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

08-08-2008 18:29 UTC-3

In the Money!

Alex Brenes raised under the gun, putting out 11,000 chips. Action came all the way around to Jamal Kunbuz in the big blind. He had just 14,200 chips, and he decided to make the call.

The flop came out {7-Hearts}

, and the last 3,200 of Kunbuz's chips went into the pot. When Brenes called, Kunbuz tabled the overpair: {10-Clubs}

. He was in for bad news though, as Brenes showed down {8-Clubs}

having flopped top set. The turn and river failed to improve Kunbuz, coming {J-Spades}

and

and we have found our bubble boy.

Congratulations to the remaining 32 players who have earned money here at the PokerStars.net LAPT Punta del Este!

08-08-2008 18:06 UTC-3

Mano a Mano

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We are at 33 players, meaning we need to lose just one more unlucky soul before the money bubble pops. The tournament is now being dealt hand for hand.

08-08-2008 17:59 UTC-3

Back in Action

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The clock is running once again as play has resumed. The players will play out this level and then take their one-hour dinner break.

Level: 15

Blinds: 2,000/4,000

Ante: 300

08-08-2008 17:59 UTC-3

Don't Make Her Mad

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Just before the break, a controversy broke out involving PokerStars Pro Vanessa Rousso. Alex Brenes is at her table, and he kicked things off with a raise to 9,000 under the gun. The betting passed around to Rousso on the button, and she bumped it up further, making it 20,000 to skate. Right behind her, the player in the small blind moved all in for 28,800.

A debate broke out about whether or not the betting was still open for another raise. The floor was called over and an unpopular ruling was made. The staff member ruled that because the all in was not a full raise, the betting was closed to Rousso. According to the decision, Brenes would be allowed to raise or call, but if he only called, Rousso would not be permitted to put in another raise herself.

Vanessa Rousso vehemently insisted that this was an incorrect ruling. "This is wrong. This is so wrong. So so wrong. I've played in hundreds of tournaments, and this is so wrong." Despite her pleas, the decision was final.

When the action resumed after a little delay, Alex Brenes opted to just call the all in, and Rousso had no choice but to make the call as well. With one player all in for his tournament life, the three of them saw the flop come down {J-Diamonds}

. Brenes checked, and Rousso, still steaming, announced, "Thirty-five thousand." She was visibly shaken still, and knocked over her chips as she attempted to cut out her bet. With her lips pressed firmly together, she eventually managed to slide the 35,000 forward, still shaking her head and mumbling. Brenes conceded, folding his cards and concluding the action for the hand.

Rousso showed down {K-Hearts}

and was poised to eliminate the all-in player, who tabled his {A-Hearts}

. The turn and river -- {9-Clubs}

and

, didn't provide him any help, and one more player headed to the rail.

Despite the controversy and the emotional tussle, Vanessa Rousso is in fine shape, having now climbed up to about 160,000 chips.

Tags: Vanessa Rousso

08-08-2008 17:48 UTC-3

Ready... Break!

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The clock has been paused while we take another 10-minute stretch break.

08-08-2008 17:37 UTC-3

Bubble Approaching

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We have lost two players in the last 20 minutes, bringing us nearer and nearer to the money bubble. With thirty-six players remaining, we need to lose just four more before everyone is guaranteed a payout. One of those who fell victim to the last level was "Fossilman" Greg Raymer.

Raymer lost about half his chips when he raced with his {A-?}

against an opponent's {6-?}

. The pair of sixes held up, and Raymer was down to around 50,000.

A few hands later, he and another player were tangled up in a pot with the board showing {9-Clubs}

. Raymer moved all in for a substantial amount with {10-Diamonds}

and was called down by his opponent holding {A-Diamonds}

. The

and

that completed the board were of no use to Raymer, and he couldn't beat ace high. Despite working with a big stack much of the tournament, Fossilman found himself petrified just a few spots from the money.

Tags: Greg Raymer

08-08-2008 17:17 UTC-3

Do the Tighten Up

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With the money bubble drawing ever closer, the atmosphere and pace of the tournament has changed considerably. Early in the day, it was commonplace for pots to be hotly contested between three or more players. In this latest level though, things have tightened up a great deal.

Very few hands are being played all the way to the river, or even the turn. Even fewer involve more than two players. The vast majority of the hands played right now are being won with a pre-flop raise or a single bet on the flop. With just six players left to bust before the money hits, all indications are that it might be a while before we get there.

08-08-2008 16:54 UTC-3

Pair the Board!

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Humberto Brenes has been on a roller coaster today, alternatively finding himself with plenty and not nearly enough chips. Lately, he has been swinging to the negative, and he found himself badly in need of a double up. With action folded to him on the button, he moved all in for about 30,000 holding {A-?}

. Next to him, the small blind made the call, turning over {A-Clubs}

.

Humberto was in trouble and at-risk of being knocked out, but the flop brought him some help. It came out {10-?}

, putting him back in the lead but still needing to dodge a king or a queen. The turn was a safe {6-?}

, and Humberto yelled, "Pair the board!" as the dealer obliged him with another {J-?}

on the river. "Pair the board!" he yelled again, patting his opponent on the shoulder. Brenes does indeed get his double up, and he is back up to 65,000 in chips.

Tags: Humberto Brenes

Level: 14

Blinds: 1,500/3,000

Ante: 300