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

08-08-2008 17:48 UTC-3

Ready... Break!

[user66118]

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

08-08-2008 17:59 UTC-3

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

Level: 15

Blinds: 2,000/4,000

Ante: 300

08-08-2008 17:59 UTC-3

Back in Action

[user66118]

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.

08-08-2008 18:06 UTC-3

Mano a Mano

[user66118]

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 18:29 UTC-3

In the Money!

[user66118]

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 18:44 UTC-3

Chop the Payout?

[user66118]

As Jamal Kunbuz was in the process of busting, action was still in progress at another table with a player all in.

The betting folded all the way around to the blinds, where Carter Gill looked down at {K-Diamonds}

. He decided to ship it in for about 60,000 with only one player to act behind him. That player, however, squeezed out {Q-Diamonds}

and made the call, having Gill slightly covered. At this point, Kunbuz had already been eliminated, and if Gill couldn't catch up, he and Kunbuz would share the last payout spot.

No need for that though. The flop revealed {2-Diamonds}

, vaulting Gill into the lead. The turn was the {A-Spades}

and the river came the {2-Clubs}

. Carter Gill came charging back from behind to scoop a monster pot and cripple his opponent. He is now up to 125,000 chips, and doesn't have to worry about splitting a payout spot with anyone.

08-08-2008 19:00 UTC-3

The Happiest Bust-Out Yet

[user66118]

Humberto Brenes was just moved to the featured table, and he ended up in the seat that had previously been occupied by Greg Raymer.

It ended up working out the same for both men.

Action folded around to Humberto in the small blind, and he raised to 14,000. Alexandre Gomes was the only one left to get past, but he moved all in, having Humberto well-covered. Brenes made the call, and the two PokerStars pros butted heads for a big pot.

Brenes: {A-?}

Gomes:

The board failed to provide any help for Humberto Brenes, bricking off completely, and he simply shrugged and lamented, "Ace and ace in the blinds, what can I do?" in his happy-go-lucky tone. He gave Gomes a big hug and headed for the rail, smiling all the way.

After knocking out his partner and raking in that pot, Alexandre Gomes is now our big chip leader, up dangerously close to 300,000.

Tags: Alexandre Gomes Humberto Brenes

08-08-2008 19:01 UTC-3

Dinner Bell

[user66118]

The clock has been paused, and the players are now on a one-hour dinner break.

08-08-2008 20:12 UTC-3

Play Resumes

[user66118]

The players have returned from dinner, the clock is rolling, and the cards are in the air once again. We will play until we lose 15 more players tonight.