$2,700 No Limit Hold'em Main Event Day 1 | 2008 PokerStars.net LAPT Punta del Este

08-07-2008 20:33 UTC-3

It's a Killer

[user66118]

We pick up the action at the aforementioned Table of Death.

With Andre Akkari in the big blind, the player under the gun comes in raising to 1,100. The betting passes around to Greg Raymer in the cutoff seat, and he quickly reraises it to three yellow chips -- 3,000. When play comes back around to Akkari, he goes into the tank for several moments. He counts out his chips, checks his hand, recounts his chips, re-checks his hand. Throughout the process, Raymer is gazing straight at Akkari.

After about three minutes, Akkari moves all in for a total of 15,075. The original raiser folds, and Raymer quickly and calmly says, "I call, Andre." The two men turn over their hands, drawing a reaction from the onlookers:

Akkari: {Q-Spades}

Raymer:

The dealer spreads out the community cards: {K-Clubs}

. Akkari fails to find either of his out cards, and he is eliminated by The Fossilman. After dragging in that pot, Raymer has ticked over the 80,000 mark, and appears to be the chip leader at this point.

Tags: Andre Akkari Greg Raymer

08-07-2008 20:16 UTC-3

Table of Death

[user66118]

Six hours into the tournament, we might have our first Table of Death.

Over on Table 21, Greg Raymer and Vanessa Rousso have been seated together all day. Shortly after dinner break though, a table was broken, and their fellow PokerStars pro Andre Akkari was moved to join them. A crowd has begun to gather around what is truly the toughest table in town.

08-07-2008 20:06 UTC-3

Cover to Cover

[user66118]

Young gun Teddy Peterson has just become the newest owner of Ace on the River, Barry Greenstein's book.

And he didn't even have to buy it.

A player in early position opened the action with a raise, and Greenstein moved all in over the top for about 10,000 total. Sitting next to him, Peterson squeezed out {A-?}

and made the call, having both men covered. The original raiser folded, and Greenstein turned over his {10-?}

.

A third {A-?}

on the flop spelled the end for Greenstein. He signed a copy of his book, handed it to his opponent, and departed the room to a hearty round of applause.

Tags: Barry Greenstein

08-07-2008 19:41 UTC-3

Flip Flop

[user66118]

The players have pulled a switcheroo, with the dinner half returning to play and those who haven't yet eaten headed for the buffet. At the conclusion of this hour, all players will be back on Level 7 together.

08-07-2008 19:26 UTC-3

Saint Bernard

[user66118]

A player in early position moved all in, pushing his last 6,850 in chips forward. Two seats behind him, an opponent came over the top, all in for his remaining 13,875. Action passed around to the button, where Cyril Bernard looked down at {K-Clubs}

. He too shipped it all in for 11,250. When the hands were turned up, he saw that he was up against {4-Spades}

and

respectively.

The board ran out {A-Hearts}

. Any old ace or heart would win the pot, but nobody could best Bernard's two kings. He raked in a massive bounty, moving all the way up to 30,000. In the process, he knocked out one opponent and left another's stack in shambles.

Tags: Cyril Bernard

08-07-2008 19:08 UTC-3

Halioua-lujah

[user66118]

Action has tightened up a bit as the players look to outlast the dinner break.

In a recent pot, the action passed all the way around to the button, where the player glanced pensively at the two players left to act in the blinds. He opened things up by raising to 1,200. The small blind folded, but Mike Halioua reraised from the small blind, putting out 3,500 chips. With no hesitation, the button announced, "All in," and before the words were even out of his mouth, Halioua had his call in the pot. Each player had about 14,000 in chips, with Halioua having the covering amount.

Halioua: {K-Hearts}

Opponent:

The flop was just what the doctor ordered for Halioua. It came out {3-Hearts}

, ending any drama right there. The meaningless {9-Clubs}

and

filled out the board, and Halioua raked in a huge pot, nearly doubling up to 31,000.

Tags: Mike Halioua

08-07-2008 18:43 UTC-3

Where'd They Go?

[user66118]

The first half of the field has gone to break, while the other half of the room plays on.

Level: 6

Blinds: 200/400

Ante: 50

08-07-2008 18:32 UTC-3

Staggered Dinner

[user66118]

The tournament staff has made a slight change on the fly, in order to make up for the hour-late start this afternoon.

At the conclusion of this level, half of the room is going to take their one-hour dinner break, while the other half continues to play on with Level 6. After that hour, the two halves of the field will trade places, and those returning from dinner will play Level 6 as well. After that two-hour span, all of the remaining players will be back in the room playing Level 7, and we should proceed as scheduled.

08-07-2008 18:08 UTC-3

By the Numbers

[user66118]

After all the players have been registered and counted, we have learned that the total number of runners for this final stop on the LAPT was 351. At the present moment, we have 266 of them remaining in the field fighting for a spot in Day 2.

The prize pool and payouts are still being calculated by the staff, and we hope to have those numbers for you shortly.