$5,200 Mar del Plata Main Event Day 1b | 2009 PokerStars.net LAPT Mar del Plata

04-17-2009 16:17 UTC-4

Chess > Backgammon > Poker

Team PokerStars Pro Leo Fernandez from Argentina began playing chess when he was five years old. By the age of 18, he became an International Chess Master. Looking for a change of pace, he turned his sights onto backgammon and quickly mastered that game. At one point he was ranked as one of the top 10 backgammon players in the world. It was inevitable that Leo would find himself playing poker. He quickly picked up the game and competed in tournaments all over the world.

The former chess and backgammon whiz has been a regular on the PokerStars.net LAPT. His most impressive feat included a 247th-place finish (out of 6,844 runners) at the 2008 WSOP Main Event.

In the opening level of Day 1b, Fernandez took a massive hit and lost over 90 percent of his stack. He welcomed the challenge and slowly built his 1,100 stack up to almost 7,000. Most players would have thrown away the rest of his stack, but he battled back to stay alive. He faded almost one-third of today's field with a shortest of short stacks.

Tags: Leo Fernandez

04-17-2009 16:02 UTC-4

Umbrella Man Update

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"Under my umbrella, ella ella, eh eh eh, eh eh eh..."

We interrupt this normally scheduled broadcast for breaking news about... Umbrella Man. Since the peanut gallery requested an update on Umbrella Man, I'm happy to say that Zach Hall is still alive and well with 19,500 in chips or approximately 5,000 above the average stack.

And yes, he's still wearing the umbrella.

Tags: Umbrella Man

04-17-2009 15:53 UTC-4

Always There to Help

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Two players at Joe Hachem's table found themselves all in after a {10-Diamonds}

flop. One held {K-?}

for top pair, the other held {K-Diamonds}

for a flush draw. And a straight draw (actually a straight-flush draw), as the sharp-eyed among you probably also noticed.

But the player with the {K-Diamonds}

apparently was bedazzled by his diamonds, because after the {9-Spades}

turned (giving him the straight) and the {5-Spades}

fell on the river he stood up, rapped the table, and started pushing his chips toward the dealer. He'd actually turned away from the table before Hachem pulled out his earbuds and took the guy's wrist. The player turned around and Hachem explained that, yes, he'd won the hand. He grinned from ear to ear as he stacked his surprise winnings, while the loser had to console himself with a masseuse kneading his shoulders.

Tags: Joe Hachem

04-17-2009 15:46 UTC-4

Recent Eliminations: J.C. Alvarado and Max Stern

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Among the recent casualties included Team PokerStars Pro J.C. Alvarado and Max Stern.

Tags: J.C. Alvarado

04-17-2009 15:34 UTC-4

Sorry Charlie, No Brazilian Models Today

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Much to the chagrin of some of our readers, there are no Brazilian models playing on Day 1b because they all played on Day 1a. However, there are plenty of Argentinian models acting as "hostesses" mingling around the lounge area and on the rail. I'm still trying to figure out what their exact purpose is at the event. But needless to say, the players are enjoying their splendid hospitality.

04-17-2009 15:25 UTC-4

Ibuki Fukui Loses Chips

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Ibuki Fukui wandered over to the media desk at the break to inform us of his status. During Level 4, he took a couple of big hits and slipped to 4,000. Despite the setback, he said that he was trying to remain positive.

Tags: Ibuki Fukui

04-17-2009 15:22 UTC-4

We're Back

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Break time is over and the 108 players remaining in Day 1b have returned to action.

Level: 5

Blinds: 150/300

Ante: 25

04-17-2009 15:13 UTC-4

On Break

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The players have headed out on a ten-minute break.

04-17-2009 15:08 UTC-4

Roberto Brenes Eliminated

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J.C. Alvarado and Humberto Brenes sweat Roberto Brenes

Roberto Brenes raised from UTG for 600. Horacio Courdin on the button called along with both blinds. The flop was {A-Clubs}

. The small blind fired out 3,000. The big blind folded. Roberto Brenes moved all in for 7,000. Horacio Courdin reraised all in for almost 25,000. The player in the small blind headed into the tank for a couple of minutes. He made a praying motion with his hands before he stood up and moved all in.

Small Blind: {A-Hearts}