LAPT Grand Final
The luxurious City Center Casino in Rosario, Argentina, billed as the largest casino in South America, is playing host to one of the most anticipated events of the year, the 2010 PokerStars.net Latin American Poker Tour Season 3 Grand Final. Players have flocked from around the world to take part in the $4,700 + $300 Main Event that will run from September 23rd-26th, 2010.
The latest season of the LAPT produced a bevy of highlights. In November of 2009, Amer Sulaiman defeated Nicolas Cardyn to take down the LAPT Playa Conchal title and $172,095 first place prize. In February, Jose Ignacio “Nacho” Barbero took the LAPT scene by storm when he notched a win at the LAPT Punta del Este in Uruguay for $279,330. A short time later, a devastating earthquake caused the cancellation of the LAPT Viña del Mar event in Chile, leaving Barbero to continue his streak at the LAPT Lima stop in June. Amazingly, Barbero defeated Ben Barrows to take down back-to-back LAPT titles and another $250,000 in prize money. Come June, the poker world held its collective breath to see if Barbero could make it three in a row at the LAPT Florianópolis stop in Brazil. Unfortunately for him, it was a young Austrian by the name of Matthias Habernig who emerged victorious.
All of these players are expected to return for a shot at another LAPT title, but standing in their way will be plethora of established pros including: U.S. Team Pros Victor Ramdin and Dennis Phillips, Brazilians Andre Akkari, Gualter Salles and Maria Mayrinck, Mexicans Angel Gullen and Christian de Leon, Costa Rican Humberto Brenes, and Argentinean natives Veronica Dabul and Leo Fernandez, just to name a few.
Last night, a welcome party was held at JARANA in the City Center Casino that allowed players and spectators to mingle with Team Pros while enjoying traditional Argentinean entertainment. Many of the PokerStars Team Pros were attendance and literally danced the night away, especially Dabul and Ramdin. Hopefully they both managed to get a good night’s sleep as the tournament is set to begin at 12:00 ART. Stay tuned to PokerNews for up-to-the-minute coverage of the 2010 LAPT Grand Final LIVE from Rosario, Argentina!