Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1E): Hawkins Changing What's Not Broken

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 7 (Blinds 250/500/75)
Total Flight 1E Entries: 157

Maurice Hawkins (West Palm Beach, FL) has been his typical chatty self today, talking up a storm at Table 12...and winning pots at the same time.

Maurice Hawkins (West Palm Beach, FL) has over $2,925,000 in live tournament earnings, which include a result from just a few days ago, when he even-chopped Event #16 of this series ($130 No Limit Hold'em).  One would think that a resume such as that would mean a player is on top of his game, but Maurice continues to raise his own bar...as he's been vocal about on Twitter.  Things seem to be working this afternoon, as Hawkins becomes the second player in the field to eclipse the 100,000 mark.

Been ripping and tearing apart my game against many different Hold”em strategies. I truly feel I am the G.O.A.T , yet I need to to excel on a higher scale of Success. Thus a New creature/Game has been born.#HawksView#IWillPutMyR.O.IAgainstYourFavoritePlayer pic.twitter.com/ELg6OPmhAB

— Maurice Hawkins (@mauricehawkins) December 11, 2017

The new strategy addition to my game. Worked like a charm last night. I may be on to something. I am going to blow up like the Waffle Cone, real soon.#HawksView#IWillPutMy-R.O.I-AgainstYourFavoritePlayers

— Maurice Hawkins (@mauricehawkins) December 12, 2017

Won a tiny tournament today. I may be on to something, with my new approach. Can’t wait to crush a big bird/Big Tourney.#HawksView#IWillPutMy-R.O.I-AgainstYourFavoritePlayers

— Maurice Hawkins (@mauricehawkins) December 13, 2017

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1E): Pacheco Off To A Quick Start, Wolak Has To Re-Enter

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 6 (Blinds 200/400/50)
Total Flight 1E Entries: 155

Hector Pacheco (Laughlin, NV) has a propensity to bag large stacks in these multi-flight events, and he's already off to a hot start this afternoon.

There was a little commotion coming from Table 12, as Marsha Wolak was all-in and at risk against Hector Pacheco.  Pacheco had already tripled his starting stack, and had Marsha in rough shape, holding 4♦ 4♠ on a 4♣ 8♦ 10♦ flop (against Marsha's Q♠ Q♣).  The turn brought the 2♦, followed by the Q♦ on the river, which caused a roar from the table.  Unfortunately from Marsha, while she made a bigger set on the river, the Q♦ made a flush for Pacheco.  Hector chipped up to 95,000 with the pot, and stands as the clear chip leader in this early field. Wolak took a walk to the registration cage to re-enter, and is now an alternate waiting for a seat.

Hector Pacheco - 95,400 (238bb)

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1E): Sneak Peak At The January Tournament Calendar

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 5 (Blinds 150/300/50)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 142

The January Tournament Calendar hasn't yet been released on the Isle Casino Pompano Park website, but we are giving you an early look at the upcoming month's tournaments.  The "unofficial" calendar boasts two large guaranteed multi-flight events, including a $360 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD), and a $250 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD).  There are nine tournaments that offer a guarantee of $10,000 or higher, as well as a $100 No Limit Hold'em Survivor, which guarantees (5) $1,000 winners.  There are three single-ante format events, headlined by the $2,500 No Limit Hold'em Single Ante ($100,000 GTD), which has two satellites leading up to it.

There are a lot of great things to look for in 2018, as the Isle Casino Poker Room has some "things up it's sleeve," in regards to special announcements coming in the near future!

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1E): Jason Young Getting Back To Old Form

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 4 (Blinds 100/200/25)
Total Flight 1E Entries: 121

Jason Young (Suffern, NY) may have waited until the last day to try and bag chips, but he's in action at Table 12, and hoping to bag chips on this first attempt.

From 2008 through 2010, Jason Young (Suffern, NY) had live tournament earnings that equated to almost $700,000, including a WSOP bracelet win.  The five years that followed, Young would earn a combined $75,000 via tournaments, focusing out life outside of poker.  2017 has been a year of tournament rejuvenation for Jason though, as he's earned over $18,600 to this point.  A good portion of that number came in August, when he was part of a six-way chop that ended the "August $100,000."  The $150 No Limit Hold'em event had a $100,000 guarantee prize pool, but ended up crushing that number, which helped his second place money balloon to $12,174.  The result seemed to light a little tournament "fire" for Young, who proceeded to put in some real volume following the cash.

Young headlines our second look at notables in the field, joining the likes of:

Noel Fatherly
Scott Levitt
Hector Pacheco
William Underdown
Marsha Wolak
Scott Zakheim
Joseph Durso
Alan Saltzman

Players will be taking their first break at the end of this level, returning to Level 5, and new blinds of 150/300/50.

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1E): Checking In On The Notables In The Field

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 3 (Blinds 75/150/25)
Total Flight 1E Entries: 105

Dolline Willis (Plantation, FL) has two major series cashes to this point in the year, recording results in Event #1 and Event #7 of the Florida State Poker Championships.

By the fifth flight of a event, it's a rare occurrence to see many faces for the first time, but today's Flight 1E field hosts a bunch of players firing their first attempt at this large guaranteed event.  Dolline Willis (Plantation, FL) got a good amount of blog love during the Florida State Poker Championships, going deep in both the opening event (Event #1 | $175 No Limit Hold'em $100,000 GTD), and Event #7 ($360 No Limit Hold'em | $200,000 GTD).  Those were just two of her six tournament cashes this year, which is the best number of her career.  The total earnings for the year are her second best, behind 2014, when she won her WSOP Circuit ring ($365 No Limit Hold'em at Palm Beach Kennel Club).

Some other players that we are seeing for the first time this tournament, include names like:

Luis Santoni

Errol Massey

Steve Olivier

Maurice Hawkins

Alfonso Perez

Joshua Wasserman

Al Gomez

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1E): Official Chips Counts (Flight 1A-Flight 1D)

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 2 (Blinds 50/100)
Total Flight 1E Entries: 55

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1E): Afternoon Action Begins, Final Pair Of Event #18 Flights Upon Us

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 1 (Blinds 25/50)
Total Flight 1E Entries: N/A

To this point of Event #18 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $100,000 GTD), there have been a total of (493) entries in the tournament, with (76) players already heading to tomorrow's Day 2.  Today's schedule hosts the final pair of starting flights for the tournament, with the first (Flight 1E) beginning in just a few moments.  

The rules for Flight 1E stay the same as those that came before it, with a structure that sees players sitting down to starting stacks of 20,000 units.  Levels in the tournament will last (25) minutes throughout, with registration open through the first eight levels of each flight (including the break that follows Level 8).  The starting flights are scheduled to end at the end of Level 16, or if the field reaches the 10% mark, whichever comes first.  Those players remaining at the end of each flight will bag up their stacks for tomorrow's Day 2, with action resuming at 12:00pm, and playing down to a winner.

Combined chips counts (that include seating assignments) will lead the live blogged coverage for the day,follows by our first look at players in this second to last starting flight.

Saturday, December 16th: "Saturday...In The (Pompano) Park, I Think It Was The Final Flights"

ICYMI: Friday's Isle Classic schedule was all about Event #18 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $100,000 GTD), with the second pair of starting flights, which attracted some large fields.  Flight 1C saw registration close with (133) entries, and after the scheduled sixteen levels were finished, (28) players would be heading to Day 2 from the afternoon flight.  The number of players remaining was a little surprising (it was a very high number), but a first look at the chip counts help shed light into why.  Frank Scala bagged the Flight 1C chip lead with 181,500, and was packing up chips alongside names like David MacDonald (168,000), Joseph Mancuso (160,000), Preecha Taepakdee (159,500), Marc Sacheli (106,500), and Kevin Scarola (93,000).  There were no massive stacks, which helped the total chips from the flight get spread across that large numbers of players.

Flight 1D started just as the bagging process for Flight 1C was wrapping up, and ended with the largest field of the four starting flights to that point.  A total of (170) entries made up the field, with (20) players heading to Day 2.  Isle Poker tournament regular Pedro Palacio bagged the flight's chip lead, taking a pillow sized bag of 462,000 chips to Day 2.  Also heading to Day 2 from Flight 1D, were Bret Grebow (268,000), Elliot Zaydman (255,000), Elias Nassif (206,000), and Paul Louis (76,500).

After four completed starting flights, Event #18 has (493) total entries, with (76) players scheduled to return for Day 2.  The numbers equate to $66,555, meaning the final two starting flights need to average (124) entries each to reach the posted guarantee.

Tournaments:  Event #18 wraps up today, with the final pair of six starting flights for the $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD) event.  Players in the tournament sit down to starting stacks of 20,000 units, and will be playing (25) minute levels throughout the entire event.  Registration for each flight is open until the end of Level 8 (and the break that follows), with action scheduled to play a full sixteen levels (or until 10% of the field remains, whichever comes first).  Players that remain will then bag chips for tomorrow's Day 2 (12:00pm), which also happens the be the start of Event #19 ($100 No Limit Hold'em $50,000 GTD), with cards flying at 6:00pm.

Promotions: From (9:00am-10:00am), the high hand will award $150 every (30) minutes.  The high hands will then transition from 10:00am-12:00am (midnight), with the opportunity to win $400 every (30) minutes.  During that period, the promotion sees tournament players eligible (Isle Open events not eligible for high hand) 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.  From 12:00am-9:00am, players are eligible for $100 high hands every hour.

It should also be noted that started back on November 1st, 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).

11:00am - 2017 Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1E) | $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD) 

- 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

- All Day 1's will play (16) complete levels or until 10% of the field remains (whichever comes first)

6:00pm - 2017 Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1F) | $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD) 

- 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

- All Day 1's will play (16) complete levels or until 10% of the field remains (whichever comes first)

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1D): Official End Of Flight 1D Chip Counts

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 16 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/500)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 179
Flight 1C Players Remaining: 20

Pedro	Palacio	462,000
Bret	Grebow	268,000
Maan	Thakur	266,500
Elliott	Zaydman	255,000
Pedro	Olivo	242,000
Andrea	Athnasopoulos	230,000
Elias	Nassif	206,000
Antoine	Bahi	204,500
Steve	Raeman	195,000
Debra	Neser	164,500
Russ	Stampler	139,500
Manfred	Rosenow	130,000
Fabio	Baduy	121,500
Miguel	McDonald	120,000
Yousef	Nasir	94,500
Gilbert	Whorrie	86,000
Paul	Louis	76,500
Jacob	Boling	62,000
Arthur	Tomasi	57,000
Michael	Gutterman	34,000

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1C): Official End Of Flight 1C Chip Counts

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 16 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/500)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 133
Flight 1C Players Remaining: 28

Frank	Scala	181,500
David	MacDonald	168,000
Joe	Mancuso	160,000
Preecha	Taepakdee	159,500
Bob	Harris	156,500
Monty	Berger	137,500
Michael	Goldfarb	126,500
Harry	Silver	123,000
Juan	Madrid	121,500
Frank	Traino	111,500
Fred	White	111,000
Marc	Sacheli	106,500
Paulo	Castro	98,000
Miguel	Munoz	96,000
Kevin	Scarola	93,000
Maryia	Proskouriakova	90,000
Charles	MacLennan	89,500
Loscelles	Peart	74,000
Enrique	Perez	72,500
Oniel	McCalla	62,000
Gary	Blais	56,500
Susan	Krowitz	54,000
Jaime	Wiegrefe	49,500
Eric	Brewster	46,500
Eric	Lefkowitz	41,000
Morris	Heider	28,500
Antonio	Campbell	26,500
Daniel	Miller	21,500

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1C): Final Level Of The Flight, Looking To Find That Bag

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 16 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/500)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 133
Flight 1C Players Remaining: 34

The (33) players that remain are all hoping to get their hands on one of the pictured slips, meaning they've booked tickets to Sunday's Day 2.

Level 16 started moments ago, meaning that the (33) players that remain need only to reach the 10:00 minute mark, and the five hands that follow.  Those handful of hands are untimed, as the tournament clock is paused while they are finishing up.  Once those hands are completed at each table, the bagging process will begin, with official chip counts to be posted shortly thereafter.

There is another flight on the schedule this evening, with play beginning at 6:00pm for Flight 1D.  There will be no live blogged coverage of the flight, but official chip counts will be posted at it's conclusion.

Official Flight 1C chip counts will be posted about 45-60 minutes after the conclusion of play (approximately 7:15pm).

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1C): Doesn't Get On The Board, But Madrid's High Hand Good For 100,000 Pot

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 15 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/500)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 133
Flight 1C Players Remaining: 40

Juan Madrid (Coconut Creek, FL) watches, as the player he just doubled through gets eliminated from the Flight 1C field.

In a blind v. blind situation, Juan Madrid (Coconut Creek, FL) managed to get his 49,000 stack all-in from the big, holding Q♥ Q♠ against the small blind's 3♥ 3♦.  The flop would come out Q♠ Q♣ 9♦, with Madrid lifting his hands in the air, and saying "high hand!!!"  While these multi-flight tournament aren't eligible for the room's high hand promotion, the hand was for a pot worth over 100,000.  With the 2,660,000 chips in play (for this flight), spread across the field pretty evenly, Madrid now holds a top ten stack in the field.

Juan Madrid - 110,000 (37bb)

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1C): Canelstein's Run Good Expires, Courtesy Of Dan Miller

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 14 (Blinds 1,200/2,400/400)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 133
Flight 1C Players Remaining: 41

Dan Miller eliminated Glen Canelstein moments ago, and ended up more than doubling up in the process.

Glen Canelstein was on fire earlier, connecting on most every pot he played for a ten minute span, and getting there on the turn or river if he wasn't leading.  While the run good helped him amass a stack of over 70,000, it's what happened afterward that mattered.  Passing Table 1 just a few minutes ago, Dan Miller would shove from under-the-gun for 19,000, with Canelstein re-shoving next to act.  Glen was all-in for much less though, as his stack had shrunk down to just three big blinds.  Action folded around to the big blind, who also went all-in, having both players covered.

When the hands were tabled, it would be Miller leading with J♥ J♠, against A♦ 3♦ (Canelstein) and J♣ 7♣ (big blind).  The Q♠ 8♠ 7♦ 6♣ 2♥ runout secured the hand for Miller, who would eliminate Canelstein, and leave the big blind with just 4,000.

Dan Miller - 50,000 (20bb)

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1C): Peart Still Leads After Final Break

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 13 (Blinds 1,000/2,000/300)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 133
Flight 1C Players Remaining: 49

Preecha Taepakdee (Boynton Beach, FL) has climbed the leaderboard, but is still looking up at Lascelles Peart, who is pushing the 200,000 chip mark.

The cards are back in the air for Flight 1C, with action scheduled to play another four levels, with the bagging process beginning at Level 16's conclusion.  There has been some shifting on the leaderboard, but the name at the top has been consistent since earlier in the day, as Lascelles Peart has  gained even more separation from the rest of the field.

Lascelles Peart - 185,000

Preecha Taepakdee - 120,000

Monty Berger - 95,000

Susan Krowitz - 95,000

Migeul Munoz - 85,000

Neil Blumenfield - 80,000

Eric Brewster - 70,000

Frank Scala - 70,000

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1C): Notables Still Remaining, As The Field Heads On It's Final Break

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 12 (Blinds 800/1,600/200)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 133
Flight 1C Players Remaining: 60

ONeil McCalla (Miramar, FL) mentioned earlier that he hadn't seen his picture on the blog recently...and as always, we grant those type of requests.

This is usually the point in the flight where we list the seating assignments for the final three or four tables, but the size of the field (and pace of today's action) sees players spread across six tables.  Listed below are some of the notables names still alive in Flight 1C:

Hari Sukhu
Morris Heider
Lascelles Peart
Jamie Wiegrefe
Steven Bennett
Frank Scala
Preecha Taepakdee
Kevin Scarola
Neil Blumenfield
Oneil McCalla
Lona Rubenstein
Nick Marts
Joseph Mancuso
Antonio Campbell

...just to name a few.  Players are about to head on their final break of the afternoon, and will be returning to Level 13, with new blinds of 1,000/2,000/300.  Once cards are back in the air, we will take a look at some of the larger chips stacks remaining in the field.

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1C): Krowitz Leading The Ladies In The Flight

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 11 (Blinds 600/1,200/200)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 133
Flight 1C Players Remaining: 61

Susan Krowitz (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) is one of two ladies in the field that are over the century mark.

Outside of Lona Rubenstein's Event #14 win, we haven't seen the same success from the ladies, that we have in series past (especially this year).  There are still five ladies in this Flight 1C field, that are looking to change that, led by Susan Krowitz (Ft. Lauderdale, FL).  Susan's chip stack is currently top ten in the remaining field, sitting with just over 110,000.  Listed below are the other women remaining in the flight, including their updated chip counts:

Maryia Proskouriakova - 100,000
Lona Rubenstein - 36,000
Diane Rossi - 28,000
Nancy Thomas - 14,000

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1C): Canelstein Backing Up His Claims

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 10 (Blinds 500/1,000/100)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 133
Flight 1C Players Remaining: 72

Glen Canelstein (Coconut Creek, FL) has one cash in this series (Event #4 | $60 No Limit Hold'em), and looks to be on the way towards his second.

As we passed Table 1, Glen Canelstein (Coconut Creek, FL) was telling his table mates how good he was running, and proceeded to prove that point the very next hand.  After Preecha Taepakdee opened to 1,600 (this was the final hand of Level 9), three players called, including Canelstein.  The dealer fanned out a flop of K♦ 10♣ 8♣, with the original flatter better 3,000 after Taepakdee checked.  Canelstein made the call, along with the players behind.  The four players in the hand saw the board pair on the turn, as the dealer placed the 10♥ on the felt.  Action then checked to Canelstein, who fired out a very healthy bet of 25,000, with everyone releasing their hand.  Glen turned over Q♠ 10♠, showing that he had turned trips, which helped back up his "run good" claim.

Glen Canelstein - 108,000 (108bb)

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1C): First Look At Updated Chip Counts

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 9 (Blinds 400/800/100)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 129

Richard Barboza shares the table with Lascelles Peart, and has now surpassed his earlier chip leading number.

The numbers are now official for Flight 1C of Event #18 ($175 No Limit Hold'em $100,000 GTD), with a total of (133) entries.  There are currently (83) players remaining in the field, all with hopes of making it another eight levels, at which point the bagging process begins.  Players who are eliminated from here on out will have another opportunity this evening, as Flight 1D begins at 6:00pm, along with the pair of flights on tomorrow's schedule.

Listed below are some updated counts from the field:

Richard Barboza - 120,000
Lascelles Peart - 81,000
Dan Koff - 75,000
Hari Sukhu - 65,000
Preecha Taepakdee - 58,000
Kevin Scarola - 55,000
Allan Bieler - 47,000
Steven Bennett - 35,000
Morris Heider - 22,000

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1C): With Registration Window Closing, Thor Saves Himself Another Buy-In

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 8 (Blinds 300/600/75)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 128

Jamie Wiegrefe (pictured left) doubled through Allan Bieler (right), getting his stack above the starting number.

With registration open through the break after this level, the shorter stacked players are looking for a spot to try and double, as was the case with Jamie Wiegrefe (Miami, FL).  After action at Table 6 folded around to Wiegrefe in the small blind, he'd complete for 600, with the big blind (Allan Bieler) raising to 2,000.  Jamie then three-bet shoved for 10,550, with Bieler making the call, and watching as "Thor" turned over A♠ K♥.  The limp-shove worked for Wiegrefe, who was in a dominating position against K♣ J♠, and ended up getting the A♣ 9♦ 3♥ 10♥ A♦ runout.

Allan Bieler - 30,000 (50bb)

Jamie Wiegrefe - 23,200 (38bb)

Players will head on their second break of the day at the conclusion of this level, returning to Level 9, with new blinds of 400/800/100.  Once players are back in their seats, we will take the first look at updated chip counts from the field.

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1C): Silver Tries The Value Bet Bluff, But Scala Picks It Off

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 7 (Blinds 250/500/75)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 120

Frank Scala (Boca Raton, FL) has one cash this series, falling just short of the Event #1 ($1,500 No Limit Hold'em) final table, but cashing for $6,400.

The action at Table 10 was approached on the flop (Q♦ 8♠ 6♣) of a multi-way hand, with Harry Silver having bet 2,000 on the button, after the small bllind and Frank Scala checked to him.  The turn would see the board pair with the Q♥, with action checking around.  The 10♥ then fell on the river, with both the small blind and Scala checking to Silver once get, who bet 2,000 once again.  There was close to 10,000 in the pot, so it may have looked like a wager that was begging for a call.  The small blind ended up releasing his hand, but Scala was a non-believer, and he'd toss the chips across his cards for a call.

"You got it," Silver said to Frank, as he sat without tabling his hand.  Scala then turned over 4♥ 4♠, with Silver flashing A♣ 9♦, before tossing it into the muck.  The bet may have gotten the best hand to fold, and the player in the small blind had a rather upset reaction to seeing the chips getting pushed Scala's way.  Frank is now over the chip average, and sits with 28,200.

Frank Scala - 28,200 (56bb)

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1C): Lascelles Peart Finishing Off The Year Strong, Early Chip Leader

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 6 (Blinds 200/400/50)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 108

Lacelles Peart (Coconut Creek, FL) has made 2017 his best statistical year of tournament poker, helped by his results since the month of November started.

Lascelles Peart (Coconut Creek, FL) had a pretty consistent tournament poker resume, earning just over $17,000 in 2015...and 2016.  It looked like he was going to fall just short of that number this year, but had a November to remember.  Peart started off the month with a win in a $100 No Limit Hold'em recurring event at Seminole Hard Rock, taking home $4,188 for his efforts.  Just over a week later, Lascelles would once again with a recurring event at the same property, this time it was for $4,590 (in a $130 No Limit Hold'em Triple Stack).  Both of those tournaments offered an added $3,500 seat into the Rock N' Roll Poker Open championship event, an event in which he finished in the money (66th place for $5,800).  

Those three results helped Peart eclipse $23,000 in earnings for the year, with still a few weeks remaining.  Lascelles wasn't going to miss the opportunity to add to those numbers, and he's already looking like a contender to bag the flight's chip lead.  He is over 110,000, with the next largest stack in the field more than 30,000 away from that number.  There is still a ways to go in this flight, but considering how he's been playing, Lascelles is a favorite to be around when the bagging process begins.

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1C): Meet Nicholas Marts...Killin' It With The Beard Game

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 5 (Blinds 150/300/50)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 105

While his tournament poker resume may be lacking results, Nick Marts' (Minnesota) beard game is strong than anyone in the field (by far).

Most of the players that frequent the tournament in South Florida are from the area, so it's easy to forget that this is a vacation destination for most people.  Nick Marts has a Hendon Mob resume that states he's from North Dakota, but the current Minnesota resident just got back from a cruise, which had its port here in Florida (as so many of the cruise lines do).  Having heard about this $100,000 guarantee event, he decided to jump in the action, and stands out amongst others in the field.  "Why does he stand out," one may ask...from the picture above, you can see that he owns the best beard in the field...hands down.

Now Marts does have one result on his Hendon Mob resume, a final table finish in Event #9 of the Roughrider Poker Tour, hosted in Bismarck, North Dakota (those poker tour names are serious).  The ninth place cash in the $240 buy-in event saw a return of $756, which he could easily top with a deep run in this event.

Some other notables in the field that may have some "beard envy," include names like:

Dolphins Powers
Frank Scala
Eric Brewster
Morris Heider
Zaki Lichaa
Daniel Miller
Jaime Wiegrefe
Oneil McCalla
Michael Russo
Louis Leo IV
Lev Parnas
Kevin Scarola

Isle Classic Event #18 (Flight 1C): Rubenstein Writing Storylines On...And Off The Felt

2017 Isle Classic | Event #18
$175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD)
Level 4 (Blinds 100/200/25)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 96

Lona Rubenstein (East Hampton, NY) has a resume outside of poker that would like surprise many that she shares the felt with.

A lot of times when we sit down in these tournaments, there isn't much thought given to the life that the players surrounding us lead, outside of the poker room.  For instance, Colby Covington was in the Event #10 ($360 No Limit Hold'em) field last week, and it's likely that his opponents had no idea that they were sharing the felt with one of the top UFC fighters in the world.  Players at Table 2 may look at Lona Rubenstein (East Hampton, NY), unaware of the the incredible life she's lived...and accomplishments she owns.  

Outside of being the Event #14 ($175 H.O.R.S.E.) winner earlier this week (for $2,422). Lona was a champion table tennis player in the 1950's, traveling with the U.S. National Team, representing our country in events all of over the world.  She'd then go on to get a masters degree in philosophy, paving her course towards becoming a professor.  In 1997, Rubenstein also authored a book, which discussed how she was succesful in poker, and able to compete with player more than half of her age.

Just a little look into the life of someone who frequents events here at the Isle Poker Room, which may make some of us wonder...who are the people we share the table with?  Some other notables in this Flight 1C field include:

Glen Canelstein

Neil Blumenfield

Marc Sacheli

Scott Zakheim

Antonio  Campbell

Joseph Mancuso

John Mayers

Joseph Durso

Glenn Popkin

Eric Piderit

Terry Siele

Jerrold Solov

David Inselberg

Allan Bieler