FSPC Event 14 (Flight 1A): Official End Of Flight 1A Chip Counts

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 14 - $1,100 No Limit Hold'em ($150,000 GTD)
Level 9 (Blinds 600/1,200/200)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 70
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 13

Alexandre	Fradin	294,000
David	Diaz	222,700
Marc	Sacheli	140,500
Joe	Smith	121,800
Bruce	Freedman	91,300
Andrew	Touchette	90,800
Paul	Shafran	89,900
Salomon	Cohen	81,200
Jose	Parra	78,500
Brian	Hastings	63,700
Freddy	Attias	54,300
Brandon	Ageloff	28,400
Chad	Eveslage	22,800

FSPC Event 14 (Flight 1A): Fradin Bags Flight 1A Chip Lead

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 14 - $1,100 No Limit Hold'em ($150,000 GTD)
Level 9 (Blinds 600/1,200/200)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 70
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 13

Alexander Fradin (Burgues, Spain)

It looked as if David Diaz was going to cruise to the chip lead bonus, but three minutes before the clock was to be paused, Alexander Fradin made the pass.  After opening UTG+1, Isaiah Goldman (button), Brian Hastings (small), and David Diaz (big) all made the call.  Action would check around after the 10♦ 6♠ 7♦ flop, which was followed by the 8♦ on the turn.  Brian Hastings bet 8,000, with David Diaz folding behind, and Fradin just making the call.  Isaiah Goldman then shoved for 34,000, with Hastings flatting, and action back on Fradin.  Alexandre took a moment before announcing himself all-in (covering Hastings), causing Brian to release his hand.  Even though Isaiah held J♥ 9♥ for a straight, he'd be drawing dead against Fradin's A♦ 2♦, and Alexandre would rake in the 130,000 pot.  

Fradin will earn the $1,500 FSPC Main Event seat with 294,000, with official chip counts to be posted once the bagging process is completed.

FSPC Event 14 (Flight 1A): Dynamics Change With Two Tables Left

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 14 - $1,100 No Limit Hold'em ($150,000 GTD)
Level 12 (Blinds 600/1,200/200)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 70
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 17

After spending most of the later afternoon/early evening with the same table mates, things just got a little shake-up moments ago.  Table 9 broke after the elimination of Dmitry Agrachov, with players finding new "homes" at other tables.  The seating assignments for the remaining (17) players are as followed:

Table 1:

1. Solomon Cohen
2. Chad Eveslage
3. Nancy Thomas
4. Freddy Attias
5. Jose Parra
6. Isaiah Goldman
7. Joey Smith
8. Paul Shafran
9. Brandon Ageloff

Table 3:

1. Ryan Galpern
2. Marc Sacheli 
3. Alexander Fradin
4. Bruce Freedman
5. Andrew Touchette
6. Brian Hastings
7. Ian O'Hara
8. David Diaz

David Diaz currently leads the field with over 215,000, and would be the odds-on favorite to bag the Flight 1A chip lead (and earn the $1,500 FSPC Main Event seat).

FSPC Event 14 (Flight 1A): Better Late Than Never For Eveslage

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 14 - $1,100 No Limit Hold'em ($150,000 GTD)
Level 12 (Blinds 600/1,200/200)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 69
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 19

Chad Eveslage (Ramsey, IN)

After a day of playing cash, Chad Eveslage (Ramsey, IN) chose the middle of Level 11 to be his entry time.  The poker pro with close to $1,000,000 in live tournament earning joined Table 2 with his 20,000 starting stack, with clear intent to spin things up.  It didn't take long for Chad to get involved in the action, as he busted Chad Millward (who was short), chipping up to 25,000 in the process.  

Eveslage is coming off of a WSOP summer in which he cashed in six events, including one final table ($1,000 NLH Event #37 - 8th Place $30,448).  Chad also had a deep run in the $1,600 NLH Event #56 during the Venetian DeepStack Extravaganza, finishing in eighth place once again, but this time earning $63,998.

Play has just entered Level 12, which will be the final level of the flight.  Things will be paused when 10:00 minutes remain on the clock, at which point a predetermined amount of hands will be played.  Once each table has finished those hands, the bagging process will begin, and those remaining will return on Sunday for Day 2 (12:00pm).

FSPC Event 14 (Flight 1A): Updated (Full Field) Chip Counts

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 14 - $1,100 No Limit Hold'em ($150,000 GTD)
Level 11 (Blinds 500/1,000/100)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 68
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 20

Players are now (10) minutes into Level 11, which is the second-to-last level of the flight (500/1,000/100).    While the numbers seems low (with twenty people remaining), the chip average is currently 68,000, which is well over (80) big blinds.  The play is going to be super deep to end the night, so while the chip lead landscape will change, we should see to many players bust from here on out.  Posted below are the chip counts from the level's transition:

Table 1:

1. Chad Millward - 34,000
2. Nancy Thomas - 28,000
3. Freddy Attias - 79,000
4. Brian Hastings - 28,000
5. Isaiah Goldman - 20,000
6. Paul Shafran - 59,000
7. Brandon Ageloff - 110,000

Table 3:

1. Ryan Galpern - 54,000
2. Marc Sacheli - 48,000
3. Marc Levy - 25,000
4. Andrew Touchette - 100,000
5. Solomon Cohen - 58,000
6. David Diaz - 188,000

Table 9:

1. Jose Parra - 37,000
2. Ian O'Hara - 108,000
3. Dmitry Agrachov - 52,000
4. Scott Zakheim - 74,000
5. Bruce Freedman - 74,000
6. Joey Smith - 41,000
7. Alexandre Fradin - 115,000

FSPC Event 14 (Flight 1A): Touchette Doubles Through Levy

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 14 - $1,100 No Limit Hold'em ($150,000 GTD)
Level 10 (Blinds 400/800/100)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 68

Andrew Touchette (Wakefield, MA)

After an open from Marc Sacheli to 2,000, Marc Levy (small) and Andrew Touchette (big) both came along from the blinds.  The three players watched as the dealer fanned out a 10♦ 9♦ 4♣ flop, with both Levy and Touchette checking.  Sacheli continued with a bet of 2,000, but would see resistance in a check-raise from Marc Levy (to 6,200).  Andrew Touchette just flatted, and after Sacheli folded behind, the 2♠ would fall on the turn.  Levy then checked-raised once again (to 45,000), after Andrew bet 11,000, which was enough to cover Touchette.  Andrew made the call, and would be ahead with K♠ 10♥, needing to hold against Levy's A♦ K♦.  The 8♣ on the river was not the ace or diamond Levy was looking for, and Touchette would double to over 115,000.

Andrew Touchette - 118,000

FSPC Event 14 (Flight 1A): Chip Counts At Dinner Break

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 14 - $1,100 No Limit Hold'em ($150,000 GTD)
Level 9 (Blinds 300/600/75)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 65

Players are heading on their dinner break, with play scheduled to resume just before 6:50pm.  As mentioned earlier, players will return to play three more levels, before bagging up for the night.  Blinds returning will be 400/800/100 (Level 10), and will finish the night at 600/1,200/200 (Level 12).  Listed below are updated chip counts, tallied just before break:

Table 1:

1. Chad Millward - 34,000
2. Isaiah Goldman - 5,000
3. Nancy Thomas - 36,000
4. Freddy Attias - 70,000
5. Brian Hastings - 47,000
6. Solomon Cohen - 88,000
7. Paul Shafran - 30,000
8. Brandon Ageloff - 132,000

Table 3:

1. Ryan Galpern - 65,000
2. Marc Sacheli - 60,000
3. A. Nonymous - 20,000
4. Marc Levy - 62,000
5. Andrew Touchette - 30,000 
6. David Diaz - 130,000

Table 9:

1. Jose Parra - 14,000
2. Ian O'Hara - 114,000
3. Dmitry Agrachov - 53,000
4. Scott Zakheim - 17,000
5. Bruce Freedman - 74,000
6. Joey Smith - 64,000
7. Alexandre Fradin - 80,000

FSPC Event 14 (Flight 1A): Taking The Long Way Home

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 14 - $1,100 No Limit Hold'em ($150,000 GTD)
Level 9 (Blinds 300/600/75)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 65

Alexandre Fradin (Burgues, Spain)

Alexander Fradin (Burgues, Spain) is no longer an unfamiliar name in the field, as the player from overseas finds himself atop the leaderboard.  Opposed to heading directly back to Europe after this year's WSOP, Fradin has made a stop on his trip home.  Alexandre is coming off of a summer where he cashed in five WSOP events, and four Venetian DeepStack Extravaganza events.  The combined scores were worth over $30,000, and they would bring his career live tournament earnings north of $118,000.  Fradin's highlighting score came in May of last year, when he finished runner-up during a WPT National event in Madrid ($55,856).

Alexandre is finding it easy to acclimate himself, sitting with just over 70,000, which puts him third overall in chips.  At the end of this level, players will be heading on a (45) minute dinner break, and will be returning to Level 10 (400/800/100).  There will be three levels played post-dinner, with the bagging process scheduled to begin at the conclusion of Level 12.

FSPC Event 14 (Flight 1A): Millward Busts Touchette To Join Leaders

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 14 - $1,100 No Limit Hold'em ($150,000 GTD)
Level 8 (Blinds 250/500/75)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 63

Chad Millward (Boca Raton, FL)

Andrew Touchette was spotted collecting his things moments ago, having busted at the hands of Chad Millward (Boca Raton, FL).  The two got the chips in on a king high board, with Touchette's K♠ Q♥ falling to Chad's A♠ K♦.  That pot would bring Millward's total to 65,000, and put him towards the top of the leaderboard.  Millward is "stepping up in class," to utilize a horse racing term, playing in a $1,000-plus buy-in event.  Chad is the son of Isle Poker notable Thomas Millward, with the both frequenting many of the tournaments on the recurring monthly schedule.  Millward has $1,897 in career earnings, so a deep run in this event would no doubt be the poker highlight of his young career.

Marc Sacheli - 80,000

Solomon Cohen - 77,000

Bruce Freedman - 75,000

Chad Millward - 65,000

FSPC Event 14 (Flight 1A): Agrachov Welcomes The Click-Back

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 14 - $1,100 No Limit Hold'em ($150,000 GTD)
Level 7 (Blinds 200/400/50)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 57

Dmitry Agrachov (Weston, FL)

The action at Table 1 was approached during a hand between Dmitry Agrachov and Omar Diaz, with the two on the turn of a board reading 10♠ 2♠ 4♥ A♠.  Agrachov had just collected chips and tossed out a bet of 3,225.  Diaz took a few moments putting together the chips for a call, but matched them with an identical stack, and announced a raise.  Dmitry was not deterred by the click-back, as he three-bet shoved for just over 13,000.  Diaz quickly made the call, and would be drawing dead, as his Q♠ 4♠ was bested by the K♠ 5♠ of Agrachov.  

"Why do you have to make it so easy for him," Diaz asked the dealer as the call was counted out and sent Dmitry's way.  Diaz thought he hit gin on the turn, but the cold deck would leave him with just 4,000 (10 big blinds).

Dmitry Agrachov - 31,000
Omar Diaz - 4,000

FSPC Event 14 (Flight 1A): Updated Chip Counts, Upping The Level Length

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 14 - $1,100 No Limit Hold'em ($150,000 GTD)
Level 7 (Blinds 200/400/50)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 56

Marc Levy (Boynton Beach, FL)

Players are currently returning from their second (10) minute break of the day, and are playing Level 7, with new blinds of 200/400/50.  The level length has transitioned to (50) minutes per, and will stay that way for the rest of the event.  The player's exits from the table allow for an easy view at chip stacks, with updated counts posted below:

Marc Levy - 51,000

Bruce Freedman - 48,000

Ian O'Hara - 38,000

David Diaz - 36,000

Evan Teitelbaum - 36,000

Matt Smith - 33,000

Joshua Kay - 30,000

Brian Hastings - 26,000

Andrew Touchette - 26,000

Isaiah Goldman - 18,000

FSPC Event 14 (Flight 1A): Freedman In Front Early

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 14 - $1,100 No Limit Hold'em ($150,000 GTD)
Level 6 (150/300/50)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 52

Bruce Freedman (Yorba Linda, CA)

A fast start in a tournament structured like Event #14 is much different than that of a $175 buy-in, as the stack to blind ratio is so much deeper.  Bruce Freedman (Yorba Linda, CA) has already tripled his 20,000 starting stack, and sits with over (200) big blinds.  To put things into perspective, if Bruce ended up bagging the same amount he has now to end the day, he'd be finishing the night with over (50) bigs.  

Freedman is a player with just under $20,000 in lifetime earnings, with a majority of his cashes coming here at the Isle.  His most recent recorded result was from 2013, when he reached the final four of the $330 No Limit Hold'em Heads-Up event ($1,272).  

The quick start has him leading the field at the moment (66,000), but its how a player finishes that determines much of the success.  Just a reminder, the chip leader at the end of this flight will earn entry into next week's FSPC $1,500 Main Event.

FSPC Event 14 (Flight 1A): Smith Joins A Group Of Notables To Enter The Field

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 14 - $1,100 No Limit Hold'em ($150,000 GTD)
Level 5 (Blinds 100/200/25)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 47

Matt Smith (Margate, FL) 

Matt Smith (Margate, FL) is another player that would likely call the Isle Casino his "home" poker room, a frequent attendee of the higher no limit cash games offered.  Smith is coming off of his best statistical tournament year to date, recording (12) cashes in 2016, totaling over $198,000.  A bulk of that number came from a WPT final table finish at Choctaw, where he finished in sixth place for $134,720.  That $3,500 No Limit Hold'em WPT Championship Event in Oklahoma has quickly become one of the more popular stops on the tour, and attracts the best players in the country.  

Smith didn't record a tournament score this year until the WSOP, but he finished the summer with four cashes, totaling over $30,000.  Matt made a deep run in the Crazy Eights event ($888 No Limit Hold'em Event #60), finishing in 36th place, for just under $17,000.  This is Smith's first post-WSOP tournament, as it is for many of the players returning from Las Vegas recently.  Some of those players joining Matt in this Flight 1A field are:

Brian Hastings

David Diaz

Marc Levy

Dmitry Agrachov

FSPC Event 14 (Flight 1A): New Look, But Same Great Results

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 14 - $1,100 No Limit Hold'em ($150,000 GTD)
Level 4 (Blinds 75/150)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 41

Ian O'Hara (Boca Raton, FL) 

Ian O'Hara (Boca Raton, FL) is another player from the "big game" that just entered the Flight 1A field, showing up just before the first break of the day (which just occurred after Level 3).  O'Hara broke-out on the Florida poker scene in 2012, and quickly became a name known across the country.  Ian's first ever recorded tournament win came here at the Isle in 2012, when he won first place money in a $400 No Limit Hold'em ($200,000 GTD) event in June.

O'Hara went on accumulate tournament earnings over $1,783,000, including a runner-up finish in the $25,000 High Roller during the 2015 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open ($527,313).  While his accomplishments at the poker table are impressive, it's a recent "life change" that has player's looking at him different (in the literal sense).  In December of last year, O'Hara began to focus on his health, which included changing his diet and working out.  Since his peak, Ian has lost over (60) pounds, and continues to live that healthy lifestyle.

O'Hara had seven cashes in this year's WSOP, but his summer was highlighted by a fourth place finish in a $24,000 High Roller at the Aria in June ($75,600).  Ian's last tournament win came in September of last year (Coco Poker Showdown Main Event), and while he's won event in almost every major poker room in Florida, he wouldn't mind adding another piece of hardware from his "home" poker room.

FSPC Event 14 (Flight 1A): Kay Takes A Break To Join The Action

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 14 - $1,100 No Limit Hold'em ($150,000 GTD)
Level 3 (Blinds 75/150)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 30

Joshua Kay (Boca Raton, FL) 

Joshua Kay (Boca Raton, FL) is a pillar of the largest cash games in this poker room, and while many of the players he usually shares the tables with will enter FSPC events in the next two weeks, Kay is the first from the group in Event #14.  Kay's tournament resume is beyond impressive, with almost $1,000,000 in live tournament earnings.  

From 2008-2014, Joshua's tournament resume boasted results from all over the country, with nine five-figure scores over that span.  His largest result during that period was for just over $66,000, when he finished fourth in a $555 No Limit Hold'em WSOPC event at Palm Beach Kennel Club.  Then came the 2015 PCA, and the $2,643 No Limit Hold'em LAPT Bahamas Main Event.  Kay would best a field of (532) entries, and a stacked final table, to earn the title (and just under $368,000).  It still stands as Joshua's largest tournament score, and was well deserving, after besting names like Martin Finger, Taylor Paur, Jonathan Borenstein, Mustapha Kanit, and Galen Hall (just to name a few).

Kay then earned his second six-figure score earlier this year, finishing seventh in the $10,000 No Limit Hold'em WPT Seminole Hard Rock Finale ($109,412).  Of the (54) results on Kay's resume, only one has come here at the Isle Casino Poker Room.  So while there are many accolades to speak of, Kay still has some room on his mantel for another trophy.

FSPC Event 14 (Flight 1A): Thomas's Birthday Present To Herself

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 14 - $1,100 No Limit Hold'em ($150,000 GTD)
Level 2 (Blinds 50/100)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 21

Nancy Thomas (Jupiter, FL) 

Tournament poker has a lot to do with mindset, and for most people, there is no better day (in terms of feeling good) than their birthday.  Nancy Thomas (Jupiter, FL) is celebrating her birthday today, and while this tournament entry was a "birthday present" to herself, she must have felt like the presents came early last week.

Thomas reached the final table of last week's FSPC Event #7, and was one of the nine players to chop the series' second "major."  Thomas was officially the fifth place finisher, earning $17,776 for her efforts.  While not the largest cash of Nancy's career, it was a milestone score for her, as the earnings helped her eclipse $200,000 lifetime.  To this point, 2017 has been life-changing for Thomas in regards to tournament poker, as she's already earned over $133,000 to date.  Nancy is off to a slower start today, having already dropped down to 13,000 (from the 20,000 starting stack), but her most recent score may help with another bullet (if that becomes an option).

Thomas was one of four women to reach that Event #7 final table, continuing the success for the ladies this series.  It has been confirmed that Diane Linke (Delray Beach, FL) will be in attendance this weekend, and it will be interesting to see how the ladies show for both this event, and the FSPC Main Event.

FSPC Event 14 (Flight 1A): Action Underway For FSPC's Third "Major"

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 14 - $1,100 No Limit Hold'em ($150,000 GTD)
Level 1 (Blinds 25/50)
Total Flight 1A Entries: N/A

Tournament Director Ralph Brandt finished his rules announcement for the early Event #14 (Flight 1A) field moments ago, and the cards are now in the air.  This $1,100 buy-in no limit hold'em event is the third "major" of the series, and boasts the second largest guarantee on the FSPC schedule, behind next week's $1,500 No Limit Hold'em Main Event ($500,000 GTD).

The tournament has three starting flights, with today's currently in action, and two more following on Friday and Saturday.  The structure offers deep play throughout the event, with players sitting down to starting stacks of 20,000.  The levels to begin the day are (40) minutes in length, but once play enters Level 7, they transition to (50) minutes (and stay that way for the rest of the event).  Registration is open throughout the day, with the tournament also offering a Day 2 entry option, before the cards get in the air on Sunday.  Each opening flight's play is scheduled to conclude after (12) levels are completed, or until 13% of the field remains (whichever comes first).

Players are still filing in and taking their seats, and we will allow for the room to fill up a little, before we take our first look at who is in this Flight 1A field.  We would be remise if we did not mention the chip lead bonus, awarding a FSPC $1,500 Main Event seat to largest stack at the end of each flight.

Thursday, July 20th: Ladies' Champion Crowned, Event #14 Begins Today

ICYMI: Yesterday was the second of two "specialized" tournaments on the 2017 Florida State Poker Championships schedule, with the Ladies' NLH Championship in the afternoon time slot (11:00am).  The $175 buy-in event boasted an $8,000 guaranteed prize pool, and attracted (39) total entries.  Of the four ladies we saw at the Event #7 final table, only Nancy Thomas (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) was in attendance for the event.  The "official final table" would reach the money (nine players), with all eyes on the $3,280 first place prize.  The final table would see a handful of eliminations, before the remaining players began the discussions of a deal.  Eventually, players would come to terms of a deal, with Debbie Underhill-Hiorns (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) crowned the champion.  It would be Debbie's first every tournament win, and the third largest cash of her career.

1. Debbie Underhill-Hiorns (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) $1,658
2. Leticia Galinis (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) $1,385
3. Nancy Bernstein (Delray Beach, FL) $1,364
4. Melissa Mancini (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) $884
5. Valerie Coolidge (Ausable Forks, NY) $650
6. Paula Holder (Pompano Beach, FL) $640
7. Janet Solov (Pompano Beach, FL) $597
8. Sharon Pickard (Wilton Manors, FL) $579
9. Kelly Elliot (Lake Worth, FL) $243

Last night's event was a $130 No Limit Hold'em Satellite Into Event #14, which had (10) guaranteed seats up for grabs.  The tournament ended up getting (131) entries, and would award (13) seats, along with $110 cash to the player busting in fourteenth.  The following players earned a "discounted" entry in Event #14:

1. Kyle Taddei
2. Evan Teitelbaum
3. Kenneth Fagioli
4. Michael Horton
5. Arthur Gallinaro
6. Joseph Duchman
7. Ryan Gianquitti
8. Robyn Marshman
9. Rodney Moet-Rojas
10. Danilo Parada
11. Adam Koppel 
12. Robert Perniola
13. Steven Wallerstein
14. Jason Prest ($110)

Tournaments: Today begins the third "major" of the series, as Event #14 ($1,100 No Limit Hold'em $150,000 GTD) gets underway at 11:00am.  The tournament boasts a structure with starting stacks of 20,000, and levels of (40) minutes (Level 1-6), that then transition to (50) minutes (Levels 7+).  Late registration is open through twelve levels, with the opportunity to buy in before the cards are in the air for Day 2.  The chip leader from each flight will win a $1,500 FSPC Main Event seat, which wraps up the series next week.

There is also another satellite to Event #14 this evening, a $130 No Limit Hold'em event that offers up (8) guaranteed seats.

Promotions: Today's "special" promotion (outside of the standard high hands), is the Limit Hold'em Early Bird, in which the first (50) full houses (in a limit hold'em game) are paid the minimum buy-in for the designated game.  Those players in the 2/2 LHE game will receive $20 for each "winning" full house (or better), while those in 2/4 LHE will receive $40.

11:00am - FSPC Event #14 (Flight 1A): $1,100 No Limit Hold'em ($150,000 GTD) 

- Players start with 20,000 in tournament chips

- Late and re-entries for the first (12) levels, to include before the 1st card on Day 2

- Alternates and late entries will start with a full stack

- Level will last (40) minutes (Levels 1-6), transitioning to (50) minutes Levels 7+

- All Day 1's will play (12) complete levels or until 13% of the field remains (whichever comes first)

6:00pm - $130 No Limit Hold'em Super Satellite Into Event #14 (8 Seats Guaranteed)

- Players start with 12,000 in tournament chips

- Late and re-entries for the first (8) levels

- Alternates and late entries will start with a full stack

- Level will last (20) minutes throughout the event

Wednesday, July 19th: The Numbers Continue To Roll In, FSPC Ladies' Championship, And "Spin To Win"

ICYMI: Non-no limit poker tournaments had been considered very "niche" events, but as time passed, player's interest in the games began to grow.  That was evident yesterday afternoon, as (103) entries made up the Event #11 field ($150 Omaha 8B Hi/Lo $8,000 GTD).  The "omaha-lics" were out in force, with names like Jordan Chizick, Ilya Belkin, Hal Klein, Bruce Smith, Arnold Cohen, and Elias Nassif in the field.  The tournament's prize pool would close at $12,360, and once the official payouts began scrolling, players learned that (13) spots would be reaching the money.  The final table would be reached after the elimination of Gail Cohen (West Palm Beach, FL), with play continuing as scheduled.  Elimination after elimination would continue until three players remained, at which point a deal was struck, with Roberto Herrera (Coral Springs, FL) the tournament's declared winner.

1. Roberto Herrera (Coral Springs, FL) $3,000
2. Errol Massey (Queens, FL) $2,763
3. Gerald Baum (Boca Raton, FL) $1,746
4. Michael Graffeo (Boca Raton, FL) $927
5. Hal Kline (Delray Beach, FL) $723
6. Steven Spiegelman (Pompano Beach, FL) $578
7. Jeffrey Levitt (Delray Beach, FL) $491
8. Ian Cohen (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) $426
9. Christopher Flores (Coconut Creek, FL) $377
10. Aldrin Gomez (Miami Beach, FL) $340

The incredible evening numbers continued last night, as Event #12 ($130 No Limit Hold'em $20,000 GTD) saw registration close with (346) total entries.  The official prize pool was $34,600, with the payouts boasting a first place prize of $7,352.  Of the (346) entries, (44) players would reach the money in the event, a group that consisted of numerous Isle Casino Poker notables.  Names like Barry Chazen, Erik Nomberg, Jairo Carillo, Andrew Blake, Marcus Wu-Hamel, and David Coughlin, all earned themselves another cash on their resume.  The final table was reached just before midnight, and after the eliminations of four players, a six-way chop would finish the event.  Miguel Martinez (Parkland, FL) would be declared the winner in the deal, taking home his second Isle Poker trophy, with the first coming during the 2015 PPC Isle Casino Fall Series.

1. Miguel Martinez (Parkland, FL) $4,230
2. Anthony Canario (Lighthouse Point, FL) $3,828
3. Angelo Castaldi (Plantation, FL) $3,618
4. Charlemagne Benjamin Jr. (Miami Gardens, FL) $3,340
5. Timothy Bligh (Lighthouse Point, FL) $3,256
6. David Miller (Davie, FL) $2,700
7. Tom Millward (Boca Raton, FL) $1,147
8. Derek Williams (Geraldine, AL) $939
9. Robert Blanchette (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) $735
10. Joseph Duchman (Miami, FL) $619

Tournaments: There are two tournaments on the FSPC schedule today, one of which is a standard event, while the other is a satellite into Event #14.  The 11:00am time slot sees the return of the "Ladies' Championship," a no-limit hold'em event with a $175 buy-in (and $8,000 guaranteed prize pool).  It's an event that player's have been asking to see back on the schedule for a while, and after the success of the Seniors' Championship, it will be interesting to see how this "specialized" tournament does.  The $130 Super Satellite Into Event #14 ($1,100 NLH) begins at 6:00pm, and guarantees at least (10) seats awarded into this weekend's event.

Promotions: One would think that after a weekend full of "special" high hand promotions, things would maybe take a "day off."  That "day off" isn't today though, as the "Turbo High Hands" award $100 every (10) minutes from 9:00am-12:00pm...followed by the ever-popular money wheel, and the "Spin To Win" promotion from 12:00pm-11:00pm.  Last week saw one lucky player earn the $5,000 jackpot, so it will be interesting to see what this week follows up with.

11:00am - FSPC Event  #13 - $175 No Limit Hold'em Ladies' Championship ($8,000 GTD)

- Players start with 15,000 in tournament chips

- Late and re-entries for the first (8) levels

- Alternates and late entries will start with a full stack

- Level will last (30) minutes 

6:00pm - $130 No Limit Hold'em Super Satellite Into Event #14 (10 Seats Guaranteed)

- Players start with 12,000 in tournament chips

- Late and re-entries for the first (8) levels

- Alternates and late entries will start with a full stack

- Level will last (20) minutes throughout the event

Tuesday, July 18th: Seniors Champ Crowned, Event #10 Says "No Deal," Another Big Day For FSPC

ICYMI: After a hiatus from "major" schedules, the Seniors' No Limit Hold'em Championship made a triumphant yesterday afternoon.  The $175 buy-in No Limit Hold'em event carried with it an $8,000 guarantee, and ended up almost doubling that number once registration closed.  A total of (112) entries made up the field, with some of the Isle's most notable names making their way to the room (including Robert Transue, Daniel Genachte, Tom Gity, and Michael Hefley).  The prize pool closed at $15,680, with (14) spots scheduled to reach the money, and first place scheduled to get $4,704.  The great structure allowed for some deep play for the field, with the money reached in the early evening.  Cashing in the event, but falling short of the final table, were Lloyd Nastase, Stephen Greenstein, Robert Bass, and Michael Hefley.  Play resumed after a redraw for the final table, with action pausing when five players remained.  The handful began discussing a deal, and after just a short while, agreed on an ICM chop (with the numbers listed below).  After coming off of his biggest tournament score in Las Vegas, Scott Levitt (Delray Beach, FL) would be the declared winner of the event, winning his second Isle Poker Seniors' event.  Levitt won this event in 2013, when it was on the Isle Poker Open schedule as a $330 No Limit Hold'em event ($2,500).

1. Scott Levitt (Delray Beach, FL) $3,627
2. Danny Blackburn (Deerfield Beach, FL) $2,585
3. Ira Horowitz (Miami, FL) $1,970
4. Jeffrey Berry (Plantation, FL) $1,858
5. Glenn Popkin (Coral Springs, FL) $1,320

This year's Florida State Poker Championships have been all about big numbers, with last night's Event #10 continuing that trend.  The $40 No Limit Hold'em ($10,000 GTD) event ended up with a field that was comprised of (493) entries!  We've seen some staggering numbers for this exact tournament (which is also on the monthly recurring schedule), but nothing like what we saw last night.  One registration closed, and the optional add-ons were calculated, the official prize pool finished at $16,871.  There would be (65) spots scheduled to reach the money, with the posted first place prize sitting at $3,323.  Numerous Isle Poker notables notched an FSPC score once the money was reached, including Michael Weinberg, Benjamin Robinson, Robert Perniola, Rick Kalgstein, Adam Hamby, Andre Bryan, and Erin Steinberg.  The final table was reached in the early hours of Tuesday morning, and with "closing time" looming, the remaining five players needed to decide what to do (make a deal and end the event, or bag the chips and return today).  The players chose to bag their chips, with "Day 2" action resuming at 7:00pm.  Posted below are the payouts remaining, along with final results:

1. ($3,323)
2. ($2,324)
3. ($1,494)
4. ($1,031)
5. ($792)
6. Anthony Bennett (West Palm Beach, FL) $660
7. Dillon Bindewald (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) $550
8. Garrick Young (Miami Gardens, FL) $440
9. Lynette Robinson (Miami, FL) $332
10. John Mayers (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) $274

Tournaments: There are two tournaments on the Florida State Poker Championships schedule today, the first of which is the only non-no limit hold'em event on the schedule.  Event #11 is a $150 Limit Omaha 8B (Hi/Lo) event, with a $5,000 guarantee.  The event sees players sitting down to starting stack of 14,000, and playing levels of (25) minutes throughout.  The no limit format returns in the evening, with Event #12 ($130 No Limit Hold'em $20,000 GTD) getting underway at 6:00pm.  This is a tournament that is also on the recurring schedule each month, and offers 16,000 unit starting stacks, along with (20) minute levels.

Promotions: The Limit Hold'em Early Bird promotion is in it's regularly scheduled spot this morning, but there is one "not so small" addition to the schedule..."Turbo High Hands."  Similar to what is run on Friday's, there will be $300 awarded to qualifying high hands every (15) minutes (from 12:00pm-4:00pm), followed by $300 high hands (under the same 15 minute schedule) from 4:00pm-Midnight.

11:00am - FSPC Event #11- $150 Limit Omaha Hi/Lo 8B ($5,000 GTD)

- Players will begin with a 14,000 starting stack

- Late and re-entries for the first (8) levels

- Levels are (25) minutes in length

 - All late registrants and re-entries will receive a full stack

6:00pm - FSPC Event #12 - $130 No Limit Hold'em ($20,000 GTD)

- Players will begin with a 16,000 starting stack

- Late and re-entries for the first (8) levels
- All late registrants and re-entries will receive a full stack

- Levels are (20) minutes in length

Monday, July 17th: Diane Linke Heads Event #7 Chop, Seniors Championship Returns to FSPC

ICYMI: Yesterday was a special day at the Isle Casino Poker Room, as (177) players returned for Day 2 of Event #7 ($360 No Limit Hold'em $200,000 GTD).  The event had a prize pool of over $342,000, and offered up a first place prize of $57,564.  The top six payout spots were all over $11,000, which meant big numbers for any potential dealmaking that could occur.  Many of these tournaments with such massive prize pools are conducive for deal making, with the minority playing down to an outright winner.  As players got down to the final two tables, the ramification of each decision (and each hand) loomed large for those remaining.  There were no discussion of a chop until the final table was reached, but things were quickly shut down.  The "fickle" nature of tournament poker then reared it's head, as Juan Garcia (Doral, FL) watched his pocket kings fall to Diane Linke's pocket jacks, with Diane flopping a set.  Garcia would have had a hefty chip lead if the hand played out different, but instead he'd be out in tenth place, earning $4,423.  The conversation turned to a chop once again, and after the ICM numbers were calculated, a nine-way deal was agreed to.  Diane Linke (Delray Beach, FL) held the chip lead at the time the deal was made, so she would earn top prize, alone with the Event #7 trophy.  A recap of the event will be posted later this afternoon, with the final table results posted below:

1. Diane Linke (Delray Beach, FL) $32,500
2. John Magnetta (Boynton Beach, FL) $26,189
3. Andre Bryan (Miami, FL) $25,671
4. Erik Nomberg (Dix Hills, NY) $25,392
5. Nancy Thomas (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) $17,776
6. Ory Hen (Cooper City, FL) $16,990
7. Abbey Daniels (Coral Springs, FL) $16,943
8. Megan Endres (Coral Springs, FL) $16,389
9. Michael Tait (Plantation, FL) $15,452

There was also an evening tournament on the schedule, as Event #8 began at 6:00pm ($100 No Limit Hold'em "Big Stack Turbo Bounty" $5,000 GTD).  The tournament attracted a total of (116) entries, and ended up with an official prize pool of $7,305.  The event ended in a four-way chop, with David Kahan (Boca Raton, FL) taking home first place money (and the trophy).  Posted below are the results from the deal:

1. David Kahan (Boca Raton, FL) $1,442
2. Danilo Parada (Oakland Park, FL) $1,321
3. Trent Smith (Vero Beach, FL) $1,087
4. Mark Solodkin (Hollywood, FL) $947

Tournaments: There are two events on the Florida State Poker Championships schedule, the first of which sees the return of the Seniors' No Limit Hold'em Championship (Event #9).  The $175 buy-in event offers an $8,000 guaranteed prize pool, and an excellent structure for the one-day event.  Players in the tournament sit down to starting stacks of 15,000 units, and play (25) minute levels throughout the day.

The evening tournament (6:00pm) is Event #10 ($40 No Limit Hold'em $10,000 GTD), a one-day tournament that is very popular with the players.  The structure sees players sitting down to starting stacks of 12,000 units, and playing levels of (20) minutes.  There is an optional add-on at the end of registration, with $20 getting players 8,000 units (100% of add-on goes into the prize pool).

Promotions: Outside of the "standard high hand" promotion, there will be "Turbo High Hands" from 9:00am-12:00pm.  During that window of time, $100 will be awarded to the qualifying high hand every (10) minutes (rollovers apply).

11:00am - FSPC Event #9 - $175 No Limit Hold'em Seniors' Championship ($8,000 GTD)

- Players will begin with a 15,000 starting stack

- Late and re-entries for the first (8) levels

- All late registrants and re-entries will receive a full stack 

- Levels are (25) minutes in length

6:00pm - FSPC Event #10 - $40 No Limit Hold'em ($10,000 GTD)

- Players will begin with a 15,000 starting stack

- Late and re-entries for the first (8) levels

- Levels are (20) minutes in length

- Optional add-on at the end of Level 8 ($20 for 8,000 units, 100% goes towards the prize pool)

- All late registrants and re-entries will receive a full stack