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Matt Bretzfield Earns CPPT Isle Casino Main Event Title After Five-Way Chop

Final Five Players Each Take Home $35,443

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It’s rare that a poker tournament produces more than one winner, let alone five, but that’s exactly what occurred at the Isle Casino at Pompano Park on Monday.

A total of 310 players put up the $1,100 buy-in for the Card Player Poker Tour Isle Casino main event, creating a prize pool of $305,350. In the end, the lion’s share of the prize pool was actually split evenly between the final five players, who each took home $35,443.

In a time where players obsess over ICM (Independent Chip Model) considerations, Matt Bretzfield, Ernie Bush, Gautam Lillaney, Matthew Smith, and AJ Gambino each agreed to chop the prize pool despite their differences in stack sizes.

Bretzfield with Isle Casino's Ralph Brandt and Ken LambertBretzfield, who held the lead by just one chip at the time of the deal, was officially credited with the win. The victory caps off an impressive month for the New York native, who finished 10th in the $5,000 buy-in Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open main event for $62,415, and then ended up getting second place in the opening event of this CPPT series, banking another $22,374.

The final table opened with the elimination of short stack Albert Destrade. The former Survivor: South Pacific contestant was at his second career CPPT final table. He previously finished fourth in the 2017 CPPT bestbet Jacksonville main event.

After the eliminations of Zack Mullenix and Fernando Halac, the final five players traded chips back and forth until a huge cooler occurred between Gambino and Lillaney. Gambino turned trips while Lillaney made a full house. While Lillaney scored the full double up, Gambino was left with just three chips.

Gambino’s fifth-place finish was a foregone conclusion, until he doubled up numerous times to get back into contention. On his final double, he managed to crack pocket queens with 10-9 suited. It was after that crucial pot that the players began discussing and ultimately agreeing to a deal.

Here are the final table results.

PLACE PLAYER WINNINGS POY POINTS
1 Matt Bretzfield $35,443 480
2 Ernie Bush $35,443 400
3 Gautam Lillaney $35,443 320
4 Matthew Smith $35,443 240
5 AJ Gambino $35,443 200
6 Fernando Halac $12,122 160
7 Zack Mullenix $10,183 120
8 Mark Wiser $8,367 80
9 Albert Destrade $6,672 40

About Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park

Poker isn’t the only reason to visit the Isle Casino, which also offers nearly 1,500 slot machines, as well as Ultimate Texas Hold’em, Three Card Poker, and the ultimate one card poker game, War.

The Isle Casino now offers the lowest gaming limits in South Florida, with table limits as low as $5. Known as “The Winter Home Of Harness Racing,” Isle Casino is also an ideal spot for track bettors, offering simulcast wagering on horse racing from all over the United States and Canada. Thanks to the warm climate, the harness racetrack can also offer live racing for 10 months each year.

The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park also recently announced a big project to develop 223 acres of land around the property for “a new world-class, mixed-use entertainment and hospitality destination” that will include a new hotel and “upscale retail, dining and entertainment to South Florida.”

Players looking for a bite have the option of something quick at B-Express, something casual at Myron’s Delicatessen & Cafe, something more refined at Farraddays Steakhouse, or whatever they want at the Farmer’s Pick Buffet. If you’re looking to shake off a bad beat or celebrate a big win, Fling Lounge has you covered with cocktails and live music entertainment.

The Isle Casino Racing Pompano Park is located at 777 Isle of Capri Circle in Pompano Beach, Florida, just 15 minutes west of the beach, and 20 minutes north of Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport. For more information, visit the casino’s homepage.

For more information about the CPPT visit tour homepage.