Isle Poker Classic Event #1 (Flight 1C): Players Remaining In The Flight 1C Field, As Action Enters The "Homestretch"

2018 Isle Poker Classic (Event #1)
$200 No Limit Hold'em "Monster Stack"
$100,000 GTD
Level 12 (Blinds 1,000/2,000/2,000)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 110
Flight 1C Players Remaining: 29

Level 12 started just a few moments ago, with one of the outer tables breaking (Table 9), and those players finding new seats.  There are now three active tables in the field, with the seating assignments listed below:

Table 1

1. Joseph Hernon
2. Zachary Mullennix
3. A. Nonymous
4. Bruce Tannenbaum
5. Thomas Gari
6. Paulius Bikus
7. Michael Lucas
8. Fred White
9. John Holley
10. Michel Gariepy

Table 2

1. Auzac Erakbas
2. Ron Magers
3. Pedro Palacio
4. Paul Balzano
5. Evan Teitelbaum
6. Elliot Goldman
7. Gail Sanders
8. Pascuale Caiazza
9. B. Nonymous
10. Scott Zakheim

Table 3

1. Jonathan Simon
2. Gregory Spinder
3. Harjinder Chawla
4. Michael Boykin
5. David Hixson
6. Phillip Consolo
7. Carlos Castro
8. Alex Donato
9. Chris Nominkos

Isle Poker Classic Event #1 (Flight 1C): Full Isle Poker Classic Schedule (Including Upcoming Satellites)

2018 Isle Poker Classic (Event #1)
$200 No Limit Hold'em "Monster Stack"
$100,000 GTD
Level 11 (Blinds 800/1,600/1,600)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 110
Flight 1C Players Remaining: 40

Isle Poker Classic Event #1 (Flight 1C): Updated Chip Counts From The Flight 1C Field

2018 Isle Poker Classic (Event #1)
$200 No Limit Hold'em "Monster Stack"
$100,000 GTD
Level 10 (Blinds 600/1,200/1,200)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 110
Flight 1C Players Remaining: 42

Since last checking in, Harjinder Chawla (Miami, FL) has increased his chip lead, as he now sits with close 300,000.  The gap between Chawla and his nearest competitor is close to 100,000, but with more than six levels remaining in the flight, a lot can change on the leaderboard.  Updated chip counts from the field (tallied at the beginning of Level 10) are listed below:

Harjinder Chawla - 300,000 (250bb)

Gail Sandler - 225,000 (187bb)

Fred White - 165,000 (137bb)

Phillip Consolo - 135,000 (112bb)

Gregory Spinder - 125,000 (104bb)

John Holley - 120,000 (100bb)

Alvaro Grisales - 110,000 (91bb)

Isle Poker Classic Event #1 (Flight 1C): Third Opening Flight Of Event #1 Sees Registration Close With (110) Entries

2018 Isle Poker Classic (Event #1)
$200 No Limit Hold'em "Monster Stack"
$100,000 GTD
Level 9 (Blinds 500/1,000/1,000)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 110
Flight 1C Players Remaining: 54

The cards are in the air for Level 9, with Flight 1C registration now officially closed.  The third (of eight) flight attracted a total of (110) entries, which is larger than both of yesterday's opening flights.  The $17,380 from this prize pool can now be added to the number from yesterday, giving us a running total of $46,610 (which is almost half the way towards the $100,000 posted guarantee).  There are currently (54) players remaining in the flight, with updated chip counts from the field to be posted shortly.  

Isle Poker Classic Event #1 (Flight 1C): Harjinder Chawla Leads The Field, As Registration Window Closes For Flight 1C

2018 Isle Poker Classic (Event #1)
$200 No Limit Hold'em "Monster Stack"
$100,000 GTD
Level 8 (Blinds 400/800/800)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 102

Harjinder Chawla (Miami, FL) currently leads the Flight 1C field, but has a handful of players that can eclipse his number with one sizable pot.

Just a few minutes ago, the tournament clock transitioned to Level 8, which is the final level with open registration for Flight 1C.  There will be a ten minute break at the conclusion of this level, and once the cards are in the air for Level 9, the numbers will be official.  A scan around the field yields a handful of stacks above the century mark, but nobody entered Level 8 with more than Harkinder Chawla (Miami, FL).  Chawla has over 150,000 in front of him, and is coming off a deep run in the opening event of the Rock N' Roll Poker Open.  Harjinder finished 44th in the $360 No Limit Hold'em event, earning $3,350.  His lifetime earnings are now $137,000, and he's only a few thousand dollars in cashes away from besting his number from last year ($25,889 in cashes during 2017).

Once play resumes in Level 9, we will post the official numbers from Flight 1C, followed by the first look at updated chip counts from the field.

Harjinder Chawla - 155,000 (193bb)

Isle Poker Classic Event #1 (Flight 1C): Sean Shah Saves The Good Stories For The "Big Time"

2018 Isle Poker Classic (Event #1)
$200 No Limit Hold'em "Monster Stack"
$100,000 GTD
Level 7 (Blinds 300/600/600)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 91

Sean Shah (Delray Beach, FL) not only has his poker accolades to speak of, but also made appearances on two of America's most popular game shows.

Just like Paulius Bikus earlier, Sean Shah (Delray Beach, FL) is another player that followers of the blog will surely recognize.  Shah, who has over $788,000 in lifetime tournament earnings, is one who rarely misses the events during the major series that run here at the Isle Poker Room.  He's well liked and respected across the poker community, and for a good while, we thought we knew everything "gaming" related about Shah.

That was until we came across a piece from the World Poker Tour's coverage of the Rock N' Roll Poker Open Main Event at Seminole Hard Rock (published on November 26th).  Sean Chaffin (a freelance writer) put together a great piece about Sean, highlighting his appearances on Wheel Of Fortune, and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. Those interested in reading the article, can click here to see the piece.

Sean has agreed to no longer keep the good information from the blogger, so we will continue to feature him in future coverage.  Players now have just over an hour to join the Flight 1C action, or can choose to enter the $55 No Limit Hold'em Satellite into Event #1, which began five minutes ago.

Isle Poker Classic Event #1 (Flight 1C): Bikus Less Than $1,500 Away From Reaching Earnings Milestone

2018 Isle Poker Classic (Event #1)
$200 No Limit Hold'em "Monster Stack"
$100,000 GTD
Level 6 (Blinds 300/500/500)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 82

Paulius Bikus (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) is just a deep run away from eclipsing the $100,000 mark in lifetime tournament earnings.

For followers of the blog, Paulius Bikus (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) is a recognizable name, having seen a lot of tournament success over the last three years (since the blog's inception).  Paulius has three tournament wins here at the Isle Casino Pompano Park, including two trophy wins, coming during the 2014 Isle Classic.  He's just two months removed from a career best score, earning fourth place money, in a chop of Event #4 (during the 2018 Isle Open).  His share of the four-way deal would see a return of $14,206, besting his prior career best cash of $11,545.  Paulius has since cashed in one event (Event #1 of the Rock N' Roll Poker Open), and now has lifetime earnings of $98,401.  That leaves him just a sizable score away from $100,000 in tournament earnings, which is a milestone that is impressive for any poker player.  

Paulius top the second list of Flight 1C notables, with more names listed below:

Skip McDonough

Scott Zakheim

Paula Alibrandi

Stanley Aufseeser

Joseph Hernon

Luis Stadler

Rodney Moret-Rojas

Ovenson Benoit

Pedro Palacio

Tim Shane

Gregg Weiss

Isle Poker Classic Event #1 (Flight 1C): John Holley Making A "No Limit Hold'em Appearance", Headlines First Look At Notables

2018 Isle Poker Classic (Event #1)
$200 No Limit Hold'em "Monster Stack"
$100,000 GTD
Level 5 (Blinds 200/400/400)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 72

John Holley (Destin, FL) spend a lot of time playing poker, but also a good amount on the water, having been a sport fisherman for years.

John Holley (Destin, FL) may have Florida listed as his hometown on Hendon Mob, but he rarely finds himself in one place for too long.  Holley has been traveling around the country for years, playing poker...and finding himself some spots to fish.  Holley had over $1,700,000 in lifetime tournament earnings, with the results a combination of no limit hold'em, and mixed-game events.  While it seem like a majority of his results are from non-no limit hold'em tournaments, his largest cashes have come via the standard two-card events.  John has two six-figure scores on his resume, the first coming in 2013, when he finished third in the Seniors Event at the WSOP (Event #26 - $1,000 No Limit Hold'em) for $283,312.  Three years later, Holley won the largest WSOP Circuit event (at the time), which was hosted at Choctaw (in Durant, Oklahoma).  Event #3 of that series, which was a $365 buy-in tournament, attracted a field of 4,249 entries (and had a prize pool of $1,274,000).  The win was worth $203,944, but also was his fifth (of eight total) WSOP Circuit title.  

After spending time playing some mixed events during the Rock N' Roll Poker Open, Holley is now ready for some no limit hold'em action, and was one of the first notables spotted into today's Flight 1C field.   @Hohnjolley headlines the first list of notables in the crowd, joining the likes of:

Michel Gariepy

Frank Traino

Alvaro Grisales

Zachary Mullennix

Gary Fitzgerald

Gail Sandler

Kevin Scarola

Daniel Genachte

Sean Shah

Oleg Efremov

Bernard Lubitz

Isle Poker Classic Event #1 (Flight 1C): Official Chip Counts (Flight 1A-Flight 1B)

2018 Isle Poker Classic (Event #1)
$200 No Limit Hold'em "Monster Stack"
$100,000 GTD
Level 4 (Blinds 200/300/300)
Total Flight 1C Entries: 70

Isle Poker Classic Event #1 (Flight 1C): Coming Off A Very Strong Start, Event #1 Numbers Expected To Grow Over The Weekend

2018 Isle Poker Classic (Event #1)
$200 No Limit Hold'em "Monster Stack"
$100,000 GTD
Level 1 (Blinds 100/100)
Total Flight 1C Entries: N/A

After a great start to Event #1 of the Isle Poker Classic ($200 No Limit Hold'em "Monster Stack" $100,000 GTD), we are about to begin the second pair of starting flights for the tournament.  Players in Flight 1C will be sitting down to starting stacks of 30,000 units, playing levels that last (30) minutes, with registration open through Level 8.

Yesterday's opening pair of flights saw a combined total of (185) entries, after there were (88) entries in Flight 1A, and (97) in Flight 1B.  A total of (26) players bagged chips from the flights (13 from each flight), with Ross Ramlal bagging the Flight 1A chip lead (307,000), and Kerry Keena the top stack from Flight 1B (458,000).  The current prize pool of $29,230 (from the first two flights) is a strong number for the opening day, and almost assures that this event will cruise past the posted guarantee.

Live blogged coverage will begin with a post containing the official chip counts from Flight 1A and Flight 1B, followed by a first look at notables in today's Flight 1C field.

Friday, November 30th: After A Successful Opening Day To The Isle Poker Classic, Event #1 Continues In The Weekend

ICYMI: Yesterday hosted the first pair of opening flights for Event #1 of the Isle Poker Classic, with things getting off to a very strong start.  There were a combined total of (185) entries of the course of the day, with (88) entries in Flight 1A, and (97) in Flight 1B.  The prize pool from the pair of flights is at $29,230, which is well ahead of the pace to reach the $100,000 guarantee.  Official chip counts from each of the flights will be posted shortly after the poker opens this morning (9:00am).

Tournaments: Event #1 of the 2018 Isle Poker Classic continues today, with two more opening flights, and a $55 No Limit Hold'em Satellite.  The two flights (Flight 1C at 11:00am, and Flight 1D at 6:00pm) are structured with 30,000 unit starting stacks, and levels that last (30) minutes.  Registration is open through Level 8, with each of the flights schedule to conclude after Level 16, or until the 10% mark is reached (whichever occurs first).  

In between the two flights (at 2:00pm) is a $55 No Limit Hold'em Satellite, offering the opportunity for players to join the Event #1 action, for a fraction of the price.  The satellite is structured with 10,000 unit starting stacks, (20) minute levels, and registration open through Level 8.  Players that earn a seat into Event #1, can choose one of the remaining five flights to play.

Promotions: The high hands will run from 9:00am-12:00am, with the opportunity to win $400 every (30) minutes.  During that period, the promotion sees tournament players eligible each half-hour for $100 high hands, 2/2 limit hold'em players eligible for $200 high hands, 2/4 limit hold'em players eligible for $300 high hands, and all other raked games (1/2-5/10 NLH, 4/8 Omaha 8B, 6/12 O.E., etc.) eligible for $400 high hands.  

It should also be noted that players are able to win the high hand using only one card in their hand.  The payouts for those that use one card are different than the standard numbers listed above, and can be found (full listing of one-card payouts on flyers in the poker room).

From 12:00am-9:00am (Friday into Saturday), the high hand will be awarded $100 every (60) minutes.

11:00am - 2018 Isle Poker Classic (Event #1) | $200 No Limit Hold'em "Monster Stack" ($100,000 GTD) Flight 1C

- Players start with 30,000 in tournament chips

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

- Alternates and late entries will start with a full stack

- Levels will last (30) minutes

2:00pm - $55 No Limit Hold'em Satellite Into Isle Poker Classic Event #1 ($200 No Limit Hold'em $100,000 GTD)

- Players start with 10,000 in tournament chips

- Late and re-entries for the first (20) levels

- Alternates and late entries will start with a full stack

- Levels will last (20) minutes

6:00pm - 2018 Isle Poker Classic (Event #1) | $200 No Limit Hold'em "Monster Stack" ($100,000 GTD) Flight 1D

- Players start with 30,000 in tournament chips

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

- Alternates and late entries will start with a full stack

- Levels will last (30) minutes

Isle Poker Classic Event #1 (Flight 1B): Official End Of Flight 1B Chip Counts

2018 Isle Poker Classic (Event #1)
$200 No Limit Hold'em "Monster Stack"
$100,000 GTD
Level 16 (Blinds 2,500/5,000/5,000)
Total Flight 1B Entries: 97
Flight 1B Players Remaining: 13

Kerry	Keena	458,000
Mary Jane	Forsythe	351,000
Judith	Bowling	326,000
Salah	Salmen	290,000
Fabio	Baduy	283,000
David	Oshry	244,000
Willie	Wiggins	225,000
Steve	Moreno	165,000
Giz	Guadalpi	143,000
Russell	Marco	126,000
Andrew	Jones	124,000
Steve	Caplan	111,000
Lawrence	Paden	97,000

Isle Poker Classic Event #1 (Flight 1A): Official End Of Flight 1A Chip Counts

2018 Isle Poker Classic (Event #1)
$200 No Limit Hold'em "Monster Stack"
$100,000 GTD
Level 16 (Blinds 2,500/5,000/5,000)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 88
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 13

Ross	Ramlal	307,000
Brett	Kelly	302,000
Marc	Wolfe	300,000
Michael	Delplancke	292,000
Jose	Genao	288,000
Patrick	Sparks	247,000
Maritza	Cuartas	204,000
Phillip	Zurbaran	178,000
Thao	Le	131,000
Steffen	Lue	130,000
Trent-Daryl	McInturff	112,000
Arthur	Gallinaro	81,000
Albert	Niebla	64,000

Isle Poker Classic Event #1 (Flight 1A): Two Tables Remain, As Play Enters Final Level Of The Flight

2018 Isle Poker Classic (Event #1)
$200 No Limit Hold'em "Monster Stack"
$100,000 GTD
Level 16 (Blinds 2,500/5,000/5,000)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 88
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 15

The tournament clock just transitioned to Level 16, which is going to be the final level of the flight.  It looks like the 10% mark will not be reached before the end of the level, as (15) players remain at this point (and the 10% mark reached if the point where 8 players are left).  Once the final hands of the flight are finished, the bagging process will begin, with players packing away their stacks for Monday's Day 2.  Once all of the bags are verified by tournament staff, the official Flight 1A chip counts will be posted.

Isle Poker Classic Event #1 (Flight 1A): Full Isle Poker Classic Schedule (Including Upcoming Satellites)

2018 Isle Poker Classic (Event #1)
$200 No Limit Hold'em "Monster Stack"
$100,000 GTD
Level 12 (Blinds 1,000/2,000/2,000)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 88
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 34

Isle Poker Classic Event #1 (Flight 1A): Efremov Continuing Torrid Run, Now The First To Eclipse 200,000

2018 Isle Poker Classic (Event #1)
$200 No Limit Hold'em "Monster Stack"
$100,000 GTD
Level 11 (Blinds 800/1,600/1,600)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 88
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 38

If Oleg Efremov (Oakland Park, FL) looks comfortable...it's because he is.  Oleg has continued to trend in the right direction, since being featured earlier on the blog, and now has over 220,000 in front of him.

Every hand of Oleg Efremov's that have been witnessed, has seen him with premium holdings (jacks or better each time).  Moments ago, Efremov would re-shove over the all-in of a shorter stacked opponent, clearing the players that were behind.  Oleg quickly tabled K♣ K♥, with his adversary tabling J♥ J♦, followed by the board running out 9♥ 6♠ 6♦ A♣ 5♦.  

"Man, this guy is running crazy good," murmured one of the players on the opposite side of the table.  That is an understatement at the moment, as Efremov eclipses 200,000 with that pot, and only strengthens his chip lead over the rest of the remaining field.

Oleg Efremov - 225,000 (140bb)

Isle Poker Classic Event #1 (Flight 1A): Updated Chip Counts From The Flight 1A Field

2018 Isle Poker Classic (Event #1)
$200 No Limit Hold'em "Monster Stack"
$100,000 GTD
Level 10 (Blinds 600/1,200/1,200)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 88
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 43

Oleg Efremov (Oakland Park, FL) leads the Flight 1A field, sitting with over 160,000 at the beginning of Level 10.  A deep run in this event would assure Efremov of a career best cash, and the potential for his first trophy win.

After getting it in with J J against the K K of Jacquelyn Scott, Oleg Efremov (Oakland Park, FL) ended up flopping a set, and eliminating the former WSOP Ladies Event champion from the field.  The pot helped Oleg assume the Flight 1A chip lead, as he entered Level 10 with over 160,000.  Efremov has four lifetime tournament wins here at the Isle Poker Room, all coming during recurring events.  He has lifetime earnings of $14,805, and a career best tournament cash of $2,614.  

Updated chip counts from the Flight 1A field are posted below:

Oleg Efremov - 165,000 (137bb)
Marc Wolfe - 135,000 (112bb)
Alberto Niebla - 120,000 (100b)
Maritza Quartos - 115,000 (95bb)
Alexander Thomas - 105,000 (87bb)
Euclid Zurbaran - 105,000 (87bb)
Myles German - 95,000 (79bb)

Isle Poker Classic Event #1 (Flight 1A): Opening Event #1 Flight Closes With (88) Entries, A Great Start To The Series

2018 Isle Poker Classic (Event #1)
$200 No Limit Hold'em "Monster Stack"
$100,000 GTD
Level 9 (Blinds 500/1,000/1,000)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 88
Flight 1A Players Remaining: 48

Registration for Flight 1A is now officially closed, and for a Thursday afternoon to start the series, the numbers are great!!!  The opening flight of Event #1 closed with a total of (88) entries, of which (48) players currently remain active in the field.  The $13,904 prize fund from this flight will be added to the number from the seven flights that follow, giving us our final number for the tournament.  If things continue to grow as the weekend closes in (which is a trend for these multi-flight events), we will be looking at a final number well above the posted guarantee (which is $100,000).

Isle Poker Classic Event #1 (Flight 1A): Alberto Niebla Leads The Field, As Play Enters Final Level Of Open Registration

2018 Isle Poker Classic (Event #1)
$200 No Limit Hold'em "Monster Stack"
$100,000 GTD
Level 8 (Blinds 400/800/800)
Total Flight 1A Entries: 78

Alberto Niebla (Miami, FL) leads the Flight 1A heading to the registration break, but there are a handful of players within striking distance of his number.

Play entered Level 8 just a few moments ago, which happens to be the final level of open registration for Flight 1A.  There are a handful of players around the 100,000 mark in chips, but none hold more than Alberto Neibla (Miami, FL), who started Level 8 with 120,000.  Niebla went a stretch earlier this year, in which he recorded four final table finishes in a row.  One of those results was a trophy win during the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown, taking down Event #41 ($150 No Limit Hold'em) for $5,423.  Alberto has one Isle Poker title to his name, winning Event #6 of the 2016 Battles At The Beach ($250 No Limit Hold'em Bounty).

Alberto Niebla - 120,000 (150bb)

Players will take another (10) minute break at the end of this level, before returning to Level 9, and blinds of 500/1,000/1,000.  The official numbers will be posted for the flight at that point, followed by the first look at updated Flight 1A chip counts.