Wednesday, June 13th: Recapping Tuesday's Tournament Chops, Looking Forward To Today's Action

ICYMI: Tuesday's tournament action kicked off with a $100 No Limit Hold'em event, which began at 11:00am.  After eight levels of open registration, the field would close with (33) entries, and an official prize pool of $2,475.  Action would eventually conclude in a five-way chop, with the official numbers listed below:

1. David Schweitzer (Woodridge, IL) $760
2. Barry Teller (Tamarac, FL) $520
3. Daniel Diamond (Plantation, FL) $490
4. Martin Kaplan (West Palm Beach, FL) $463
5. Oliver Kelzinberg (Weatherton, TX) $267

Last night's evening tournament was also an $80 No Limit Hold'em ($2,500 GTD), which ended in another chop.  The event's field closed with (25) entries, with the $2,500 prize pool scheduled to be spread across four pay spots.  After the elimination of Jeff Oldakowski (Pompano Beach, FL), the remaining players agreed to a deal, with the details listed below:

1. Stephen Bromfield (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) $765
2. Donald Gordon (Boynton Beach, FL) $760
3. Yi Ding (Palm Beach Gardens, FL) $700
4. Jeff Oldakowski (Pompano Beach, FL) $275

Tournaments:  The action begins this afternoon at 11:00am, with a $100 No Limit Hold'em event ($2,500 GTD), which is sure to attract a nice size field. The tournament is structured with 14,000 unit starting stacks, and levels that last (20) minutes.  Registration is open through Level 8, allowing players to join the action up until just before 2:00pm.

The second tournament of the day is a $60 No Limit Hold'em ($2,000 GTD) event, which begins at 6:00pm.  The tournament is structured with 10,000 unit starting stacks, and levels that last (20) minutes.  Player can join the action until just before 9:00pm, as registration closes once Level 9 begins.

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 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 - $100 No Limit Hold'em ($2,500 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

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

6:00pm - $60 No Limit Hold'em ($1,500 GTD)

- Players will begin with a 10,000 starting stack

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

- Levels are (20) minutes in length

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

Tuesday, June 12th: "Early Birds" Ready To Make Full Houses, With A Combined $5,000 In Tournament Guarantees

ICYMI: After five days dedicated to the $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD), Monday was the return to a full day of recurring events.  The schedule hosted two $80 No Limit Hold'em ($2,500 GTD) tournaments, with the first getting underway at 11:00am.  The afternoon field would grow to (36) entries, with the prize pool officially closing at $2,500.  Five players were scheduled to reach the money, with the action pausing once the money bubble burst.  A deal would be made at that point, with everyone walking away with at least $634.  The official numbers from the chop are posted below:

1. Daniel Diamond (Plantation, FL) $634
2. Marc Roth (Plantation, FL) $605
3. Joseph Mancuso (Pompano Beach, FL) $506
4. Todd Kasten (Lake Worth, FL) $403
5. Alan Werner (Cooper City, FL) $352

The evening installment of the $80 No Limit Hold'em ($2,500 GTD) saw registration close with (28) entries, and another official prize pool of $2,500.  Four players were scheduled to reach the money, but we would see our second five-way deal of the day, after players agreed to a chop on the money bubble.  Niel Warner (Pompano Beach, FL) took first place in the deal, earning $623 for his efforts.  Official details of the deal are posted below:

1. Neil Warner (Pompano Beach, FL) $623
2. Danny Blackburn (Deerfield Beach, FL) $549
3. Donald Gordon (Boynton Beach, FL) $506
4. Robert Lovett (Boynton Beach, FL) $417
5. David Padilla (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) $405

Tournaments:  Tuesday's tournament action begins (at 11:00am) with a $100 No Limit Hold'em event, which has a $2,500 guaranteed prize pool.  The tournament is structured with 14,000 unit starting stacks, and levels that last (20) minutes.  Registration is open through Level 8, allowing players to join the action up until just before 2:00pm.

The evening time slot (6:00pm) hosts an $80 No Limit Hold'em event, which sees the $2,500 guaranteed prize pool return.  The tournament is structured with 12,000 unit starting stacks, as well as (20) minute levels.  Registration is open through Level 8 (and the break that follows), meaning those interested in joining, can enter up until 9:00pm.

Promotions: Tuesday's promotions start with the every-popular Full House Early Bird, with the first (25) full houses awarded up to $60.  The amount won depends on which game is being played, as 2/2 Limit Hold'em players earn $20 (for each full house while eligible), 2/4 Limit Hold'em players earning $40 (for each full house while eligible), and $60 for those playing: 1/2 No Limit Hold'em, 2/5 No Limit Hold'em, 5/10 No Limit Hold'em, 3/6 Limit Hold'em, and 8/16 O.E.

The standard high hands begin at 10:00am (because off the full house promotion), 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.  From 12:00am-9:00am, players are eligible for $100 high hands every hour.

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).

11:00am - $100 No Limit Hold'em ($2,500 GTD)

- Players start with 14,000 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 - $80 No Limit Hold'em ($2,500 GTD)

- Players will begin with a 12,000 starting stack

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

- Levels are (20) minutes in length

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

Monday, June 11th: Jermaine Gerlin Heads Six-Way Chop Of $175 $100K, As We Return To Recurring Schedule

ICYMI: The $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD) was the first multi-flight tournament of the month, with eight starting flights played from Wednesday to Saturday.  Over the course of those flights, a total of (650) entries took their shot at bagging chips for Day 2, with (84) players successfully accomplishing the feat.  Yesterday's Day 2 action started at 12:00pm, with just over two hours needed to reach the money.  With (60) players remaining (in the money), action continued at a surprisingly slow pace, with numerous notables booking Isle Poker Room cashes.  Some familiar names to record results included Franckln Michel (58th place - $360), Allan Bieler (51st place - $425), Joshua Wasserman (37th place - $500), Diane Linke (31st place - $580), Tom Gity (26th place - $665), Antoine Bahi (19th place - $920), and Aaron Robbins (11th place - $1,635).

After Robbin's elimination, the final table would be reached, with the stacks very shallow (compared to the blinds).  Discussions of a chop were quickly shut down, and play would continue on as scheduled.  Bill Sheirch (Daytona, FL) would be the first to exit the final table (10th place), followed by Brent Ferguson (9th place).  James Tomblin looked to be in great position to take the chip lead at the final table, but saw Scott Hecker crack his pocket aces, eventually leading to his tournament demise (8th place).  Charles Glover would be the last player to get knocked out from final table action (7th place), as his short stack fell to chip leader Jermaine Gerlin.  Players would then run the numbers once again, and after a short negotiation, the event would officially be over (ending in a six-way deal).  Official final table results are listed below:

1. Jermaine Gerlin (Gainesville, FL) $14,983
2. Scott Hecker (Plantation, FLL) $10,976
3. John Magnetta (Boynton Beach, FL) $9,999
4. Joseph Schwartz (Boca Raton, FL) $8,500
5. Jeffrey Oldakowski (Pompano Beach, FL) $7,857
6. Rodolfo Miret (Pembroke Pines, FL) $5,000
7. Charles Glover (Palm City, FL) $3,265
8. James Tomblin (Wilton Manors, FL) $2,625
9. Brent Ferguson (Boynton Beach, FL) $1,980
10. John Sheirich (Daytona Beach, FL) $1,635

Just as the $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD) was reaching the final two tables, the recurring schedule returned, with the $130 No Limit Hold'em "Turbo Bounty" ($3,000 GTD) getting underway at 6:00pm.  After ten levels of open registration, the field would close with (34) entries, and an official prize pool of $2,618.  We would see a second chop to end this event, as a three-way deal was made, after the eliminations of Russell Stampler and Patricia Basilio.  Official results from the event are listed below:

1. Gilbert Rodoli (Boca Raton, FL) $707
2. Richard Leger (Lighthouse Point, FL) $707
3. Andre Allon (Boca Raton, FL) $707
4. Patricia Basilio (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) $288
5. Russell Stampler (Weston, FL) $209

Tournaments: Monday's tournament schedule begins (at 11:00am) with an $80 No Limit Hold'em event, that boasts a $2,500 guaranteed prize pool.  The tournament is structured with starting stacks of 12,000 units, and levels that last (20) minutes throughout the afternoon.  Registration is open through Level 8, which means players have until just before 2:00pm to join the action.

The evening tournament, which begins at 6:00pm, mirrors the event that came before.  It's an $80 No Limit Hold'em ($2,500 GTD) "double," each Monday in the month of May.

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 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 - $80 No Limit Hold'em ($2,500 GTD)

- Players will begin with a 12,000 starting stack

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

- Levels are (20) minutes in length

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

6:00pm - $80 No Limit Hold'em ($2,500 GTD)

- Players will begin with a 12,000 starting stack

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

- Levels are (20) minutes in length

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

$175 NLH $100,000 GTD (Day 2): Players Agree To Six-Way Deal, Jermaine Gerlin Roars His Way To The Top

$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 29 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 650
Players Remaining: 6

The players to chop the $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD), listed from left to right: Jermaine Gerlin, Joseph Schwartz, Rudy Miret (sitting in yellow), Jeff Oldakowski, Scott Hecker, John Magnetta.

After the elimination of Charles Glover, the players began discussion a potential deal.  They needed just a few extra moments of negotiations, before agreeing to the chop.  Official numbers are listed below:

1. Jermaine Gerlin (Gainesville, FL) $14,983
2. Scott Hecker (Boca Raton, FL) $10,976
3. John Magnetta (Boynton Beach, FL) $9,999
4. Joseph Schwartz (Boca Raton, FL) $8,500
5. Jeff Oldakowski (Boca Raton, FL) $7,857
6. Rudy Miret (Pembroke Pines, FL) $5,000

Jermaine Gerlin (Gainesville, FL)

$175 NLH $100,000 GTD (Day 2): Charles Glover Falls To Jermaine Gerlin, Out In 7th Place ($3,265)

$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 29 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 650
Players Remaining: 6

Charles Glover (Palm City, FL) was the shortest stack at the final table, and after shoving for four big blinds, he would be called by Jermaine Gerlin.  Glover's Q♦ J♦ was dominated by Jermaine's A♦ J♣, and while he picked up flush and straight outs heading to the river, none would amount.

$175 NLH $100,000 GTD (Day 2): James Tomblin Departs In 8th Place ($2,625)

$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 29 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 650
Players Remaining: 7

James Tomblin (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) took a tough beat against Scott Hecker, watching his pocket aces get cracked by Scott's pocket sixes.  Tomblin would be left with crumbs, and found himself eliminated just a few hands later.

$175 NLH $100,000 GTD (Day 2): Brent Ferguson Out In 9th Place ($1,980)

$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 29 (Blinds 40,000/80,000/10,000)
Total Entries: 650
Players Remaining: 8

Brent Ferguson was eliminated just before break, as players exited the final table for ten minutes, returning to Level 29 and blinds of 40,000/80,000/10,000.

$175 NLH $100,000 GTD (Day 2): Bill Sheirich Eliminated In 10th Place ($1,635)

$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 28 (Blinds 30,000/60,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 650
Players Remaining: 9

Bill Sheirich (Daytona Beach, FL) came to the final table towards the top of the chip counts, but ended up being the first player to exit the $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD) final table.

$175 NLH $100,000 GTD (Day 2): Down To The Final Table, Updated Seating Assigments (And Chip Counts)

$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 28 (Blinds 30,000/60,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 650
Players Remaining: 10

After the eliminations of Quezada Lagares (12th place) and Aaron Robbins (11th place), the tournament is now down to it's final table.  Listed below, are the new seating assignments, along with the updated chip counts:

1. Joseph Schwartz - 1,050,000
2. Charles Glover - 575,000
3. Billl Sheirich - 980,000
4. Jermaine Gerlin - 1,525,000
5. Rudy Miret - 400,000
6. John Magnetta - 1,300,000
7. James Tomblin - 850,000
8. Brent Ferguson - 560,000
9. Jeff Oldakowski - 1,350,000
10. Scott Hecker - 1,000,000

$175 NLH $100,000 GTD (Day 2): 13th-15th Places ($1,290)

$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 27 (Blinds 25,000/50,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 650
Players Remaining: 12

The following players have been eliminated from the $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD), and have cashed for $1,290:

13. Stuart Greenbaum (Hollywood, FL)
14. Christopher Snead (Rockville Center, NY)
15. Anthony Accaputo (Palm Beach Gardens, FL)

$175 NLH $100,000 GTD (Day 2): 16th-18th Places ($1,090)

$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 26 (Blinds 20,000/40,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 650
Players Remaining: 15

The following players have been eliminated from the $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD), and have cashed for $1,090:

16. Richard Leger (Lighthouse Point, FL)
17. Karin Powsner (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) 
18. Scott Harwood (Deerfield Beach, FL)

$175 NLH $100,000 GTD (Day 2): Field's First Redraw, New Seating Assignments (With Chip Counts)

$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 26 (Blinds 20,000/40,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 650
Players Remaining: 18

The tournament clock was just paused, as (18) players remain, which means the field will go through the first (of two) redraw.  Listed below are the new seating assignments, along with updated chip counts from the final two tables:

Table 1

1. Joseph Schwartz - 450,000
2. Rudy Miret - 350,000
3. Stuart Greenbaum - 590,000
4. Richard Leger - 240,000
5. John Magnetta - 840,000
6. Scott Hecker - 720,000
7. Charles Glover - 520,000
8. Scott Harwood - 270,000
9. James Tomblin - 700,000

Table 3

1. Jeff Oldakowski - 715,000
2. Chris Snead - 615,000
3. Quezada Lagares - 600,000
4. Karin Powsner - 150,000
5. Aaron Robbins - 725,000
6. Brent Ferguson - 485,000
7. Bill Sheirich - 800,000
8. Anthony Accaputo - 380,000
9. Jermaine Gerlin - 315,000

$175 NLH $100,000 GTD (Day 2): 19th-21st Places ($920)

$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 25 (Blinds 15,000/30,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 650
Players Remaining: 18

The following players have been eliminated from the $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD), and have cashed for $920:

19. Antoine Bahi (Boca Raton, FL) 
20. Michael Weinberg (Delray Beach, FL) 
21. Lawrence Bonetti (Margate, FL)

$175 NLH $100,000 GTD (Day 2): 22nd-24th Places ($770)

$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 25 (Blinds 15,000/30,000/5,000)
Total Entries: 650
Players Remaining: 20

The following players have been eliminated from the $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD), and have cashed for $770:

22. Brad Hughes (Pompano Beach, FL) 
23. Paul Efron (Coconut Creek, FL) 
24. Peter Petaxos (Coconut Creek, FL)

$175 NLH $100,000 GTD (Day 2): 25th-27th Places ($665)

$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 24 (Blinds 12,000/24,000/4,000)
Total Entries: 650
Players Remaining: 24

The following players have been eliminated from the $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD), and have cashed for $665:

25. Kenneth Fifer (Deerfield Beach, FL) 
26. Tom Gity (Pompano Beach, FL) 
27. Joseph Gaylo (Ft. Pierce, FL)

$175 NLH $100,000 GTD (Day 2): 28th-36th Places ($580)

$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 24 (Blinds 12,000/24,000/4,000)
Total Entries: 650
Players Remaining: 27

The following players have been eliminated from the $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD), and have cashed for $580:

28. Adam Bienstock (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) 
29. Justin Levy (Boynton Beach, FL) 
30. Russell Friedman (Austin, TX)
31. Diane Linke (Boynton Beach, FL) 
32. Richard Wetter (Hobe Sound, FL) 
33. James Hamburger (Delray Beach, FL) 
34. Blaine McRae (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) 
35. David Pelham (Atlantic City, NJ) 
36. Thomas Milmore (Stoney Point, NY)

$175 NLH $100,000 GTD (Day 2): Scott Hecker Finds Himself Atop The Leaderboard Once Again

$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 23 (Blinds 10,000/20,000/3,000)
Total Entries: 650
Players Remaining: 31

Scott Hecker (Boca Raton, FL) saw his pocket aces hold up, helping him grab the overall Day 2 chip lead, with just three tables remaining.

Scott Hecker (Boca Raton, FL) came into the day with the second largest stack (288,500), and over the first four hours of Day 2, trended in the right direction.  Moments ago, he reclaimed the chip lead, as a short stack shoved (120,000) over his open (40,000).  Scott made the quick call, tabling A♣ A♥, up against his opponent's 5♦ 5♠.  

The 8♠ 6♣ 4♣ flop gave more outs to Hecker's opponent, but the 6♥ on the turn would help strengthen Scott's lead.  The river would pair the board once again (8♦), securing the win for Hecker, who chipped up to 715,000 with the pot.  He now leads the field, which is down to three tables, and twelve eliminations from the first redraw.

Scott Hecker - 715,000 (35bb)

$175 NLH $100,000 GTD (Day 2): 37th-45th Places ($500)

$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 22 (Blinds 8,000/16,000/2,000)
Total Entries: 650
Players Remaining: 35

The following players have been eliminated from the $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD), and have cashed for $500:

37. Joshua Wasserman (Deerfield Beach, FL) 
38. Brenda Nelson (West Palm Beach, FL) 
39. Stephen Thomas (Coral Springs, FL) 
40. Richard Zisser (Boca Raton, FL) 
41. Peter Bejusca (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) 
42. Robert Transue (North Lauderdale, FL) 
43. Perry Werbel (Margate, FL) 
44. Christopher Held (Parkland, FL) 
45. Jason Smith (Wellington, FL)

$175 NLH $100,000 GTD (Day 2): Updated Chip Counts From Break, Bienstock Leads The Field

$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 22 (Blinds 8,000/16,000/2,000)
Total Entries: 650
Players Remaining: 39

Adam Bienstock (Englewood, NJ) is the Day 2 chip leader at this particular break, but even with his top stack, still only sits with (33) big blinds.

Players are back from a ten minute break, and have returned to Level 22, and new blinds of 8,000/16,000, with a 2,000 ante.  Even with the average stack less than twenty big blinds, the action is still moving a little slower than some may have expected.  The field is currently being paced by Adam Bienstock (Englewood, NJ), who is sitting with 540,000.  He is the only player to have eclipsed the 500,000 mark, and leads his nearest competitors by a nice margin.

Adam Bienstock - 540,000 (33bb)

Scott Hecker - 400,000 (25bb)

Scott Harwood - 400,000 (25bb)

Richard Wetter - 390,000 (24bb)

James Hamburger - 350,000 (21bb)

Paul Efron - 315,000 (19bb)

Diane Linke - 275,000 (17bb)

Anthony Accaduto - 260,000 (16bb)

Justin Levy - 240,000 (15bb)

$175 NLH $100,000 GTD (Day 2): 46th-54th Places ($425)

$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 21 (Blinds 6,000/12,000/2,000)
Total Entries: 650
Players Remaining: 45

The following players have been eliminated from the $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD), and have cashed for $425:

46. Scott Krautman (Boca Raton, FL) 
47. Dolphus Powers (Weston, FL) 
48. Eric Kessler (Palm Beach Gardens, FL) 
49. Blake Robbins (Boynton Beach, FL) 
50. Cory Petruny (Lighthouse Point, FL) 
51. Allan Bieler (Sunrise, FL) 
52. Engelberth Valera (Coral Springs, FL) 
53. John Marinacci (Boca Raton, FL) 
54. Frank Giordano (Pompano Beach, FL) 

$175 NLH $100,000 GTD (Day 2): 55th-60th Places ($360)

$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 20 (Blinds 5,000/10,000/1,000)
Total Entries: 650
Players Remaining: 54

The following players have been eliminated from the $175 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD), and have cashed for $360:

55. Bruce Warren (Ft.Lauderdale, FL) 
56. Brandon Duvdivani (Sunrise, FL) 
57. Maury Halperin (Lauderdale By The Sea, FL) 
58. Franklin Michel (Miramar, FL) 
59. Simon Welds (Royal Palm Beach, FL) 
60. Sadly Hevia (Coral Springs, FL)

$175 NLH $100,000 GTD (Day 2): Stephen Thomas Bursts The Bubble, Field Now In The Money!!

$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 19 (Blinds 4,000/8,000/1,000)
Total Entries: 650
Players Remaining: 60

Stephen Thomas saw his lead disappear on the flop, but he grabbed it back when it mattered, eliminating Keith Morea on the money bubble.

The  hand-for-hand process stretched out longer than many expected, as it lasted through all of Level 18, and three hands into Level 19.  After Stephen Thomas opened the action for a raise at Table 3, action folded around to Keith Morea, who was in the big blind.  Keith would three-bet shove, and before Thomas could get an exact count, he tossed in a chip for a call (putting Morea at risk):

Thomas: 8♠ 8♣

Morea: A♥ K♣

Runout: A♣ 9♣ 10♥ 4♦ 8♦

Morea would take the lead on the flop, and looked to have a double secured, just needed to fade a two-outer on the river.  Keith could only throw his hands in the air when the river hit, as Thomas found one of the two remaining eights in the deck.  The dealer quickly counted down both stacks, with Thomas having Morea covered by a small margin.  Keith's elimination would mean that the remaining field was in the money, and they could go on the schedule break that was skipped.

$175 NLH $100,000 GTD (Day 2): John Marinacci Doubles Through Valera, As Action Slows Down Close To The Bubble

$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 17 (Blinds 2,500/5,000/500)
Total Entries: 650
Players Remaining: 67

John Marinacci had one foot out the door just moments ago, but found a fortunate turn (and river) to secure a critical double up.

With the field just seven eliminations from the money, and stacks pretty deep (since the levels were backed up), the action has slowed down across the tournament area.  Two players at Table 10 didn't get the notice though, as Steve Valera and John Marinacci just played a 210,000 pot (all-in pre-flop).  Marinacci was the player at risk, but his Q♠ Q♥ was well ahead of Valera's 4♦ 4♥, until the 8♠ 2♠ 4♠ flop.  Marinacci may have lost the lead in the hand, but he did have extra outs to a flush, which came on the turn (3♠).  He now needed to fade the board pairing on the river, and after the A♦ hit the felt, he secured a "bubble double."

John Marinacci - 215,000 (43bb)

Engelberth "Steve" Valera - 165,000 (33bb)

$175 NLH $100,000 GTD (Day 2): Looking Towards The Month's Next Multi, Underway A Week From Today

$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 16 (Blinds 2,000/4,000/500)
Total Entries: 650
Players Remaining: 72

Players who missed out on this Day 2 will not have to wait long for a "second chance," as the month's next multi begins a week from today.  The $200 No Limit Hold'em ($100,000 GTD) will get underway on Sunday (June 17th), with the first pair of flights.  There are six flights total, with a pair on both Monday and Tuesday, and Day 2 on Wednesday (12:00pm).  The last time this event was run (in May), there were 1,242 total entries, and a prize pool of $181,504.

$175 NLH $100,000 GTD (Day 2): Scott Harwood Looking To Repeat Performance From April's $175 NLH ($100,000 GTD)

$200 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 15 (Blinds 1,500/3,000/500)
Total Entries: 650
Players Remaining: 75

Scott Harwood (New York, NY) couldn't hold back the smile, after scooping up a nice pot against Rodney Moret-Rojas.

Last month's installment of this same event ended in a nine-way chop, with Scott Harwood (New York, NY) getting sixth place money ($9,839).  Harwood came into Day 2 in the top third of the counts, but has since climbed to the top ten in the remaining field.  Moments ago, on the river of a board that read K♠ 9♥ 3♣ K♣ J♣, Rodney Moret-Rojas had a bet of 27,000 in front of him (with the pot already over 75,000).  The action was on Harwood, who would announce himself all-in, leaving Rodney to make a decision for his stack.  After some time in the tank, Moret-Rojas released, giving Scott the pot, which helped him eclipse the 240,000 mark.

Scott Harwood - 243,000 (81bb)