LAPT San José Main Event Day 1 | 2008 PokerStars.net LAPT - San José

11-03-2008 10:52 UTC-5

Welcome to the PokerStars.net LAPT San Jose!

[user66118]

Buenos días and welcome to the start of the premier event for the second season of the PokerStars.net Latin American Poker Tour!

The first stop on the LAPT schedule takes us to lovely San Jose, Costa Rica, where the Ramada Plaza Herradura Conference Center will play host to a field of pros and amateurs alike, the majority of them from right here in Latin America.

The tournament staff is buzzing around, making final preparations to the room, which is fully decked-out in PokerStars regalia. There are 37 tables set up for play, and the staff expects to have a great turnout once again, anchored by more than 100 online qualifiers. Play kicks off at 12:00 noon local time, so check back with us then for our live coverage!

11-03-2008 13:09 UTC-5

"Shuffle Up and Deal!"

[user66118]

After a brief introduction from Nolan Dalla, -- in Spanish, no less -- Tournament Director Mike Ward has uttered those most famous words in poker. With that, the LAPT San Jose is underway!

Level: 1

Blinds: 25/50

Ante: 0

11-03-2008 13:29 UTC-5

Picking Out Faces

[user66118]

As we scan through the field for the first time, a number of notable faces stick out. It's a family affair at Table 18, where PokerStars pro Humberto Brenes is sitting right next to his brother, Alex. Also joining that table is Jon "apestyles" Van Fleet. Other big names in the room include Stars' pros Andre Akkari, Alexandre Gomes, and Victor Ramdin, as well as Maria "maridu" Mayrinck, Stephen "stevie444" Chidwick, Carter Gill, Eddy Sabat, and Liv Boeree.

11-03-2008 13:46 UTC-5

A Champion Amongst Us

[user66118]

We just spotted another familiar face , last year's champion of this event, Valdemar Kwaysser, with a front-row seat at Table 1.

11-03-2008 14:01 UTC-5

Kings Into Aces Find Sabat in Trouble

[user66118]

Eddy Sabat got things started with a limp from under the gun and Joe Herrera put in a raise to 200 from middle position. The player next to him called, and action came around to the small blind, who reraised the table, making it 800 straight. Sabat called, but Herrera wasn't so easily pacified as he reraised to a total of 3,000. That was enough to get the small blind out of the way, but Sabat paused for a moment before moving all in for just under 10,000. Instantly, Herrera called.

Showdown:
Sabat: {K-Diamonds}

Herrera:

Sabat stood up and yelled to his friend Carter Gill, who was seated at the adjacent table. "Carter, I'm about to bust!"

Not so fast though, Eddy. The flop brought {6-Clubs}

, earning Sabat a magical third king. The turn was the {2-Clubs}

, and the

on the river failed to re-improve Herrera. Despite getting his money in way ahead, Joe Herrera has been eliminated here early in Day 1, much to his chagrin.

Sabat, meanwhile, has doubled up to the early chip lead, sitting with 20,000.

Tags: Eddy Sabat Joe Herrera

Level: 2

Blinds: 50/100

Ante: 0

11-03-2008 14:19 UTC-5

Gomes Splashing Around

[user66118]

Alexandre Gomes has been particularly active here in the first level. As the second round starts, we join him once again involved in a pot. Heads up, the board shows {5-Spades}

, and there are about 800 chips in the pot. On the turn, Gomes leads out with 625 chips, and his lone opponent calls.

The river is the {3-Clubs}

. Gomes sits dead-still for a few moments before passing. His opponent checks behind, turning over {9-Spades}

. It's good apparently, as Gomes takes one last look at his hand before sliding it into the muck.

Despite that little setback, Gomes is still healthy with 14,500 chips in front of him.

Tags: Alexandre Gomes

11-03-2008 14:30 UTC-5

Maridu Earns Some Royalties

[user66118]

Maria "maridu" Mayrinck is quickly becoming known as one of the premier female players on the tournament circuit. She has been going slow and steady so far today, but recently got a little boost to her stack.

Holding {Q-Spades}

, Mayrinck watched the flop come down {A-Spades}

(X)

. She and her opponent both made it to the turn, which brought the money card for her, the {K-Spades}

! There was only a small pot up for grabs, but "maridu" got to show down her Royal Flush and add to her stack. She sits just over the 11,000 mark.

Tags: Maria Mayrinck maridu

11-03-2008 14:41 UTC-5

Sabat Slips with Trips

[user66118]

It's becoming hard to stray away from Eddy Sabat's table, as he has been involved in nearly every hand dealt.

A middle-position player and the man in the cutoff seat limp from in front of Sabat's small blind, and he and the big blind make it a four-way flop. It shows up {7-Diamonds}

. Action is checked to the cutoff seat, and he puts in a bet of 300. Sabat and the middle-position player call, while the big blind ducks out.

Fourth street brings the {4-Clubs}

. Sabat takes the lead now, flipping out a single pink T500 chip. Middle position calls, while the last player puts in a healthy raise to 2,500. This time, Sabat is the only one who comes along.

Heads up, the river reveals the {5-Spades}

. Sabat leads back into the pot, tossing out a bet of just 1,100, which his opponent calls. Sabat tables {7-Clubs}