2009 PokerStars.net LAPT Mar del Plata

$5,200 Mar del Plata Main Event
Day: 1b
Event Info

2009 PokerStars.net LAPT Mar del Plata

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
kj
Prize
$381,030
Event Info
Buy-in
$5,000
Prize Pool
$1,411,350
Entries
291
Level Info
Level
21
Blinds
10,000 / 20,000
Ante
2,000

Welcome to Day 1b of the PokerStars.net LAPT Mar del Plata

140 runners began Day 1a and when the dust settled, only 27 players remained.

They are expecting a similar sized field on Day 1b including Joe Hachem, Dennis Phillips, Veronica Dabul, Leo Fernandez, Alexandre Gomes, Andre Akkari, J.C. Alvarado, Humberto Brenes, Fernando Odriozola, Eddie Sabat, Max Stern, Maria Stern, Carter Gill, Ibuki Fukui, and Alex Brenes.

Stay tuned for complete coverage starting at noon local time.

Level: 1

Blinds: 25/50

Ante: 0

Leo Fernandez Crippled

Team PokerStars Pro Leo Fernandez from Argentina lost almost 90 percent of his chips in a pot that attracted almost every single member of media in the room. A mob gathered around the table and watched the hand unfold between Fernandez and a local player.

On the flop of {Q-Hearts}{10-Spades}{6-Spades}, Fernandez fired out 1,300. His opponent min-raised him to 2,600. Leo Fernandez shoved for his entire stack and his opponent called.

Fernandez: {Q-Clubs} {10-Clubs}
Opponent: {A-Clubs} {A-Diamonds}

Fernandez was ahead with two pair against pocket aces. However, the turn was the {6-Hearts} which gave Fernandez's opponent aces up and a better two pair. The river was the {K-Spades}. Fernandez's opponent dragged the pot and a visibly disappointed Fernandez was left with 1,100 in chips.

Tags: Leo Fernandez

Shark Warning

"Fear the shark!"
"Fear the shark!"
Team PokerStars Pro Humberto Brenes is among the many Team PokerStars Pros in today's field. Humberto brought along his infamous sharks along with several family members, including his brother Alex Brenes and his son Roberto Brenes.

Tags: Humberto Brenes

Level: 2

Blinds: 50/100

Ante: 0

Ramos Loses "Sick" Hand; Gianelli Surges to 29K

Vincenzo Gianelli = early chip leader
Vincenzo Gianelli = early chip leader
I just learned that the term "so sick" is the same in Spanish (and Portuguese) as it is in English after a hand unfolded between two Brazilian players, Vincenzo Gianelli and Felipe Ramos.

The board read {Q-?} {8-?} {5-?} {K-?}. Both players got all their money in on the turn. Felipe Ramos held pocket eights for a set against Vincenzo Gianelli's {K-?} {Q-?} and top two pair. However, a {K-?} spiked on the river and Gianelli dragged the pot with a bigger full house. Ramos was eliminated and Gianelli's stack is around 29,000.

As one member of the Costa Rican media said to me afterwords, "So sick!"

Tags: Vincenzo Gianelli

Joe Hachem Takes an Early Hit

Joe Hachem raised to 300 from early position and the player two to his left made the call. The flop came {J-Diamonds} {4-Spades} {J-Spades}, Hachem led out, and his opponent called. The turn brought the {7-Spades} and Hachem made an 800 bet that was also called. The {5-Hearts} fell on the river, Hachem bet 1,400 and after a moment's pause his opponent min-raised. Looking mildly pained throughout the hand, Hachem made the call and his opponent showed {A-Spades} {9-Spades} for the ace-high flush. Hachem mucked, and he's now down to about half of his original starting stack.

A Trio of Stars

Team PokerStars Pros Veronica Dabul and Leo Fernandez
Team PokerStars Pros Veronica Dabul and Leo Fernandez
Three Team PokerStars Pros are currently seated at the same table... and all in a row. Table 5 inside the Casino de Central features Andre Akkari (Brazil), Veronica Dabul (Argentina), and Leo Fernandez (Argentina).

Dabul seems to be doing the best of the three during the initial two levels. Her stack is around 11,000. Despite losing almost 90 percent of his chips on one hand, Fernandez has since doubled up and is closing in on 3,000. Akkari lost a couple of small pots and has slipped to under 9,000.

Tags: Andre AkkariLeo FernandezVeronica Dabul