Final starting flights of multi-day events tend to be for second chances and shots at redemption, as players come again for one last chance to punch their tickets to Day 2. While the early headlines of today's Day 1B flight were centered around those revenants but as we moved forward, new, first-timers, took center stage. Within the end, the highest of the leaderboard was full of players firing their first bullets into this LAPT9 Panama Main Event, with Rafael Escobedo pacing them into tomorrow's restart.
Rafael Escobedo rose to the highest of the 1B charts
In total, 335 players took their seat to take a look at to get to Day 2 and within the end, only 109 were in a position to accomplish that. While Escobedo bagged a large chip lead popping out of this flight, with 215,500, the clubhouse still waves a French flag courtesy of Maxence Debar and his 298,900 chip bag from last night. There have been a couple of players on this 1B session that finished near the 200,000 chip mark, with Luis Cruz ending with 177,700, Elliott Peterman bagging 172,800 and Janir Muller putting 143,600 away.
A good performance from Peterman
Those big stacks didn't begin to show themselves until midway during the flight though, as there has been no "El Toro" pacing the early field today. Without that rabbit pushing the stacks forward, a handful of featured players ended up near the chip average. That group included reigning LAPT Player of the Year Oscar Alache, 20-year old Austin Peck, dinner break chip leader Andres Carrillo and two-time WPT Champion Aaron Mermelstein. Click here for a whole list of chip counts for the 109 survivors of Day 1B.
A few players would gladly take that average stack though, as they were unable to advance through today's ten levels. Essentially the most notable of these eliminations occurred within the final level, as Rodrigo Strong, the last player to hoist an LAPT trophy was sent to the rail by the Camilo Posadas. Carter Gill, who's another past LAPT champion, Eder Solarte, who held the early chip lead, and Richard Dubini, who final tabled that last LAPT event in Chile, all did not find plastic.
We'll likely see those players in side events over the following couple of days, because the LAPT9 Panama festival isn't slowing down here at Sortis Hotel heading into the weekend. The PokerStars Blog might be keeping its focus and a spotlight at the 172 players on the way to return for tomorrow's Main Event Day 2 restart, set to start out at 12pm Saturday. Click here for the Day 2 seating assignments for the 172 remaining players.
A complete rundown of all of the Day 1B action is supplied below. --WOC
DAY 1B LIVE UPDATES:
11:58pm: Done for the day, bagging it upLevel 10 - Blinds 500/1,000 (ante 100)
Day 1B is within the books and it seems like Rafael Escobedo is operating today's chip lead. He's still off the pace of yesterday's leader Maxence Debar though, as he's going to work the clubhouse lead with just shy of 300,000. Back shortly with a recap of today's wire-to-wire action. --WOC
11:57pm: Kings work for ReyesLevel 10 - Blinds 500/1,000 (ante 100)
One of the last hands of the night saw a large three-way preflop all-in that provided some drama on the finish line.
Two players were at risk, including Michelle Reyes for her last 24,000 or so behind K♥K♣. The opposite had A♥K♠ and Janir Muller (who had both covered) also tabled A♦K♦.
Reyes did not want to peer an ace, and five cards later -- 5♣8♣9♦3♥8♠ -- she'd successfully dodged bullets. She bumped as much as 57,000 to finish the night, while Muller goes to bag 143,600. --MH
11:50pm: Four more handsLevel 10 - Blinds 500/1,000 (ante 100)
The clock was paused, and "quatro manos" is the instruction that have been brought to the dealers. --MH
11:43pm: Escobedo still at the up escalatorLevel 10 - Blinds 500/1,000 (ante 100)
With 20 minutes to head in Day 1B, Rafael Escobedo continues to take care of what seems to be the largest stack within the room. He's hovering around 230,000 on the moment, retaining first position because the night nears its close. --MH
11:31pm: Peck picks up moreLevel 10 - Blinds 500/1,000 (ante 100)
Austin Peck has remained steadily above the typical and near the highest of the leaderboard all day, and at present he added a couple of more to his stack after felting a short-stacked foe.
The now-departed player had the misfortune of committing his last with A♥T♥ versus Peck's A♣K♦, and after a K♠6♣5♥ flop and 9♠ turn, Peck's opponent was already drawing dead.
Peck is as much as 130,000 now. --MH
11:18pm: Cruz and CarrilloLevel 10 - Blinds 500/1,000 (ante 100)
We've been waiting and wondering whether big-stacked Luis Cruz and Andres Carrillo would ever become involved in something major, given how they have been seated beside each other for the last couple of hours now.
They've mostly steered away from each other, however, operating tentatively for essentially the most part whenever both are vying for a similar pot.
Case in point, today Carrillo opened for 2,300 from the button, and both blinds came along, including Cruz within the small. The 4♥K♠7♦ flop was checked to Carrillo who bet 3,000 and only Cruz stayed in, then both players checked the 6♠ turn.
The 6♥ fell on fifth street and Cruz quickly checked, and after about 15 seconds -- during 14 of which Carrillo appeared as if he a great deal desired to bet -- Carrillo knocked the table exaggeratedly as if to signal his reluctance to do so.
Carrillo then turned over his K♦9♠ for kings and sixes, and it was Cruz knocking the table to commend him as he pitched his cards face all the way down to the dealer.
Both players hover concerning the 145,000 mark at this time. --MH
10:58pm: Posadas picks off StrongLevel 10 - Blinds 500/1,000 (ante 100)
Rodrigo Strong entered the overall level of play with a rather above average stack but 20 minutes into Level 10, he entered right into a massive confrontation with Camilo Posadas. That hand was picked up with Strong leading on a board of K♠K♥8♦7♠ for 10,100.
Posadas called and after the 5♦ completed the board, Strong went into the tank. This was the norm during Strong's LAPT9 Chile Main Event title run, taking a variety of time to think through every decision. Eventually, he elected to transport all-in and Posadas didn't appear to be he liked to look that at all.
He asked for a count and Strong's shove weighed in at slightly below 40,000. Posadas had just over that amount, meaning he was kind of you decide for his tournament life if he were to name. After with reference to two minutes within the tank, he did to look that Strong held nothing but queen-high.
The reining LAPT champion tabled Q♠J♣ and Posadas shot from his chair to throw down K♦Q♦. It was a large hand and a large pot, person who moves Posadas well over the 100,000 chip mark and confirms that we are going to not have a repeat LAPT winner this weekend. --WOC
Posadas sends Strong packing
10:58pm: Fernandez finally gets a brand new seatLevel 10 - Blinds 500/1,000 (ante 100)
Finally a seat change for Fernandez
Over the previous few hours, Leo Fernandez has looked, how will we say, uninterested. He's yet to play many meaningful pots and, thus, was hovering near a 20,000 chip starting stack since coming back from the dinner break. Finally, within the dying minutes of Level 9, Fernandez finally got the inside track he was waiting for.
"Last hand." a floor staff member said and for the primary time in a protracted time, Fernandez looked filled with energy. He popped up out of his seat and awaited for the general hand at his table, he obviously wasn't involved, to play out. He then collected his new seating assignment and with a pep in his step, heading around the tournament area.
He may need more energy but he's still short stacked and running out of time. We're bobbing up at the last level of the night and if the lone PokerStars Team Pro in Panama goes to make a run towards Day 2 and the money, he will must discover a double and find one quick. --WOC
| 10 | 500 | 1,000 | 100 |
10:58pm: Pino pushes out anotherLevel 9 - Blinds 400/800 (ante 100)
"Seat open, Table 8!"
The field was lessened by one yet again, this time way to Raul Pino knocking out another opponent. The Panamanian is stacking up about 65,000 at the present as he tries like everyone else to put himself well for tomorrow's Day 2.
With a couple of minutes to head in Level 9, there are 135 players left in action. --MH
10:48pm: Moya can play some moreLevel 9 - Blinds 400/800 (ante 100)
LAPT8 Peru champion Claudio Moya didn't look too comfortable. He'd made it to the center of Level 9, and he'd also made it to the flop versus two opponents before deciding to pitch the remainder of his short stack within the middle following a 9♦7♥6♦ flop.
One of the opponents called, and when he did Moya stood up with a cringing look as he tabled his A♠9♥ for prime pair. He winced again on the sight of his opponent's up-and-down straight draw plus a flush draw with K♦8♦, but relief ultimately spread over his face following the innocuous J♣, then 3♣ runout.
Moya sat back down, counted out his stack of about 40,000, and exhaled. The dealer pitched him two more cards. The sport continued. --MH
10:35pm: Above the 'toppermost'Level 9 - Blinds 400/800 (ante 100)
If you simply checked the selected chip counts page, check again. That's because there's a new player atop those charts. Rafael Stephane Escobedo has quietly moved himself up the leaderboard because the dinner break, pushing his holdings up and over the 180,000 chip mark.
Stephane has gone within the other way of the reigning LAPT Player of the Year. Oscar Alache returned from dinner with a top stack but ever since, he's been on a slow slide. He's now playing just over two starting stacks, that is likely near the chip average heading into the general hour and a half this present day 1B flight.
With Escobedo, Luis Cruz, Janir Muller and Andres Carrillo all within touching distance, it is going to be interesting to look who finishes toppermost by night's end. --WOC
10:23pm: The toppermostLevel 9 - Blinds 400/800 (ante 100)
We've made another round, updating our selected chip counts page and noting big stacks as Level 9 continues. Luis Cruz has edged back in front of Janir Muller, with Andres Carillo (still seated next to Cruz) not far behind.
Big stacks below. --MH
| Luis Cruz | Colombia | 175,000 |
| Janir Muller | Brazil | 160,000 |
| Andres Carrillo | Colombia | 158,000 |
| Jose Severino | Panama | 118,000 |
| Austin Peck | USA | 87,000 |
Cruz control
10:10pm: Gustavo's connectors get thereLevel 9 - Blinds 400/800 (ante 100)
Suited connectors over ace-king for Gustavo
As it stands, there are 18 tables currently housing players and that roughly signifies that there are nearly 160 players remaining on this Day 1B flight. If knockouts just like the one Gustavo Echererri just scored continue to happen, shall we see that field fall and fall fast.
Echererri just opened from late position and called a brief stack's 7,000 chip shove from the blinds with 6♦5♦. His opponent held A♠K♥ and after the K♦7♣3♠ flop, it gave the impression of the quick stack was going to double. Then the 5♣ fell at the turn, followed by the 6♥ at the river to offer Echererri two pair.
The river was followed by a slam of the table from the then eliminated player and Echererri could only shake his head as he got pushed the relatively small pot. He's now playing the easier a part of 50,000 and can attempt to continue to construct throughout the final two hours of this starting flight. --WOC
10:04pm: Last two levels of the nightLevel 9 - Blinds 400/800 (ante 100)
Players are back and the evento principal has resumed with two more one-hour levels to move. --MH
| 9 | 400 | 800 | 100 |
9:45pm: Break time
Players at the moment are taking their last 15-minute break of the night. --MH
Want to qualify for the LAPT? Click here to get a PokerStars account and begin today9:36pm: Quevedo to the ninesLevel 8 - Blinds 300/600 (ante 75)
At half-past nine, with Level 9 nearing, Mountain Series "Mount Everest" winner Federico Quevedo fired a continuation bet following a 9♣9♠9♦ flop, and his opponent conceded the pot.
We'd love to say that brought Quevedo as much as 99,000, but that might be inaccurate reporting. The Costa Rican rather has about 40,000, this means that he's right about average nowadays as 171 players from today's starting field of 330 remain. --MH
"That's a large number of nines"
9:15pm: Muller makes some noiseLevel 8 - Blinds 300/600 (ante 75)
The new chip leader, Janir Muller
If you might be within the LAPT9 Panama tournament area, you actually heard it and judging by the audible of Janir Muller's screams, people following along in neighboring countries likely heard it in addition. That's because Muller just let loose an important roar following a fair more massive pot, person who shoots Muller up the Day 1B leaderboard.
Action was picked up on a board of 8♥5♣4♣A♣, with a player leading from the blinds for 4,050. Muller, who was in middle position, had his entire stack counted out in front of him. He had moved all-in, for his remaining 69,400. That was enough to position his opponent all-in and with one of the most biggest pots of the flight up for grabs, Muller's opponent did something unconventional.
He flipped over his hand, showing A♦A♠ to all of the table, including Muller. He was likely looking to get a read from the large stack but Muller looked greater than comfortable in his position. After a minute and a half within the tank, together with his aces exposed, the player called, only to look Muller table Q♣6♣. Both players stood from their seats for the river and after the 7♥ completed the board, Muller set free a scream heard around Sortis.
Muller was excited, Muller was hyped and rightfully so. He was getting shipped an over 140,000 chip pot. A COUPLE OF hands later, Mulller was at it again, sending our early Day 1B chip leader, Edar Solarte, to the rail. He's now playing on the subject of 165,000, that is likely good for the total chip lead heading into the overall break of the night. --WOC
9:08pm: Cruz and Carillo close in additional ways than oneLevel 8 - Blinds 300/600 (ante 75)
Luis Cruz' table was recently broken, and the brand new chip leader found himself moved to an empty seat clear around the large tournament room. Because it happened, Cruz finds himself to the left of the player whose lead he usurped a little while ago, Andres Carrillo.
Just as those two are close in proximity to every other, they now find themselves close in chips in addition to Cruz sits behind almost 130,000 while Carrillo has 125,000.
Incidentally, both are still far behind end-of-Day-1A chip leader Maxence Debar who managed to steal off into the night yesterday with a whopping 298,900 (when nobody else made it to 200K). --MH
9:05pm: Finalized numbers, 553 entrantsLevel 8 - Blinds 300/600 (ante 75)
Midway through Level 8, we've just received a finalized selection of entrants for this LAPT9 Panama Main Event. In total, 330 players came out for this present day 1B flight, at the side of five satellite winners that, for whatever reason, didn't happen to participate.
That signifies that their prize money was added to the pool and that 335 players officially registered today. Whilst you add that to the 218 from Day 1A, 553 total players have entered this $1,500 buy-in event.
In total, there must be be just shy of $725,000 up for grabs this weekend. When the LAPT9 Panama Main Event payouts and prize structure are finalized, it will likely be posted at the PokerStars Blog. --WOC
8:58pm: Severino joins 'Century Club'Level 8 - Blinds 300/600 (ante 75)
Severino over 'century mark'
We're getting into Level 8 and just at that turn, another player has moved over the 100,000 chip mark and joined the Century Club. Jose Severino is a Panamanian who has seemingly had tournament success around the globe.
From far and wide Central and South America to around the United States, with some results from pockets of Europe and South Korea besides. Simply put, the one other thing complete than Severino's tournament resume may well be the pages of his passport.
He's now playing 125,000 at one in every of our high-rise tables and he'll attempt to parlay that massive stack right into a deep tournament run in his home country this weekend. --WOC
| 8 | 300 | 600 | 75 |
8:47pm: Strong getting alongLevel 7 - Blinds 250/500 (ante 50)
LAPT9 Chile champion Rodrigo Strong was probably the most many Day 1A busts who returned today, and it is so far so good for the Brazilian as he sits comfortably with about 55,000 near the tip of Level 7. --MH
8:35pm: Ace-king serves MazzeoLevel 7 - Blinds 250/500 (ante 50)
Fernando Mazzeo was the early chip leader in this Day 1B, but after sliding after which busting in a hand versus Austin Peck, he found himself having to re-enter and begin from scratch.
Just now we caught up with Mazzeo ending another player's LAPT9 Panama Main Event run, his A♠K♠ managing to outrun the other's 8♠8♥ after a J♥K♣3♣K♦4♥ runout. The Argentinian is back as much as 55,000 now. --MH
8:24pm: Bombed river gets called, 'Bucky' shoots up leaderboardLevel 7 - Blinds 250/500 (ante 50)
Before the dinner break, we stock Matthew 'Bucky' Wantman for reasons apart from poker. The Massachusetts native is battling a foul case of poison ivy and a few pretty painful sunburn but he's also working a top-five stack, after winning a major pot.
Action was picked up on a board of 9♥9♦7♠5♣2♠, with Wantman all-in for just over 19,000 from late position. There has been over 30,000 within the middle and his opponent, who was within the small blind, was deep within the tank. He had just over 22,000 behind, meaning the bet was roughly for his stack to boot and after with reference to three minutes of staring right at Wantman, he called.
Wantman never broke that stare and his look gave the impression to even intensify after he tabled K♠9♠ for flopped trips. His opponent could only shake his head and send an enormous element of his stack around the table. 'Bucky' with the assistance of his masseuse, took within the pot and when the dust settled, he was playing just shy of 80,000. --WOC
8:16pm: "THE OTHER of well."Level 7 - Blinds 250/500 (ante 50)
It's been a, as he puts it, "horrible" last hour of Jonathan Borenstein's life. Not just was he late getting back from the dinner break, way to a handful of translation problems at a Sortis Hotel restaurant, but he's now down under a starting stack after seeing his pocket aces go up in flames.
The New Jersey native, who was living abroad in Costa Rica for the previous couple of months playing online poker, came back with just over 30,000 but then his pocket aces lost to king-queen. The chips got all-in pre flop against a brief stack and after the bad beat, Borenstein needed to stand up and walk across the tournament area, clearly rattled by the last hour.
"Things are going the other of well." he joked before retaking his seat. He'll now hope to show things around during the final four levels of just today 1B session, as he tries to come back to a different LAPT final table after notching a 7th place finish on the PCA in 2015.
8:06pm: Severino surgingLevel 7 - Blinds 250/500 (ante 50)
Back from dinner, and Jose Severino is back to pressuring his tablemates, much as have been the case previous to the evening meal.
Just now a late position open earned the Panamanian two callers, and after it checked around at the flop a delayed continuation bet after an ace fell at the turn was enough to earn Severino another small pot.
Severino -- who has greater than $500K in career cashes -- now sits with 97,000. --MH
7:55pm: Cruz top of charts after dinnerLevel 7 - Blinds 250/500 (ante 50)
We're still waiting on an official choice of entrants for this present day 1B flight but something we do know is that Luis Cruz is the post-dinner break chip leader. He returned from dinner behind over six-figures and he's now playing the simpler a part of 140,000 after winning a large pot early in Level 7.
On a board of K♠Q♠6♣A♥, a player checked from the hijack and Cruz, at the button, bet 3,4500. His opponent called and after the 6♥ paired the board at the river, his opponent checked for a second time. After some thought, Cruz fired a bomb, sliding out 11,000.
His opponent, who had just shy of 25,000 left behind thought for with regards to a minute and finally called. He went to table his hand but Cruz turned over A♠6♠ for a rivered full house. It went from good, to better, to great for Cruz, who's now atop the charts heading into the general four levels of just today 1B session. --WOC
7:47pm: Play resumesLevel 7 - Blinds 250/500 (ante 50)
Players are back from dinner -- most of them, anyway -- and Level 7 has begin here on Day 1B. Late registration is now over for good, as is the facility to re-enter, and so we'll soon be getting an concept just what number of entries the LAPT9 Panama Main Event drew. --MH
| 7 | 250 | 500 | 50 |
6:29pm: Dinner break
They've reached the tip of Level 6 and players has been released for a 75-minute dinner break, and then late registration can be over, as will the choice to re-enter. --MH
Want to qualify for the LAPT? Click here to get a PokerStars account and begin today6:15pm: Gill gets got, Palacios polished offLevel 6 - Blinds 200/400 (ante 50)
Carter Gill has lost the last of his short stack previous to the top of the Level, as has Panama's all-time biggest tournament money winner, Bolivar Palacios.
We'll see if either player chooses to reenter before the danger to take action ends following the dinner break, scheduled to begin about QUARTER-HOUR from now. --MH
6:04pm: Lincourt's "live cards" mean no use to re-enterLevel 6 - Blinds 200/400 (ante 50)
The end of the late registration period of any event usually is a bit of hectic, as short stacks have either two options. Attempt to grind up workable holdings for the frozen element of play or get their chips in and in the event that they lose, hit the cage. We aren't sure which strategy Francois Lincourt just tried but regardless, he's now playing just shy of 40,000.
Action was picked up with Lincourt limping under the gun after which four players called 400 before the player within the small blind pumped it as much as 3,000. Lincourt, who had just below 20,000 behind, called, at the side of a player in middle position and the hijack.
The player that initially called within the cutoff folded before the player at the button moved all-in. His shove was for 11,800 and after a roll of his eyes, the small blind, folded. Lincourt didn't though, verbalizing "all-in" himself to isolate the shorter stacked player. It worked, because the two other 3,000 chip callers got out of ways and before tabling his hand, Lincourt said, "I'M HOPING my cards are live."
They were, greatly so, as he held 9♥7♥ to his opponent's 4♥4♦. Lincourt then smashed the 9♠7♥5♠ flop, finding two pair to go away his opponent drawing thin. The 3♣ fell at the turn, giving the quick stack some additional outs to a gut-shot however the Q♣ completed the board and the win for Lincourt.
"Ship it to Frankie!" he said while scooping and stacking the pot before making everyone know that he "only did that because I'LL re-enter." While he counted out just about two starting stacks, a player around the table said, "No necesito."
He was right, as Lincourt likely now won't want to re-enter but he'll likely wish to increase his stack over the remainder of just today 1B flight if he hopes to make the same run as last year. In 2015, Lincourt final tabled this LAPT Panama Main Event, finishing 5th for an over $50,000 score. --WOC
5:51pm: Carrillo still cruisingLevel 6 - Blinds 200/400 (ante 50)
Another tour of the tables reveals the Colombian, Andres Carrillo, still seems to be the Day 1B big stack as they edge towards the dinner break that comes after Level 6. He's dipped back under 100,000 at present, while Austin Peck and Oscar Alache have both chipped as much as close the gap.
Here are a couple of big stacks, and as always check the chosen" Day 1B chip counts" page for updated counts on these players and others. --MH
| Andres Carrillo | Colombia | 94,000 |
| Austin Peck | USA | 79,000 |
| Oscar Alache | Chile | 75,000 |
| Aaron Mermelstein | USA | 59,000 |
| David Ormsby | Canada | 51,000 |
Carrillo carrying the chip lead
5:33pm: Another WPT champion making his way up the leaderboardLevel 6 - Blinds 200/400 (ante 50)
Over the last two days, we've mentioned two-time World Poker Tour champion Aaron Mermelstein a couple of times. While he's climbing up the leaderboard, the most recent player to crack the 3 starting stack mark, David Ormsby, has also had his fair proportion of WPT success.
The Canadian won the WPT Fallsview Poker Classic Main Event held earlier this year, for a career best $383,000 score. Previous to that triumph, Ormsby opened his 2016 account on the Jackie's Poker Tour in Panama but he's hoping that this LAPT9 Panama Main Event ends with another winner's photo.
So far, he's doing well, playing just shy of 65,000 and while that stack could be one of the most top at some tournament tables, he's got the chip leader to take care of. Ormsby is some seats to Andres Carrillo, who's still over the 100,000 chip mark. --WOC
5:21pm: Peck picks off MazzeoLevel 6 - Blinds 200/400 (ante 50)
We'd seen the young American Austin Peck tangling repeatedly with early chip leader Fernando Mazzeo of Argentina over the past few levels. At present they were up against one another again, only this time just one of the pair was left with any chips.
Following a middle-position raise from Peck, Mazzeo had three-bet from the button and Peck called. The flop came Q♠A♥K♣, Peck checked, and Mazzeo fired 2,000. Peck made it 7,200 to go, and Mazzeo didn't waste numerous time before reraising back to 20,000. Peck then set his stack forward, and Mazzeo was quick to call.
Mazzeo flipped over K♦Q♥ for 2 pair, but Peck had Broadway with J♠T♥. The turn was the 4♠ and river the 5♦, and Mazzeo congratulated Peck on an even hand before departing.
Mazzeo's fall was as swift as his rise today, but he's bought back in and in reality was seated within the very same seat his just vacated. Meanwhile Peck now sits with just over 70,000 and one of the crucial bigger stacks within the room. --MH
| 6 | 200 | 400 | 50 |
4:58pm: Alache ascending at quick paceLevel 5 - Blinds 150/300 (ante 25)
Remember how a few half hour ago we reported that reining LAPT Player of the Year Oscar Alache had busted and the re-entered? Well, fast forward HALF-HOUR and Alache is now looking like one of the most big stacks within the room.
He's quickly shot himself up near the 90,000 chip mark, quietly ascending up the leaderboard at the high rise looking over the remainder of the tournament area. The Chilean, who's a two-time LAPT champion, has the past experience to make good use of these chips and he'll be a threat moving during the remainder of this present day 1B flight. --WOC
4:43pm: Mermelstein predicting the futureLevel 5 - Blinds 150/300 (ante 25)
During yesterday's Day 1A flight, Aaron Mermelstein was at the losing end of some sizable pots but today, he's chipped up well before creating a prediction that would effect his Day 1B fate. Mermelstein just took in a pot to transport over the 50,000 chip mark and after he was done stacking his chips, he, maybe half jokingly, said, "I'VE a sense we are going to play a large pot."
He was speaking to his entire table but Carter Gill, the opposite English speaking player on the table was the one one to respond, saying, "THAT WOULD happen."
If it does, we imagine it is going to involve Mermelstein, who's leading his table but Gill is sitting well also. The previous LAPT champion is playing just shy of 30,000 heading through Level 5. --WOC
Prognostication and poker with Aaron Mermelstein
4:32pm: Alache out, back inLevel 5 - Blinds 150/300 (ante 25)
We noticed a short time ago two-time LAPT champion Oscar Alache had taken his leave, ousted again after having taken shots yesterday to boot. Now he's bought back in, hoping yet again to become the primary player ever to win a 3rd LAPT title. --MH
Alache at it again
4:13pm: Back from break, Carrillo first over century markLevel 5 - Blinds 150/300 (ante 25)
After Raul "El Toro" Paez got yesterday's Day 1A flight off to a white hot start, eclipsing the 100,000 chip mark well before the second one break of the day, we've been patiently waiting to peer when that number was going to be beat today. Wait not more though, as Andres Carrillo is over the century mark heading throughout the first short while of Level 5.
The Columbian is operating 105,000 and while he may not have a lengthy tournament resume like probably the most other players we've featured today, he's had his fair proportion of success across Central and South America. His best career score came in last year's Punta Canta Poker Classic High Roller, where he finished second for a $41,000 result.
Carrillo may well be in an excellent position to notch another deep run today, as he's pacing this growing field into the last two levels before the Day 1B dinner break. --WOC
| 5 | 150 | 300 | 25 |
4:13pm: Break timeLevel 4 - Blinds 100/200 (ante 25)
With the large board showing 220 entries up to now for this present day 1B flight, they've made it through another two hours' of poker and at the moment are taking another 15-minute break. --MH
Want to qualify for the LAPT? Click here to get a PokerStars account and begin today3:55pm: Panama's Pino appearsLevel 4 - Blinds 100/200 (ante 25)
In the eight-and-a-half seasons of the Latin American Poker Tour there has only been one champion from Panama, the country's own Galal Dahrouj who won here in Panama City during Season 6.
The closest some other player from Panama ever came was when Raul Pino took runner-up at LAPT4 Peru to Kemal Ferri, a cash worth $120,000 for Pino. That score comprises nearly 1/2 Pino's career tourney earnings, enough to place him third at the all-time list for Panamanian players behind leader Bolivar Palacios (who played Day 1A, busted, and is back for today) and Jose Severino.
Pino in action yesterday
Pino took his chances here yesterday without managing to outlive the day's 10 levels. He's back again today, having taken a seat halfway through Level 4, and can attempt to have a greater outcome today as he tries to become the following winner from Panama. --MH
3:39pm: Yesterday's number about to be beatLevel 4 - Blinds 100/200 (ante 25)
As this field heads in the course of the midway point of Level 4, we've almost eclipsed the collection of players that Day 1A saw hit the felt yesterday. Because it stands, just over two dozen full tables are stuffed with players and judging by the pace of entrants, just today 1B flight is probably going going to fly past the 250 player mark inside the next level.
Multi-flight tournaments usually see double, or close to, the volume of players pop out for Day 1B than they do for Day 1A. That implies that we wouldn't be surprised to look this field eclipse 400 players when late registration closes the cage around 7:45 PM. The PokerStars blog will continue to trace this growing field over the following couple of levels. --WOC
3:25pm: 'Bucky' battles the elementsLevel 4 - Blinds 100/200 (ante 25)
Poison ivy and sunburn can't keep 'Bucky' away
So you're an American pro that desires to make your first trip to Latin America to play SCOOP and an LAPT Main Event, what could get it wrong? You head to Costa Rica for a week, hang around at the beach, grind along with your friends, explore the encircling areas after which, right before you're about to ship off to Panama, your face starts to itch.
You scratch, giving in to the temptation and then you retain scratching. Suddenly, your face is roofed in poison ivy bumps and whilst you get to Panama, you'll be able to barely open your mouth without feeling little stings of pain. Then, while you get to Panama, you spend an afternoon on the pool and because you have not been out within the sun in forever, you get brutally sunburnt.
You then you definitely get up to play Day 1B of the LAPT9 Panama Main Event and you're in much more pain. So is the lifetime of a traveling professional poker player but that pain isn't going to maintain Matt Wantman off the felt today. He's placed on a layer of calamine lotion and can now look so as to add to his tournament resume together with his first LAPT cash.
The Massachusetts native has had immense success around the US, with deep WSOP and WPT runs to his credit. An LAPT score is the one thing that Wantman hasn't done over the past few years, something he'll hope to modify this weekend. --WOC
3:14pm: Fernandez fires againLevel 4 - Blinds 100/200 (ante 25)
Team PokerStars Pro Leo Fernandez took a shot during yesterday's Day 1A, but alas was unable to last during the day's 10 levels. He's back today as expected, although currently is battling with not up to the starting stack as he tries to get things stepping into the correct direction this time. --MH
| 4 | 100 | 200 | 25 |
3:06pm: Mazzeo moves in frontLevel 3 - Blinds 100/200
We spotted the Argentinian, Fernando Mazzeo, some of the field within the early going, then watched him get active early to start out gathering chips very quickly. He's already built as much as 65,000 or nearly 3 times the starting stack because the day's third level continues.
We remembered Mazzeo from his having grabbed an early chip lead within the LAPT7 Chile Main Event to finish Day 1 with the total chip lead before making it to a 26th-place finish. We'll control his pace-setting ways here and notice if he can keep building. --MH
Mazzeo's the person to begin Day 1B
2:46pm: Still SCOOPing here in PanamaLevel 3 - Blinds 100/200
Plenty of multi-tabling occurring in Panama
The action at the felt remains to be sorting itself out, as we're very early on this Day 1B session however the action on PokerStars was white hot during the last week. The Spring Championships of Online Poker are currently running and players within the tournament area are multi-tabling while playing this LAPT9 Panama Main Event.
Earlier today, we mentioned Rodrigo Caprioli, who came to Panama early to get in at the action and search for another SCOOP title. But big names and unknowns alike was seen playing online during the last two days, including Nacho Barbero late in yesterday's Day 1A flight.
We won't be covering the inside track series here however the PokerStars Blog is, with final table recaps found here. --WOC
2:33pm: 125 thus farLevel 3 - Blinds 100/200
The big board is showing 125 entries so far today through the early a part of Level 3, although a handy guide a rough survey of the ground shows the full is actually greater than that already. There have been 218 entries for yesterday's Day 1A.
Last year saw 422 entries total when the development sported a $2,500 buy-in, and the year before 550 played when the buy-in was $1,700. --MH
2:20pm: Back in actionLevel 3 - Blinds 100/200
The players back and the tournament area is beginning to fill rapidly because the day's third level begins. Just about two dozen tables are actually filled as Day 1B play continues. --WOC
| 3 | 100 | 200 | 0 |
2:00pm: Breaking it upLevel 2 - Blinds 75/150
They've reached the tip of Level 2, meaning the players at the moment are taking their first 15-minute break of the day. --WOC
Want to qualify for the LAPT? Click here to get a PokerStars account and begin today1:53pm: Big slick good for SolarteLevel 2 - Blinds 75/150
Thumbs up for giant slick!
This Day 1B flight has grown considerably during the last level however the pots have stayed relatively small. That every one just changed at a central table though, as Eder Solarte won a large pot to transport himself up and over the 40,000 chip mark.
Action was picked up with a player opening to 350 from under the gun. The table folded to a different player within the hijack and he called, before Solarte three-bet to 1,500 from the small blind. Both players called to peer the 9♥6♦5♥ flop, a board that Solarte led into for 2,600.
The under the gun player called before the hijack folded, sending two players to the turn. The K♥ fell to position three to a flush on board and both players quickly checked. The K♦ paired the board at the end after that brought another bet from Solarte, who pushed 3,100 around the line.
After some thought, his opponent verbalized "all-in" and while Solarte didn't seem thrilled with the spot, and the truth that he was covered, he called. His opponent shook his head and threw over 7♠7♣ and Solarte breathed a sigh of relief while tabling A♠K♠. When the stacks were cut down, Solarte had 15,400, meaning his opponent, who had 16,050, was getting an in depth to 500 chip rebate.
He was eliminated on some of the very next hands and heading into the primary break of the day, it seems like Eder Solarte has pushed himself near the highest of the Day 1B leaderboard. --WOC
1:44pm: Jaikel and Quevedo join the questLevel 2 - Blinds 75/150
Players continue to arrive, and among them are a few Costa Ricans we want to inform you about.
Luis Jaikel is here, a player who in conjunction with Humberto Brenes is thought of as some of the pioneers of helping make poker popular in his native country. Jaikel was collecting tournament cashes for over two decades, including numerous deep LAPT Main Event runs. He's hoping to raised his best showing -- an 11th-place finish long ago in Season 1 in San José -- on this event.
Jaikel's no joke on the table
Also a part of today's field is Federico Quevedo. The Costa Rican only has a couple of small live cashes to his credit so far, but one big one online after winning the new Mountain Series Main Event, a $2,100 buy-in affair dubbed "Mount Everest" that earned him an enormous $350,280 payday after he topped a 973-player field.
Quevedo is a 32-year-old surfing enthusiast, and his big Mountain Series win represented the biggest online payday ever for a Costa Rican player.
We'll keep watch over both Jaikel and Quevedo today to peer how well each manages a few of the waves of players still arriving for Day 1B. --MH
1:28pm: Quick turnaround for Gonzalez after PLO winLevel 2 - Blinds 75/150
Gonzalez poses with the PokerStars spade
Every LAPT stop is regarded as a festival and that description certainly makes sense, as every stop is jam choked with action and celebration of poker. Within the weekend, there are over a dozen events and that suggests a dozen winners posing for pictures with our amazing photographer Carlos Monti.
Last night, Monti was up till the wee hours following Jose Alejandro Gonzalez's PL Omaha win. Both Monti and Gonzalez have had a handy guide a rough turnaround today, because the former is back at the tournament floor capturing the entire pictures for the PokerStars Blog, while Gonzalez just took his seat on this Day 1B flight.
With a win already locked up, we wouldn't be surprised to peer Gonzalez keep that run moving into the primary Event. While the PokerStars blog won't be covering those side events, you can see an entire list of the LAPT9 Panama schedule here. --WOC
1:16pm: Ben leads POY contingent, hopefully to the bagsLevel 2 - Blinds 75/150
At the top of yesterday's Day 1A flight, PokerStars Latin America's Reinaldo Venegas informed us that four of 5 past LAPT Player of the Year winners were in Panama. Unfortunately, all four didn't find the bag yesterday and while we have seen Oscar Alache take his seat, Amos Ben sat down at an outer table.
Ben is the one POY winner that has yet to assert a LAPT Main Event title however the Chilean does have three side event titles to his name. Those wins include a Season 6 High Roller win in Panama, along side a PL Omaha win from that very same series. Safe to mention that Ben knows the right way to win here in Panama and he'll hope to regain that form with a powerful Day 1B session today.
We'll keep our eyes at the other two POY winners that we've yet to look today, as we predict Pablo Gonzalez and Nicolas Horacio to sign up for the action over the following few levels. --WOC
1:03pm: More tables openingLevel 2 - Blinds 75/150
As the day's second level gets going, there at the moment are 20 tables in action and well over 100 players seated. Remember, late registration and the facility to re-enter stays open until the beginning of Level 7 (i.e., post-dinner break). --MH
1:01pm: Same seat, Martinez hoping for various resultLevel 2 - Blinds 75/150
Throughout the tournament area, we're seeing a number of repeat offenders that attempted and did not get through yesterday's Day 1A flight. All of these players at the moment are in a fresh seat with a fresh starting stack but Juan Pablo Martinez is true where he was yesterday. He drew the similar exact seat that saw him fall yesterday, meaning he's hoping for better luck today.
Yesterday, Martinez started the day multi-tabling, playing live and SCOOPing online. Today, along with his final opportunity to search out the bag prior to him, he's just that specialize in the duty in front of him, taking his seat sans iPad and PokerStars. --WOC
| 2 | 75 | 50 | 0 |
12:48pm: Caprioli connectingLevel 1 - Blinds 50/100
We were just mentioning how Ryan McEathron was looking ahead to enough players to turn at his table to start playing. He might need preferred to attend slightly longer after just getting his aces cracked by Rodrigo Caprioli.
The pair traded bets until the river, when Caprioli fired all over again on a 5♥3♦8♦J♦T♠ board. McEathron called and showed his A♦A♣, but Caprioli scooped the pot after showing his K♦5♦ had fit neatly with that board stuffed with diamonds to present him a winning flush.
Caprioli arrives today amid the continued Spring Championship of Online Poker at PokerStars, a chain the Brazilian knows a bit something about. He owns three SCOOP titles, in truth -- one in Omaha, one in Badugi, and one in Corchevel -- and just missed picking up a fourth one earlier this week in Event #3-L, the $27 NL Draw event. In fact, "caprioli" (as he's known on PokerStars) arrived here in Panama every week early expressly to grind SCOOPs around playing the LAPT9 Panama Main.
Rodrigo-go-go
"The IP this is really, really good," he grinned, telling us concerning the quality of his connectivity when playing from Panama. That early hand versus McEathron suggests he's connecting pretty much with boards so far, too. --MH
12:36pm: What may have been...Level 1 - Blinds 50/100
While we're sure that there's some interesting table talk around the tournament area, most of it's in Spanish, which both Martin and that i barely understand. One table in the midst of the room is speaking in our native tongue, as Aaron Mermelstein and Carter Gill are seated near each other.
Those two Americans each played in yesterday's Day 1A flight and weren't capable of finding the bag, leading their early Level 1 conversation to focus on "what might have been"? Mermelstein mentioned a large flip he was involved with midway throughout the flight that might have set him up for a tight bag had he been victorious.
Alas, both players want to put their woulda, shoulda, couldasbehind and so they would not have an issue doing so. Each are two of the more matured players we'll see on this LAPT9 Panama Main Event, with Mermelstein being a two-time WPT winner and Gill having a past LAPT title on his lengthy tournament resume. --WOC
Where there is a Gill there is a way
12:29pm: Two to get ready, three to goLevel 1 - Blinds 50/100
A couple more familiar faces to inform you about as Day 1A bustouts arrive to reinvent themselves for Day 1B.
Per the tournament director's instructions, three players are needed at a table to begin dealing, this means that two of today's returners from yesterday -- Oscar Alache and Ryan McEathron -- must sit and chat somewhat until a 3rd player shows as much as join them.
Alache of Chile seeks a 3rd LAPT title, having won the LAPT7 Grand Final in Lima and the LAPT8 Chile crown in Viña del Mar a couple of months later. Meanwhile the Canadian McEathron picked up his first career cashes at the EPT last year in Monaco, Barcelona, and Prague, and hopes so as to add an LAPT cash here as he builds his poker résumé.
Patience is a part of poker, though, so both will wait only a minute or two longer until some tablemates arrive. --MH
12:24pm: Dubini doesn't bag, back for Day 1BLevel 1 - Blinds 50/100
There are a handful of players which are making their LAPT9 Panama return after failing to outlive yesterday's Day 1A flight and while we'll get to these players over the following few levels, one player we didn't feature yesterday was Richard Dubini. The Argentine is asking to come again to an LAPT Main Event final table, after notching a forth place finish over the past stop in Chile.
Dubini earned just shy of $50,000 for that near podium finish and while his best Latin American-based score came in June of 2014, when he won a BSOP High Roller event for $126,000, he's also had his justifiable share of success in Panama. Dubini finished second within the series ending High Roller at Sortis Hotel last year, a result that pushed his career earnings over the $800,000 mark.
He'll now look so as to add to his LAPT resume and try to make back to back final tables this weekend. --WOC
12:12pm: First arriversLevel 1 - Blinds 50/100
There are about 10 tables in action -- all short-handed -- to start out things today. Among those returning for one more try today after busting yesterday are LAPT6 Grand Final champion Carter Gill and Andres "Cacho" Korn. --MH
All systems opt for "Cacho"
12:00pm: Shuffle up and deal!Level 1 - Blinds 50/100
Play has begun here on Day 1B of the LAPT9 Panama Main Event. Back in a couple of to tell you who has arrived. --MH
| 1 | 50 | 100 | 0 |
11:00am: Day 1B awaits
Welcome back to the Sortis Hotel, Spa & Casino for the second one and final Day 1 flight of the Latin American Poker Tour Panama Main Event.
This $1,500 buy-in tournament attracted an excellent turnout yesterday, with 218 entries total from which 63 players advanced to Saturday's Day 2. Given how Day 1Bs often are likely to attract roughly twice what Day 1As do, we're already bracing for an enormous total field and prize pool for this one.
The Frenchman Maxence Debar surged sooner than everyone last night to complete with a commanding lead, ending with 298,900 chips when no person else had even crossed the 200,000-chip mark. We'll see even if anyone can scale such heights today.
We'll even be expecting to peer one of the vital same faces today whom we saw yesterday, as people who busted Day 1A can come again to check out again. They'll be playing 10 one-hour levels again today, with late registration and the re-entry option staying available all the way throughout the start of Level 7.
Things kick off at 12 noon local time -- that's Central Time -- so stick close starting then for live updates, chip counts, photos, and more as we keep learning together who would be the next LAPT Main Event champion.
Meanwhile, peruse our Day 1A coverage and look over all the Day 1A chip counts. --MH
PokerStars Blog Reporting Team at LAPT9 Chile: Will O'Connor and Martin Harris. Photos by Carlos Monti. Follow the PokerStars Blog on Twitter: @PokerStarsBlog
Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: Latin American Poker Tour]
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