We were perusing the PokerStars Program on the LAPT Colombia and came across a well-written summary of the LAPT Season IV thus far. We thought it was worth sharing, so here it is:
The LAPT 2011 began in Sao Paulo, Brazil, a city that had never seen the LAPT on its soil. In February Season 4 opened at the Sheraton World Trade Center. It was a record-breaking tournament. Before the stop in Sao Paulo, no LAPT main event had hoasted more than 400 players. That changed in Brazil when 536 people took their seats for the first event of the season.
The record field on Brazilian soil gave the people of that country their greatest chance yet to win an LAPT Main Event. Joao Neto gave them an even greater chance when he got heads up. It all slipped away and into the hands of Chile’s Alex Manzano. He won nearly $370,000 for his victory.
Brazil, still stung by just missing its chances at a championship, exacted its revenge a few weeks later. The LAPT moved on to Chile, home of the man who had ripped the championship out of Brazilian hands. It had been two years since the LAPT had visited Vina del Mar. In 2010, the catastrophic earthquake forced the cancelation of the Season 3 main event. In Season 4, LAPT Chile became the biggest ever LAPT event. Six hundred twenty-one people showed up. Among them was Brazilian Murilo Figueiredo, the man who would claim victory and $146,000 in prize money for Brazil.
In April, 350 players from 30 different countries showed up in Lima, Peru to battle for the lion’s share of the $774,000 prize pool. In the end, Lima local Kemal Ferri won his first ever major poker tournament for more than $200,000.
In August, the LAPT returned to Punta del Este for the fourth consecutive season. In the first three years, no player from Uruguay managed to snag the top spot. That changed in Season 4 when Alex Komaromi steamrolled the final two days of play and raised the Uruguayan flag over his quarter-million dollar first prize.
Now, it’s time for the fifth event of the season. In what is already an historic year, a Colombian champion on Colombian soil would be the stuff of storybooks.
Samar Hodali moved all in from middle position for her last 3,600 and watched as action folded to the player on the button. He decided to move all in over the top for 5,525, which inspired both blinds to fold.
Showdown
Hodali:
Button:
Hodali was behind, though she held two live cards. Unfortunately for her, neither the flop nor the river were of much help. "Vamos," Hodali shouted headed to the river, which came the unhelpful . With that, Hodali made a quick exit from the tournament floor.
A player in early position opened to 1,050 and Carlos Watanabe called from middle position. Action folded to Humberto Brenes in the big blind and he gave the thumbs up, indicating a re-raise.
He settled on 5,450, but the original raiser four-bet shoved for about 27,000. Watanabe folded, sending Brenes into the tank for about a minute before he gave it up.
We were wandering by Alex Manzano's table and noticed what appeared to be a big pot developing. We're not sure of the details, but we do know that the board read and Manzano had bet. His opponent in the cutoff raised, Manzano three-bet to 4,300, and the cutoff four-bet to 11,150. Both players were fairly deep, so the hand had potential to be a monster, but all hope of that was dashed when Manzano silently folded.
Alex Manzano opened to 950 from the cutoff and was met with a three-bet from the player on the button to 2,600. Action folded back to Manzano who after a few moments, put in a four-bet to 6,075. His opponent, though, wasn't going anywhere and popped it to 17,600. Manzano immediately placed his T5,000 blue chips into the pot and put his opponent to a decision for the rest of his stack.
It was an easy one as his oppponent called all and showed . Manzano was well behind with and found no help from the board.
We're not sure how it happened, but Ramiro Maduro seems to have been eliminated from the tournament. In fact, his former seat is now occupied by Freddy Torres.
We're not sure of all the action, but with about 7,000 in the pot, a player in middle position found himself all in for about 11,000 on a board reading . Freddy Torres made the call and discovered he was in a dominating position.
Showdown
Torres:
Middle Position:
Neither the turn nor river changed a thing, and Torres took down the sizable pot, increasing his stack to 62,000.