With just one more level to play, the tournament clock says we're down to just 106 players. We're guessing that number will be down to the low 80's by night's end. The surviving players will take tomorrow off as a whole new starting field take their shot at LAPT glory. With Day 1b's always drawing a bigger crowd, we're expecting a turnout of somewhere between 300-350 players.
Action folded to Latin American Poker Tour Season 4 Player of the Year Pablo Gonzalez in the small blind and he limped, inspiring the big blind to check his option. Both players then checked the 
flop before Gonzalez min-bet 1,000 on the 
turn. The big blind quickly folded and Gonzalez took down the small pot.
It wasn't much, but we've been trying to catch Gonzalez in a hand and this technically counts.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
22,000
2,000
|
2,000 |
Freddy Torres was in early position and moved all in for his last 9,300. Luis Perez gave him action from the cutoff and the news was not good for Torres.
Showdown
Torres: 
Perez: 
The 
flop and 
turn were no help to Torres, but the 
spiked on the river to give him the best hand and the double.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
35,000
-12,000
|
-12,000 |
|
21,000
11,000
|
11,000 |
|
||
Action folded to Brent Sheirbon in the hijack and he moved all in for 18,500. The small blind made the call, much to Sheirbon's dismay.
Showdown
| Sheirbon |  |
| Small Blind |   |
Sheirbon was in bad shape, but not after the 
flop. He had gone from a big dog to a huge favorite, and neither the turn nor 
river helped his opponent. With that, Sheirbon is up to 38K.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
38,000
21,000
|
21,000 |
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
133,000
-2,000
|
-2,000 |
|
93,000
-3,000
|
-3,000 |
|
|
71,000
14,000
|
14,000 |
|
|
47,000
-32,000
|
-32,000 |
|
32,000
12,000
|
12,000 |
|
27,000 | |
|
|
24,000
6,000
|
6,000 |
|
|
10,000
-1,000
|
-1,000 |
|
|
||
(just before the break)
With a raise and two calls in front of him, Giovanni Rodriguez squeezed all in from the big blind for about 12,100. The initial raiser called, chasing away the two flatters.
Rodriguez showed 
and held a solid lead against his opponent's 
. The board ran out a safe 
to give Rodriguez the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
30,000
13,000
|
13,000 |
Level: 9
Blinds: 500/1,000
Ante: 100
The players are on their final 15-minute break of Day 1a.
We recently spotted former LATP final tablist Brent Sheirbon in the field, who is one of the few Americans who played Day 1a. In a recent hand, a player in the cutoff limped and Sheirbon called from the small blind. The big blind came along for the ride, and it was three-way action to the 
flop.
Sheirbon led out for 1,200, the big blind call, and the cutoff folded, bringing about the turn. This time Sheirbon bet 1,400, his opponent called, and the was put out on the river. Both players decided to check, prompting the big blind to reveal 
for a flush. It was good as Sheirbon mucked.
For those who don't know Sheirbon, we dug up a bio on the man from when he made the final table of the 2008 LAPT San José Main Event:
"Sheirbon is a native of The Dalles, Oregon USA, but he comes to us today from his home in Panama. Sheirbon is a 33-year-old IT-consultant-turned-poker-pro. He is already well-regarded in tournament poker, having earned several nice finishes in major events. Among those were a 13th place finish in the WPT Bellagio Main Event, as well as in-the-money finishes in the last two WSOP Main Events (392nd and 134th, respectively)."
Sheirbon went on to finish third in the 2008 LAPT San José Main Event for $109,913.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
17,000 |
Season 4 LAPT Colombia champion Julian Menendez has just been eliminated.
After a player in middle position opened to 2,000, and Menendez three-bet to 5,500 from the cutoff. The button and blinds folded, the raiser called, and the flop fell 
. It was checked to Menendez who took about 30 seconds before announcing he was all in (which was roughly 29,000). His opponent snap-called and tabled 
for ace high with the nut flush draw.
Menendez had outs, but trailed with 
. He found no help from the turn or 
river, ending his tournament.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
Busted |
