D) - 308,000

Friday, February 17th: Weekend Started Early, Event 1 Field Growing

The large fields for the Event 1 starting flights were expected to show up with the weekend, but last night's Flight 1D drew a total of (159) entries.  It was the largest flight of the four to be played, and brought the combined Event 1 total to (448).  After the bagging process was over, a total of (20) players booked tickets for Day 2, bringing that combined total to (59).  The chip leaders from each flight were Matt Zarcadoolas (Ft. Lauderdale, FL), who bagged 317,500 in Flight 1C, and Maurico Duarte (who bagged 308,000 in Flight 1D).

The four remaining flights only need to average (120) entries per flight to reach the $125,000 guarantee, which would lead one to believe that this tournament is going to soar past that number.  The Flight 1E action gets underway at 11:00am, with "live blogged" coverage through the bagging process.

11:00am - Event 1 (Battles At The Beach) $175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 Guarantee (Flight 1E)

- Players receive 20,000 in tournament chips
- All late registrants and re-entries will receive a full stack
- Levels will be (25) minutes in length throughout tournament
- All Day 1's will play 16 levels, or when 10% of the field remains (whichever occurs first)
- The chip leader from each flight will earn a $1,500 Main Event seat

6:00pm - Event 1 (Battles At The Beach) $175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 Guarantee (Flight 1F)

- Players receive 20,000 in tournament chips
- All late registrants and re-entries will receive a full stack
- Levels will be (25) minutes in length throughout tournament
- All Day 1's will play 16 levels, or when 10% of the field remains (whichever occurs first)
- The chip leader from each flight will earn a $1,500 Main Event seat

Event 1 (Flight 1D): Official Flight 1D Chip Counts

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 16 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/500)

Total Flight 1D Entries: 159

Flight 1D Players Remaining: 20

Maurico	Duarte	308,000
Diego	Peres	296,500
Joel	Gossett	269,500
Rafael	Calero	233,000
Matan	Yehudai	229,000
Jay	Stafford	188,000
Manuel	Soltero	177,000
Matthew	Lessor	177,000
Claudio	Kalili	151,500
Zoltan	Czinkota	150,500
Florin	Moldovan	146,000
Jon	Brody	145,000
Robert	Kessler	138,500
Michael	Wetcher	111,000
Rafael	Ramos	97,000
Franc	Nemanic	93,500
Tom	Gity	90,000
Maury	Halperin	77,500
Jon	Grasso	51,000
Joe	Yselonia	50,500

Event 1 (Flight 1C): Official Flight 1C Chip Counts

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 16 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/500)

Total Flight 1C Entries: 102

Matthew	Zarcadoolas	317,500
David	Bell	242,000
Changfei	Cui	198,000
Nader	Bahhur	188,000
Richard	Wetter	164,000
Richard	Russ	122,000
Rostant	Ramlal	111,000
Roberto	Alvaredo	99,500
Joseph	Duchman	92,000
Austin	Bailey	87,500
Paula	Alibrandi	65,000
Valeria	Rodriguez-Ligeiro	59,000
Rolando	Garcia	58,000
Don	Brunelle	58,000
Mike	Kelly	57,000
Jason	Talbot	52,000
Mike	Hefley	35,500
Shlomo	Maman	34,500

Event 1 (Flight 1C): Zarcadoolas Does It

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 16 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/500)

Total Flight 1C Entries: 102

Matt Zarcadoolas (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)

As the final level was playing out, Matt Zarcadoolas (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) became very interested in where everyone stood in relation to the "race."  He got up from his seat during the latter stages of Level 16, and surveyed the field...and then proceeded to play in six of the last seven hands of the flight.  He happened to win all but one, and although he may not have needed to win all of those hands to bag the lead, it only padded his stack.  The numbers haven't been made official just yet, but Zarcadoolas bagged well over 300,000, and earns himself a seat into the 2017 Battles At The Beach Main Event.

Once the tournament staff finishes up with the bagging process, the official chip counts from the flight will be posted.  This will conclude the "live coverage" for the day, but you can check back for updates in regards to the "evening" flight (Flight 1D), along with official chip counts once the night is over (around 2:30am).

Event 1 (Flight 1C): And Down The Stretch They Come!

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 16 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/500)

Total Flight 1C Entries: 102

Players are entering the final level of play, and just like yesterday's afternoon flight (Flight 1A), things are going to come down to the final few hands.  David Bell (Cornwall-On-Hudson, NY) has taken the chiplead, sitting as the only player with a stack above 200,000 (Bell has 240,000).  Bell has over $387,700 in live tournament earnings, included a runner-up finish at the 2013 WPT Best Bet Jacksonville  Main Event ($175,712).  David has three outright wins on his resume, including two that came right here at the Isle (2011 Battles At The Beach $120 NLH and 2013 Isle Poker Classic $1,110 NLH Six-Max).

David Bell - 240,000

Matt Zarcadoolas - 170,000

Nader Bahhur - 140,000

Roberto Alvarado - 140,000

Richard Wetter - 130,000

Event 1 (Flight 1C): "Could Have Used A Few More Callers"

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 15 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/500)

Total Flight 1C Entries: 102

Nader Bahhur (Hollywood, FL) is now part of "race" for the chiplead bonus.

Nader Bahhur (Hollywood, FL) has had a roller coaster last few levels, going from average stack...to all-in and at risk...to over 100,000...and back down again.  He was down to (20) big blinds moments ago, and was involved in a three-way all-in with Manuel Soto and Phil S (Bahhur had both players covered).

Bahhur: 10♦ 10♠

Soto: 5♠ 5♣

Phil S.: A♦ K♠

Board: 10♣ J♠ 8♥ 8♦ Q♦

Bahhur flopped middle set, but was still at risk to losing if Phil spiked a queen on the turn or river.  When the board paired on the turn though, Nader had things locked up, and would chip up to 160,000 (almost tripling up).  Bahhur now sits with a top five stack in the field, and within reach of the flight's chip lead with two levels to go.

Event 1 (Flight 1C): Three Tables Remain

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 14 (Blinds 1,200/2,400/400)

Total Flight 1C Entries: 102

As promised, here are the table lineups for the three tables that remain in Flight 1C:

Table 9:

1. Matt Zarcadoolas
2. Francis Margaglione
3. Ronald Hirsch
4. Shlomo Maman
5. Richard Wetters
6. Antonio Albanes
7. Rolando Garcia
8. Michael Hefley
9. Don Bruno
10. Roberto Alvarado

Table 1:

1. Paula Alibrandi
2. Valeria Rodriguez
3. Mike Kelley
4. Nader Bahhur
5. Norman Zapczynski
6. Richard Ross
7. Uri Kadosh
8. Phil S.
9. Ross Ramlal
10. Manuel Soltero Luna

Table 3:

1. Tayfun Akbasli
2. David Bell
3. Jason Talbot
4. Austin Bailey
5. Nagy Yassa
6. Joseph Duchman
7. Jesse Cui
8. Robert Flacco
9. Debra Pope
10. David Walker

Event 1 (Flight 1C): Updated Chip Counts Before Final Break

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 12 (Blinds 800/1,600/200)

Total Flight 1C Entries: 102

Flight 1C players are about to take their final (10) minute break of the day, and will return to finish the last four scheduled levels.  With the blinds and antes increasing, and the stack ratio thinning out, we are starting to see the action pick up.  Posted below are updated chips counts tallied just before break:

Richard Wetter - 164,000
Joseph Duchman - 130,000
Matt Zarcadoolas - 90,000
Paula Alibrandi - 90,000
Debra Pope - 85,000
Mike Kelley - 75,000
Don Bruno - 70,000

Event 1 (Flight 1C): Wetter Emerges As Flight's Leader

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 11 (Blinds 600/1,200/200)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 102

Richard Wetter (Palm Beach Gardens, FL)

It's taken a little longer than we've seen in flights prior, but a big stack has emerged from the field, and it's Richard Wetter (Palm Beach Gardens, FL).  Wetter is likely feeling "groovy" after decimating his neighbors stack (Antonio Albanes, featured earlier in the wild glasses), and now sits with over 160,000.  Wetter has just under $50,000 in live tournament earnings, and owns a WSOPC ring, won in the Seniors Event (2013) at the Palm Beach Kennel Club ($34,250).

The Flight 1C field is now down to (39) players, and once action reaches three tables, we will update you on all of those remaining (full table lineup).

Event 1 (Flight 1C): "How Good Is She Running?"

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 11 (Blinds 500/1,000/100)

Total Flight 1C Entries: 102

Debra Pope (Arlington, TX)

Approaching Table 4, Debra Pope (Arlington, TX) would be heads-up on the river of a board reading 3♣ 4♥ Q♥ 2♠ 2♦.  Pope, who was playing one of the larger stacks in the field, bet enough on the river to put her opponent all-in.  The unknown player quickly called, and after Pope rolled over 4♠ 4♣, picked his cards up from the table in disgust.  "How good is she running," he exclaimed, as he showed a deuce before tossing his hand into the muck and leaving the table.

With that sizable pot, Debra is just shy of 100,000, and sits with a top three stack in the flight.  Pope has over $11,500 in live tournament earnings, and is coming off a final table at SHR ($250 No Limit Hold'em Holiday Deepstack - 3rd Place $5,954).

Event 1 (Flight 1C): Now's When It Counts

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 9 (Blinds 400/800/100)

Total Flight 1C Entries: 102

The remaining Flight 1C players have returned from break, and with registration now closed, the only option to "re-enter" is one of the upcoming flights.  This flight drew an official number of (102) total entries, which is the second largest field of the three flights to have been played to this point.  A total of (58) players returned from the break, looking to navigate their way through another eight levels, and reach the flight's bagging process.  Posted below are updated chip counts from the beginning of Level 9:

Tayfun Akbasli - 110,000

Paula Alibrandi - 95,000

Michael Hefley - 68,000

Valeria Rodriguez - 63,000

Francis Margaglione - 60,000

Don Bruno - 58,000

Event 1 (Flight 1C): Late Arrivals As Registration Window Closes

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 8 (Blinds 300/600/75)

Total Flight 1C Entries: 93

Flight 1C play just entered Level 8, which is the last level before registration closes (players have until the beginning of Level 9 to enter, after the second scheduled break).  While a good number of players have busted and re-entered, there have been new faces in the field since we last updated:

Ronald Hirsch

Norman Zapczynski

Karen Rutherford

Frederick Allenspach

Debra Pope

Bryan Power

Earl Gallegos

Paulius Bikus

While the "reportable" action has been lacking, players will return from break with average stacks of (30) big blinds.  As the field reaches Level 10-11, the action will surely pick up, and we will begin to see some larger stacks emerge from the group.

Event 1 (Flight 1C): Alibrandi Grabs The Early Lead

"Battles At The Beach"

Event 1 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $125,000 GTD)

Level 6 (Blinds 200/400/50)

Total Flight 1C Entries: 83

Paula Alibrandi (Miramar, FL)

The action has been fairly slow over the course of the first five levels of the day, with a large portion of the field hovering around the chip average of 25,000.  One player to have gained a little separation from the field has been Paula Alibrandi (Miramar, FL).  Sitting with just over 70,000, Paula is looking to bag chips on one bullet for this event, and eventually add to an already impressive tournament resume.  

Alibrandi has over $113,000 in live tournament earnings, and is coming off a year in which she recorded (8) cashes, totaling $14,061 in earnings.  While a large percentage of her (41) career results have come here in Florida, Alibrandi has actually seen her most tournament success while in the state of New York.  Paula's best cash came in 2015 at the Seneca Niagara Casino, when she finished runner-up in the $910 Western Poker Challenge main event ($37,190).  There's no doubt that Paula would like to continue this upward trend over the course of this flight, and earn herself a seat into the Battles At The Beach main event (worth $1,500).