2008 PokerStars.net LAPT Punta del Este

$2,700 No Limit Hold'em Main Event
Day: 3
Event Info

2008 PokerStars.net LAPT Punta del Este

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
k3
Prize
$241,735
Event Info
Buy-in
$2,500
Prize Pool
$851,175
Entries
351
Level Info
Level
27
Blinds
50,000 / 100,000
Ante
10,000

$2,700 No Limit Hold'em Main Event

Day 3 Completed

Congratulations to Jose Miguel Espinar, LAPT Punta del Este Champion! ($241,735)

Jose Miguel Espinar - Champion!
Jose Miguel Espinar - Champion!
Our tournament this weekend was solid proof that poker is growing worldwide and that Latin America, in particular, is poised for major tournament play. Fighting through three very long days and 351 skillful opponents, Jose Miguel Espinar has just captured the title here at the PokerStars.net LAPT Punta del Este!

The luxurious setting here at the Mantra Resort Spa Casino provided a wonderful backdrop for a tournament. The players were comfortable and the staff took good care of them for three full days.This final stop on the LAPT offered up a prize pool of more than $850,000, and 32 players captured their own piece of that. The big chunk goes to Espinar though, who will snag $241,735 -- or a whopping 4,605,000 Uruguayan pesos! This is easily the biggest cash in Espinar's short poker career, which began just six months ago. Along the way, he faced a tough test, including a final table that was truly skilled. Despite his competition, Espinar's chip stack climbed steadily all day, and by the end of the night, he found himself on the top of the mountain.

That just about wraps things up from Punta del Este Uruguay. All indications are that the LAPT will be back here next year, and we certainly hope to see you then. Until then, congratulations to our champion, Jose Miguel Espinar!

Tags: Jose Miguel Espinar

Alex Brenes Eliminated in 2nd Place ($127,625)

Alex Brenes - 2nd Place
Alex Brenes - 2nd Place
On the very next hand, Alex Brenes puts the last of his 40,000 chips all in holding {A-Hearts} {10-Clubs}. With plenty of chips, Jose Miguel Espinar makes the call, tabling {K-Clubs} {3-Clubs}.

Again, a massive crowd surrounds the table, eagerly awaiting the outcome of what could be the final hand.

The flop is about as good as it gets for Espinar. It comes {K-Diamonds} {7-Clubs} {9-Clubs}, giving him top pair and a flush draw to boot. Brenes realizes that his hopes are vanishing with just two cards left to find salvation.

The turn is the {4-Spades}, no help to Alex.

Down to his last card, Brenes needs to find one of the non-club aces to stay alive. Unfortunately for him, the {9-Spades} peels off, winning the hand and the championship for Jose Miguel Espinar.

Alex Brenes put on quite a show this weekend, and in the LAPT overall. His two final table appearances are certainly worthy of high praise. He was unable to capture a title, but he will take home $127,625 tonight.

Tags: Alex BrenesJose Miguel Espinar

Monster Pot and Drama to Match It

Jose Miguel Espinar has the button.

He opens the action with a raise to 250,000. Alex Brenes thinks for just a moment before moving all in with his full stack of new white chips. Quickly, Espinar makes the call and we have all of the chips in the middle of the table. As a crowd gathers around the players, the cards are turned face-up:

Brenes: {A-Clubs} {9-Diamonds}
Espinar: {A-Spades} {10-Diamonds}

Finally, the spectators have the big pot they have been waiting for. The two men stand and exchange a few well-wishes as the chips are counted down. When the final numbers are in, it is Espinar who is all in and at-risk, covered by just 40,000 chips.

As flash bulbs pop and cheers erupt from the crowd, the dealer burns and spreads the flop. It miraculously comes out {9-Clubs} {K-Diamonds} {6-Clubs}. The nine right in the door vaults Brenes into the lead and puts Espinar on the very brink of extinction. There are still two cards to come though.

Turn: {10-Hearts}

The tide turns quickly once again, and it is Espinar who catches back up, pairing his kicker to retake the lead. By this point, the crowd is going absolutely ballistic, barely believing what they are witnessing.

The river is the {5-Clubs}, and Jose Miguel Espinar's pair of tens are the winning hand. He rakes in nearly every chip in play, leaving Brenes with just 40,000 lonely checks.

Tags: Alex BrenesJose Miguel Espinar

Blinds Up

On the official structure sheet for this event, there are only 26 levels scheduled. The last official level was 30,000/60,000 - 5,000. After that level, it says on the sheet, "Per Tournament Director."

As per the tournament director, the new level is 50,000/100,000 with an ante of 10,000, representing a huge increase over the previous level. The pace of the action should pick up -- and in fact has picked up -- considerably.

Level: 27

Blinds: 50,000/100,000

Ante: 10,000

Short Break

The tournament clock has been paused while we take a 10-minute break. During the break, the white T25,000 chips are going to be put into play.

Even Steven

Alex Brenes has won a few recent small pots, and he has worked his way back to being dead even with his opponent. Both men currently sit with right at 1.75 million checks in front of them.