Saturday, August 5th: It's All About The High Hands This Saturday

ICYMI: (Tournament results from Friday, August 4th to be posted shortly)

Tournaments: There are two tournaments on the calendar today, the first of which begins at 11:00am ($100 No Limit Hold'em "Big Stack Turbo Bounty" $3,000 GTD).  Players in the event will be sitting down to starting stacks of 18,000 units, and playing levels of (15) minutes throughout.  This "staple" weekend event has been in this day/time slot for a long while, and continues to be a favorite of the players.

The evening tournament, which gets underway at 6:00pm, is a $120 No Limit Hold'em event.  The tournament is structured with 25,000 unit starting stacks, and levels that are 20/25 minutes in length.  The levels start at (20) minutes while registration is open, and once things close (after Level 8), they transition to (25) minutes in length.

Promotions: The first weekend of the month of August hosts one of the best promotions players will see on the calendar.  From 1:00pm-10:00pm, three different high hands will be awarded each hour:

$500 on the :20

$750 on the :40

$1,000 top of the hour (:00)

The first high hand in this promotion is awarded at 1:20pm.

11:00am - $100 No Limit Hold'em "Big Stack Turbo" w/ $25 Bounties ($3,000 GTD)

- Players will begin with a 18,000 starting stack

- Late and re-entries for the first (10) levels

- Option player "add-on" at the end of Level 10 ($25 for 10,000 tournament chips), with 100% of the "add-on" going to the prize pool 

- Levels are (15) minutes in length

6:00pm - $120 No Limit Hold'em

- Players will begin with a 25,000 starting stack

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

- Alternates and late entries will enter with full stacks

- Levels 1-8 are (20) minutes in length, transitioning to (25) minutes Levels 9+

Friday, August 4th: "Mixed Game" Tournament A Success, High Hands Headline Fridays Schedule

ICYMI: There were two tournament on the schedule yesterday, both of which were making an appearance for the first time (on the daily schedule).  The action began at 11:00am with the $130 Omaha/Stud 8B Hi/Lo ($2,000 GTD) event, a tournament that players have been asking about for a while.  Being that the 6/12 O.E. game is one of the most popular and long standing cash games in the room, it came as no surprise that the guarantee was reached in Level 2.  A total of (33) entries made up the field, with five spots scheduled to get paid.  Once play reached the money (and two bubble spots were awarded cash in an agreement), the final five agreed to a deal, with Mark Belzer earning first place money ($1,055):

1. Mark Belzer (Delray Beach, FL) $1,055
2. Benjamin Scotkin (Pompano Beach, FL) $741
3. A. Nonymous (Boca Raton, FL) $571
4. Arnold Cohen (West Palm Beach, FL) $530
5. Jonathan Perez (Plantation, FL) $403

The evening tournament saw the introduction of a "survivor" event to the recurring schedule, where approximately (1 in 5) players were going to win a $500 cash prize (3 winners guaranteed).  When the tournament concluded, there would be five "winners," each walking away with over $407 (with results listed below):

1. Denise Westerfield (Coconut Creek, FL) $408
2. Jeffery Oldakowski (Boca Raton, FL) $408
3. Robert Weissman (Boca Raton, FL) $407
4. Barry Cohen (Boca Raton, FL) $407
5. Dean Arahovites (Margate, FL) $407

Tournaments: There is one tournament on the schedule today, an evening event that begins at 6:00pm ($75 No Limit Hold'em).  The tournament's structure offers players a starting stack of 15,000 units, and levels of (20) minutes throughout the event.  

Promotions: The weekend kicks off with a day that's full of bonus high hands, starting the moment the doors open.  From 9:00am-12:00pm, $100 will be awarded every (10) minutes to qualifying high hands, with rollovers.  This promotion is very exciting, as we've seen rollovers that are worth between $500-$1,000 on a consistent basis.  

That period is followed by some "richer" high hands, with $250 awarded every (20) minutes from 12:00pm-4:00pm, and $500 awarded every (20) minutes from 4:00pm-12:00am.  Rollovers apply with this promotion as well, but with so many tables in play, it's not something that happens as often.

6:00pm - $75 No Limit Hold'em

- Players will begin with a 15,000 starting stack

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

- Alternates and late entries will receive full stacks

- Levels are (20) minutes in length throughout

Thursday, August 3rd: "Mixing It Up," Introducing A New Tournament On The Recurring Schedule

ICYMI: The first tournament on yesterday's schedule was the $100 No Limit Hold'em "Monster Stack" ($3,000 GTD), which got underway at 11:00am.  The tournament surpassed the guarantee once again, attracted a total of (47) entries, for an official prize pool of $3,619.  Etan Aloush (Hollywood, FL) was awarded the win after a six-way chop, recording a cash for the first time since 2013, which also happens to be his largest lifetime score ($929).  Listed below are the full results from the tournament:

1. Etan Aloush (Hollywood, FL) $929
2. Andrew Thompson (Bloomfield Hills, MI) $783
3. Scott Johnston (Plantation, FL) $742
4. Gregory Anderson (Berwyn, PA) $658
5. Robert Cavataio (Delray Beach, FL) $290
6. Daniel Genachte (Deerfield Beach, FL) $217

The evening event (6:00pm) was a $40 No Limit Hold'em tournament without a guarantee, but that didn't stop the (131) entries from making up the field.  The official prize pool closed at $4,297, with the event offering a first place prize of $1,214.  A total of (17) spots were scheduled to get paid in the event, with the action playing down to heads-up.  Once Ronald Lindquist and Scott Bailey were up against each other, they agreed to a deal, with Lindquist being awarded the win.  The cash was Lindquist's fourth of the year, and also happened to be the largest of his career ($1,182).  Listed below are the results from last night's final table:

1. Ronald Lindquist (West Palm Beach, FL) $1,182
2. Scott Bailey (Loxahatchee, FL) $800
3. Marcus Petteway (Pompano Beach, FL) $455
4. Daniel Shortley (Lake Worth, FL) $279
5. John Young (Deerfield Beach, FL) $213
6. Christian Larsen (Canada) $180
7. Scott Sommer (Palm Beach Gardens, FL) $157
8. Lawrence Kombaher (Deerfield Beach, FL) $138
9. Rick Kalgstein (Sunrise, FL) $121
10. Marcos Cedeno (Lake Worth, FL) $107

Tournaments: This afternoon (11:00am) sees the introduction of a new "set" of tournaments to the schedule, as Thursday afternoons (not during multi-day event) will become "Mixed Thursdays."  Players will find different non-no limit hold'em variations on the schedule, the first of which is a $130 O.E. 8B ($2,000 GTD) event.  The O.E. stands for Omaha 8B (Hi/Lo) and Stud 8B (Hi/Lo), which happens to be one of the most popular lower limit cash games in the room (6/12).  The tournament has a great structure, which will see the event finish up no later than 4:30-5:00pm.  Players sit down to starting stack of 16,000 units, and playing levels of 15/20 minutes.  Levels 1-8 will be 15 minutes, and will transition to 20 minutes Levels 9+.

The evening tournament is also a new event to the schedule, as a "survivor" tournament joins the fray.  The tournament, which is a $120 buy-in, offers up a $500 package for every five players in the event. The event is structured with starting stacks of 14,000 units, and levels of (20) minutes throughout the event.  It's a great way to pocket $500, and there are a lot of things a poker player can do with that kind of cash.

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.  That is followed by $300 high hands every (15) minutes, from 12:0pm-4:00pm.

11:00am - $120 Omaha 8B/Stud 8B Hi/Lo ($2,000 GTD)

- Players will begin with a 16,000 starting stack

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

- Alternates and late entries will receive full stacks

- Levels 1-8 are (15) minutes in length, with Levels 9+ lasting (20) minutes

6:00pm - $120 No Limit Hold'em Survivor (3) $500 Winners GTD (1 in 5 win $500)

- Players will begin with a 14,000 starting stack

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

- Alternates and late entries will receive full stacks

- Levels are (20) minutes in length throughout

Wednesday, August 2nd: Thomas And Orphans Head Final Table Chops, "Spin To Win" Headlines

ICMYI: After more than three weeks of Florida State Poker Championships event, the poker room went back to the recurring schedule yesterday.  The first post-FSPC tournament was the $100 No Limit Hold'em "Monster Stack" ($3,000 GTD), and after registration closes in the event, there would be (41) entries.  The official prize pool closed at $3,157, and boasted a first place prize of $536.  The payouts were scheduled to see six spots getting paid, but after one elimination at the final table, a nine-way chop was agreed to:

1. Stacy Thomas (Jupiter, FL) $536
2. Daniel Genachte (Deerfield Beach, FL) $471
3. Joseph Mancuso (Deerfield Beach, FL) $467
4. Todd Kasten (Boynton Beach, FL) $375
5. Paula Holder (Pompano Beach, FL) $370
6. Andrew Thompson (Bloomfield Hills, MI) $258
7. Angelo Castaldi (Plantation, FL) $246
8. Jose Aldorino (Miami, FL) $228
9. Eitan Aloush (Hollywood, FL) $206

Tuesday night's tournament was the $60 No Limit Hold'em ($8,000 GTD) event, which attracted a field of (152) entries.  The $8,000 prize pool was spread across (19) payout spots, with a min-cash worth $120, and $2,209 up top.  While not as large as the afternoon event, the tournament did end in a chop, with James Orphanos (Boca Raton, FL) earning first place money (and the trophy).  The full final table payouts are listed below:

1. James Orphanos (Boca Raton, FL) $1,215
2. Curtis Daye (Oakland Park, FL) $1,214
3. Paul Kern (Pompano Beach, FL) $964
4. Paul Prager (Davie, FL) $964
5. Antonio Colon (Princeton, NJ) $964
6. Frank Annunziato (Hollywood, FL) $320
7. Frederick Attias (Boca Raton, FL) $280
8. Gennaro Decandia (Boca Raton, FL) $250
9. Walter West (Lantana, FL) $221
10. Sabas Ferrer (Coral Springs, FL) $192

Tournaments: There are two tournaments on the schedule today, the first of which (11:00am) is the $100 No Limit Hold'em "Monster Stack" ($3,000 GTD).  The event's structure sees players sitting down to starting stack of 25,000 units, and playing levels that last (20) minutes in length.  Registration for the tournament is open until the end of Level 8 (and the break that follows).  

The evening tournament, which begins at 6:00pm, is a $40 No Limit Hold'em tournament.  Players sit down to starting stacks of 12,000 units, and play levels that are (20) minutes in length.  Registration is open until the end of Level 8, with an optional add-on available to players that would like to boost their stack.

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.

11:00am - $100 No Limit Hold'em ($3,000 GTD)

- Players start with 25,000 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

6:00pm - $40 No Limit Hold'em 

- Players will begin with a 12,000 starting stack

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

- Optional player "add-on" at the end of Level 8 ($20 for 8,000 tournament chips), with 100% of the "add-on" going to the prize pool

-  Levels are (20) minutes in length

Tuesday, August 1st: Daryl Jace Wins FSPC Main Event, Caby Takes Home Final Trophy..."Back To Business:

ICYMI: Yesterday was Day 3 of the 2017 Florida State Poker Championships $1,500 Main Event, with (17) players returning to finish out the tournament.  There were numerous storylines that played out over the course of the day, which will be laid out in the tournament's recap, to be posted later this afternoon.  After eleven hours of play, Daryl Jace would be the last player standing, after besting Sam Mayer-Backer in heads up play.  Posted below are the results from the final table:

1. Daryl Jace (Saugus, MA) $142,173
2. Sam Mayer-Backer (Boca Raton, FL) $99,666
3. Josias Santos (Kissimmee, FL) $64,096
4. Abbey Daniels (Coral Springs, FL) $45,180
5. Tony Ruberto (Miami, FL) $34,689
6. Danny Shiff (Miami, FL) $28,630
7. Michael Newman (Nanuet, NY) $23,777
8. Israel De La Cerda (Royal Palm Beach, FL) $18,954
9. Michael Amato (Boca Raton, FL) $14,219
10. Devon Shalmi (Boca Raton, FL) $11,726

The final event of the 2017 Florida State Poker Championships was Event #22, a $60 buy-in No Limit Hold'em tournament with a $12,000 guaranteed prize pool.  Following in the footsteps of all but one FSPC event, the guaranteed number was crushed, and the tournament was a great success.  The tournament ended in a final table chop, with ten players agreeing to the numbers, and Abdolhamid Caby (N. Miami, FL) awarded first place money (and the final trophy of the series).  Posted below are the results from the final table deal:

1. Abdolhamid Caby (N. Miami, FL) $2,136
2. Jose Moscatel (Sunny Isles Beach, FL) $1,991
3. Kenneth Amaez (Boca Raton, FL) $1,806
4. Vitaly Chaika (Hallandale Beach, FL) $1,431
5. Anthony Canario (Lighthouse Point, FL) $1,410
6. Marco Fernandez (Miami, FL) $1,140
7. Rick Kalgstein (Sunrise, FL) $1,133
8. James Lewis (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) $1,016
9. Christian Humphries (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) $903
10. David Licht (New York, NY) $887

Tournaments: We are "back to business," with the tournaments switching back to the recurring schedule.  There are two tournaments on the schedule today, the first of which begins a 11:00am.  The $100 No Limit Hold'em ($3,000 GTD) offers up one a great structure, with players sitting down to 25,000 unit starting stacks, and playing levels of (20) minutes in length (throughout the event).  At 6:00pm, the $60 No Limit Hold'em ($8,000 GTD) event gets started.  The tournament sees players sitting down to starting stacks of 14,000 units, and playing (20) minute levels throughout the event (there is an optional add-on at the end of registration).

Promotions: The Full House 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).

11:00am - $100 No Limit Hold'em "Monster Stack" ($3,000 GTD)

- Players start with 25,000 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

6:00pm - $60 No Limit Hold'em ($8,000 GTD)

- Players will begin with a 14,000 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 10,000 units, 100% goes towards the prize pool)

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

FSPC Main Event (Day 3): Daryl Jace Wins FSPC Main Event ($142,173), Mayer-Backer Runner-Up ($99,666)

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 32 (Blinds 100,000/200,000/30,000)
Total Entries: 548
Players Remaining: 2/548

While the players were fairly deep, a heads up hand with pocket aces and pocket ten usually going to end up the way it just did.  Sam opened the final hand, with Daryl Jace three-betting to 1,000,000.  Mayer-Backer then four-bet ripped, and would see the grim news after Jace called.  Jace's A♣ A♥ held up against Mayer-Backer's 10♣ 10♥ on the Q♣ J♥ 6♠ 2♥ 7♠ runout, and Daryl would become the 2017 Florida State Poker Championships $1,500 Main Event champion!

Daryl Jace (Saugus, MA) FSPC Main Event Winner $142,173

Sam Mayer-Backer (Boca Raton, FL) 2nd Place $99,666

FSPC Main Event (Day 3): Mayer-Backer Climbs Back To Even, Chop Being Discussed

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 31 (Blinds 80,000/160,000/20,000)
Total Entries: 548
Players Remaining: 2/548

Sam Mayer-Backer has managed to even things up with Daryl Jace, after a big double up moments ago.  After Sam opened and Jace called, the two saw a flop of 6♠ 6♥ 4♠, with Jace checking to Sam.  Sam tossed out a bet of 375,000, and would get check-raised to 1,100,000.  Only a few seconds passed before Sam announced that he was all-in, and after getting an exact count, Jace made the call.  Sam rolled over 7♠ 7♥, and was ahead of Daryl's K♥ 4♣.  The turn (5♦) and river (10♠) were clean for Sam, who doubled to 8,100,000.

Daryl Jace - 8,400,000
Sam Mayer-Backer - 8,100,000

The talks of a chop quickly fizzed out, and the cards are back in the air.

FSPC Main Event (Day 3): Heads-Up Counts At Break

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 31 (Blinds 80,000/160,000/20,000)
Total Entries: 548
Players Remaining: 2/548

Daryl Jace and Sam Mayer-Backer are currently on a (15) minute break, and will return to Level 31, with new blinds of 80,000/160,000/20,000.  Posted below are the counts during break:

1. Sam Mayer-Backer - 2,200,000
2. Daryl Jace - 14,200,000

FSPC Main Event (Day 3): Josias Santos Out In Third Place ($64,096), Jace and Mayer Backer Heads-Up

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 30 (Blinds 60,000/120,000/20,000)
Total Entries: 548
Players Remaining: 2/548

Josias Santos (Kissimmee, FL) 3rd Place $64,096

Josias Santos would complete his small blind after Mayer-Backer folded, with Daryl Jace raising to 300,000.  Santos the three-bet ripped for close to 3,000,000, with Jace's eyes opening wide before making the call.  Jace quickly turned over K♠ K♣, with Santos begrudgingly turning over Q♠ 7♦.  The Q♣ 8♦ 3♠ flop gave everyone at the table a little sweat, but the turn and river would run clean for Jace, eliminating Santos from play.

Daryl Jace and Sam Mayer-Backer are now heads up for the 2017 FSPC Main Event trophy, with the chip counts below:

1. Sam Mayer-Backer - 2,300,000
2. Daryl Jace - 14,100,000

FSPC Main Event (Day 3): Mayer-Backer Drops Below Ten Bigs, But Doubles Through Daryl Jace

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 30 (Blinds 60,000/120,000/20,000)
Total Entries: 548
Players Remaining: 3/548

Daryl Jace opened to 250,000 from the button, with Sam Mayer-Backer three-bet shoving for 1,100,000.  Josias Santos folded his hand, and Jace quickly made the call, and would be the favorite (Jace held A♣ K♦ against Mayer-Backer's Q♦ 10♦).  The 10♣ 5♦ 2♠ J♦ 2♣ runout had all of the dramatics, as Sam flopped a pair, but Jace turned a combo draw to go along with his pair outs.  The board would pair on the river though, giving Sam's rail something to cheer about for the first time in a while.

Daryl Jace - 10,200,000
Sam Mayer-Backer - 2,400,000

FSPC Main Event (Day 3): Three-Handed Chip Counts

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 30 (Blinds 60,000/120,000/20,000)
Total Entries: 548
Players Remaining: 3/548

Here are the updated chip counts to start three-handed play:

1. Sam Mayer-Backer - 2,200,000
2. Josias Santos - 3,600,000
3. Daryl Jace - 10,600,000

FSPC Main Event (Day 3): Abbey Daniels Out In Fourth Place ($45,180), Jace Continues Crushing

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 30 (Blinds 60,000/120,000/20,000)
Total Entries: 548
Players Remaining: 3/548

Abbey Daniels (Coral Springs, FL) 4th Place $45,180

Daryl Jace opened-shoved from the button, with both players in the blinds holding stacks of less than (20) bigs.  Sam Mayer-Backer quickly mucked his hand, followed by Abbey Daniels making the call.   Daniels was racing for her tournament life, holding 6♠ 6♥ against the A♠ 9♠ of Jace.  With the way things have gone since dinner, it didn't come as much of surprise that there would be an ace on the flop (A♠ K♣ 10♥).  Daniels would not find a six on the turn or river, making her the fourth place finisher in the event, which was worth $45,180.

If there was a player of the series, Abbey Daniels would be the strong favorite to win.  This was Abbey's second final table of the series (Event #7), and her second five-figure score as well.

Daryl Jace - 10,600,000

Abbey Daniels - 4th Place - $45,180

FSPC Main Event (Day 3): Four Handed Chip Counts, Level Going Up

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 30 (Blinds 60,000/120,000/20,000)
Total Entries: 548
Players Remaining: 4/548

Every since Daryl Jace won that pot against Josias Santos, he's had full control of the table.  There was a point where he opened six hands in a row, and while a few of those won uncontested, he also won a few pots at showdown as well.  He now has close to half of the chips in play, as the blinds climb once again, this time to 60,000/120,000/20,000.  Posted below are the updated chip counts at the end of Level 29:

1. Sam Mayer-Backer - 2,100,000
2. Abbey Daniels - 1,450,000
3. Josias Santos - 4,200,000
4. Daryl Jace - 7,700,000

FSPC Main Event (Day 3): Daniels Stops Slide, Eliminates Ruberto In 5th Place ($34,689)

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 29 (Blinds 50,000/100,000/15,000)
Total Entries: 548
Players Remaining: 4/548

Tony Ruberto (Miami, FL) 5th Place ($34,689)

Tony Ruberto was the shortest stack returning from dinner, and continued to trend down as the level reached it's halfway mark.  With only (13) big blinds, Tony shoved from the button after action folded to him, with Abbey Daniels calling out of the big blind.  Abbey's A♥ 9♥ was well ahead of Ruberto's 8♦ 9♦, but the J♦ 7♣ 3♣ flop did add a few outs to Ruberto's hand.  The 5♠ on the turn brought even more cards into play for Tony, but the board pairing on the river would end his final table run.

Tony entered this tournament yesterday afternoon, utilizing the Day 2 buy-in option, and running up the 30,000 starting stack into a final table finish ($34,689).

Abbey Daniels - 2,700,000

Tony Ruberto - 5th Place - $34,689

FSPC Main Event (Day 3): Jace Tank-Calls With A Full House, Assumes The Chip Lead

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 29 (Blinds 50,000/100,000/15,000)
Total Entries: 548
Players Remaining: 5/548

On the turn of a board reading 2♥ 10♥ 9♥ 2♦, Josias Santos would check to Daryl Jace, with already 600,000 in the pot.  Jace tossed forward a bet of 240,000, and after a few moments, Santos would announce a raise.  He'd then take two stacks of blue chips (equaling 1,000,000), and push them across his cards.  Jace, who is deliberate with most of his decisions, eventually made the call.  After the 10♠ came on the river, Josias pushed forward a stack of pink chips (worth 2,000,000), which was enough to put Jace all-in.

"I don't want you to think I'm slow rolling you.  I have a really big hand...I just think you have quads," Jace said to Santos.  Daryl then spent three minutes talking the hand out to himself, and after that period, looked at the deal and verbalized a call.  Santos helicoptered his hand towards the middle of the table (A♥ 6♦), with Jace during over Q♥ 10♣.  The full house was good to take down the pot, and Jace would become the final table chip leader.

Daryl Jace - 5,800,000
Josias Santos - 3,400,000

FSPC Main Event (Day 3): Final Table Action Resumes

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 29 (Blinds 50,000/100,000/15,000)
Total Entries: 548
Players Remaining: 5/548

Players have returned from dinner, and the cards are now back in the air, with new blinds of 50,000/100,000/15,000 (3,300,000 chip average).

FSPC Main Event (Day 3): Final Table Counts At Dinner Break

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 28 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 548
Players Remaining: 5/548

Players have been informed that this will be their dinner break, with action on hold from 6:42pm-7:42pm.  Live coverage of the final table will resume when the cards are back in the air (Level 29), with blinds going up to 50,000/100,000/15,000 (3,300,000 chip average).  Posted below are the updated five-handed chip counts from the final table:

1. Tony Ruberto - 2,100,000
2. Sam Mayer-Backer - 3,150,000
3. Abbey Daniels - 2,300,000
4. Josias Santos - 6,200,000
5. Daryl Jace - 2,700,000

FSPC Main Event (Day 3): Shiff Falls To Santos Once Again, Eliminated In 6th Place ($28,630)

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 28 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 548
Players Remaining: 5/548

Danny Shiff (Miami, FL) 6th Place $28,630

Just a few hands after losing that sizable pot to Josias Santos, Danny Shiff opened for 160,000, with Santos three-betting to 400,000.  Danny then four-bet rip for 2,500,000, and was immediately called by Santos.  Shiff's A♠ Q♦ was in rough shape against the A♣ K♥ of Santos, and after the J♦3♣ J♣ J♠ 7♠ runout, Shiff's magical run would be over.

Leading this event from basically the moment he sat down in Flight 1A, Shiff began trending downwards during Level 26, only to see it disappear halfway through Level 28.  The $28,630 that Danny earned for sixth place is his largest cash since 2013 (Lucky Hearts Poker Open).  

Josias Santos - 5,500,000

Danny Shiff - 6th Place $28,630

FSPC Main Event (Day 3): Danny Shiff Encountering Uncharted Territory

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 28 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 548
Players Remaining: 6/548

Danny Shiff opened to 160,000, with Josias Santos making the call on the button, and Tony Ruberto also calling from the big blind.  Shiff led for 200,000 on the K♠ Q♥ 4♦ flop, with Santos calling, and Tony folding his hand.  After the 8♦ on the turn, Shiff would check-call a 200,000 bet from Santos, and the two saw the board pair with the K♦ on the river.  Danny checked once again, and would toss out a casual call after Santos pushed forward a 500,000 bet.  Santos tabled K♣ 9♣, which was good for the pot, and helped him recoup some of the chips lost to Ruberto.

Shiff is now at chip average, which must feel like peanuts to him, having held the chip lead for most of play in this event.

Josias Santos - 3,800,000
Danny Shiff - 2,700,000

FSPC Main Event (Day 3): Ruberto Doubles Through Santos, Chip Counts At Transition

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 27 (Blinds 30,000/60,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 548
Players Remaining: 6/548

The action between Tony Ruberto and Josias Santos was picked up on the turn, with a board reading A♠ K♣ 9♥ 5♠.  Ruberto would check to Santos, with Josias knuckling back, and the two seeing the 6♥ on the river.  Tony checked once again, Santos tossed out a 250,000 bet, and Tony gave a few looks back at his cards.  Ruberto eventually looked up at the dealer, and announced a raise to 700,000.  Once the dealer told Josias the action, he verbalized an all-in, with Ruberto immediately calling.

Santos then tabled A♥ A♦, and after Tony gave the board another look, he rolled over 7♦ 8♣ (having rivered the nuts).  The pot couldn't have come at a better time for Ruberto, who had dipped below (20) big blinds.  He's now over 2,400,000, while the loss puts a dent in the stack of Josias, who drops down to 2,200,000

Tony Rubert0 - 2,300,000
Josias Santos - 2,200,000

Below are the updated counts as Level 27 begins, with new blinds of 40,000/80,000/10,000 (2,700,000 chip average):

1. Tony Ruberto - 2,000,000
2. Sam Mayer-Backer - 1,050,000 
3. Abbey Daniels - 4,500,000
4. Danny Shiff - 3,900,000
5. Josias Santos - 2,500,000
6. Daryl Jace - 2,050,000

FSPC Main Event (Day 3): Daniels Take Out Another, Newman Exits In 7th Place ($23,777)

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 27 (Blinds 30,000/60,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 548
Players Remaining: 6/548

Michael Newman (Nanuet, NY) 7th Place $23,777

With players folding to Michael Newman on the button, he would open shove for 1,050,000 (20 big blinds).  Abbey Daniels, who has been the biggest mover by far this level, called from the small blind, with Danny Shiff tossing his hand in the muck.  Newman stood after he turned over A♠ 5♣, hoping to outflop Abbey's A♥ Q♦.  The board would run out 2♠ 3♣ 6♥ J♠ 2♥, and Michael would be eliminated in seventh place ($23,777).

This is Newman's fifth final table cash of the summer, including a 10th place finish in the $10,000 No Limit Hold'em Tag Team event at the WSOP ($5,971).

Abbey Daniels - 3,500,000

Michael Newman - 7th Place - $23,777

FSPC Main Event (Day 3): Abbey Daniels Knocks Out De La Cerda In 8th Place ($18,954)

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 27 (Blinds 30,000/60,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 548
Players Remaining: 7/548

Israel De La Cerda (Royal Palm Beach, FL) 8th Place $18,954

Six hands into Level 27, Israel De La Cerda (Royal Palm Beach, FL) would shove for 555,000, after action folded to him on the button.  Abbey Daniels was the next player to act (small blind), and after getting an exact count, she announced a call.  Danny Shiff released his hand, with Israel turning over Q♣ 10♥, followed by Abbey tabling A♦ J♦.  The board would run out A♣ K♠ 4♦ A♠ Q♦, with Daniels having De La Cerda drawing dead on the turn.  This is Israel's largest career cash ($18,954), and helps bring his lifetime earnings to over $39,000.  

Abbey Daniels - 2,300,000
Israel De La Cerda - 8th Place - $18,954

FSPC Main Event (Day 3): Updated Chip Counts At Second Break

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 26 (Blinds 25,000/50,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 548
Players Remaining: 8/548

Players are on their second break of the day, and will be returning to Level 27, with new blinds of 30,000/60,000/10,000 (2,000,000 chip average).  There are a few very short stacks, that only have a few more orbits before finding a spot to shove.  Danny Shiff continues his amazing run, leaving a stack at the table that's close to 30% of the chips in play.

1. Tony Ruberto - 1,650,000
2. Sam Mayer-Backer - 720,000
3. Michael Newman - 1,500,000
4. Israel De La Cerda - 700,000
5. Abbey Daniels - 1,600,000
6. Danny Shiff - 6,200,000
7. Josias Santos - 2,400,000
8. Daryl Jace - 950,000

FSPC Main Event (Day 3): Michael Amato Eliminated In 9th Place By Danny Shiff ($14,219)

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 26 (Blinds 25,000/50,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 548
Players Remaining: 8/548

Michael Amato (Boca Raton, FL) 9th Place $14,219

Michael Amato (Boca Raton, FL) came into the day in the middle of the pack, but was never able to gain much traction as the day progressed.  He was down to just over ten big blinds, and after the table folded around to him in the small blind, he'd shove for 420,000.  Danny Shiff was in the big blind, and announced that he was going to call without looking at his second card (after peeling back an ace).  Amato would turn of K♠ 4♦, followed by Shiff tabling his A♣ 7♦.  The Q♥ 2♠ 2♣ 8♦ J♥ runout would bring no help to Amato, and he would become the second player eliminated from this final table.

This deep run follows a great summer for Amato, who finished third in the $1,000 No Limit Hold'em (Event #63) at the WSOP, earning his largest ever tournament cash ($116,940).

Danny Shiff - 6,400,000

Michael Amato - 9th Place $14,219

FSPC Main Event (Day 3): Updated Chip Counts At Level's Transition

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 26 (Blinds 25,000/50,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 548
Players Remaining: 9/548

Final table play just entered Level 26, with the blinds going up to 25,000/50,000/5,000 (1,825,000 chip average).  Listed below are updated chip counts from the end of Level 26:

1. Tony Ruberto - 2,400,000
2. Sam Mayer-Backer - 550,000
3. Michael Newman - 1,700,000
4. Israel De La Cerda - 1,120,000
5. Abbey Daniels - 740,000
6. Michael Amato - 415,000
7. Danny Shiff - 4,900,000
8. Josias Santos - 2,800,000
9. Daryl Jace - 1,800,000

FSPC Main Event (Day 3): River Unkind To Shalmi, Out In 10th Place ($11,726)

2017 Florida State Poker Championships
Event 20 - $1,500 No Limit Hold'em ($500,000 GTD)
Level 25 (Blinds 20,000/40,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 548
Players Remaining: 10/548

Devon Shalmi (Boca Raton, FL) 

After losing that pot to Josias Santos, Devon Shalmi (Boca Raton, FL) was left with less than ten big blinds, eventually getting down to 200,000.  After Michael Newman opened from early position, action folded to Shalmi, who shoved his stack forward.  Once the remaining players folded, Newman tossed in the chips for a call, and the two would be racing.

Shalmi announced that he had a pair, turning over 7♠ 7♣, with Newman tabling A♦ K♦.  The flop (Q♠ 9♦ 4♥) and turn (9♠) stayed clean for Devon, but the river would be his demise, as Newman spiked the A♣.  Shalmi wished the rest of the table good luck, before heading to the podium to collect his tenth place money ($11,726).

Michael Newman - 1,700,000

Devon Shalmi - 10th Place - $11,726