It's hot in Panama City, even on the stroke of midnight. And just because the clock turned over from Wednesday to Thursday, the Frenchman Maxence Debar was about as hot as a poker player can get, having catapulted far into the chip result in end Day 1A of the LAPT9 Panama Main Event with an eye-popping 298,900 chips.
That's nearly 15 times the starting stack, and greater than 100,000 better than anyone else in this first of 2 Day 1 flights. Sizzling!
Maxence Debar
There were 218 entries total today, with 63 players surviving to make it to Day 2. It was the Raul Paez show for far of the primary 1/2 the day today, because the Spaniard swiftly leaped sooner than the sphere to be the primary player to 100,000, and for a few hours had greater than twice what anyone else had. From such dizzying heights he'd eventually fall back to merely above-average status, however, with others overtaking him before he ended the night with 130,500.
The first to pass Paez was the American, Hunter Cichy, doing so just after the dinner break as he appeared accountable for his table. But then a table break sent Debar to enroll in him -- taking a seat on Cichy's left -- and before long the columns of chips began to appear in front of Debar to transport him into first position because the final levels played out.
Meanwhile LAPT stars Oscar Alache, Amos Ben, Carter Gill, and Raul Pino all found themselves at the rail, joining the likes of Aaron Mermelstein, Horacio Nicolas, LAPT9 Chile champion Rodrigo Strong, and Team PokerStars Pro Leo Fernandez.
In addition to Debar and Paez -- and Cichy who finished with 123,600 -- others ending the night with big stacks included Nicolas Baliner (184,900), Jessica Perez (178,900), Guido Ruffini (162,300), Jeiko Palma (113,000), Luis Perez (111,500), and Eugenio Pernia (110,400).
Also making it through to Saturday's Day 2 were Daniel Brenes (97,100), Andres Jeckeln (95,500), Ivan Freitez (88,300), Jin Wen Yu (84,900), David Santarelli (83,800), Mario Lopez (81,400), Erick Brenes (76,900), Andy Hwang (53,200), Nacho Barbero (52,600), Ricardo Chauriye (46,900), Joey Spanne (41,400), and Pierce McKellar (33,500).
Click here for an entire list of all 63 Day 1A survivors and their chip counts.
Day 1B begins tomorrow at 12 noon CT, with all of these who busted today having the chance to re-enter tomorrow. We'll be re-entering the fray as well, so be sure you return then as we discover out together who becomes the following LAPT Main Event champion. --MH
DAY 1A LIVE UPDATES:
12:01am: Day 1A concludesLevel 10 - Blinds 500/1,000 (ante 100)
Day 1A is done, and it's greater than apparent than Maxence Debar goes to be the overnight chip leader after the Frenchman added still more to his stack throughout the night's final hands. Back shortly with a recap of today's exciting action. --MH
11:48pm: Three more handsLevel 10 - Blinds 500/1,000 (ante 100)
Clock paused. Announcement made. End nigh. --MH
11:46pm: Asuncao keeps Brazil aliveLevel 10 - Blinds 500/1,000 (ante 100)
Brazil's Rodrigo Strong is the newest LAPT victor and while it didn't go too well for Brazil today, their lone Day 1A survivor just scored a miles needed late double up. Manoel Asuncao three-bet shoved after a player opened to 2,400 from under the gun, along with his all-in weighing in at 18,300.
The table folded to the large blind and it seemed like he had a choice to make. He was behind on the subject of 45,000 and he elected not to opt for the knockout, flashing pocket tens to these seated next to him before folding. The opener then called the bet but saw he was behind, holding 7♥7♣ to Asuncao's J♣J♠. The big blind was behind too, until the K♥T♠9♥ flop fell. He shot out of his chair and Asuncao smiled, knowing he got away with one along with his opponent folding a large pocket pair to his short stack shove. The player within the big blind continued to bemoan his decision because the 4♥ fell at the turn and all of a sudden, Asuncao had a real sweat.
The player that did call picked up a flush draw but it surely missed after hte 4♠ completed the board. So the player that did call lost and the player that did not would have rivered a whole house. A LARGE NUMBER OF woulda, shoulda, coulda while Asuncao stacked up just shy of 40,000 chips heading into the overall short while of Level 10. --WOC
11:41pm: No show, Noceda takes the potLevel 10 - Blinds 500/1,000 (ante 100)
The action appears to be centered around Jean-Christoph Ferreira's table, as he was just all for another sizable pot. This time, he was at the losing end though, as a large river bet forced a fold from Ferreira and moved Arturo Noceda up near the 100,000 chip mark.
Action was picked up pre flop, with Ferreira opening the button to 2,600. The small blind called and Noceda, within the big blind, three-bet to 6,700. Ferreira called and the small blind got out of ways before the T♦9♦4♠ flop fell. Noceda gave up the betting lead, checking to his in position opponent.
Ferreira took that chance to bet, pushing out 6,600. Noceda called and the 3♦ fell at the turn. The similar betting pattern occurred, with Noceda check-calling 9,400. The 5♦ then put four to a flush on board and Noceda didn't check, instead betting 17,500. Ferreira went into the tank for with regards to three minutes before he eventually folded, showing the K♦ before pushing his hand towards the muck.
Noceda seemed like he was going to turn his cards as he was getting shipped the pot but instead elected to maintain his opponent guessing. There is not any guessing about how Noceda goes to finish this present day 1A flight, as he's working just over 100 big blinds heading into the homestretch of Level 10. --WOC
11:31pm: Maxence setting Debar high on Day 1ALevel 10 - Blinds 500/1,000 (ante 100)
Preflop back-and-forthing had built what gave the look of the beginning of a large pot, then after Maxence Debar check-called a raffle after a K♠A♦J♦ flop it seemed like things might continue to escalate.
But both the J♣ turn and 9♥ earned checks from the 2 players, and Debar didn't appear too excited when he tabled Q♥Q♠. But it surely was good as his opponent mucked, and the Frenchman collected another pot.
He's the clear leader nowadays with 218,000 with a half-hour to move in Day 1A. --MH
11:16pm: Freitez feeling fineLevel 10 - Blinds 500/1,000 (ante 100)
Ivan Freitez has seemed especially relaxed throughout the latter levels tonight. The massage he's been getting for the last hour-plus might have helped encourage such an impression.
Or perhaps it's his play. At present we watched his neighbor to the precise raise from early position, Freitez three-bet, and when it folded back across the raiser relented. Freitez flashed a black seven and with one hand scooped his winnings. He's stacking up around 65,000 nowadays because the massage moves into hour number two. --MH
11:09pm: "Cero por ciento" against Ferreira's full houseLevel 10 - Blinds 500/1,000 (ante 100)
Earlier today, Jean-Christoph Ferreira scored a double-knockout and while he just sent one player to the rail in this occasion, it was a large elimination that shot him up the Day 1A leaderboard. Action pre flop was missed but on a board of Q♠9♠9♣, Ferreira put out a continuation bet at the button and was then check-raised to 12,000.
He called and after the 3♣ fell at the turn, his opponent, who was within the big blind, shoved for just over 40,000. Ferreira couldn't cal quickly enough, tabling Q♥Q♦ for a flopped full house. His opponent shook his head and tried to slip his cards into the muck however the dealer made him show his A♠8♠.
The player then turned the hand back over, because it was drawing dead and it seemed as if he did not want to have a look at his meaningless nut flush draw to any extent further. Nacho Barbero, who was seated across from the action turned to Ferreira after the 6♣ fell at the river and smiled before saying, "Cero por ciento."
That translates to, thanks Google, "zero percent" and Ferreira could only laugh. His opponent was drawing dead at the flop and was buried when the chips got within the. Canadian wasn't complaining, though, as he's now working the easier a part of 125,000 moving during the final level of the night. --WOC
11:01pm: Last levelLevel 10 - Blinds 500/1,000 (ante 100)
The 80 players still left within the Day 1A field have now moved into the overall one-hour level of the night. Maxence Debar remains the pace-setter -- we'll see if he can hang onto the lead for one more few orbits before the bagging commences. --MH
| 10 | 500 | 1,000 | 100 |
10:46pm: Baliner ballin'Level 9 - Blinds 400/800 (ante 100)
Nicolas Baliner has continued so as to add to his stack because the night wears on, and today grabbed a couple of more while lessening the Day 1A field by one.
Baliner called a short-stacked player's all-in with A♦K♥ and saw his opponent table J♥T♥. The A♠Q♣9♥ flop and 6♥ turn provided escape opportunities for Baliner's opponent, however the 2♣ was a blank and Baliner is now as much as 138,000. --MH
10:38pm: Barbero into SCOOP #17-H quarterfinalsLevel 9 - Blinds 400/800 (ante 100)
We've referenced players playing PokerStars on their phones or tablets a couple of times today and once we approached Nacho Barbero's table to him celebrating, we quickly realized that it wasn't on account of a pot he just won. Barbero continues to be working a regular stack late on this Day 1A session but he's already locked up a win for the day in SCOOP Event #17-H: $2,100 PL Omaha [Heads-Up], $150K.
That event saw 175 players take their seat and Barbero was one in every of them after winning a $500 satellite. He just won his Round of 16 match, meaning he's into the quarterfinals on the way to be the overall round for tonight. If he's capable of win that, he'll be into the semi-finals and lock up a $35,000 score.
He has his sights set at the top prize though, joking, "Be pretty cool to win $100K on my phone."
While SCOOP events wouldn't have live updates, the PokerStars Blog could be bringing you all of the SCOOP coverage you'll be able to handle over the following few weeks. Take a look at those event recaps here and keep your eyes out for Nacho 'PokerLoans1' Barbero in Event #17-H. --WOC 10:21pm: Field further winnowsLevel 9 - Blinds 400/800 (ante 100)
Amos Ben, LAPT9 Chile champion Rodrigo Strong, and Team PokerStars Pro Leo Fernandez are some of the fallen here throughout the latter levels of Day 1A. All can return tomorrow, in the event that they wish (and sure will). --MH
10:14pm: Top two on Table 1Level 9 - Blinds 400/800 (ante 100)
Table 1 would be the feature table on Monday when the LAPT9 Panama Main Event gets all the way down to it's final table but for now, Table 1 is home to the highest two stacks within the room. Hunter Cichy remains to be playing just about 160,000 but a player we mentioned earlier is above that number.
Maxence Debar lost a pot to Andy Hwang earlier but after re-entering, he's shot up the leaderboard and is now pacing this field through Level 9. The Frenchman is playing just over 180,000 and he's also coming off his first career live victory.
Maxence Debar, one half the highest two
Debar won a $1,000 Turbo side event on the EPT Grand Final last month and he's also had his fair proportion of LAPT success besides. He finished 2nd within the 2012 LAPT5 Lima Main Event, for $138,000 and he may well be trending towards another deep run, as he's the chip leader late in Day 1A. --WOC
10:06pm: Back from break, two more levelsLevel 9 - Blinds 400/800 (ante 100)
The remaining ten tables are back from the general break of the day and just two levels, meaning two hours, separate them from Saturday's Day 2 restart. Because it stands, lower than 50% of the unique 218 player field continues to be training the luggage and it continues to be seen what number of will advance to the weekend.
If players aren't able to, or have already busted from just today 1A flight, Day 1B will run tomorrow, with late registration open until around 7:45 PM. We'll get to preparing our coverage of that flight when we finish the duty at hand, with the PokerStars blog brining you the entire updates from the overall two levels of the night. --WOC
| 9 | 400 | 800 | 100 |
9:44pm: Yet another break
They've reached the tip of Level 8 and the last 15-minute break of the night. There are 90 players left now from the 218 entries here on Day 1A. --MH
9:40pm: We lose Leo
The lone Team PokerStars Pro in today's field, Leo Fernandez, has lost the last of his chips to look his Day 1A end early. The Argentinian will surely be back tomorrow to continue his effort to copy his successful run here in Panama four years ago on his approach to the LAPT5 Panama Main Event title. --MH
Fernandez falls
9:27pm: Rosenkrantz at the riseLevel 8 - Blinds 300/600 (ante 100)
Costa Rica's Jose Rosenkrantz has nearly three decades' worth of tournament cashes to his credit, including a pair in LAPT Main Events and a victory on the planet Poker Tour Costa Rica Classic back in 2002 -- the primary WPT event outside of the U.S.
Jose Rosenkrantz
He's done well here today so far, and presently sits with 55,000 as they move into the last levels of the night. --MH
9:13pm: Field falls below century mark, Cichy leadsLevel 8 - Blinds 300/600 (ante 100)
With Hunter Cichy still appearing to be holding onto his Day 1A chip lead, the principle Event field has now shrunk to not up to 100 players. It's no less quiet within the tournament area, however, as side action from this 17-event series continues apace on the neighboring tables. --MH
9:01pm: Big slick sends two to the railLevel 8 - Blinds 300/600 (ante 100)
In one of the crucial first hands of Level 8, Jean-Christoph Ferreira scored a double knockout with ace-king to send two short stacks to the rail and move himself up near the 45,000 chip mark. That hand was picked up with Ferreira opening to 1,200 from early position and after a player called in middle position, the button and small blind quickly sent their chips in to the middle.
The shoves weighed in at 8,000 and 6,500, respectively, and once it got back to him, Ferreira quickly called. He turned over A♦K♦ and while the button held A♣Q♥, which was dominated, Ferreira needed to hit to send both players out, because the small blind held Q♠Q♦.
He did not have to attend long to hit, because the A♥J♥2♦ flop shot him into the lead. The A♠ gave him some additional support at the turn and after the 5♦ completed the board, his double knockout was also complete. His king-high kicker played and when the dust settled, the Canadian was playing just over two starting stacks. --WOC
8:51pm: Gill goneLevel 8 - Blinds 300/600 (ante 100)
LAPT6 Grand Final Main Event champion Carter Gill nursed a brief stack for the primary hour following dinner, the entire while playing online as he did. Then came the time to commit his last 5,000 or so with J♥T♠, but unfortunately for him he found himself caught between two opponents holding Q♣Q♠ and A♠K♦.
The board ran out 5♣8♣4♣9♦J♠, not quite enough for Gill, and he's out on Day 1A. "You play tomorrow," Gill was asked by a tablemate as he was about to leave. "Yeah, for sure," he replied. --MH
| 8 | 300 | 600 | 75 |
8:39pm: The Brenes bunchLevel 7 - Blinds 250/500 (ante 50)
Eric Brenes, nephew of Humberto, is here and steadily accumulating, presently sitting behind an above average stack of about 45,000.
Eric is hoping so as to add another deep run to an already succesful career that comes with chopping the Sunday Million on PokerStars last year for a $120K-plus score where he plays as "Uniceja" (or "unibrow").
Eric Brenes
Another Brenes is within the field, too, and another of Humberto's nephews -- Eric's brother, Daniel. He currently is doing even better than Eric, having spun his stack as much as 55,000 to this point.
Daniel Brenes
And Alex Brenes, Humberto's brother, could also be here representing the family well with average chips. Alex has over $1.3 million in live cashes including a runner-up within the LAPT Punta del Este Main Event long ago in Season 1. --MH
Alex Brenes
8:22pm: The equity we want is throughout us...Level 7 - Blinds 250/500 (ante 50)
Pierce McKellar, who finished 7th in last year's version of the LAPT Panama Main Event just doubled with pocket kings but that isn't the tale here. The tale here's the adaptation between seven-high and suited seven-high.
McKellar held K♥K♦ and his opponent, we are not sure how he got to the pot or the river, held 7♣5♣. By the river, McKellar improved to a flush to overcome his opponent's rivered two pair and after he got pushed the pot, the yank said, "Get out of there with seven-high."
His opponent, who's name we'll withhold to give protection to the innocent, appeared to take offense to that comment, correcting McKellar that he held "suited seven-high". While McKellar gave the impression to ignore the comment, deciding to stack up his nearly 35,000 instead, a player on the table took the comment to heart. "He has kings, you'd rather have suited seven-high. Yeah, you're right."
We don't advise looking to crack aces with seven-five any time soon and we aren't liable for any chips lost while doing so in case you do try. We're here to tell you that yes, you're at an advantage holding suited seven-five, a 4.46% better chance to be exact. --WOC
8:11pm: 218 entriesLevel 7 - Blinds 250/500 (ante 50)
We've gotten word there have been 218 entries total here on Day 1A, although that'll still must be confirmed officially. Day 1B might be bigger for certain -- perhaps on the subject of twice as much -- so the whole field and prize pool for LAPT9 Panama goes to be a big one. --MH
8:09pm: Checking at the chipsLevel 7 - Blinds 250/500 (ante 50)
A quick post-dinner tour of the room is a great approach to work off those calories added throughout the evening meal. It also helps us to update some selected chip counts, in addition to to eye those big stacks. As noted below, Hunter Cichy has jumped sooner than Raul Paez here in Level 7, disposing of the lead Paez has enjoyed just about all of Day 1A. AN EXPANSION of giant stacks. --MH
| Hunter Cichy | USA | 164,000 |
| Raul Paez | Spain | 153,000 |
| Carlos Lam | Mexico | 85,000 |
| Mario Lopez | Argentina | 84,000 |
| Kenneth Watson | USA | 72,000 |
| Andres Jeckeln | Argentina | 63,000 |
| Nicolas Baliner | Argentina | 60,000 |
| Ricardo Chauriye | Chile | 55,000 |
8:05pm: Hunter Cichy takes chip leadLevel 7 - Blinds 250/500 (ante 50)
For the primary time in a protracted time, Raul Paez isn't any longer leading this present day 1A flight. That's because Hunter Cichy has come again from the dinner break on a tear, increasing his stack up just shy of 165,000.
Cichy was mentioned as some of the bigger stacks previous to the hot 75-minute recess and because Level 7 began, he's done greater than just contend for that lead. He's now alone on the top of the leaderboard and with just over three and a half levels remaining on this opening starting flight, shall we see Cichy end the night because the flight's chip leader.
For a whole update of post-dinner chip counts, consult the critically acclaimed LAPT9 Panama Main Event 'Select Chip Counts' tab provided at the top and right of this page. --WOC
Hunter Cichy, chip hunter
7:55pm: Lam returns from dinner to 'murderer's row'Level 7 - Blinds 250/500 (ante 50)
Before the dinner break, we mentioned the harsh table draw that Andres Jeckeln has now that Mario Lopez moved to his immediate left but that table just got even tougher. Reigning LAPT Player of the Year Oscar Alache has fired another bullet and he's to Jeckeln's right.
Add within the previously mentioned Joseph Spanne, who's to Lopez's left, and 3 of the more matured players are all to Carlos Lam's left. Lam returned from the dinner break with just shy of 80,000 and with some sizable stacks all seated together, murderer's row may supply some serious action over the following few levels. --WOC
7:47pm: Play resumesLevel 7 - Blinds 250/500 (ante 50)
Players are back of their seats and cards are within the air again. They'll play four more one-hour levels tonight before bagging up. Meanwhile, late registration has now closed -- we'll discover soon just what number of entries there have been in this first of 2 Day 1 flights within the LAPT9 Panama Main Event. --MH
| 7 | 250 | 500 | 50 |
6:32pm: Dinner break
Level 6 had come to an end and the 75-minute dinner break has arrived with Raul Paez still the chip leader however the chase pack beginning to edge closer. Players will return at approximately 7:45pm CT. --MH
6:30pm: Just below 200 heading into dinnerLevel 6 - Blinds 200/400 (ante 50)
This Day 1A flight is solely a couple of minutes from the dinner break and that implies that there's just over 75 minutes left to get into today's starting flight. Once Level 7 begins, the sector could be frozen and with 198 players currently entered, we imagine that the 200 player mark can be eclipsed once play resumes.
Last year's LAPT8 Panama Main Event drew 422 entrants at a $2,500 price point. This year, the entry fee have been lowered to $1,500, meaning shall we and will see an over 500 player field come together over the following few days. --WOC
6:21pm: Jeckeln jumps back, jumps upLevel 6 - Blinds 200/400 (ante 50)
We mentioned earlier Andres Jeckeln sitting within the uncomfortable seat to chip leader to the precise of Raul Paez, and at last being stacked and compelled to depart it. We spotted Jeckeln back within the tournament again today after having re-entered, and while he's clear around the room from Paez, he still looked a bit uneasy.
The player on his left this time had pushed all in for just about 13,000 -- about twice the pot -- on a 6♣5♥2♥ flop, and Jeckeln was deep in thought as he decided what to do. Finally he came up with a call, saw his neighbor table K♥Q♥ for overs and a flush draw, then showed his Q♣2♣ for bottom pair and the present lead within the hand.
The turn was the 4♠ and river the 2♦, and Jeckeln's hand-held up. The Argentinian is up over 60,000 now with the dinner break approaching.
Hold on a sec, though... it looks as if Jeckeln's fellow countryman and two-time LAPT champion Mario Lopez is being moved into that seat to Jeckeln's left, and he's bringing a stack of nearly 85,000 with him. It's never easy. --MH
Lopez leaping up the counts
6:10pm: Two above everyone except Raul PaezLevel 6 - Blinds 200/400 (ante 50)
The tournament area for this LAPT9 Panama Main Event has nearly 30 tables on level ground, with two other tables on a high rise on one side of the room. Those tables is often saved for large final tables heading throughout the remainder of this LAPT festival but right now, they're home to 2 of the larger stacks within the room.
Hunter Cichy and Nicolas Baliner are working both sides of 80,000, meaning that they are above, literally and figuratively, everyone on this 1A flight rather than Raul "El Toro" Paez. The Spaniard has continued to climb and we wouldn't be surprised to peer him enter the dinner break dangerously as regards to the 200,000-chip mark.
Cichy and Baliner will hope to approach the century mark over the following 20 minutes, that's when that 75-minute dinner break begins. The PokerStars blog will bring you an updated list of the chip counts when that dinner break does begin and counts inside the day are available in the course of the 'Select Chip Counts' link on the top and righthand side of the page. --WOC
5:56pm: Try, try againLevel 6 - Blinds 200/400 (ante 50)
Amos Ben soon bought back into the development after busting a little while ago, and indeed a lot of folks that have gone out thus far have quickly returned because the re-entry period remains open in the course of the dinner break (bobbing up after this level). --MH
5:48pm: Watson's blades reduce BorensteinLevel 6 - Blinds 200/400 (ante 50)
While American Andy Hwang is moving up the leaderboard, two of his countrymen are heading in very different directions after a large pot developed on a central table. Jonathan Borenstein lost just shy of 30,000, leaving himself a starting stack after Kenneth Watson found pocket aces in an excellent spot.
Action was picked up with Borenstein calling a 3,000 chip three-bet to look a K♥8♥2♠ flop. Borenstein the check-called a raffle of 4,000 to peer the 6♦ fall at the turn. The out of position player quickly checked for a second time and Watson calmly threw out 10,000.
Borenstein gave Watson the up and down, looking at his stack a couple of times before taking a snappy inventory of his 50,000 or so remaining chips. Eventually, he called and after the 6♠ paired the board at the river, he checked again. Watson didn't decelerate though, firing a 3rd barrel weighing in at 13,000.
Borenstein took with reference to two minutes to make his turn decision but he didn't need nearly that quantity of time to determine at the end. He quickly called after which quickly mucked, after Watson turned over A♦A♣. When the dust settled, his blades had moved him up near the 80,000 chip mark, good for second on this Day 1A flight. --WOC
5:36pm: Ben bouncedLevel 6 - Blinds 200/400 (ante 50)
Catching up at the flop with the board showing 8♣2♣T♦, we saw Amos Ben pushing all-in over a gamble and lift and getting called by one in all his two opponents.
Ben had J♥9♦ and hoped his open-ended straight draw can be happily improved by one of the vital two remaining community cards, however his opponent was drawing, too, with A♣7♣, which took away a few straight outs for Ben although meant he could still win with a non-club jack or nine.
The turn was the 3♦, then the river brought a nine... nevertheless it was the 9♣. Ben congratulated his vanquisher and headed railward. --MH
| 6 | 200 | 400 | 50 |
5:28pm: Eyes at the PaezLevel 5 - Blinds 150/300 (ante 25)
We didn't see how the Argentinian Andres Jeckeln went out a little while ago, but sitting to the precise of overwhelming Day 1A chip leader Raul "El Toro" Paez couldn't have helped his cause very much.
Jeckeln from earlier, within the most uncomfortable seat within the room
Andy Whang (introduced below) has now taken the seat left empty by Jeckeln, and we just saw him open a pot, call a three-bet from Paez, then check-fold after a raggedy king-high flop. Whang has 24,000, somewhat above the starting stack, but Paez has 165,000 now.
That means Paez has greater than twice anyone else within the room presently -- and we checked all 180 or so of the others, simply to ensure the. closest we're seeing at the present time is the American, Kenneth Watson, who's sitting behind a stack of about 80,000. --MH
5:23pm: Nearly 200Level 5 - Blinds 150/300 (ante 25)
As they near the tip of Level 5, the large board is showing 198 entries thus far today, with 145 of these players still with chips. With Day 1B promising to draw a field perhaps twice as big as today's, that's adding as much as a large turnout for LAPT9 Panama. --MH
5:14pm: Debar doesn't get there, Hwang chips upLevel 5 - Blinds 150/300 (ante 25)
We've mentioned a couple of American players within the first half this present day 1A flight and another who only recently took his seat has already increased 20,000 chip stack. That's former WPT champion Andy Hwang and the Texan is now playing with reference to double starting after fading a flush draw with one card to come.
The hand was picked up at the turn, with the board reading 6♣4♥3♣5♣ and Hwang checking from the massive blind. Another player checked in middle position before Maxence Debar bet 3,325 from the cutoff. Huang thought for a couple of moments after which check-raised to 14,000, which was enough to place Debar all-in.
The player between them quickly folded and Debar had a choice on his hands. If he were to name and be wrong, it was his tournament life at the chopping block but when he were to name and be correct, he was an over 100 big blind stack. Eventually, he elected to name but he'd must hit to stick alive, as he held 4♣4♠ to Hwang's T♠7♠. The Texan had turned a straight but Debar had outs to both a flush and whole house. The 2♦ was not a type of outs though, meaning he was hitting the rail while Hwang was scooping the pot.
Over the last calendar year, Hwang has recorded tournament scores around the globe, from California and Chicago to the Czech Republic and Ireland. He's now trying to add Panama and the LAPT to his lengthy tournament resume this weekend. --WOC
5:04pm: Mermelstein runs into kingsLevel 5 - Blinds 150/300 (ante 25)
Aaron Mermelstein had already bought in a few times today, and today we spotted him engaged in a postflop battle again that saw him check-raising a stack all-in at the turn with the board showing 3♥T♦Q♥4♠.
Mermelstein's opponent called his shove and turned over K♠K♥, and Mermelstein shook his head as he showed A♦Q♠ for a lesser pair. The river was the T♥, and Mermelstein was stacked again.
Mermelstein may or will not be re-entering again today, as there's only a level-and-a-half left to head before that door closes on Day 1A. If not, there's always Day 1B. --MH
Mermelstein in action
4:48pm: Set of fours fails NicolasLevel 5 - Blinds 150/300 (ante 25)
LAPT Season 7 Player of the Year Horacio Nicolas just saw his Day 1A come to an abrupt end through the first a part of Level 5.
We caught the aftermath, with Nicolas staring down at his iPad playing on PokerStars as he got up from the table. The 4♥4♣ in front of his seat had made a collection on a 4♦Q♠T♥2♥Q♣ board. But an opponent who showing T♣T♦ had made a greater one to say the last of Nicolas' starting stack.
The Argentinian doesn't appear as if he's re-entering today, engaged as he's in his game online, though can always get back tomorrow for Day 1B. --MH
4:40pm: Doesn't matter where the chips come fromLevel 5 - Blinds 150/300 (ante 25)
To win tournaments, you must win flips and while players likely don't need to be in 50/50 encounters early and often, Joseph Spanne isn't complaining a few recent win. Or even he is, as Spanne just won a flip to eliminate a Costa Rican player after which said, "Hate to take from Costa Rica." The California native spends a majority of his time there playing online but he's now looking good in an try to notch his first LAPT score.
Action was picked up late, with Spanne moving all-in from the blinds for just shy of 25,000. His opponent, donned in a Costa Rican hat and patch at the side of his shirt, had what gave the impression to be a four-bet already out in front of him and he called all-in for almost 22,000. He tabled Q♥Q♦ and he had to hold to stick alive, as Spanne showed up with A♠K♠.
That flip was roughly over after the A♦T♣6♠ flop, with Spanne improving to trips after the A♥ fell at the turn. The marginally shorter stack needed one among two outs at the river however the 8♣ was not one in all them. The Costa Rican hit the rail and Spanne, who has well over $3,000,000 in career online tournament earnings, stacked up just below 55,000 heading towards the midway point of Level 5. --WOC
| 5 | 150 | 300 | 25 |
4:16pm: Break it up
They've reached the tip of another two hours' of poker, and players 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 today4:09pm: "El Toro" ragingLevel 4 - Blinds 100/200 (ante 25)
Four players saw a flop come single-suited -- 6♠8♠2♠ -- but only two of them found those three cards interesting enough to stay around, with our early chip leader Raul "El Toro" Paez calling a number one bet from the first-to-act player.
The turn brought the Q♣ and another bet from Paez' opponent who fired 4,200 into the 7,000-ish pot. Paez responded by raising to 11,000, and when his opponent shoved for the 25,000 or so he had left, Paez was quick to call.
Paez flipped over A♠J♠ for the nut flush, and his opponent chuckled through a grimace as he showed his K♠T♠ for the second-best hand. The river was no matter, and with one less player within the field Paez is now as much as 132,000, a complete that appears to be about twice the closest challenger as they near the tip of Level 4. --MH
Raul-ing along
3:45pm: Gill goes for anotherLevel 4 - Blinds 100/200 (ante 25)
We're only a few minutes from the second one break of the day and while Carter Gill's 2013 LAPT6 title came in Uruguay, the yankee has had his fair proportion of success in Panama. The Oregon native was the last player to hoist a LAPT trophy last year, winning the overall side event for a $10,000 score.
His best Panama finish came a year earlier though, as Gill took down the Latin Poker Series Millions event in March of 2014 for a $175,000 score. That win helped push Gill over the $1,200,000 mark with regards to career earnings, along with his only bigger scores coming from that 2013 LAPT victory and a podium finish in a $2,000 NLH event on the 2008 World Series of Poker.
Over the previous couple of years, Gill has done a majority of his live tournament damage in Central and South America, so it's no suprise to look him back at the felt in an LAPT Main Event. We also wouldn't be surprised to look him make another deep run and potentially join the previously mentioned two-time LAPT champions. --WOC
3:28pm: Paez almost past century markLevel 4 - Blinds 100/200 (ante 25)
While this field eclipsed the 100 player mark after the last break, the Day 1A chip leader is now approaching the century mark heading into the second one half Level 4. Raul Paez seems like he's increased his starting stack significantly since joining the action as regards to 90 minutes ago, as he's up near 95,000.
It's not surprising to look Paez near the highest of the leaderboard, albeit early. The Spaniard has over $1,800,000 in career tournament earnings, along with his most up-to-date sizable scores coming from last year's World Series of Poker. 'The Bull', as he's known in these parts, nearly final tabled two Pot Limit Omaha events and he's doing just besides today with two cards.
The PokerStars blog will track 'The Bull' and this field inside the day with live updates but for chip counts, take a look at Martin's hugely successful 'Select Chip Counts' link at the right hand side of the page. --WOC
3:16pm: Chauriye charging; Alache (alas) loses stackLevel 4 - Blinds 100/200 (ante 25)
Ricardo Chauriye has had a robust afternoon thus far, having spun the 20,000-chip starting stack as much as 56,000 already by early in Level 4.
Meanwhile we saw his fellow Chilean Oscar Alache -- whom we noted had only arrived a short time ago (see below) -- was swiftly short on chips and now he's lost that starting stack. Chances are high that high, however, Alache may be re-entering, an option available to anyone busting previous to Level 7. --MH
Oscar! Oscar!
| 4 | 100 | 200 | 25 |
3:01pm: Reigning LAPT Player of the Year, Oscar AlacheLevel 3 - Blinds 100/200
Oscar Alache awarded LAPT8 POY on his home turf
We're now two for 3 on two-time LAPT champions, as Oscar Alache just joined the sector. The Chilean won his first LAPT title in late 2014, beating a virtually 700 player field in Peru, before claiming his second in his home country early in 2015. That LAPT8 Chile win also roughly solidified Alache because the player to overcome to win that season's Player of the Year honors and while he walked away empty handed from this year's Chile stop, he was presented with the LAPT8 POY trophy.
He's got a long way to visit attempt to achieve back to back Player of the Year titles in Season 9, but Alache is now trying to come again to his winning ways in Panama. His early draw is not the best though, as he has PokerStars Team Pro Leo Fernandez to his immediate left at a central table. --WOC
2:40pm: Lopez looks to open Panamanian account with third LAPT titleLevel 3 - Blinds 100/200
If you followed the my and Jack Stanton's PokerStars Blog coverage of the last LAPT Main Event in Chile, you realize our fascination with two-time LAPT champions. There are four multiple title winners in LAPT history, with Fabian Ortiz, the previously featured Nacho Barbero and Oscar Alache holding that honor in conjunction with the latest Day 1A entrant, Mario Lopez.
He wasn't capable of make a chief Event run in Chile, failing to make the money, but he did finish runner-up for a LAPT side event title. Since then, Lopez has recorded scores in his native Argentina and won an aspect event on the EPT's most up-to-date stop in Monte Carlo. Those results dwarf compared to a few of his bigger tournament scores, including a $451,000 win within the Estrellas Barcelona Main Event in 2015 and a runner-up finish within the Baby for One-Drop event finally summer's World Series of Poker.
Despite nearly 50 career live cashes, totaling over $1,800,000, Lopez hasn't ever recorded a tournament lead to Panama. He'll hope to switch that this weekend while also trying to set himself apart with a 3rd career LAPT title. --WOC
2:24pm: The expanding fieldLevel 3 - Blinds 100/200
The main area of the tournament room is beginning to fill rapidly because the day's third level begins, with two dozen tables now filled as play continues. --MH
| 3 | 100 | 200 | 0 |
2:00pm: Break time
They've reached the tip of Level 2 and players at the moment are taking their first 15-minute break of the day. --MH
Want to qualify for the LAPT? Click here to get a PokerStars account and begin today1:55pm: Paez playing, Freitez at the felt, Nicolas among newcomersLevel 2 - Blinds 75/150
Spain's Raul Paez is here, winner of greater than $1.8 million lifetime in tournaments including a third-place showing within the LAPT5 Main Event.
EPT7 Grand Final Main Event champion Ivan Freitez is a part of the sphere as well, the Venezuelan having made the trip over from Monaco where he was playing last week and collected a few cashes.
Ivan Freitez
And LAPT Season 7 Player of the Year Horacio Nicolas of Argentina has arrived as well, not too far far from a victory within the Circuito Argentino De Poker High Roller event in Buenos Aires only a month ago. --MH
1:47pm: "Cacho" catches cardsLevel 2 - Blinds 75/150
Andres "Cacho" Korn just enjoyed a fortunate hand, a type of runner-runners (and nothing's funner).
All-in before the flop with ace-king versus an opponent's pocket queens, a Q-5-5 flop looked about as dire because it gets for the Argentinian. However the turn and river brought two kings, improbably giving him an better full house and allowing him to maintain his seat. --MH
Kings save Korn
1:24pm: Team Pro joins the fieldLevel 2 - Blinds 75/150
This Day 1A field have been steadily growing over last 90 minutes and heading into the second one half Level 2, the lone LAPT9 Panama attending PokerStars Team Pro has taken his seat. That's Argentina's Leo Fernandez, who has claimed victory in Panama before.
In 2012, Fernandez outlasted a 338 player field to assert the LAPT5 Panama Main Event for a $172,000 score. That was on the last LAPT Panama venue though, meaning Fernandez remains to be in search of his first breakthrough on the new Sortis Hotel.
He'll attempt to record his second Main Event cash of Season 9 this weekend, while also trying to add to his over $2,000,000 in career tournament earnings within the process. The PokerStars Blog might be tracking our Team Pro throughout this event. --WOC
1:12pm: Have a seat!Level 2 - Blinds 75/150
Early within the second level, greater than 100 players are in action already here on Day 1A. Late registration -- in addition to the choice to re-enter should a player bust -- is open until the beginning of Level 7.
More than 90 players qualified online at PokerStars for this event as well, with a lot of those prone to come for tomorrow's Day 1B, so we predict the sector to keep growing. --MH
Day 1A action
1:06pm: Three Americans walk into Panama...Level 2 - Blinds 75/150
While the vast majority of players we'll be featuring this weekend will come from Central and South America, this early Day 1A session has a couple of token Americans scattered across the tournament area. While two need to open their LAPT and Panama accounts, one is hoping to regain the shape he had in last year's series en path to another deep Sortis Hotel run.
Hunter Cichy is seated at Table 1, at the high riser overlooking the remainder of the poker site. The Minnesota native now calls Florida home but he's had success around the U.s. over the past few years. His best domestic-based score came last summer, when he finished 2nd within the first ever online bracelet event on the World Series of Poker. His best career result came on the end of last year within the Dominican Republic though, as Cichy took down the Peter's Poker Tour Main Event for $123,000.
Austin Peck has scores from around the continental America as well, with a few of his best finishes coming this year. Peck opened 2016 with a WSOP Circuit win in February, before heading north of the border to record a 20th place finish within the WPT Fallsview Poker Classic Main Event. He then returned to Florida, where he does most of his damage, to notch a last table run within the WPTDS Jacksonville Main Event. He's now seeking to add a Panamanian flag to his tournament resume but Philadelphia native Aaron Mermelstein has some of those already.
The two-time World Poker Tour champion ended last summer with a Jackie's Poker Tour III Main Event win, good for $67,000. That followed up a podium finish within the LAPT8 Panama $5,000 High Roller, where Mermelstein finished 3rd for $30,000 result. Those two scores have Mermelstein sitting third at the Sortis Hotel all-time cashes leaderboard, a status he hopes to switch this weekend.
In total, those three Americans boast with regards to $2,500,000 in career tournament earnings so while they won't be familiar faces at the LAPT scene, they'll all be contenders throughout this LAPT9 Panama Main Event. --WOC
| 2 | 75 | 50 | 0 |
12:52pm: Chauriye takes a chairLevel 1 - Blinds 50/100
More players continue to arrive, including Ricardo Chauriye who's seeking another LAPT Main Event final table.
During Season 8 Chauriye made two final tables at Main Events, taking eighth at LAPT8 Peru in Lima in July, then finishing fourth on the LAPT8 Grand Final in São Paulo in November. The Chilean has amassed over 1 / 4 million in tournament cashes since 2013. --MH
Chauriye in action
12:39pm: The sphere gets StrongLevel 1 - Blinds 50/100
LAPT9 Chile champion Rodrigo Strong has joined the proceedings within the early going, in search of back-to-back titles after having topped a 565-entry field to earn a handsome $120,565 first prize.
Since that win in March, Strong has kept busy picking up cashes in Madrid, Marrakech, and Kyrenia. All of which runs counter to the memory of our photographer Carlos Monti, who today recalled Strong suggesting a few months ago that he could also be walking clear of poker after his big win.
"Enjoy me now," he said (says Monti), "because I'M done with poker."
It appears, though, that poker isn't done with the Brazilian. --MH
A Strong smile
12:28pm: SCOOPing pots with Juan Pablo MartinezLevel 1 - Blinds 50/100
Juan Pablo Martinez SCOOPing
"Yeah Martin, I AM NOT really a large fan of hands early in Day 1s," he said before opening his LAPT9 Panama account with just that, a hand history. To be fair, hands this early in a tournament aren't usually meaningful but a 100-big blind pot at any stage of tournament has to count for something.
Early in Level 1, a player within the big blind called a four-bet of 2,200 from Juan Pablo Martinez. While his opponent gave the look to be eagerly awaiting the flop, Martinez was relatively uninterested, tapping and swiping his iPad where he was playing some PokerStars SCOOP events. The A♣J♣4♥ flop brought a check from the large blind and Martinez quickly peered as much as throw out 1,200.
The big blind shot a glance around the table, one who Martinez missed as his head was still buried within the virtual action, before clicking it back with a check-raise to 3,200. Martinez seemed annoyed that his SCOOP concentration was broken twice on one street but he called to look the 2♦ fall at the turn. Both players quickly checked, with Martinez using the reverberations of his opponent's check to grasp that it was his turn to tap the table as well.
The A♣ paired the board at the river and the large blind bet 3,800. Martinez finally seemed interested and after a couple of seconds of thought, he needed to come back to SCOOP you know, he called. His opponent tapped the table to suggest "good call" and it was, as he could only muster 9♥9♣.
Martinez turned over K♦K♠, along with his bigger pocket pair winning him the sizable early pot. After quickly stacking up his nearly 30,000 chips, a 50% increase on his Day 1A starting stack, Martinez went right back to his iPad to absorb more pots, both virtual and real. --WOC
Want to follow the LAPT9 Panama live updates and play for SCOOP glory? Click here to get a PokerStars account and begin today12:16pm: Early arrivalsLevel 1 - Blinds 50/100
There are already 10 tables' worth of players seated within the early going here within the tournament area of the Sortis Hotel Spa & Casino, with more streaming in to take their seats.
Among the early arrivers is two-time LAPT Main Event champion Nacho Barbero who made the fast trip over from Monaco. Barbero cashed four times in the course of the EPT12 Grand Final series, including making two final tables and finishing 65th commonly Event. --MH
"I have two LAPT titles already," Nacho reminds us
12:00pm: Shuffle up and deal!Level 1 - Blinds 50/100
With a scattering of players seated the primary hands of the LAPT9 Panama Main Event are underway! Players start with 20,000 chips with the blinds at 50/100. --MH
LAPT9 Panama has begun!
| 1 | 50 | 100 | 0 |
10:15am: Welcome to Panama! Who would be the next LAPT champion?
Buenos días again, everyone! The Latin American Poker Tour is back in action this week with the following stop of Season 9 here in Panama City, returning again to the gorgeous Sortis Hotel Spa & Casino. The elements is warm outside, with temps within the 80s (Fahrenheit) making it nice to take a seat poolside and jump in every now and then, too.
The action might be heating up inside, too, in a little bit while, because the first of 2 Day 1 flights for this $1,500 buy-in Main Event begins at 12 noon (that's Central Time). And we predict numerous players to be jumping in here as well.
So far in this Season 9 we've witnessed the Greek player Georgios Sotiropoulos top a field of 607 to win LAPT9 Bahamas, then Rodrigo Strong of Brazil outlast a 565-entry field in Viña del Mar to win the LAPT9 Chile title. Meanwhile last year on the Sortis it was the Canadian Shakeeb Kazemipur beating out everyone for the LAPT8 Panama trophy, where there have been 422 entries for a better buy-in $2,500 event.
This marks the fifth time the LAPT has visited Panama's capital city, where previous to Kazemipur's win it was Fabian Ortiz of Argentina earning his second LAPT title here in Season 7, Galal Dahrouj of Colombia winning in Season 6, and Team PokerStars Pro Leo Fernandez triumphing in Season 5.
Today's schedule requires 10 one-hour levels with a dinner break after Level 6. Players who bust previous to dinner can re-enter as time and again as they would like until the beginning of Level 7, and then they'll still have an way to come again and play tomorrow's Day 1B, in the event that they wish.
The PokerStars Blog live reporting team may be available every step of ways from today through Monday's finish. Stick close for live updates, chip counts, photos, and more starting at 12 noon CT as we discover out together who's going to be the following LAPT champion. --MH
The LAPT returns to the Sortis Hotel Spa & Casino
Want to qualify for the LAPT? Click here to get a PokerStars account and begin todayPokerStars 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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