LAPT Playa Conchal Main Event Day 1 | 2009 PokerStars.net LAPT Playa Conchal

11-19-2009 13:56 UTC-5

JC Runs Into a Straight

donpeters

JC Alvarado checked the last street on a board of {6-Spades}

. His opponent then fired 2,025 and Alvarado called. Alvarado was shown the {5-Diamonds}

from the other player and then mucked his hand, dropping to about 27,000.

Tags: JC Alvarado

11-19-2009 13:50 UTC-5

Christian de Leon has dropped to roughly 12,000 chips, losing nearly half of his starting stack within the first level of play.

Just recently, Leon called a bet of 2,100 from his opponent while the board read {9-Hearts}

. After the river fell the {A-Hearts}

, Leon was faced with another decision after his opponent laid out a bet of 5,500. Leon opted to fold, surrendering the hand.

Tags: Christian de Leon

11-19-2009 13:41 UTC-5

Alvarado Chipping Up Early

donpeters

Member of Team PokerStars PRO Mexico, JC Alvarado has increased his stack to about 29,000 in the early goings. Just recently, Alvarado called a bet of 1,000 on the river with the board reading {7-Spades}

. His opponent tabled pocket fours and lost Alvarado's {A-Diamonds}

.

11-19-2009 13:34 UTC-5

X-22 Spotting

[user38449]

Paul 'X-22' Magriel of both backgammon and poker fame has been spotted amongst the field.

Magriel captured the World Backgammon Championship title in 1978. He is also the creator of the 'M Principle,' or M ratio, popularized by fellow poker pro Dan Harrington in the Harrington on Hold'em series.

Tags: Paul Magriel

11-19-2009 13:22 UTC-5

More Names

donpeters

Members of Team PokerStars PRO Humberto Brenes, Veronica Dabul, Alexandre Gomes, Jose Ignacio Barbero, and Leo Fernandez are all here.

11-19-2009 13:11 UTC-5

Notables

donpeters

The room is filling up nicely as the last of the registrants straggle on in. So far, Alex "Assassinato" Fitzgerald, Jean-Robert Bellande, Andre Akkari, JC Alvarado, and Victor Ramdin have all been spotted.

11-19-2009 12:58 UTC-5

Shuffle Up and Deal!

donpeters

This tournament staff waits for no one. The dealers have been instrucuted to get things going as soon as there are four players seated at the table. Mind you, the registration line is still around 30 people deep and many seats are empty around the room.

Level: 1

Blinds: 50/100

Ante: 0

11-19-2009 12:30 UTC-5

Welcome to Season 3 of the LAPT!

donpeters

Welcome to Costa Rica for the inaugural stop on Season 3 of the PokerStars.net Latin American Poker Tour! The Paradisus Resort in Playa Conchal is the venue, and its very safe to say that the PokerStars players are qualifiers will truly be living in paradise this week as shown in the video below.

Last year's Costa Rica tournament was held in San Jose and Ryan Fee bested a field of 219 players to take home $285,773 in first place money.

Day one of the Main Event kicks off today at 12:00 p.m. CT. The event is tentatively capped at 350 entrants and each participant will be required to pony up $2,700. Top players from Team PokerStars are expected to be on hand including the likes of Humberto Brenes, Andre Akkari and J.C. Alvarado.

The room is buzzing with activity and the players are starting to settle into their seats. Be sure to keep your browser directed to PokerNews.com for all of the live action.

Play will be underway momentarily!

https://www.pokernews.com/video/welcome-to-the-2009-pokerstars-net-lapt-playa-conchal-2830.htm