He tai timu
He tai pari
He tai ope
He tai ora
He tai nui

Love is like water
Continually bubbling up
A river that will keep flowing
From within the very seat of the emotions.

From a very deep source
It will keep on rising

An ebb tide
An incoming tide
A forceful tide
A living tide
A full tide

Queenstown rests on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, New Zealand's third-largest lake, which covers a surface area of 290 square kilometres and stretches out from Glenorchy in the north-west down to its very tip near the town of Kingston - some 84 kilometres in length. The water in the lake has been found to be 99.9999% pure (the purest water in all the world) making it perfectly safe to drink, straight from the source.

Commercial fishing in the lake has been prohibited for more than 100 years, but keen anglers will be able to reign in some of the biggest rainbow trout, brown trout and salmon in New Zealand. Million Dollar Cruises run regular sojourns around Lake Wakatipu and for NZD $25 (USD $21), it's the perfect way to take in the magic and beauty of this place.

The history of Lake Wakatipu is vast, with many a story to be told: from how the willow-tree islands came to be (formed after a local man drove willow stakes into the lake bed as depth markers, only to see them flourish into trees again), to its starring role in blockbuster movies (the lake featured in scenes from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and doubled as Scotland's Loch Ness in The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep). Science will tell you that glaciers carved through the mountains during the last Ice Age more than 15,000 years ago to form the Lake Wakatipu, but the native Maori tale of its creation is much more enthralling.

According to legend, Manata, the beautiful daughter of a great Maori chief, was forbidden to wed her beloved Matakauri, but one day she was taken by Matau, an evil giant who lived deep within the mountains. Seizing the opportunity to prove his worth, Matakauri set out on a quest to rescue Manata from Matau's lair. Knowing that the warm north-easterly winds would lull the creature into a deep sleep, he was able to sneak in under the cover of nightfall to set her free and return her to the village, winning her hand in marriage.

Soon after, Matakauri took it upon himself to rid the tribe of Matau's reign of tyranny once and for all. The warrior ventured back into the giant's lair, setting the beast's bed of bracken alight whilst he lay sleeping. Such was the intensity of the fire, Matau's body burned a hole more than 400 metres deep, blackening the mountains and melting the snow to fill the lake. Thus, Lake Wakatipu was born.

If you look at Lake Wakatipu on a map, it curls like a reverse 'S' shape: a sign that Matau lays there, sleeping eternally, with Queenstown nursed on his knee. And although his body was burned away, his heart, it is said, remained alive. Even today, his "heartbeat" reverberates through the lake, making the water rise and fall an average of 12 centimetres (five inches) every five minutes.

The spirit of Matau is alive and well here in this city, and the players will be looking to draw strength from that spirit today as they embark on their journey in Day 1c of the PokerStars.net APPT Queenstown Snowfest Main Event. Play will commence in the Summit Room at the SKYCITY Casino from 12.30pm local time (GMT +12), so be sure to stay with the PokerStars Blog team for all the action.

During its first five events, the LAPT had the dubious distinction of never crowning a winner from Latin America. That changed midway through Season 2. Now, the waves of national pride that swell with each LAPT main event are the kind of which surfers dream.

Inside the tube of that international wave rode the LAPT Punta del Este main event, the largest LAPT event ever in the country. Though the LAPT has never missed a chance to stop in Punta del Este, no Uruguayan has ever raised the country's flag over the winner's trophy. That changed this afternoon as Uruguayan Alex Komaromi beat out a field of 422 players and claimed his country's first LAPT championship.

The Season 4 Punta del Este final table was guaranteed a winner from Latin America. It hosted one Uruguayan, one man from Venezuela, one from Argentina, one from Peru, and four men from Brazil.

Only once before in LAPT history has a Brazilian won an LAPT event. That happened in Chile in a few months ago. Today, the Brazilians had half the remaining field. They came with their flags, their fans, and their greatest chance in months to score an LAPT victory.

Instead, fate dealt them the first four exits. One by one, the Brazilians dropped. Rafael Monteiro lost [ac][qc] all-in against Engelberth Varela's [as][kc]. A short-stacked Fernando Araujo's [as][kd] fell to Varela's [jh][tc]. Nelson Neto went down with [ah][qs] versus Alex Komaromi's pocket eights. Felipe Pasini couldn't find any outs with [qd][jd] over Komaromi's pocket tens. In a quadruple-shot of Brazilian horror that lasted less than two hours, all four were gone.

Rafael Monteiro, 8th place, $18,360

Fernando Araujo, 7th place, $27,770

Nelson Neto, 6th place, $37,190

Felipe Pasini, 5th place, $46,600

Three-handed, the chip counts were as follows:

Alex Komaromi (Uruguay) -- 5.47 million
Engelberth Varela (Venezuela) -- 1.9 million
Claudio Piedrabuena (Argentina) -- 780,000

With those three players remaining, Uruguay still had a great shot at its first title. Argentina, which already has a few winners, was a dark horse for a new trophy. Meanwhile, PokerStars Supernova Engelberth Varela was working to pick up his country's first LAPT championship. He had that chance for about an hour.

Komaromi opened the betting with a raise to 130,000. Piedrabuena got out of the way, but Varela called in the big blind. On a flop of [ah][7c][3c], Varela check-called a 160,000 bet from Komaromi. He did it again for 335,000 on the [qs] turn. The dealer put out the [5s] on the river. Again Varela checked. He had just short of a million chips in front of him. Komaromi announced he was all-in. Varela took a long time to make his decision, but ultimately called with [ad][6s], no good against Komaromi's [ac][8c].

It looked to be a fast heads-up fight. Komaromi held a better than 7-1 chip lead on Piedrabuena. It could've been just one quick all-in to give Uruguay it's first championship.

Instead, Piedrabuena went to work. He pounded every hand pre-flop with all-ins. After doubling up once with aces, he began firing out 10x big blind raises. It was clear he was planning to play all-in if Komaromi didn't want to give up his blinds. It went on that way for half an hour before Komaromi took a stand with [ah][js]. Piedrabuena held pocket tens. They held and gave the Argentinean the chip lead. It lasted for just one hand. Moments later, Komaromi's [ad][ks] held against Piedrabuena's [as][th]. He was back.

Komaromi would never fall back again.

"I always thought that this was mine," Komaromi would say later.

Komaromi came in for a raise to 150,000 and Piedrabuena made the call. Both players checked the flop of [4s][7c][kd]. On the [jc] turn, Piedrabuena checked, Komaromi bet 225,000, and Piedrabuena announced he was all-in for around 1.3 million. Komaromi snap-called with [jh][4h]. Piedrabuena had [kc][tc] for top pair with the flush draw. He blanked on the [2d] river and finished in 2nd place for $141,220.

This is the fourth time the LAPT has visited this fine city on the Atlantic coast. Each time, the Uruguayans were forced to watch someone from another country take the trophy home in their luggage. Now, the trophy doesn't need to be shipped through customs. It will stay on Uruguayan soil.

Surrounded by his friends, Komaromi said, "I'm really excited right now. It's crazy. Everything came out right. We're probably going to go party."

Congratulations to Alex Komaromi for winning Uruguay's first LAPT title and $244,720.

With the final table of nine players now set, play has broken for the night. The remaining players will be back at noon tomorrow to play down to the champion. We'll have a full wrap up of the day in just a few minutes. --BW

5:51pm: Level 24 begins
The price of poker just went... you know. Blinds are now 15,000/30,000 with a 5,000 ante. --MH

5:31pm: Slow and steady
Not too surprisingly, play has slowed considerably since the last nine reassembled around a single table, the short stacks now able to display a bit more patience than before during short-handed play. We've seen one uncalled three-bet since the redraw and move, and not too much chip significant chip movement.

There are 10 minutes left in Level 23. --MH

5:10pm: The not-quite-final final table
The final nine players have redrawn for seats and are now arranged around a single table. They'll play until one more is eliminated, then the last eight will return for tomorrow's official final table.

Uruguay's own Alex Komaromi currently leads the way, with Engelberth Varela of Venezuela his closest foe. Here's how they are seated, along with the stacks each sits behind. --MH

Seat 1 - Rafael Monteiro (880,000)
Seat 2 - Felipe Pasini (490,000)
Seat 3 - Nelson Neto (810,000)
Seat 4 - Carlos Watanabe (425,000)
Seat 5 - Alex Komaromi (1,980,000)
Seat 6 - Claudio Piedrabuena (700,000)
Seat 7 - Oded Minond (610,000)
Seat 8 - Fernando Araujo (1,050,000)
Seat 9 - Engelberth Varela (1,300,000)

5:00pm: Whoops...Andrey Tsitovich eliminated in 10th place
Russian Andrey Tsitovich had been controlling the field most of the day, but a slip up moments ago has sent him to the rail He opened for a min-raise to 48,000. Uruguayn Alex Komaromi three-bet from the big blind to 116,000. Tsitovich made a quick decision to move all-in for nearly 900,000. Komaromi snap-called with [kd][kh]. Tsitovich was left to turn up [ad][6d]. The board, [js][4s][5c][4s][jh] missed him completely and Tsitovich was gone in 10th place. Players have now consolidated to one table of nine players. After one more elimination, they will break for the night. --BW

4:44pm: Bonnet bounced; 10 remain
Alex Komaromi open-shoved from the small blind, and Luis Bonnet called from the big blind with his last 350,000.

Komaromi [Kc][7c]
Bonnet [Ks][9h]

A good spot, it appeared, for Bonnet to double up. It remained good through fourth street after the [3d][Ah][2d] flop and [8c] turn. But the [7d] spiked on the river and Bonnet was bounced in 11th place. Komaromi is now up around the 1 million mark. --MH

4:39pm: Watanabe doubles
Engleberth Varela opened for 60,000 from the cutoff, then Carlos Watanabe reraised all in for 242,000 total from the small blind. The big blind got out, and Varela called, showing [Ad][Ts] to Watanabe's [8h][8d]. The five community cards came [Kd][3d][2s][Qc][Ks], and Watanabe's hand held. He chips up to 528,000. --MH

4:34pm: Erik von Buxhoeveden busts in 12th
On the first hand back from the break, Erik von Buxhoeveden open-shoved from the cutoff with his last 230,000 or so, then it folded to Oded Minond who reshoved from the small blind, forcing out the BB. Von Buxhoeveden showed [Qd][10s] and Minond [Ad][9h]. The board ran out [4c][5c][7h][8d][3h]. Von Buxhoeveden is out in 12th, earning $10,830, while Minond now has about 600,000. --MH

4:30pm: Four to go
With 12 players remaining, the 23rd level is about to get underway. Players will be returning to 12,000/24,000/4,000 blinds and antes.

While we wait for the action to get rolling, here is a sampling of the celebratory stylings of Nelson Neto. --BW

Live coverage of LAPT Punta del Este is brought to you by Brad "D & Dos' dad" Willis and Martin "ElkY's uncle" Harris.

Witness the wild and wooly world that was the Season 4 LAPT Punta Del Este main event bubble. After a day that saw 188 players reduced to 57 in just a few hours, it took 90 minutes of hand-for-hand play to bust out the next player. During that time we saw men with just a few antes triple up, a man with a mucked hand survive, and countless instances of insanity that were too obscene to put down in print.

With each passing moment, the phrase "uno mano mas" became more of a 70s disco tune that it was when the day started. When it was finally over, Carlos Medina saw his hopes and dreams of LAPT stardom pop like a spit bubble in a South American winter wind. Or, for the uninitiated, he walked away with no cash after two days of play.

Now the day has ended with 27 players remaining. Each of them is guaranteed at least $5,180 when they come back tomorrow to play down to the final table. Leading them all is the late-day great white killer Cassio Kiles, a Brazilian who bounced off the bubble and ended the day with a jaw-dropping with 1,120,000 in chips. In the chase pack are several other contenders, including Andrey Tsitovich (712,000) and Day 1 chip leader Juan Jose Perez (617,000).

The remaining field will come back here Saturday at noon local time to fight for a chance at big money and the main event final table. We'll be back with them. If you need something to do in the meantime, check out some of the videos over on PokerStars.tv or the coverage from our Latin American and Brazilian blogs.

Until Saturday, buenos noches, folks.

10:18pm: A killing for Kiles with KK
Huge one just now between Cassio Kiles and Erik von Buxhoeveden. We came upon the hand on the turn, with the board showing [2d][3d][Qd][9c] and van Buxhoeveden calling a hefty bet by Kiles, thereby creating a pot of about 200,000.

The river brought the [6c] and Kiles fired 65,000, which after a bit of a think von Buxhoeveden called. Kiles tabled [Kh][Kc] and von Buxhoeveden mucked.

Kiles is up around 600,000 now, while von Buxhoeveden has about 300,000. --MH

10:05pm: Monteiro doubles through Belluscio
Rafael Monteiro opened with a raise to 11,500 from middle position and both blinds called, including Julio Belluscio in the small blind. The flop came [Qs][5d][10c]. It checked to Monteiro who again bet 11,500, and only Belluscio called. The turn brought the [5s]. And some fireworks.

Belluscio started with a check, and Monteiro fired 30,000. Belluscio made it 80,000 to go, and Monteiro responded by shoving all in. Belluscio quickly called, showing [As][5d] for trip fives. But Monteiro had [10s][10h] for tens full. The river came the [Ad], improving Belluscio to a lesser full house, and Monteiro claimed the big pot.

Monteiro is up to 300,000 now, while Belluscio slips to 250,000. --MH

10:00pm: Hard luck for Harfouche
Pablo Harfouche just now pushed his short stack all in from late position with [3s][3c], but unfortunately for him ran into an opponent in the blinds holding [Ah][Ad].

The dealer spread the flop, and the first card glimpsed was a trey. But the second was an ace, as the flop came [3h][As][4d]. The turn was the [2h] and the river the [Jh], and Harfouche is out in 44th place. --MH

9:49pm: Let the cull begin!
The eliminations are now coming faster than we can write them all down (don't worry, we'll catch up). Among those who were first to go are New Zealand PokerStars qualifier Andrew Nicholls, PokerStars qualifier Giedrius Balaisis, Marcio Motta, and Mario Lopez. Lopez was big stacked throughout the day, but took some big punches from Engelberth Moreno during the bubble fight.

In the end, Lopez lost a 200,000 chip pot with ace-king versus queens. He got his last few chips in with ace-eight versus aces. The big clock on the wall says there are 48 players remaining. Expect that number to drop pretty significantly by the end of the night. --BW

9:30pm: Bubble go pop
It was the first hand of Level 16. Down to just 1,000, Carlos Medina watched as an opponent raised from middle position and it folded around to him on the button. He called with his remaining chip -- just the one yellow -- and it folded to the big blind who called the raise as well.

By the turn the board read [Jd][6d][10s][5d], at which point a bet reduced Medina's opponents to one. Medina tabled [2d][2c] while his opponent showed [Js][5h] for two pair. "Diamond," said Medina quietly, the word representing his only remaining hope. Alas for him, the river brought the [8s] and Medina is out in 57th, the last to be eliminated without cashing.

Hand-for-hand play thus ends as all remaining 56 will be realizing a profit at this year's LAPT Punta del Este main event. --MH

9:16pm: Level 16 begins
After playing almost a full extra half-hour of Level 15, the decision has been made to move onto Level 16 (blinds 2,500/5,000, ante 500) while hand-for-hand continues. --MH

9:14pm: "Una mano mas!"
Such has been the call, over and over and over again, as the bubble continues into the night, the directive to dealers to deal one more hand.

There has been some drama here and there, including one memorable hand at Table 1 which saw two players all in, yet both survived. They've played approximately 30 hands since hand-for-hand play began back at the start of the level -- about 80 minutes ago.

There are many short stacks about, however -- including one player with less than 2,000 -- so the bursting seems destined to occur soon. --MH

8:45pm: Level 15 extended as hand-for-hand continues
There has been one all-in and call -- [A][K] held up versus [5][2] -- but still no eliminations since Roman Suarez was knocked out in 58th.

They've made it to the end of an hour's worth of Level 15, and still we're looking at 57 players -- just one away from the money. Thus the tournament clock has been extended for this level (blinds 2,000/4,000, ante 500) as hand-for-hand play continues. --MH

8:21pm: Bubble trouble averted
Play folded around to Cassio Kiles in the cutoff. On his left sat three short-ish stacks in danger of bubbling. Having them all out-chipped, Kiles worked to abuse the bubble and pick up some blinds and antes. In the small blind sat an unafraid Regis Kogler. Early today, he was down to just a few antes, but managed to rebuild his stack to more than 80,000 before dinner. Now down to 54,500, he looked down to see two red jacks. He stood and pronounced, "I call." The big blind folded. Kiles revealed [qc][7c].

And the dealer mucked Kogler's hand facedown.

Screams went up. The tournament director, Mike Ward, called for everyone to stop moving. No one twitched.

"What did you have?" Ward asked.

"Two jacks," Kogler said.

It's a tough spot to make a ruling, but Ward did it fast. He easily recovered the [jh][jd] from the top of the muck. There was never any question Kogler was telling the truth.

In the end, Kogler flopped his jack for a set, and that was that. Still...this has been a crazy bubble. --BW

8:09pm: A Stern river
Max Stern opened with a raise to 11,500 from middle position and got two callers -- Marlo Lopez (cutoff) and Oded Minond (big blind). The flop came [8c][5d][9s] and it checked around to Lopez who bet 15,500. Minond got out, but Stern called, knocking the table to indicate he was checking the next street in the dark. The turn was the [Kh], and Lopez checked back.

Both again checked the [6h] river. Stern turned over [6d][6c] for a rivered set and shrugged as Lopez mucked. Stern has 195,000 now, while Lopez sits with 245,000. --MH

8:03pm: Roman Suarez falls in jaw-dropping bubble-of-the-bubble hand
Just two players off the money, Erik Von Buxhoeveden came in for a raise to 8,500. Play folded around to Roman Suarez in the big blind, where he made it 19,000. Von Buxhoeveden made the call to a [js][8s][ah] flop. Saurez led for 21,000 and Von Buxhoeveden called. When the [ad] hit on the turn, Suarez checked to Von Buxhoeveden. The bet was 27,000. Suarez thought for a moment and then called. The river was the [jh]. Suarez took his time, but eventually moved all-in for 70,000. After Von Buxhoeveden confirmed the count, he thought for less than ten seconds and called.

The hands?

Suarez: [8d][5d]
Von Buxhoeveden: [ks][7c].

As I wandered away wondering when the game of poker passed me by, Von Buxhoeveden stacked up 445,000, almost certainly good for the chip lead at this hour.

Meanwhile, we moved on with hand-for-hand play. Fifty-seven players remain. The next one out gets nothing. After that, it's money-time. --BW

7:50pm: Mano a mano (play resumes)
The 58 players have returned to their seats, and as we are but two away from the money they will resume playing hand-for-hand until the money bubble bursts. Level 15 has begun (2,000-4,000-500). --MH

6:35pm: Dinner break bubbles
With 58 players remaining and 56 getting paid, everyone left better order their dinner water con gas, because it's bubble time when we come back at 8pm. See you then. --BW

6:20pm: Von Buxhoeveden tumbles
A change at the top of the counts to report, as two different shorter stacks have doubled through Erik von Buxhoeveden, suddenly moving him down to around 225,000 as we near the dinner break. --MH

6:12pm: Perez picks up knockout, chips
Using pocket aces versus Carlos Gusso's pocket queens, Juan Jose Perez just scored a knockout of Gusso to reduce the field to 60 players. Perez now has about 240,000. --MH

6:08pm: Tighten up
Play has slowed as we get closer to the bubble. Only one elimination over the last stretch, meaning they're still five away from the cash. While the short stacks are turtling up, the big stacks are ramping up the pressure. Chip leader Erik von Buxhoeveden is nearing the 500,000-chip mark, while Julio Belluscio now has 432,000 lined up in three rows in front of him. --MH

5:51pm: The bubble approaches
They are already down to 62 players. In other words, more than 120 players have been eliminated during the first five-and-a-half levels of play today.

That also means they are just six eliminations away from the cash. --MH

5:32pm: Level 14 begins
The blinds are now 1,500/3,000, with a big 500 ante to go along with them. One more one-hour level and players will take their dinner break. --MH

5:31pm: Julio jumps up
Julio Belluscio just scored a hefty lengthening to his chip tubes. Would be wrong to call them stacks, as the Argentinian idiosyncratically lines his chips on their sides before him (see below).

The hand ended with Belluscio busting the player to his left, the pair having gotten the latter's chips all in on a [Jh][2h][3c] flop. Belluscio's opponent had [K][K], but Belluscio had [2d][2s] for a set of deuces. The turn was the [8c] and river the [5c], and Bulluscio claimed the more than quarter-million-chip pot.

Not such a simple thing to count Belluscio's chips that way, but he looks to have at least 370,000 at present, possibly more. --MH

5:22pm: Short stack a little shorter for Rios
Francisco Rios has been battling with a short stack most of the day. Just now he had an even shorter stack all in with Rios holding [8d][7h] and his opponent [As][Kc]. The board ran out [9h][9c][3s][Kh][2h], and Rios' opponent survived. Meanwhile, the Mexican sits with about 44,000 at the moment. --MH

5:06pm: Outor over Perez
Juan Jose Perez gave up his chip lead not long ago, tumbling down to about 235,000. He'd chipped back to about 260,000 when he just now opened with a raise to 6,500 from the hijack seat. Vagner Outor then reraised to 13,500 from one seat over, and it folded back around to Perez who called.

The flop came [8h][6c][7c]. Perez checked, and Outor quickly announced he was shoving all in. Perez leaned forward to examine how much the bet was for -- 126,000. Perez thought about a half-minute, then said he was calling.

Outor showed [Kh][Kd] while Perez had a flush draw with [Kc][Qc]. The turn was the [Js] and river the [10s], and Outor's hand held. He moves way up to about 290,000, while Perez tumbles further to about 115,000. --MH

5:00pm: Andre Akkari: still not playing
As we mentioned yesterday, Andre Akkari has godfathering responsibilities back home this weekend, so he couldn't play in the main event. Still, he's stuck around to show off his new WSOP bracelet and gladhand with the locals. He also took a few minutes to speak to PokerStars.tv. --BW

4:58pm: Two pair for Thuyh
Robert Thuyh raised to 6,000 from the button and got two callers in the blinds. The flop came [10s][Ac][9d], and when it checked to Thuyh he quickly bet 10,000. The small blind folded immediately, and after a long think the big blind let his hand go as well.

Thuyh showed his hand -- [Ah][9s] -- before dragging the pot. "Just two pair," said a player across the table with a grin, and Thuyh returned a smile. He is sitting with 92,000 at the moment. --MH

4:54pm: Another time for Europeans?
The legacy of the LAPT is an interesting one. Its early seasons were beset with a curious lack of Latin American winners. The first five winners of LAPT events came from Europe. Today, with 80 players remaining, Austria's Erik Von Buxhoeveden holds the chip lead and is looking to put another LAPT notch on the European bed post. We're still looking to see if he brought a cheering section? --BW

4:33pm: 85 remain
Level 13 is underway with just 85 players left here at LAPT Punta del Este. Of those 85, Erik von Buxhoeveden of Austria currently has the most chips in the room with more than 330,000.

They'll play two more one-hour levels, then comes a 75-minute dinner break. --MH

Live coverage of LAPT Punta del Este is brought to you by Martin "This Coffee Is Excellent" Harris and Brad "Where'd You Get That Coffee" Willis.

4:07pm: Eric von Buxhoeveden -- new chip leader

We have a new chip leader in Erik von Buxhoeveden. The Austrian has steadily built his stack over the first four levels of play today, having now pushed past the 300,000-chip mark. Meanwhile, Juan Jose Perez of Argentina, leader for most of Day 2 thus far, just took a hit to fall back to 235,000.

Von Buxhoeveden made that push over 300,000 just a few moments ago. After raising from late position, he was reraised by a short stack in the blinds and subsequently made the call. The flop came all hearts -- [9h][3h][10h] -- and von Buxhoeveden's opponent immediately pushed all in for his last 25,000. The Austrian instantly called, turning over [3c][3s] for a set of treys while his opponent had flush hopes with [Ad][Kh].

The turn was the [7d] and river the [9d], and another player has hit the rail. Von Buxhoeveden is still stacking, but looks to have around 330,000 at present. --MH

3:59pm: So, you do have the ace
Maybe it's one of those things in which wearing a pair of ridiculous sunglasses makes you seem less than reputable. Or maybe Robert Thuyh has proven himself to actually be less than reputable. In any case, after three-betting pre-flop and getting a call, Thuyh responded to a flop-check with a 20,000 bet on a [ah][tc][ts] board. His opponent mulled his decision for a moment before shoving all-in for 50,000. Thuyh made the quick call with [as][ks], well ahead of the [7c][7s] on the other side of the table. Thuyh is not up around the 100,000 mark. --BW

3:50pm: Bolivar bounced
Bolivar Palacios has been eliminated, the last of his chips claimed by Oded Minond.

Both Palacios and Minond contributed chips before the flop and then again on every street, with the last of Palacios' going in on the river. The flop had come [Kc][9][9], then the turn the [5c]. A club landed on the river as well.

At the end, Palacios turned over [9c][6c] -- he'd flopped trip nines, then ultimately made a flush. But Minond had [Ac][xc], having turned the draw and made a better flush on the end. Palacios is out, while Minond now sits with about 140,000. --MH

3:26pm: How they're stacking
Juan Jose Perez, who began Day 2 as the chip leader, continues to extend his lead as the field shrinks. Here's a quick look at a few of the six-figure stacks around the room:

Juan Jose Perez -- 330,000
Engelberth Varela -- 190,000
Mario Lopez -- 140,000
Nicasio Toranzo -- 115,500
Odet Minon -- 106,000
Julio Belluscio -- 106,000
Iván Negrin Luca -- 100,000

Just over 100 players remain. --MH

3:21pm: Santos out
Alessandra Santos has finally been eliminated after committing her short stack once more and this time failing to survive. --MH

3:17pm: Level up
Players are now working with 1,000/2,000/300 blinds. --BW

3:07pm: Forget your outhouse
There are more cliches in this business than possible poker hand combinations. One, the Penthouse to Outhouse Story, is one that's been told too many times. So, how about the story of Regis Kogler, who at the beginning of the day lost all but 700 of his chips. After doubling up four consecutive times, Kogler has since worked his stack up to 80,000...better than average, and better than any age-old poker cliche. --BW

3:01pm: Robaina runs out
Ana Laura Robaina of Spain began today with a super-short stack of 11,100, but managed to nurse those chips through two-and-a-half levels. Finally one last all-in bet of hers was called and she had [Ah][Qd] versus her opponent's [Ac][Kh].

The community cards came jack-high, and Robaina hits the rail. --MH

2:45pm: Jesus Bertoli, the non-believer
Jesus Bertoli had an average stack and [ad][jh] on he button. That's the life, yeah? It gets worse when a raising battle ensues with the big blin the ultimate results in Bertoli refusing to give his opponent credit for a real hand and calling off this stack to [ac][ah]. Although Bertoli turned a jack, he didn't further improve and has been eliminated. --BW

2:37pm: From bad to worse to you-gotta-be-kidding-me
Have a curious, unfortunate story to report. Unfortunate in a couple of ways, actually, as we haven't the primary protagonist's name to share. But the events are compelling enough, hopefully, to carry the narrative.

The tale begins with a raise to 3,500 from the cutoff, followed by a reraise to 12,400 from the button. It folded to our protagonist in the big blind who shoved all in for 35,000 or so. The cutoff folded, but the button snap-called, tabling [Ac][Ad] to our hero's [Kd][Jd]. The board ran out eight-high, and the big blind was down to less than 5,000.

A couple of hands later came another raise, this time from UTG to 3,100. It folded to the unfortunate one on the button who reraised all in for 4,100. The blinds folded and the original raiser called. Again, the poor soul had run into a pair of bullets as his opponent showed [Ac][Ah]. Mr. Tough Luck was still smiling though... until he noticed his hand had been mistakenly swept into the muck by the dealer!

The floor was called over, during which time the all-in player explained he had held [9s][6s]. The cards were unretrievable, however, and it was ruled his bet would be a call rather than an all-in raise. And, it goes without saying, he'd lost those chips, meaning he was left with 800. Curious, yes. And most certainly unfortunate.

The player decided, however, he'd had enough and left immediately, letting those 800 chips go as antes over the next four hands. An understandable response, given the sequence of events he'd endured. --MH

2:17pm: We're back
In case you hadn't figured it out yet, we're back. With 133 players in their seats, cards are in the air. Or, in the words of our own Famous Ray, we're back. That is, we're back. --BW

2:04pm: First break
The remaining 134 players are on their first break of the day. They'll be back in 15 minutes. --BW

1:53pm: The struggle to keep one's seat
Over the last couple of days we've grown accustomed to a peculiar phenomenon here in the main poker room at the Mantra casino. The chairs in which the players are seated are designed with particularly heavy backs, meaning if a jacket or shirt happens to be hanging on the back, the chair is likely to tip backwards onto the floor if a player gets up quickly or inattentively.

Indeed, when the first couple of chairs went down early on today bets were being made along media row regarding the over/under for the number we'd hear hitting the floor today. Someone naively set the line at nine, but we've already well exceeded that within the first two hours of play, if you can believe it.

Another chair just hit the floor over at Table 11, in fact, the one in which Juan Martin Abal was sitting. He had his opponent, Matthew Goldman, all in, with Abal holding [Qs][Qh] and his Goldman [As][Jc]. All was fine through the turn for Abal as the board showed [3h][4s][5h][Jd], but then [Ac] fell with a thud on the river. And Abal's chair fell with a thud shortly thereafter.

Abal righted his chair and sat back down behind his stack of 40,000, while Goldman now has more than 120,000. --MH

1:48pm: Perez plays funny, gets paid in more than laughs
Diego Vilela opened to 2,600 from the cutoff. Juan Jose Perez, the chip leader to start the day, three-bet from the button to 7,500. Vilela made the call, and the two men saw the [qc][8s][4c] flop. Vilela check-called a 9,600 bet from Perez. When the [6s] came on the turn, Vilela checked again. That's when Perez put out a monster 42,000 bet. It was worth just short of half of Vilela's remaining stack. Still, he only made the call. Vilela thought the tables had turned when the [qs] fell on the river. He counted out his chips and announced all-in for his last 50,000. After all, he was sitting with [kc][qd]. What else was he going to do? The snap-call could be heard all the way in Montevideo. Perez turned up [5d][7s] for the turned gutshot straight. He now sits with around 310,000. Vilela, meanwhile, is stumbling stunned somewhere outside. --BW

1:33pm: Santos ships, splits, smiles
Alessandra Santos, one of the few women left in the field, just pushed her short stack all in from the cutoff and got one caller from the small blind. Santos showed [Ad][Qh] and her opponent [As][7h].

The dealer delivered the community cards: [2d][4c][5h][Kc]... [3s]! When the river arrived to make both players the same straight, Santos' smiled and drooped her head down for a moment. She sat up quickly, though, still smiling and ready to try again to improve upon her short stack of about 13,000. --MH

1:26pm: Palacios the non-believer
It was a flop of [7c][4c][5c] and Palacios watched the man in the small blind check-call his bet. That might not have seemed odd until the [2d] on the turn drew a fast bet of 8,000 from Palacios' foe. That seemed weird, but not enough for Palacios to make the quick call. Now things were getting spooky. The board paired the four on the river and again came a quick 8,000 bet. Palacios seemed confused, as if he couldn't help but call, as if his agnostic approach to his opponent's line forced him to put out the call. Innocently, his opponent turned over [kd][7d]...no flush, no boat, no straight. Just top pair with a king kicker. Apparently good enough to beat Palacios. --BW

1:23pm: All together now
There are now fewer than 150 players left, with the last three tables in the outer room having been broken. That means all of those remaining are finally gathered here in the main poker room, seated around the last 17 tables. --MH

1:02pm: Level up
On to Level 10, where the blinds are 600/1,200 and antes 200. --MH

12:59pm: Neto arrives
Nelson Neto arrived near the end of the first level today, his super-sized stack of 164,000 perhaps allowing him some time for a little extra rest this morning.

Those chips are also allowing him to play a few extra hands, too, one would think, as suggested by his opening with a raise to 2,000 from under the gun just now. Neto got two callers from the button and big blind. The flop came [Ac][7h][Js] and when checked to Neto continued for 3,000. Only the button called. The turn was the [Jh] and Neto checked. His opponent fired 4,400 this time, and Neto called.

The river was the [Ah] and both checked. Neto showed his [6h][5h] for a flush, but his opponent turned over [Qs][Jc] for jacks full and claimed the pot.

Neto still has about 160,000 as we near the start of Level 10, those chips protected by his faithful figurine, captured here yesterday when there were considerably fewer chips to guard (see below). --MH

12:55pm: Lopes and the four spades
Rafael Lopes came in for a raise and got a call from Jesus Bertoli in the blinds. Both players checked the [5s][6d][qs]. When the [3s] came on the turn, Bertoli led for 2,500 and Lopes made the call. Bertoli didn't take a lot of time betting 7,700 when the [9s] fell on the river. Lopes took a full minute before announcing a raise, and then another minute to put 19,200 in front of him. Bertoli took a moment, but eventually surrendered the pot. --BW

12:49pm: Big call by Bolivar
We arrived on the turn, at which point there was about 10,000 in the middle and the board read [5s][10d][8d][10s]. The player in the small blind checked, and Bolivar Palacios, playing from the button, bet 6,500. His opponent then check-raised all in, and after a count it looked as though the raise was for about 30,000 more.

Palacios tanked for some time, counting out his chips and carving out what it would take to call. Doing so showed that he'd only have less than 5,000 himself should he call and lose. Finally Palacios called, and when his opponent tabled [Ac][Jd] the Panamanian exhaled with relief as he turned over [As][8h]. The river was the [4c], and another player has hit the rail. Meanwhile, Palacios now sits with approximately 100,000. --MH

12:34pm: My kingdom for one of three outs
Scott Kroshus from Argentina began the day in a perilous position. With only 22,300 to start the day, he had only a couple of big blinds more than his starting stack. Just now, he was check-raised all-in by countryman Nicasio Toranzo, on a flop of [ac][5h][js]. Kroshus thought long and hard about his decision, so long, in fact, that Toranzo eventually called the clock on his man.

Kroshus finally, with a look of acquiescence only the truly behind can muster, made the call. Toranzo showed him [as][jc] for the flopped two pair, and much better than Kroshus' [ah][qc]...until the [qs] spiked on the river and doubled Kroshus up. Toranzo, who stood up through almost the entire hand, has now retaken his seat...and he's mumbling. --BW

12:29pm: Chips for Bux
A sizable pot had already developed between Erik von Buxhoeveden and his lone opponent when the Austrian checked from early position following the river card being dealt. The board showed [Qs][4s][2c][Jh][9c]. Von Buxhoeveden's opponent, playing from the button, fired 15,500, and when von Buxhoeveden called his opponent immediately mucked his cards.

Von Buxhoeveden tried not to show his hand before scooping the pot, but the other players objected and Tournament Director Mike Ward was called over. Ward explained that while the rule is about to be changed here on the LAPT, currently the winner must still show his hand even if his opponent mucks, and von Buxhoeveden obliged by turning over his [Qc][6c] for queens.

Von Buxhoeveden has gotten off to a fast start here on Day 2, pushing up over 130,000 in the early going. --MH

12:21pm: Catch-up
If you missed out on yesterday and are looking for a way to catch up on the big stories from yesterday, check out our Famous Ray on PokerStars.tv. He's got the scoop. --BW

12:11pm: Thuyh looking good
Alex Manzano opened with a 3x raise to 3,000 from under the gun and got one caller in Robert Thuyh on the button. The flop came [3d][6s][2h] and Manzano continued for 2,800. Thuyh thought a beat, then called. The turn was the [Qs]. This time Manzano fired 6,500, and without much hesitation Thuyh raised to 17,000. Manzano thought for a minute, then let his hand go.

Manzano dropped below 50,000 on that hand, still above the average at the moment. However, soon after this hand the Chilean found himself committing all of those chips and losing, and he becomes one of the first to leave us on Day 2.

Meanwhile, Thuyh has about 75,000 sitting in front of him. The Canadian also has his novelty glasses at the ready, as we saw yesterday... --MH

12:02pm: Poker in Punta
The instruction to begin has been delivered to dealers at the 20 remaining tables, and Level 9 is now underway. --MH

11:30am: Day 2 ready to begin
Good morning, one and all, from Punta del Este, Uruguay. The sun continues to shine, the winter chill is just enough to remind us we're human, and somewhere a man is butchering a steak with our name on it. In other news, the remaining 188 players from the Latin American Poker Tour main event are are about to sit down for Day 2 of this monster contest.

No one here will deny the simple fact that they didn't expect 422 players to show up. In fact, they didn't expect 400 to show up. Punta del Este has never, ever seen more than 351 players in a main event. Whatever it is about the LAPT in Season 4, it seems to be working.

As we begin the day, Juan Jose Perez, a man taught to play by Team PokerStars Pro Leo Fernandez, leads the field with nearly 200,000 off his starting stack of 20,000.

According to tournament director Mike Ward, players will be playing the first six levels of the day, going on a 75-minute dinner break, and returning to play either four more levels or down to 24 players, whichever comes first (bet the former).

Our live coverage will begin right here on this page in about half an hour. --BW

Live coverage of LAPT Punta del Este is brought to you by Martin "Saved Brad's Bacon" Harris and Brad "Would Really Like Some Bacon" Willis.

That field created a total prize pool of $941,480 which the top 56 finishers will be dividing up this weekend, with $244,720 going to the winner.

Among those 422 were a number of familiar faces from LAPT events past as well as many representatives of Team PokerStars. We were glad to see recent WSOP bracelet winner Andre Akkari here at the Mantra, although he was just visiting, having other obligations as the godfather of his friends' son.

We also today missed that other "godfather" -- of Latin American poker, that is -- Humberto Brenes. Apparently Da Chark ran into a formidable foe in Las Vegas recently of the canine variety, and consequences of the dog bite proved significant enough to limit Brenes' travel for the time being.

Among those who did make it was defending LAPT Punta del Este champion Jose "Nacho" Barbero. For a few levels, anyway, as Nacho ran out of chips by mid-afternoon.

Barbero was followed to the rail today by several of his Team Pro brethren, including Angel Guillen, Greg DeBora, Christian de Leon, Leo Fernandez, Gualter Salles, and Karlo Lopez (Team Online).

That left just Fredy Torres of Team Online to represent the PokerStars team. Torres got off to a hot start today, but found that early momentum soon stifled and thus was forced to endure with a short stack for much of the latter part of Day 1. Finally, just before the end of play, Torres saw his short stack taken away as well.

Other notables joining the 200-plus players unable to make it to tomorrow's Day 2 included Fabrizio "SixthSenSe19" Gonzalez, Samar Hodali, Pablo Gonzales, Maria Stern, and Nicolas Fierro.

Meanwhile, others were thriving. Alex Manzano of Chile pushed out to a big stack early on before falling back to the pack later in the day. Then Erik von Buxhoeveden of Austria was one of the first to flirt with the 100,000-chip mark. And Roberto Hernandez of Uruguay also built a stack up over 100,000, knocking out Lopez in the process.

But by day's end it was Juan Jose Perez of Argentina who was sitting behind what appeared to be the biggest stack of them all with 197,500 at day's end. Perez, who finished seventh at LAPT Uruguay in Season 1, claimed numerous victims today, one of the last being Leo Fernandez -- the man who reportedly taught Perez how to play the game long ago!

From that starting group of 422, just 188 will be returning for Day 2 tomorrow. We'll be back, too, starting at noon when play resumes.

9:01pm: Torres out
The last representative of Team PokerStars, Fredy Torres (of Team Online), has been eliminated with just a few minutes left in Day 1.

In Torres' last hand he pushed his short stack all in with [K][9] only to be called by an opponent in the blinds with [A][9]. An ace flopped and Torres couldn't catch up, and the Colombian is out.

8:55pm: Salles eliminated
On one of the last few hands of the night, Brazilian Team Pro Gualter Salles got pocket eights all in for his last 7,600 against [kd][th]. A ten hit the river and Salles was gone. --BW

8:36pm: Fernandez's long wait
This started out as a check on the final table in the main casino. It ended in such dramatic fashion, it's probably not true.

Leo Fernandez refused to play a bad hand. Though he held fewer than ten big blinds, he was making art out of folding. The process in between folds was a performance piece that consisted of Fernandez washing his face with his hands, taking deep cleansing breaths, yawning like a tired Labrador, and burying his hands in his hair. Rinse and repeat.

When the tournament director came into the room to break Fernandez's table, it was just about to be the Team Pro's big blind, a position that would almost force him to play. He saw the chip racks headed in his direction and moaned, "Oh, no. Please."

It was no use. Fernandez was moving to the main room.

He slunk down the escalator, into the big room, and down into a seat where he would have to play more hands before the blinds got to him. He waited. He waited some more. he checked his blackberry. He folded his big blind!

Finally, he could wait no more. A player opened all-in for 15,100. Fernandez called for his last 6,700. So did chip leader Juan Jose Perez, a man Fernandez taught to play.

It was two red queens for the open shover, pocket fives for Perez, and the hand that Fernandez had waited this long to play.

[ac][as]

It was as if Fernandez didn't see it coming, like the [5c] on the flop was inconceivable. We all saw it. It happened. And Fernandez was gone, a man no longer waiting for anything but room service. --BW

8:09pm: Fierro felled
"I eliminated the monster."

So said Miguel Alvarez to us shortly after he had knocked out one of the tougher players in today's field, Nicolas Fierro. Fierro, who finished 34th in this year's WSOP Main Event, had dropped to about 20,000 or so when he opened with a raise then Alvarez three-bet him. Fierro tanked a good while, then called with [A][10], behind Alvarez' [A][K]. The board blanked for Fierro, who hits the rail here at the start of Level 8.

Meanwhile, monster-killer Alvarez has about 40,000. --MH

8:01: Last level
They've moved to Level 8, the last one-hour level of Day 1. --MH

7:45pm: De Leon De Le-gone
I wandered up to Team PokerStars Pro Christian de Leon's table to see an already sizable pot and a flop of [6s][8h][2c]. De Leon bet 6,000 into the pot and got a call. When the [4c] came on the turn, De Leon fingered his stack for a couple of seconds before announcing all-in. The call was of the snapping variety and drew an immediate frown from the Team PokerStars Pro. He turned up [as][kc], drawing dead to the [6h][4h] on the other side of the table. The [3h] came uselessly on the river, prompting a quick handshake from De Leon and his just-as-quick exit. --BW

7:32pm: DeBora done
Following a hijack raise to 1,400, Greg DeBora reraised all in for his last 6,700 from the small blind. The big blind then reshoved all in over the top, forcing out the original raiser.

DeBora turned over [Kc][Td], but his opponent had woken up with [Ah][Ks]. The five community cards came [Qc][Qd][3c][3d][8c], and DeBora is out. --MH

7:18pm: Guillen gone
One player limped, then Angel Guillen raised to 1,400 from the cutoff. It folded to the player in the small blind who made it 3,200 to go. The big blind and limper got out, and Guillen called. --MH

The flop came [10h][2h][2c]. Guillen's opponent bet 4,200, and Guillen paused a short while before declaring himself all in for about 20,000 more. His opponent had Guillen barely covered, and made the call turning over [As][Ac]. But Guillen had flopped a monster as he tabled [10][10] for a full house.

The turn was the [Jd] and all seemed well for Guillen. Then came the river -- the [Ad]! Adding to the drama was the fact that the limper mentioned he'd folded an ace, meaning the last one had arrived on the river to send the Team PokerStars Mexico player out. --MH

7:12pm: Lopez vanishes
Team PokerStars Online member and accomplished magician Karlo Lopez has been eliminated, the last of his stack having been claimed by Roberto Hernandez of Uruguay.

The pair had been involved in a few pots earlier in the day, including a memorable one in which Hernandez had claimed a number of chips off of Lopez with [A][K] versus Lopez [A][Q] on an ace-high board. In Lopez' final hand, Hernandez had opened for 1,500 from the cutoff, then Lopez shoved all in from the button for his last 11,000. The blinds got out, and Hernandez quickly called, showing [Kh][Kc] to Lopez' [Ac][10s].

The board ran out [4][2][8][10][J] and Lopez is out. Meanwhile, Hernandez is now up over 100,000, one of the bigger stacks around at present. --MH

7:09pm: Table spotting
Looking out across the fruited plains of the Mantra Hotel and Casino, we've been able to get a rough count of the players who have survived until the seventh level of the night. The VIP Room has now completely broken. That leaves six tables in the main casino, four tables in the lobby outside this main conference room, and 17 tables inside the main room where this tournament will eventually finish.

With each table still playing ten-handed, that leaves us with 260-270 players still left in the field today. Expect that number to drop pretty dramatically in the next couple of hours. --BW

6:51: We're back
Players are back in their seats are back in the air. Two more one-hour levels today and they'll call it a night. --MH

6:34: Break it up
We've arrived at the end of Level 6 and the last 15-minute break of the day. --MH

6:28pm: 422!
It's official... a whopping 422 entrants came out for this year's LAPT Punta del Este event, smashing the previous best total of 351 from Season 1.

We're gathering prize pool information and will pass that along shortly. --MH

6:24pm: Brunelli battling
Diego Brunelli has had an up-and-down day of it thus far, mostly hovering below the starting stack of 20,000. Just now he was involved in a hand with a single opponent in which he pushed out a half pot-sized bet of 2,100 on the river with the board showing [7h][10s][7s][5d][As] and got a fold, earning a modest-sized pot.

That one pushes Brunelli back to about 20,000. --MH

6:17pm: Active Alex
Alex Manzano opened with a raise to 1,000 from under the gun and got two callers, one sitting to his immediate left and the other in middle position. The dealer burned a card and delivered the flop. "As-ocho-cuatro," he said after spreading out the cards [Ad][8c][4h]. All three checked.

The turn came the [10s]. This time Manzano bet 1,800 and got one caller in the middle position player. The river was the [6c] and Manzano bet again, this time 2,100. His opponent called with zero hesitation. Manzano turned over [Ac][3c] for aces, and his opponent mucked.

Manzano still sits with about 68,000. --MH

6:06pm: Head'um up, move'em out
This day started in the equivalent of four different poker rooms. One of those was the well-hidden VIP room in the farthest reaches of the casino. Those walls held 120 of today's starting 400. Now, 100 players have been eliminated and the VIP Room is all but empty. --BW

5:55pm: Torres tanks, tanked
The board read [qd][2d][3c][4c]. Team PokerStars Online's Fredy Torres, had bet 2,900 into it. His opponent, a man we're calling "Vamos Cesar!" pushed all-in. Torres spent several minutes in the tank before calling to see Vamos Cesar's [5d][6c]. Torres, apparently drawing dead, mucked before the [kd] river left the dealer's hand. He's now down to a few big blinds. --BW

5:52pm: Quadsmacked
Leo Fernandez had started to accumulate some chips here of late, but just took a hit to get knocked back down the hill again.

With the board showing [6h][7d][Ad][7h], Fernandez' opponent bet 2,400 from early position -- about half the pot -- and Fernandez called. The river brought the [As] and another bet from the early position player, this time for 6,300. Fernandez thought about it, then called. His opponent quickly tabled [7c][7s] for quads, and Fernandez mucked.

The Team PokerStars Argentina Pro is back down to about 10,000 now. --MH

5:43pm: Von Buxhoeveden movin' up
The bigger stacks are starting to distinguish themselves a bit as we move into Level 6. One player, Erik von Buxhoeveden of Austria, is drawing a lot of attention in one of the upstairs rooms with his stack of 90,000 now. --MH

5:28pm: Early elims
The recently-completed Level 5 saw us lose a couple of final tablists from Season 4 LAPT Lima. Daniel Ospina, who took seventh back in Peru back in April, is out, as is third-place finisher Pablo Gonzales. --MH

5:00pm: No double-helping for Nacho
Jose "Nacho" Barbero should've looked the part of a champion. He owned the LAPT in Season 3. He won here in Punta, and then won again in Lima, Peru. His return to Uruguay was a champion's journey and one that should've seen him carried out of here on a bed of 5k chips tonight. Instead, he simply looked miserable.

His head was squeezed in a vise of headphones. He scowled at the hands his dealer handed him and scowled at his own hands as they mechanically cut out chips for the ever-increasing ante. His graying hair was longer than normal, almost unkempt, even if stylishly so. In front of him sat 5,500 in chips, all he had left from the 20,000 they handed him to start the day. Misery in the form of a Nacho.

He watched fellow Team Pro Angel Guillen play three hands in a row and looked on with a grudge. There wasn't a person within a 12-foot radius of Barbero's brooding that didn't know Barbero only had one hand left. With less than 6,000 in front of him, he was going to move all-in at the first opportunity. It happened when Barbero saw somebody limp for 300 and somebody else raise to 1,500. Barbero stuck it in with [ks][qh].

Like seemingly everything else, the timing was off. The limper held [jd][js] and raised enough to isolate the one-time champion. As if to put a bow on the box of hate, the dealer put out the flop: [jc][3d][3s].

Barbero stood, nodded at everybody at the table, and swayed out of the room. Last we saw him, he was still swaying left to right as he walked the long stairs to the Mantra hotel.

In short, there will be no repeat Punta champion this year. --BW

4:43pm: Angel shooting
Our photographer Carlos just shot a picture of Angel Guillen for us (see below), capturing the Team PokerStars Mexico member deep in thought. Guillen might have been thinking about how the first four levels weren't going so well for him, given that he slipped below the 10,000-chip mark for much of the latter half of that stretch. He's started Level 5 on a good note, though.

After a couple of players limped, Guillen made it 1,500 to go from the hijack seat and both of the limpers stuck around. All three checked the [8h][8d][Qs] flop. The turn was the [Qh], pairing the board a second time, and when it checked to Guillen he tossed out two yellow chips for a bet of 2,000, getting folds from both of his opponents.

Guillen shoots back up to 16,000. --MH

4:38pm: Manzano munches
No dinner break scheduled today, so players are doing what they can during the 15-minute breaks to satisfy their appetites.

For example, Alex Manzano grabbed himself a sandwich during the break and was still finishing it as he played a hand early in Level 5. A player on the button opened with a raise to 750, and as he settled his check Manzano took a last bite before defending his big blind. Both players checked the [4c][10s][4d] flop. The turn brought the [9h], and Manzano bet 1,050, getting a fold from his opponent.

You could say Manzano has been feasting all afternoon, in a way, as he's up close to the 70,000-chip mark. --MH

4:30pm: Four more levels
I've always been more of a Rule of Threes kind of guy, but today is all about the fours. Four hundred or so players, four levels played twice, and now, four more levels to play. And yes, in the four o'clock hour.

While we wait for everybody to sit down, here's our local magician Karlo Lopez, from Team PokerStars Online. --BW

Live coverage of LAPT Punta del Este is brought to you by Martin "Master of Player Identification" Harris and Brad "Doesn't Recognize Himself in the Mirror" Willis.

4:11pm: Nuts hold in three-way all-in
It was a flop of [ac][ts][jh] with Jose Rodriguez all-in. He held [kh][qh], up against a moderately scary [jc][jd] and [ad][js]. The [2s] and [4s] on turn and river handed the main pot and nearly 70,000 to Rodriguez. --BW

3:52pm: Brazil keeping hope alive
It took three and half seasons for Brazil to win its first LAPT event. It happened a few months ago in Chile when Murilo Figueredo took down the LAPT main event in Vina del Mar. Figueredo has carried his victory and the Brazilian flag all the way to Uruguay in an attempt to add another notch to Brazil's bedpost. --BW

3:39pm: Bumpy road for Barbero
With the board showing [3s][Kd][8h][6h] and about 9,000 in the middle, Jose "Nacho" Barbero checked, his opponent fired 6,500, and Barbero called. Both then checked the [Jd] river. Barbero saw his opponent table [As][Ah], and Nacho mucked his cards. The Argentinian slips to 11,300. --MH

3:31pm: Unofficial numbers
After surveying the room and chatting up some of the tourney officials, it's looking like we might have a field of 400 players who started. Four of the tables in the VIP area of the casino have already broken, which should leave us with around 360 players left in the event. --BW

3:10pm: Slow going for Gonzales
Pablo Gonzales of Colombia is here, hoping to match or improve upon his third-place finish at the most recent LAPT Lima event in April. Kind of a slow start for Gonzales thus far, however, as he continues to hover below the starting stack.

Just now came a hand in which Gonzales limped from early position then called a late position raise. He and his opponent both checked the [Ac][8s][4s] flop. The turn brought the [9c] and another check from Gonzales, eliciting a 1,050 bet from his opponent. The Colombian called, then both players checked the [Jc] river.

Gonzales showed [Ks][7s] for a busted flush, while his opponent tabled [10s][10d] to take the small pot. Gonzales has about 15,000 at the moment. --MH

3:00pm: Brunelli building back
PokerStars Team Online's Diego Brunelli is in build-back mode after losing about a quarter of his stack to start the day. After raising a limper to 600, Brunelli got the call and saw a flop of [as][8d][5s]. His opponent check-called a bet of 800. The [qh] came on the turn. Again came a check. This time Brunelli made it 1,500 to play. His opponent's cards hit the muck before the bet hit the table and Brunelli is sitting around 14,000. --BW

2:52pm: Nice river for Manzano
Following an under-the-gun raise to 600, four players, including Alex Manzano, saw a flop come [Ac][7h][Js]. The preflop raiser bet 1,000 and got a couple of callers. The turn brought the [2d] and another bet from the raiser, and when Manzano raised, the others stepped aside. The preflop raiser pushed his small stack all in and Manzano called.

Manzano showed [9c][9h], and his opponent appeared in good shape to more-than-double-up with his [Ah][6h]. But the river brought the [9s], giving Manzano a set of nines and an early knockout.

Manzano is up around 45,000 now. --MH

2:47pm: Slow start for Cornell
PokerStars qualifier Luke Cornell has waited three years and flown across half the planet to come here today, so he's not seeing much reason to ram and jam in the first few hours. We've not seen him in a lot of pots. The most recent may be reason enough to keep it slow. His flop bet got called on a [ks][kc][ts] board. He checked behind on a blank turn and [qs] on the river. His opponent rather excitedly tabled queen-ten for the win.

Cornell knows about waiting, we've learned, so he's probably well aware there are still five and half levels yet to play today. --BW

2:31pm: So long, Samar
Samar Hodali of Peru, fifth-place finisher at LAPT Lima back in April, was back here at Punta del Este with her characteristic unlit cigarette. Alas for Hodali, her tourney experience burned out quite a bit more quickly than back in the spring.

Her final hand, coming at the start of Level 3, began innocently enough with her raising to 600 from early position and getting one caller in the cutoff. The flop came [10c][Ac][6h] and Hodali continued for 1,300. Her opponent called. The turn was the [10d]. Hodali waited about two seconds, then fired 3,000. Her opponent took about ten seconds before calling.

The river was the [Kh]. Hodali bet quickly again, and her opponent immediately responded with an all-in shove. Hodali went deep into the tank, finally emerging to call and commit her remaining chips. When she did, her opponent instantly tabled [Ad][10s] for tens full of aces. Hodali showed her [As][Kc], took the cigarette from her mouth and tapped the table, and departed. --MH

2:18pm: We're back
Level 3 is underway, with the blinds 100/200. --MH

2:04pm: Nacho returns
It's been about 18 months since Team PokerStars Pro Jose "Nacho" Barbero won the Season 3 LAPT Punta del Este event. While we're waiting for him to come back from break, here's what he had to say when the day kicked off. --BW

2:02pm: Break time
The Day 1 players are on their first break. They will join us back here in about 15 minutes. --BW

1:54pm: Happy birthday, Doc When I woke up this morning, the first thing I had to do was make sure I sent some flowers and such to my wife (back home some 5,000 miles away) for her birthday. It was only upon getting here today that I realized my dear bride shares a birthday with one of the nicest guys on the LAPT circuit. Dr. Max Stern received a healthy and much-deserved round of applause from his fellow Punta del Este players just a bit ago. Maybe he can turn 20,000 birthday stack into something that will get him to Day 2. --BW

1:45pm: Dog bites Shark
The most notable absence in today's field is that of Costa Rican Team PokerStars Pro Humberto Brenes. It's exceptionally rare to see any event in this part of the world without hearing Da Chark somewhere in the room. Ray, our blogger at PokerStarsBlog.la comes from Costa Rica. The story he tells is not pretty.

Apparently Humberto Brenes was bitten by a dog while in Las Vegas for the WSOP. While that might not usually be a big deal, apparently this dog had, in Ray's word, "Worms." If you just said, "Yikes," you echoed my reaction. "It got infected and he didn't get treated until he got home." Brenes has apparently not recovered well-enough yet to travel, so this LAPT event, we won't be seeing any swimming of the shark. I've been a journalist for going on 17 years, and this is the first time I've been able to write "Dog bites Shark." Let's hope it's the last. --BW

1:39pm: Leo takes a few sips, loses a few chips
With 2,500 in the middle and the board showing [Kd][Js][Ks][Kh], Leo Fernandez' lone opponent checked and he fired 1,200, getting a call. The river brought the [7h] and another check from Fernandez' opponent. The Team PokerStars Argentina Pro thought for a while, then checked behind.

His opponent showed [10d][10s], and Fernandez mucked before taking another sip of his cappuccino. Fernandez has about 25,000 at present. --MH

1:34pm: Not long for Lerner
Online qualifier Derek Lerner is out, just about halfway through the second level. We missed details of his rapid exit, though word was he'd played cash games until late, and likely will be finding his way back to them shortly, as well as perhaps to join some of the other events scheduled this week at LAPT Punta del Este. --MH

1:30pm: Three years in the making
So, we were sitting in the airport in Santiago, Chile, a waypoint on the trip to Punta if you're not the kind of guy who books a direct flight to Montevideo. To pass the time, we were telling old poker stories. My most recent was about a guy I knew who managed to lose $3,500 in a $1/$3 no-limit hold'em game in just a few hours. One of my colleagues joked, "Well, you know, every once in a while you'll have one of those down 1,200 big blind sessions."

It wasn't long before a head poked over my shoulder. The young man said, "Excuse me, but I couldn't help but overhear you say something about hold'em and big blinds..."

As it happens, when people travel from all over the world to go to a poker tournament, you're going to run into a few, even if you're still a few countries away from the venue. This one was Luke Cornell, an Englishman turned Aussie who is here as a PokerStars qualifier. He qualified for LAPT Punta del Este...three years ago.

Cornell qualified by accident. He entered an $11 qualifier, thinking he was signing up for a chance to get into a $600 qualifier to an APPT event. Before long he realized he was in a straight-up satellite to the LAPT. And then he won.

Life and work got in the way and Cornell wasn't able to make it. So, he delayed his trip until Season 3. He'd planned to use his LAPT main event credit for the Season 3 event in Vina del Mar, Chile. After that country suffered a devastating earthquake, the tournament was canceled. Cornell stayed home again.

Now, some three years later, Cornell has made his way on the 27-hour journey from Australia to Punta del Este.

"I'm finally getting to play the event I qualified for," he said. --BW

1:11pm: Nacho not getting talked into this one
Jose "Nacho" Barbero, winner of LAPT Punte del Este Season 3, has been active during the first couple of levels. He's also been in constant conversation with his neighbor two seats to his right. The pair were still talking after Barbero took a small pot off of him and the following hand was dealt.

Barbero's neighbor limped in from middle position (for 150), then Barbero raised to 500. "Porque?!?" said Nacho's opponent with mock displeasure. The small blind called as well, and the flop came [As][Jd][5d]. All three checked. The turn brought the [10d]. When it quickly checked to Barbero he bet 500, and both opponents called.

The river was the [3s]. It quickly checked to Barbero again who hesitated, then tapped the felt. The small blind kept his cards face down, then the middle position player turned over his [Ah][5s] for two pair. "Ah-ha-ha-ha!" said Barbero, seeing evidence of his opponent's sandbagging. He and the small blind both quickly mucked.

The conversation continues. Barbero sits with about 26,000. --MH

1:03pm: Blinds up
We've now moved on to the second of eight levels for the day. Players are now working with 75-150 blinds. --BW

1:00pm--The godfather
We've long described Humberto Brenes to be the godfather of Latin American poker. This week, however, that title will have to go to Andre Akkari. While Akkari has traveled here this week to hang out with his fellow LAPT players (and perhaps show off that new WSOP bracelet of his), he won't be sitting down to play as we first assumed. Akkaro need to take off soon to go home and play the role of godfather to one of his best friends' children. So, alas, no chance of Akkari taking down another first place this summer, but we can't fault the guy for keeping his priorities straight. --BW

12:52pm: Torres tearing it up
Fredy Torres has had a hot first level, steadily increasing his stack throughout the hour. Just now he was involved in battle over another decent-sized pot.

We picked up the action on the turn, with Torres playing out of the small blind and facing a lone opponent sitting next to him on the button. The board read [Jc][Ad][4s][Ks] and about 7,000 was sitting in the middle when both players checked. The river brought the [4c] and a bet of about 5,000 or so from Torres, earning him a fold and the pot.

Torres is up over 35,000 as we near the end of Level 1. --MH

12:45pm: Shaking off the cobwebs
The LAPT is known for being an exciting place full of screams, shouts, and unpredictable elation. As Day 1 kicks off, that's not yet happened. While any number of factors may be involved, it's possible that the LAPT Welcome Party from last night might have something to do with the quiet. Held about 20 minutes down the road at a local casino, the party offered free food and drink to today's players. While not a crazy affair, it did go on past midnight (or so we were told), so players may still be coming to. --BW

12:30pm: Notes and notables
It's at this time of day we wander in search of two things: faces we recognize and the rooms in which everybody sits. It's not easy today. This is looking to be a monster event. Rumor is that we have 390 players signed up at this hour. They are spread out over four sections of tables on two floors.

Among the faces that have smiled back today are: Vincenzo Giannelli, Gualter Salles, Greg DeBora, Jesus Bertoli, Jose "Nacho" Barbero, Leo Fernandez, Nico Fierro, Christian de Leon, Adolfo Vaeza, Samar Hodali, Angel Guillen, Bolivar Palacios, Diego Brunelli, Freddy Torres, Leandro Csome, Max Stern, and Maria Stern. --BW

12:12pm: Small dip for DeBora
Some early action over at Table 15 where both Team PokerStars Pro Greg DeBora and Team Online member Karlo Lopez are sitting.

A player in middle position opened for 275 and got two callers in Lopez (cutoff) and DeBora (big blind), the latter having just taken his seat. The flop came [Ad][10d][4h]. It checked to the preflop raiser who continued for 450, Lopez got out, and after a short think DeBora stuck around.

The turn was the [4s], pairing the board. DeBora checked, and his opponent tossed out some chips on the big LAPT logo. The amount of the bet wasn't obvious from across the table, so DeBora looked at the dealer who leaned over to take a look. "One thousand and... eleven hundred and twenty-five," she said, adding "my English" with a smile. DeBora called the bet of 1,125.

The river brought the [9h] and a quick check from DeBora. His opponent fired 2,500 this time, the three chips easy enough for DeBora to see without clarification. After thinking for about a half-minute, the Canadian called, and his opponent quickly tabled [Ah][Jd] for aces and fours. DeBora mucked, having dipped below the starting stack to about 18,100. --MH

12:03pm: We're underway
Players are seated behind their starting stacks of 20,000 and the first hands of level 1 are being dealt. --MH

11:17am: LAPT Punta del Este Season 4 set to kick off
After a windy, sideways-raining, bone-chilling night on the beaches of Punta del Este, the sun has broken for the start of Day 1. It's been nearly 18 months since the last time the Latin American Poker Tour visited Punta. That time, Team PokerStars Pro Jose "Nacho" Barbero won the first of his back-to-back LAPT victories in Season 3.

Now, tournament officials are stacking the tables with chips. A long line of players is queueing up outside for what is expected to be a big event. We're hearing that 340 players have already registered. That is sure to grow. If it manages to pop over the 351 mark, it will be the biggest LAPT event ever held in Punta.

This is the only stop on the LAPT that the tour has visited every season. The circuit's history is rooted right here on the Uruguayan beaches. That history will write its newest chapter in just about half an hour. Stick with us for coverage all day. --BW

Live coverage of LAPT Punta del Este is brought to you by Martin "I just saw an interesting spin of roulette" Harris and Brad "I wish that falling sign had hit me in the head" Willis.

PokerStars.net announced that it has renewed its sponsorship agreement with Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. (MLSE) as a sponsor of the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey club. The deal will see PokerStars.net on the rinkboards for all home games and creating exciting ticket giveaways to the popular goal judge seats at Air Canada Centre.

"Millions of Canadians, including myself, are diehard sports fans and poker players. Hockey is our national pastime and recently poker has surged in popularity as Canadians have begun to excel on the international stage," says Daniel Negreanu, Team PokerStars Pro player. "I have played hockey my whole life and grew up watching the Toronto Maple Leafs, which is why I am excited that PokerStars.net is a sponsor. It is a great relationship and allows the world's largest online poker school to team up with an iconic franchise to deliver exceptional promotions for poker and hockey fans."

The agreement will see PokerStars.net remain a sponsor through to the end of the 2011 / 2012 NHL season.

The gradual chipping away of Raul Pino's stack that characterized the almost-half-hour of heads-up play had left the Panamanian with around 800,000, small change compared to Kemal Ferri's 6 million-ish stack. Finally, Pino pushed that stack all in from the button, and Ferri quickly called.

Pino tabled [Kd][7d] and would need help versus Ferri's [Kc][Qh]. The flop came [9s][6s][5d], and all remained quiet. The [6h] turn changed neither the status of the players' hands nor the scene surrounding them.

The dealer turned over the river, the [2c]! Ferri let out a shout, and the crowd instantly joined him. We have a winner!

Pino earns $120,000 for his runner-up finish, while Ferri takes $207,400 and the trophy.

6:31pm: "Hooks"

You could say Peruvian Kemal Ferri has his hooks in Raul Pino of Panama at this point, having driven Pino down below 2 million chips while he increases his stack past the 5-million chip mark.

Just now came a hand in which the pair made it to the turn with the board showing [10s][3d][Kc][9d]. Pino checked, and when Ferri bet Pino let his hand go.

"Hooks!" said Ferri, showing his pocket jacks as he took the chips.

6:22pm: The first ten hands

We only saw two flops and just one river in the first ten hands of heads-up. Kemal Ferri has pushed out to a meaningful lead here with about 4.5 million to Raul Pino's 2.5 million.

6:11pm: Pablo Gonzales eliminated in 3rd

Pablo Gonzales just committed his short stack once more with [Kh][Qs] and was called by Kemal Ferri who held [Ad][4h].

The board came [5d][3d][3c][5s][6c], and Ferri's hand remained best. Gonzales received a hearty cheer from his small cheering section as he shook his opponents' hands. He'll also receive $73,540 for his finish.

We're heads-up!

6:07pm: Gonzales hanging on

The short stack Pablo Gonzales has survived a couple of all-in shoves here at the start of Level 29.

In one he had [As][4c] and Raul Pino [Ac][4s], and the hand ended in a chop. In another Pino opened for 200,000 from the button, Gonzales pushed for his last 380,000 from the small blind, and Pino called. Gonzales had [Qs][8h] and Pino [Ah][6h], and the community cards came [Ks][4h][9c][2c]... [Qd]! The river queen kept Gonzales in the game, but only barely. He now has about 900,000.

5:50pm: Players return

Still three alive and kicking.

5:34pm: Break time

Another break for these three. Here are the current chip counts:

Raul Pino - 3.375 million

Kemal Ferri - 2.68 million

Pablo Gonzales - 775,000

5:29pm: You take it

Many small pots in succession between these three so far. We just had a funny moment in which Kemal Ferrari limped from the button, Raul Pino limped from the small blind, and Pablo Gonzales checked. They all checked down the [Jh][Qc][As] flop and [Qh] turn, then when the [5s] came on the river, both Pino and Gonzales open-folded simultaneously, provoking laughter from all, including the dealer.

5:10pm: Players take a short break

The final three are on a brief break.

5:07pm: Michel Barham eliminated in 4th place

The dust had barely settled from the Samar Hodali elimination before Michel Barham and Kemal Ferri got it all-in preflop.

Barham: [As][Qd]

Ferri: [6s][6d]

The flop was [9d][8s][7d]. The turn was the [10d], which improved Ferri's hand with a straight, but Barham picked up a slew of outs with a nut-flush draw and a gutshot to a higher-straight. The river was the [7h]. Ferri's hand held up and Michel Barham was out. Barham, one of the three final table players from Peru, headed to the rail in 4th place. He won $54,180.

Down to three. Ferri improved his stack to 2.4 million. He trails Raul Pino, who is the current leader with 3.5 million. Pablo Gonzales is the "shorty" with 1.1 million.

5:02pm: Samar Hodali eliminated in 5th

The table folded around to Samar Hodali on the button who raised to 200,000, leaving herself 760,000 behind. Raul Pino responded by immediately pushing all in from the small blind. Pablo Gonzales folded, then Hodali went deep into the tank.

After a minute mostly spent counting through her remaining chips, it appeared as though she might be ready to give up her cards, then suddenly she announced the call. Hodali tabled [6d][6s] and hoped that her pair would outlast Pino's [Kc][Qs].

The flop came [10h][8s][3c], provoking shouts from a now standing Hodali and the crowd. The [7h] came on the turn, and the noise grew greater...

Then came the river -- the [Kh]. Hodali slapped the table in disappointment, and after accepting a consoling kiss from Pino left quickly, her unlit cigarette left resting before her now empty chair. She earns $38,700.

Pino is our new leader with more than 3 million.

4:52pm: Now, two young kids might start a ruckus; Raul Pino = new chipleader It was a battle between Panama versus Peru. Kemal Ferri (Peru) raised to 180,000 from the button. Raul Pino (Panama) defended his big blind with a call. On the flop of [7h][4h][4s], Pino bet 180,000 and Ferri called. The turn was the [Qd], Pino bet 180,000 and Ferri called. The river was the [3h]. Pino insta-bet 150,000 (as opposed to his usual methodical manner). Ferri announced "Call." Pino tabled [As][7s] for two pair, sevens and fours with an Ace-kicker. It bested Ferri's pocket sixes. That pot propelled Pino into the lead with over 2.4 million. Ferri slipped to second in chips with 1.4 million.

4:47pm: Updated chip counts

Kemal Ferri - 2.1 million

Raul Pino - 1.7 million

Pablo Gonzales - 1.1 million

Michel Barham - 1.1 million

Samar Hodali - 900,000

4:28pm: Level 28 begins

Blinds 40,000-80,000 now, with a 10,000 ante.

4:21pm: Caution remains the word

Players have an average of 1.4 million at the moment, with not a great deal of difference, relatively speaking, between first (Kemal Ferri) and last (Michel Barham). But as close as the stacks are, the differences between payouts is significant. So caution reigns.

Pablo Gonzales raised to 150,000 from the cutoff, then Michel Barham -- still the table's short stack -- reraised all in from the button for 710,000 total. The blinds skedaddled, and Gonzales took a moment to reflect.

The Colombian sat back in his chair, arms folded, chewing his gum and looking around the table at the other players and their stacks. Finally he leaned forward, rechecked his cards, and tossed them away.

Barham sits with about 900,000, while Gonzales preserves his stack of about 1.35 million as we near the end of Level 27.

4:05pm: Updated chip counts

Kemal Ferri - 2.15 million

Samar Hodali - 1.35 million

Raul Pino - 1.28 million

Pablo Gonzales - 1.18 million

Michel Barham - 890,000

4:01pm: Pablo Gonzales chipping up

With five to go, it appears that Pablo Gonzales is the most aggressive player at the table. He shifted gears once Zepeda busted in 6th. He won four pots right away and is back over 1 million, much to the delight of his Colombian supporters in the front row.

3:51pm: Leonardo Zepeda eliminated in 6th

Action folded to the blinds. Leonardo Zepeda shoved from the small blind for his last 420,000. Samar Holdai woke up pocket Queens and insta-called. Zepeda tabled [9h][6s]. The flop was[5s][5c][4c]. The turn was the [3s], which gave Zepeda some hope after he picked up an open-ended straight, but the [10c] on the river sealed his fate. Hodali won the pot and Leonardo Zepeda busted out in 6th place. The Chilean pro won $30,960.

3:41pm: Let's go! Barham doubles through Zepeda

Michel Barham opened from under the gun for 205,000, leaving himself just 375,000 behind, and it folded around to Leonardo Zepeda in the cutoff. Zepeda looked across the table at Barham's stack, then said he was all in. The others folded, and Barham immediately called.

Barham [Ah][Qs]

Zepeda [Ad][Jd]

"Vamo!" said Barham as he saw Zepeda's cards. The flop came [Qh][5c][Kh], pairing Barham and inspiring more calls to "Vamo!" The turn was the [5s] and the river the [6c], and Barham doubles to about 1.2 million. Meanwhile, Zepeda now has 950,000 and with Pablo Gonzales is at the bottom of the counts.

Of course, all six players have short stacks, relatively speaking, so we expect a lot more players will soon be finding hands and deciding "Let's go!"

3:23pm: Level 27 begins

Players have returned and the first hand of Level 27 is being dealt. The blinds have moved up to 30,000-60,000, while the antes doubled to 10,000.

LAPT Lima reporting comes courtesy of bloggers Martin Harris and Paul "Dr. Pauly" McGuire, and photographer Carlos Monti.

]]> http://www.pokerstarsblog.net/lapt/2011/lapt-lima-day-4-live-updates-levels-27-2-1-080587.html http://www.pokerstarsblog.net/lapt/2011/lapt-lima-day-4-live-updates-levels-27-2-1-080587.html PokerStars News LAPT Season 4 Lima Mon, 18 Apr 2011 01:38:11 +0000 3:10pm: Players take a 15-minutes break Smoke' em if you got 'em.

2:45pm: Chatting with Karlo Lopez

The lovely Lynn Gilmartin spoke with PokerStars Team Online Karlo Lopez....

2:33pm: Chip counts with six left

Not too much to report from the last 20 minutes, other than to say the two short stacks, Pablo Gonzales and Michel Barham have shoved a couple of times each and gotten no takers.

What the stacks are looking like around the table at the moment:

Kemal Ferri - 1.75 million

Raul Pino - 1.35 million

Leonardo Zepeda - 1.2 million

Samar Hodali - 1.08 million

Pablo Gonzales - 805,000

Michel Barham - 455,000

2:12pm: Samar survives Leonardo Zepeda opened with a raise to 106,000 from the cutoff and got two callers in Samar Hodali (button) and Pablo Gonzales (big blind). The flop came [2h][5s][8s], and Gonzales promptly raised to 200,000. Zepeda stepped aside, then after a half-minute of contemplation Hodali announced she was all in, her raise to about a half million. Gonzales called, she showed her overpair [10h][10d], and Gonzales tabled [8c][7c].

The dealer burned a card and turned over the [7s] -- two pair for Gonzales. The players and crowd suddenly grew silent, collectively sensing Hodali's impending elimination. But the river brought the [10s] -- a saving set of tens for Hodali! The crowd erupted with clapping and cheers, and even Gonzales stepped over to bump fists with Hodali.

She is now back to about 1.1 million, while Gonzales slips to 780,000.

2:05pm: Now playing level 26

Blinds have increased to 25,000-50,000 and 500.

1:50pm: Daniel Ospina eliminated in 7th place

Action folded to Daniel Ospina on the button. He shoved for 420,000. Kemal Ferri woke up with two black Aces in the small blind and snap-called. Ospina tabled [5c][4h]. The flop was the [Ad][7h][6d] and although Ferri improved to a set of Aces, Ospina picked a glimmer of hope with an open-ended straight draw. The turn was the [9d] and the river was the [9s]. Ospina failed to catch his draw and Ferri's Aces held up. Ferri's stack improved to over 1.25 million.

Poker is a brutal game. Daniel Ospina, who held the chip lead at the end of Day 1, 2, and 3, failed to go wire-to-wire on Day 4 after his stack was under constant assault since the moment he sat down at the final table. Ospina busted out in 7th place. He won $23,220.

1:40pm: Karlo Lopez eliminated in 8th

Team PokerStars Online player Karlo Lopez had folded his way through the first hour or so today, but finally found a spot to shove his remaining 305,000 from the hijack seat. Leonardo Zepeda called him on the button, the blinds folded, and the players tabled their cards.

Lopez [4h][3d]

Zepeda [Ah][Ad]

Bad timing there for Lopez, although the [5h][5s][2d] flop provided some hope, as well as a few "oohs" from the crowd. The turn was the [10d] and river the [Qc], however, and the Puerto Rican is out in 8th, earning $15,480.

1:32pm: Zepeda chooses not to gamble

After Raul Pino raised to 99,000 from under the gun, the table folded back around to Leonardo Zepeda who made it 250,000 from the small blind. Samar Hodali folded, then Pino reraised all in for 782,000 more.

Zepeda thought about 30 seconds, looking over his stack -- just a shade under what Pino had put in the middle. Finally he decided to fold, showing his [As][Kc] as he did.

That one pushes Pino up around 1.28 million.

1:26pm: Ferri doubles through Gonzales

Kemal Ferri opened for 94,000 from under the gun and got one caller in Pablo Gonzales sitting in the cutoff. The flop came [Qc][Kc][7c], Ferri bet 150,000, and Gonzales called. The turn was the [7s], and Ferri pushed all in for his remaining 250,000 without much hesitation. Pablo called with a shrug, showing [Kd][Jh] for kings and sevens. But Ferri had him with [Ac][As].

The river was the [3d], and Ferri now has about 1.05 million. Gonzales slips to 1.72 million.

1:24pm: Gonzales strikes again

It's the Pablo/Daniel show and everyone else at the table is sitting back and watching Pablo Gonzales and Daniel Ospina spar back and forth. Ospina opened for 97,000 UTG and Gonzales called. The flop was [Qh][10d][2c]. Gonzales check-called a 145,000 bet from Opsina. The turn was the [Ad]. Gonzales checked. Ospina slowed down as well and also checked.

The river was the [8c]. Gonzales checked. Ospina pulled out two towers of blue chips for a 200,000 bet. Gonzales insta-called with [Ah][Js]. Ospina tabled a pair of red Kings. Gonzales won the pot with a pair of Aces and he passed 2 million in chips. Meanwhile, Ospina continued to bleed chips as he slipped to 560,000.

1:11pm: Level 25 begins

1:00pm: Final table introduction video

Let's meet the LAPT Lima final table players...

12:56pm: Break time

Having reached the end of Level 24, players are taking their first 15-minute break of the day.

12:53pm: Top two pair for Pino

Raul Pino opened for 71,000 from under the gun, and Pablo Gonzales, sitting to his left, called the raise. All others folded, then both checked [2h][5s][5c] flop. The turn was the [Jh], at the sight of which Pino pushed out 71,000 again. Gonzales quickly called.

The river brought the [Ac] and a deliberately made bet of 175,000 from Pino. Gonzales called right away, and Pino tabled [Ad][Js] for two pair. He's up close to 800,000 after that one, while Gonzales keeps his newly-earned chip lead with a little more than 1.5 million.

12:45: Gonzales snares lead from Ospina

Propelled by the momentum after the Hodali hand, Pablo Gonzales seized the lead. Pablo opened for 80,000, Daniel Ospina reraised to 180,000, and Gonzales called. The flop was [7h][5h][5c] and both players checked. The turn was the [8d]. Gonzales check-called a 215,000 bet from Ospina. The river was the [10d]. Gonzales checked and Ospina shrugged as he checked behind. Gonzales tabled [9d][9s] and Ospina mucked his hand. Gonzales dragged the pot and captured the chip lead with 1.83 million. Ospina slipped to second with 1.015 million.

12:35pm: Gonzales sets up Hodali, moves into second

After one quiet orbit, we've just had a dramatic chip swing occur in a big three-way hand involving Daniel Ospina, Samar Hodali, and Pablo Gonzales.

Ospina opened the hand with a raise to 72,000 from early position, and both Hodali (button) and Gonzales (big blind) called. The flop came [Js][2h][7d]. Gonzales checked, Ospina continued for 106,000, and both of his opponents called.

The turn brought the [10s]. This time it checked around to Hodali who announced a bet of 200,000. Gonzales then said he was check-raising all in. Ospina got out, and after just a couple of seconds Hodali made the call.

Gonzales [7s][7h]

Hodali [2s][2d]

Set over set! The [3s] fell on the river, and Gonzales claimed the whopping 1.45 million-chip pot to move into second behind Ospina. Hodali meanwhile tumbles back to about 875,000.

12:28pm: Wave that flag, wave it wide, and high

A contingency of Colombians are sitting in the first row sweating two of the final table players (Daniel Ospina and Pablo Gonzales).They draped a Colombian flag over the extension ropes. During the player introductions, the three local Peruvian players received (as expected) a loud applause -- the most boisterous of which went to Samar Hodali.

12:23pm: First two hands

The final table is off to a hesitant start. On the first hand before he looked at his cars, Michel Barham made the sign of the cross. Raul Pino opened for 122,000 and everyone folded. On the second hand, action folded to Daniel Ospina in the small blind. He raised Karlo Lopez's big blind and Lopez folded.

12:18pm: Eight players, one trophy

Shuffle up and deal! The first hand of the 2011 LAPT Lima final table is being dealt.

12:14pm: Player introductions

David Carrion, LAPT President, is making the player introductions, and a decent-sized crowd is starting to gather. We're just a few minutes away from poker in Peru. When play resumes, there were will be about 35 minutes remaining in Level 24.

12:02pm: Setting the stage

We're still some time away from the start of today's final table, as preparations continue up on the main stage. When the players do settle into their seats, Daniel Ospina will be unbagging the most chips of the group with 1.582 million, but Samar Hodali will stack almost as many with 1.573 million. Both are more than 600,000 in front of Leonardo Zepeda in third.

LAPT Lima reporting comes courtesy of bloggers Martin Harris and Paul "Dr. Pauly" McGuire, and photographer Carlos Monti.

]]> http://www.pokerstarsblog.net/lapt/2011/lapt-lima-day-4-live-updates-levels-27-2-080581.html http://www.pokerstarsblog.net/lapt/2011/lapt-lima-day-4-live-updates-levels-27-2-080581.html PokerStars News LAPT Season 4 Lima Sun, 17 Apr 2011 21:15:56 +0000 On Day 3 of the LAPT Lima, 24 players entered the Octagon and only eight survived.

Okay, I took a bit of artistic liberty -- the Octagon was actually the swanky Atlantic City Casino -- but the fighting to the death metaphor still fits. With $207,400 on the line, the fierce action intensified as players were inching closer to their goal of winning the 2011 LAPT Lima championship. But, only one player was standing in their way -- Daniel Ospina.

In case you just joined us...

Daniel Ospina ended Day 1 as the chip leader.

Daniel Ospina ended Day 2 as the chip leader.

And to bring you up to speed... Daniel Ospina ended Day 3 as the chip leader.

I'm not going to lie. I'm combined my inherent laziness with a gut feeling, and I pre-wrote the title to this post: Ospina leads field for third day in a row; final table set.

If you watched Ospina's methodical play over the last three days, then you'd understand why it seemed like a no-brainer. Ospina ended Day 1 with 264k, or at least 100k more than his closest rival. At the end of Day 2, Ospina distanced himself from the pack when he surged over 1.1 million and advanced to Day 3 with over 500k more than Pablo Gonzales in second place.

On Day 3, even though he still maintained his spot up front, Ospina was unable to maintain his dominance over the field.

We lost a full table in the first ninety minutes of play. Online qualifier Brad Stebeleski from Canada was on life support at the end of Day 1 when he was down to a single 1,000 chip. He stuck to the "chip and a chair" philosophy and never gave up. Flash forward to Day 3 -- although Stebeleski was knocked out in 23rd place, he hung on enough to cash in the event and parlayed his satellite entry into a $5,420 score.

At last year's LAPT Lima, Carlos Perez made the final table. His twin brother Luis went deep in this year's event. However, Luis failed to match his brother's final table feat when he busted out in 15th place.

Ospina reached over 2 million in chips when he eliminated two players on the same hand. Short-stacked Juan Marsano moved all-in and Derek Lerner shoved right behind. Ospina made the call and picked them both off when his [Ac][Qc] held up against A-J and J-10. Marsano was eliminated in 13th and Lerner went home in 12th. With 11 to go and sitting on over 2.26 million in chips, it appeared that no one could stop Ospina's march to the final table.

The final nine players consolidated to a single table and Ospina was out in front with almost 2.5 million. At that point, no other player had 1 million.

Enter Samar Hodali, the last female standing. She looks menacing wearing all black attire and oversized sunglasses. She had a bit of mystique about her, and we credit that to the unlit cigarette she compulsively held the entire tournament.

She found herself all-in for her tournament life against Osipda. Her hopes hinged upon [As][Qc], but it didn't look good when Ospina tabled a pair of kings. Although she turned a gutshot, the [Ad] spiked on the river and the room nearly exploded -- half in excitement and half in astonishment. Ospina slipped to 1.65, while Hodali shot up over 1 million.

Hodali picked a heck of a time to harness her run good, because she knocked out Mayu Roca in 9th place. Short-stacked Mayu made a stand with A-7, but Hodali's Big Slick prevailed. The final table was set. Daniel Ospina ended Day 3 as the leader, but Hodali is nipping at his heels, separated by 11,000 in chips.

The final table seating assignments and chip counts are as follows:

Seat 1: Team PokerStars Online Karlo Lopez - 406,000

Seat 2: Kemal Ferri - 490,000

Seat 3: Leonardo Zepeda - 916,000

Seat 4: Samar Hodali - 1,573,000

Seat 5: Raul Pino - 466,000

Seat 6: Pablo Gonzales - 661,000

Seat 7: Michel Barham - 753,000

Seat 8: Daniel Ospina - 1,582,000

Here's an index of Day 3's coverage (provided by Martin Harris and Paul 'Dr. Pauly' McGuire with photographs from Carlos Monti)...

LAPT Lima: Day 3 live updates, Levels 18-20

LAPT Lima: Day 3 live updates, Levels 21-22

LAPT Lima: Day 3 live updates, Levels 23-24

We shall be back tomorrow starting at noon local time to bring you the final table coverage of the LAPT Lima for the PokerStars blog. Can Ospina go wire-to-wire? Or will Samar Hodali become the first woman to win an LAPT championship. To follow the reports of our colleagues in Spanish, visit PokerStarsblog.la.

]]> http://www.pokerstarsblog.net/lapt/2011/lapt-lima-ospina-leads-field-for-third-d-080556.html http://www.pokerstarsblog.net/lapt/2011/lapt-lima-ospina-leads-field-for-third-d-080556.html PokerStars News LAPT Season 4 Lima Sun, 17 Apr 2011 01:36:27 +0000 6:36pm: Mayu Roca eliminated in 9th; final table set Mayu Roca had not been able to do much more than tread water since the move to the nine-handed table, and was still sitting with just under 300,000 when he open-pushed all in from middle position. Samar Hodali, sitting to his left, announced she was calling, and the others stepped aside.

Roca [Ah][7c]

Hodali [Ad][Ks]

All leaned forward in anticipation of the community cards, which subsequently came [9c][4d][9h][6d][5d]. Hodali's hand remained best, and Roca goes out one spot shy of the official final table, earning $10,840.

6:25pm: Catching up with Daniel Ospina

Lynn Gilmartin chatted with chipleader Daniel Ospina during one of the breaks. Here's the video...

6:13pm: River ace saves Hodali

Some excitement just now. After chip leader Daniel Ospida opened with a raise from the button, Samar Hodali pushed her entire stack of about 500,000 in from the big blind and Ospina quickly called. Hodali had [As][Qc], but Ospida had the preflop edge with pocket kings.

Then came the community cards. [Js][9d][Jc]... [10h]... [Ad]! Hodali shouted excitedly as Michel Barham, sitting to her left, gave her a hug of congratulations for her survival.

Hodali stacks up about 1.05 million after that hand, while Ospina still leads with 1.65 million.

6:03pm: Ferri forces fold from Zepeda

Kemal Ferri opened for 50,000 from the hijack seat, and Leonardo Zepeda reraised to 130,000 from the cutoff. It folded back around, and after pushing his chips about for a while Ferri said he was all in for 310,000 more. Zepeda tanked for a full minute before letting his hand go, and Ferri dragged the pot.

Ferri jumps up close to 600,000 with that one, while Zepeda still has about 890,000.

5:52pm: 'Round goes the button, chips to and fro

The move from short-handed play back to a full nine-handed table has caused the action to slow considerably. The table's short stack Karlo Lopez has moved all in a couple of times, but no one was willing to call.

Stay tuned.

5:31pm: Seating assignments and chip counts for the final nine-handed table

Seat 1: Pablo Gonzales -- 685,000

Seat 2: Daniel Ospina -- 2.45 million

Seat 3: Mayu Roca -- 300,000

Seat 4: Samar Hodali -- 640,000

Seat 5: Michel Barham -- 470,000

Seat 6: Kemal Ferri -- 445,000

Seat 7: Leonardo Zepeda -- 860,000

Seat 8: Karlo Lopez -- 270,000

Seat 9: Raul Pino -- 660,000

5:16pm: Alcides Tovar runs jacks into aces, out in 10th

The table had folded around to Kemal Ferri in the small blind who just completed, then Alcides Tovar pushed all in from the big blind for his last 110,000 or so. Ferri quickly called, and Tovar tabled his [Js][Jh]. Ferri then flipped over his hand -- [Ac][Ad] -- and Tovar slapped the table with both palms in disgust.

The board ran out [6h][10h][10s][Qh][6c], and Tovar is out in 10th ($10,840).

A short pause now as the final nine tables are reassembled around a single table. Just one more elimination and we'll have our official LAPT Lima eight-handed final table.

4:53pm: Players return from break 10 players are left. We're playing down to final table of eight today. We're now on Level 23. Blinds have increased to 12,000-24,000 with a 4,000 ante.

]]> http://www.pokerstarsblog.net/lapt/2011/lapt-lima-day-3-live-updates-levels-23-2-1-080550.html http://www.pokerstarsblog.net/lapt/2011/lapt-lima-day-3-live-updates-levels-23-2-1-080550.html PokerStars News LAPT Season 4 Lima Sun, 17 Apr 2011 00:49:45 +0000