$5,200 Mar del Plata Main Event | 2009 PokerStars.net LAPT Mar del Plata

04-19-2009 15:18 UTC-4

Updated Chip Counts

[user37786]

After that mano enferma (that's "sick hand" in Spanish - I think) won by Dominik Nitsche, here are our new chip counts:

Dominik Nitsche: 1,927,000
Jorge Landazuri: 443,000
Rodolfo Awad: 440,000
Jason Skeans: 227,000

Those of you handy with calculators will see that Nitsche has about 67% of the chips in play.

04-19-2009 15:32 UTC-4

And the Inaction Continues

[user24788]

After that three-way all in over a half hour ago, the action dulled down substantially. Jason Skeans moved all in a couple of times but did not get any action. Jorge Landazuri won a small pot in the last orbit. That was the first pot that the young Mexican has played at the final table.

Tags: Jorge Landazuri

04-19-2009 15:52 UTC-4

Jason Skeans Eliminated in 4th Place ($105,860)

[user24788]

Rodolfo Awad was on the button in Seat 2. Jason Skeans moved all in for 159,000. Rodolfo Awad called.

Skeans: {6-Diamonds}

Awad:

Awad caught Skeans with his hand in the cookie jar and was ahead, while Skeans was fighting for his tournament life. The flop was {K-Diamonds}

and Awad still held the lead. The turn was the {3-Spades}

and Skeans picked up a gutshot. The river was the {10-Diamonds}

and Jason Skeans was eliminated in fourth place. The American from Cincinnati, OH won $105,860.

Tags: Jason Skeans

04-19-2009 15:57 UTC-4

Players Take a 15-Minute Break

[user24788]

Smoke 'em if you got 'em.

04-19-2009 16:03 UTC-4

A Change in Temperature

[user37786]

It's a chilly day in Mar del Plata, the stiff breeze blowing off the ocean has people snuggling up in overcoats and scarves. And since the elimination of Leo Fernandez and Sergio Farias it's cooled down in the tournament room as well. Whereas before every hand either played was met with raucous shouts and chants and cries of "ARGENTINA!! ARGENTINA!!" the departure of the last two natives of our host country let a lot of the air out of the room.

A case in point was the elimination of Jason Skeans. Once the all-in and call were announced the crowd stood and edged forward, but almost in silence. When the flop was shown on the flatscreens throughout the room there was barely a murmur, and when Skeans picked up an inside-straight draw on the turn there was one muted cry of "five!". But that was it, and when Skeans was officially eliminated there was a round of polite applause. Which is rather a change from the passionate chaos that filled the tournament room for the last two days.

04-19-2009 16:09 UTC-4

Updated Chip Counts

[user37786]

Following the elimination of Jason Skeans, here are the up-to-date chip counts:

Dominik Nitsche: 2,057,000
Jorge Landazuri: 478,000
Rodolfo Awad: 440,000

Dominik has about 70% of the chips in play.

Level: 21

Blinds: 10,000/20,000

Ante: 2,000

04-19-2009 16:14 UTC-4

Final Three Players Return

[user24788]

Action resumes.

04-19-2009 16:22 UTC-4

Rodolfo Awad Eliminated in 3rd Place ($141,140)

[user24788]

On the first hand after the break, we had another elimination.

Jorge Landazuri has the button. Rodolfo Awad and Jorge Landazuri got it all in pre-flop. Jorge Landazuri raised 100,000. Awad shoved and Jorge called.

Jorge: {9-Hearts}

Rodolfo:

The flop was {8-Clubs}

and Rodolfo took the lead with a set of fours. Jorge winced in pain. The turn was the {A-Clubs}

and Jorge was down to two outs in the deck.When the {9-Spades}

spiked on the river, the Mexican contingency in the crowd exploded with applause as Jorge won the pot with a set of nines. The young Mexican leaped into the crowd and celebrated with his family, friends, and fellow countrymen as a dejected Awad headed to the rail in 3rd place. The player from Chile, Rodolfo Awad, won $141,140.

"Mexico! Mexico! Mexico!" shouted the crowd as they chanted and clapped.

After that hand, Jorge Landazuri moved up to 918,000.

Tags: Jorge Landazuri Rodolfo Awad

04-19-2009 16:37 UTC-4

Heads-Up Chip Counts

[user37786]

We'll be starting heads-up play in a few minutes. And when we do, here's how many chips each player will bring to battle:

Dominik Nitsche: 2,085,000
Jorge Landazuri: 941,000