They say the creme rises to the highest and after entering this present day 3 restart with a typical stack, rise is precisely what Raul "El Toro" Paez did over the past few levels. It was a quick paced penultimate LAPT9 Panama Main Event session and the one thing quicker than the velocity of eliminations was the expansion of Paez's stack.
"El Toro" top into Day 4
Right before the 2 table redraw, Paez flopped a suite to attain a double and a knockout within the same hand. That moved him into the chip lead and he never let that pole position go, continuing to climb inside the remainder of the day to eventually pace this final table into tomorrow's restart.
He'll bring slightly below 2,600,000 back for Day 4 and if Paez is the creme of this group, with nearly $2,000,000 in career earnings, then Aaron Mermelstein is the, uh, thing that rises just below the creme.
The two-time World Poker Tour champion will return second in chips, playing 1,800,000 and he'll be joined by two other Americans at tomorrow's final table. Austin Peck will get back with 1,350,000 and Miami's Alcides Gomez will return with 560,000 because the shortest stack.
Anderson Blanco and Ruben Suarez will both return over the chip average but having taken very different paths to get there. Blanco bottomed out after that vast hand with Paez, while Suarez quietly built within the day. Paul Cukier was short stacked for a lot of Day 3 but found a far needed late double to push himself over 1,300,000 and Andres Carrillo will hope to experience that quick jump early tomorrow, as he'll return with 660,000.
Mermelstein slightly under the 'creme'
The biggest name to overlook the overall table was reigning LAPT Player of the Year Oscar Alache, who went out in 14th and Brazil's run for back-to-back LAPT titles ended one spot earlier when Janir Muller fell in 15th. Those two players each picked up nearly $7,500 scores or even though this final table is guaranteed at minimum payout of $15,440, everyone may have their sights set at the top of that pay scale.
Here's how the chips will look when the general table starts at 12 noon tomorrow:
| Raul Paez | Spain | 2,580,000 |
| Aaron Mermelstein | USA | 1,802,000 |
| Ruben Suarez | Venezuela | 1,477,000 |
| Austin Peck | USA | 1,351,000 |
| Paul Cukier | Costa Rica | 1,341,000 |
| Anderson Blanco | Colombia | 1,225,000 |
| Andres Carrillo | Colombia | 659,000 |
| Alcides Gomez | USA | 562,000 |
That's where nearly $140,000 first prize and the LAPT9 Panama Main Event title await and the PokerStars blog might be here tomorrow to bring you all of that action. -- WOC
DAY 3 LIVE UPDATES:
5:55pm: Tobias Schwecht eliminated in 9th place ($12,200)Level 25 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (ante 4,000)
After getting crippled, Tobias Schwecht was kind of all-in within the small blind. The quick stack had just 23,000 left and the 4,000 chip ante plus the 15,000 chip blind left him just 4,000. Those chips got within the middle after Aaron Mermelstein opened the button to 60,000.
After Schwecht shoved, Austin Peck called within the big blind and the 2 Americans checked the A♦J♠7♦ flop. The K♦ fell at the turn and Peck check-folded to a 35,000 chip bet. Mermelstein admitted, "I just wanted the side pot." before tabling T♦4♣ but he'd get the entire pot, as Schwecht turned over 9♣6♥ and was eliminated after the 3♥ completed the board.
The Austrian will make $12,200 for his LAPT9 Panama Main Event run and the remainder eight players are actually bagging up their chips for tomorrow's final table. A WHOLE recap of Day 3 may be posted shortly. -- WOC
Tobias Schwecht - 9th place
5:53pm: Cukier calls correct to double through SchwechtLevel 25 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (ante 4,000)
The first all-in and get in touch with of this final table didn't end Day 3 however it did crippled Tobias Schwecht. The Austrian was left with lower than one big blind after Paul Cukier called correct to double in a battle of the fast stacks.
Action was picked up with Cukier opening to 66,000 from middle position and after some folds, Schwecht three-bet shoved for 670,000 from the massive blind. Cukier looked as if it would hate the spot and he didn't love it much more after studying that he was slightly covered. That meant he was calling off for his tournament life and on an official final table bubble, you do not need to be incorrect in that spot.
After with reference to two minutes within the tank, he called and located out he wasn't incorrect. He turned over A♥Q♦ and Schwecht cringed before tabling A♦J♥. The domination held throughout the 9♦7♦4♥ flop and after the 5♣ fell at the turn, Schwecht was drawing to only three outs. The 2♣ wasn't one in all them and Cukier held to attain a miles needed double.
When the stacks were cut down, Schwecht was left with just 23,000. Cukier was as much as nearly 1,300,000, his best standing during Day 3. --- WOC
5:46pm: Slow and steadyLevel 25 - Blinds 15,000/30,000 (ante 4,000)
The pace has slowed considerably for the reason that redraw to the nine-handed table, with Aaron Mermelstein opening most hands and either getting a bit or no action a number of the time.
An exception today arose when Mermelstein raised to 60,000 from middle position, Austin Peck called from a seat over, and Raul Paez called from the massive blind.
The flop came king-high -- K♥Q♣6♣ -- and it checked around to Peck who bet 67,000. Paez called, then Mermelstein made it 280,000 to go, prompting a fold from Peck. Paez tanked for 3 or four minutes, then finally let his hand go, too.
Paez still leads with 2.68 million with Mermelstein next consistent with 1.79 million. Meanwhile Alcides Gomez is the quick stack with 480,000. --MH
| 25 | 24,000 | 30,000 | 4,000 |
5:30pm: Paez pacing final table, one from end of dayLevel 24 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 3,000)
We're down the general table and the rest nine players have taken their seats and are able to resume play with Level 24. Day 3 is scheduled to minimize to an official final table of eight, meaning we're only one elimination from the bags.
Those new assignments are listed below, along side an updated take a look at the counts. -- WOC
| 1 | Austin Peck | 1,640,000 |
| 2 | Anderson Blanco | 1,405,000 |
| 3 | Ruben Suarez | 1,515,000 |
| 4 | Paul Cukier | 640,000 |
| 5 | Alcides Gomez | 590,000 |
| 6 | Raul Paez | 2,760,000 |
| 7 | Andres Carrillo | 605,000 |
| 8 | Aaron Mermelstein | 1,280,000 |
| 9 | Tobias Schwecht | 655,000 |
5:25pm: Felipe Buitrago eliminated in 10th place ($10,040)Level 24 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 3,000)
Felipe Buitrago - 10th place
After Tobias Schwecht's double, there wasn't much time before the following short stack was all-in and in peril. Felipe Buitrago were trending downwards for the easier a part of the last level, with most of his losses coming against Anderson Blanco.
Blanco just came back to complete Buitrago off, calling from the button after the fast stack shoved the cutoff for 310,000. The blinds folded and Ruben Suarez, who opened under the gun to 50,000, folded to peer Blanco table Q♦Q♣. Buitrago held A♥J♥ and after the K♣Q♠5♥ flop, was drawing to four outs.
The 6♣ wasn't one in all them at the turn and the A♣ was too little, too late at the river. Buitrago will make just over $10,000 for his deep run but he'll fail to notice the overall table. The general nine players have redrawn for his or her seats and an inventory of these new positions can be posted shortly. -- WOC
5:20pm: Set saves SchwechtLevel 24 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 3,000)
Tobias Schwecht just chopped a pot to avoid wasting his tournament life and he just hit a two-outer to stick alive, doubling through Aaron Mermelstein within the process. Mermelstein opened in early position and after some folds, Schwecht three-bet shoved for 309,000 from the massive blind.
Mermelstein called and held 6♥6♣ to Schwecht's 4♥4♦. The fast stack needed help and it came at the 5♥4♠2♠ flop. Mermelstein still had outs to a straight though but after the 5♦ fell at the turn, he was the only searching for a two-outer.
It didn't come, because the Q♠ completed the board confirmed Schwecht's double. He's now playing just about 625,000 while Mermelstein is down slightly to 1,300,000. -- WOC
5:16pm: Chop saves SchwechtLevel 24 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 3,000)
To balance the tables, Tobias Schwecht got moved over into the seat vacated by Luis Cruz only a twinkling of an eye ago, and shortly afterwards he found himself in an analogous situation as Cruz have been -- all-in with a brief stack and called by chip leader Raul Paez.
Schewcht had shoved 220,000 from UTG with A♠4♦ and after it folded around Paez called him from the large blind with A♣8♠. But unlike Cruz, Schwecht survived the confrontation, a board of 2♠Q♦6♣6♠2♦ adding as much as a chopped pot. --MH
Schwecht the fast stack with 10 left
5:09pm: Luis Cruz eliminated in 11th place ($10,040)Level 24 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 3,000)
Down to his last 296,000, Luis Cruz open-raised all-in from under the gun and it folded around to chip leader Raul Paez within the big blind who thought only for a moment before calling.
Cruz had A♥7♥ while Paez showed 9♣9♣, and five cards later -- 8♦2♦4♣4♠J♥ -- Cruz was done in 11th place.
That pot pushes Cruz up very with regards to 3 million right now, with Aaron Mermelstein (1.75 million) and Ruben Suarez (1.55 million) his nearest challengers in this day and age. --MH
Luis Cruz - 11th place
5:06pm: Blanco gets paid off by ace-highLevel 24 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 3,000)
The pace of play has slowed since getting back from break, because the remaining players are all relatively deep. Anderson Blanco just got slightly deeper, after he got two streets of value from Felipe Buitrago's ace-high.
Action was picked up on a board of T♣4♥2♣7♦, with Buitrago check-calling of venture of 31,000. The 7♣ paired the board at the river and Buitrago checked again, only to peer Blanco bet 109,000. The Columbian went deep into the tank, counting out his 525,000 chip stack a couple of times.
He eventually called, only to look Blanco table J♥7♠ for rivered trips. Buitrago then showed A♥6♠ before sending his cards into the muck and going back to counting his stack. He's below the 20 big blind mark, while Blanco is back up near 800,000. -- WOC
4:52pm: Gomez doubles then gets goingLevel 23 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (ante 3,000)
Alcides Gomez have been relatively quiet inside the previous couple of levels but after doubling up through Tobias Schwecht, he's appeared to found his stride. The double was picked up with Gomez moving all-in from the bring to an end for 182,000 and after a fold, Schwecht called within the small blind.
He held K♠Q♠ and had to hit to attain the knockout, as Gomez held A♥9♣. The [10s]9♥2♣ flop gave the fast stack a couple but added to Schwecht's outs with a gut-shot. Those vers and straight didn't come though, because the 4♣ and 3♠ completed the board to double Gomez.
The American has made some shoves work since then, taking pots down after other players have opened and he's now trending towards 450,000. -- WOC
4:44pm: Jose Annaloro eliminated in 12th place ($8,520)Level 23 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (ante 3,000)
Aaron Mermelstein opened for the minimum -- 48,000 -- from under the gun, and it folded around to Jose Annaloro within the big blind who three-bet to 100,000 even. Mermelstein thought a moment then called the raise, and the pair watched the flop come K♦6♥8♥.
The remainder of Annaloro's stack of about 350,000 was soon within the middle with A♣A♦ while Mermelstein had a flush draw with 9♥3♥, and when the J♥ landed at the turn it made the river regardless of to send Annaloro out in 12th.
Jose Annaloro - 12th place
"Nine-three, huh?" grinned Raul Paez from around the table as Mermelstein gathered the chips. "I BELIEVED it was a couple of nines," answered Mermelstein with a chuckle.
"Nah, it's my mother's birthday... three-nine -- March 9," he added, still grinning.
Paez still leads with about 2.4 million, with Mermelstein having closed the space there after moving up over the two million-chip mark. --MH
4:30pm: Play resumes; Paez leading final 12Level 24 - Blinds 12,000/24,000 (ante 3,000)
Players are back and the 2 six-handed tables are playing their first hands of the brand new level. Raul Paez continues to guide the best way -- check out the updated counts below. --MH
| Raul Paez | Spain | 2,480,000 |
| Aaron Mermelstein | United States | 1,530,000 |
| Ruben Suarez | Venezuela | 1,420,000 |
| Austin Peck | USA | 1,150,000 |
| Felipe Andres Buitrago | Colombia | 915,000 |
| Paul Cukier | Costa Rica | 600,000 |
| Jose Annaloro | Venezuela | 585,000 |
| Andres Carrillo | Colombia | 495,000 |
| Luis Cruz | Colombia | 490,000 |
| Anderson Blanco | Colombia | 460,000 |
| Tobias Schwecht | Austria | 440,000 |
| Alcides Gomez | USA | 250,000 |
Mermelstein eyeing the chip lead currently enjoyed by Paez
| 24 | 12,000 | 24,000 | 3,000 |
4:14pm: Break time
With only a dozen players left, they're off on another 15-minute break. --MH
Want to qualify for the LAPT? Click here to get a PokerStars account and begin today4:03pm: Jacques Ammiel Blit eliminated in 13th place ($8,520)Level 23 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (ante 3,000)
After Aaron Mermelstein opened for 50,000, Jacques Ammiel Blit announced from a few seats over he was three-betting all-in along with his last 281,000, and when it got back to Mermelstein he called the shove.
Blit had A♦J♦ and 2 live cards versus Mermelstein's 4♦4♣, however the T♣2♥5♥T♠3♣ runout meant Mermelstein's pocket pair had held and Blit hit the rail in 13th.
Mermelstein is up around 1.6 million now because the next break nears. --MH
Jacques Ammiel Blit - 13th place
3:54pm: Oscar Alache eliminated in 14th place ($7,440)Level 23 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (ante 3,000)
Oscar Alache - 14th place
Reigning LAPT Player of the Year Oscar Alache has stayed alive a couple of times today but even after he out flopped Felipe Buitrago, he was eliminated in 14th place. Action was picked up with Buitrago opening to 44,000 from the button and, within the small blind, Alache moved all-in for just about 130,000.
The big blind folded and Buitrago called to position the Chilean in peril. He had him dominated, holding A♥J♠ to A♦T♥, meaning Alache needed to hit to stick alive. He did, because the T♣4♠4♣ flop shot him into the lead. The J♦ fell at the turn though, quickly restoring order to the pre flop equity and leaving Alache in search of a miracle river to stick alive.
The 2♦ wasn't what he was searching for and he'd bow out after a valiant effort with a brief stack. That implies that there'll not a historic third LAPT victory for Alache this time around, instead settling for a $7,500 pay day. -- WOC
3:47pm: Janir Muller eliminated in 15th place ($7,440)Level 23 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (ante 3,000)
Janir Muller - 15th place
Shortly after Nicolas Baliner bowed out in 16th place, Brazil's run towards back-to-back LAPT titles ended. Janir Muller was all-in and in danger against Tobias Schwecht and the Austrian held to attain the knockout.
Action was picked up with Muller opening to 65,000 from middle position and after a fold, Schwecht three-bet shoved for 312,000 from the hijack. The remainder of the table folded and Muller quickly called for his total stack of 265,000.
He held A♦8♥ and was drawing to only three outs against Schwecht's Q♣Q♥. The 6♠3♣2♥4♥7♥ runout confirmed his 15th place elimination, for which he'll earn just shy of $7,500. Schwecht is now playing as regards to 600,000. -- WOC
3:41pm: Nicolas Baliner eliminated in 16th place ($6,560)Level 23 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (ante 3,000)
Chip leader Raul "El Toro" Paez opened for 43,000 from middle position, and it folded around to Nicolas Baliner who reraised all-in for his last 395,000. When the action got back to Paez, he called right away, tabling Q♥Q♣. Baliner showed his A♥K♠, and the race was on.
The board came ten-high -- 8♠6♦T♥7♥3♥ -- not helping Baliner who goes out in 16th place. Paez, meanwhile, adds further to his lead, and he now sits with about 2.2 million. --MH
Nicolas Baliner - 16th place
3:20pm: Alache chops, then doublesLevel 23 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (ante 3,000)
Oscar Alache have been near the ground of the leaderboard since Day 3 began and after chopping up a pot where he was ahead, he just came from behind to double through Alcides Gomes. The primary hand was picked up with Alache moving all-in for 120,000 from under the gun and after some folds, Ruben Suarez called within the small blind.
He held A♠9♦ and was dominated by Alache's A♦T♠. That was, until the A♣Q♠3♥3♦A♥ runout gave them each an entire house and chopped up the pot. Alache shook his head and after you have blinded down over the following orbit, he was all-in from the button for 69,000.
Alcides Gomes called within the big blind and Gomes' 6♣5♣ was sooner than Alache's 6♥4♠. The vast majority of the time, these hands chop it up but not this time. The T♥7♥2♣4♣2♦ runout paired Alache up at the turn and the reigning LAPT Player of the Year comically celebrated his small but much needed double.
He might need slightly extra space to respire but he's still very short, working just over 135,000. Gomes is playing with regards to 250,000. -- WOC
3:15pm: River slows Peck, likely saves BlitLevel 23 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (ante 3,000)
Austin Peck is now back over seven-figures after taking a large component of Jacques Blit's chips within the biggest pot because the two table redraw. Action was picked up with Peck defending his big unaware of see a A♠Q♠3♥ flop and after he checked, Blit continued for 28,000.
Peck check-raised to 93,000 and after some thought, Blit called to look the 2♦ fall at the turn. Peck kept the betting lead, pushing out 147,000 and Blit called, leaving himself with regards to 450,000 behind.
Peck had 750,000 in front of him when the K♦ completed the board and while he seemed like he was about to motion for chips, he instead checked, with Blit quickly doing the similar behind. Peck tabled A♣3♣ and that was good to take the pot and also you could tell Peck was slightly frustrated by the river.
"Bad runout." he said to Aaron Mermelstein, the one other American left on this LAPT9 Panama Main Event field, but runout aside, Peck is now back up near the highest of the leaderboard. -- WOC
Peck altering the pecking order
3:10pm: Two-table redraw, "El Toro" charges to topLevel 23 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (ante 3,000)
A new level has begun and with 16 players left Raul Paez has surged way in front after that last flurry of eliminations. Here's where people are sitting with new chip counts for all. --MH
| 1 | 1 | Jacques Ammiel Blit | 470,000 | 470,000 |
| 1 | 2 | Andres Carrillo | 540,000 | 540,000 |
| 1 | 3 | Raul Paez | 1,920,000 | 1,920,000 |
| 1 | 4 | Luis Cruz | 740,000 | 740,000 |
| 1 | 5 | Austin Peck | 1,050,000 | 1,050,000 |
| 1 | 6 | Jose Annaloro | 695,000 | 695,000 |
| 1 | 7 | Aaron Mermelstein | 1,020,000 | 1,020,000 |
| 1 | 8 | Nicolas Baliner | 555,000 | 555,000 |
| 2 | 1 | Anderson Blanco | 390,000 | 390,000 |
| 2 | 2 | Alcides Gomez | 350,000 | 350,000 |
| 2 | 3 | Janir Muller | 280,000 | 280,000 |
| 2 | 4 | Paul Cukier | 695,000 | 695,000 |
| 2 | 5 | Tobias Schwecht | 315,000 | 315,000 |
| 2 | 6 | Ruben Suarez | 1,100,000 | 1,100,000 |
| 2 | 7 | Felipe Andres Buitrago Rincon | 990,000 | 990,000 |
| 2 | 8 | Oscar Alache | 105,000 | 105,000 |
Paez powers into lead
| 23 | 10,000 | 20,000 | 3,000 |
3:02pm: Aces clip Collado, two tables remainLevel 23 - Blinds 10,000/20,000 (ante 3,000)
We're quickly all the way down to our final two tables, as Armando Collado was just eliminated on Table 2. Paul Cukier opened the button to 35,000 and Collado called within the big blind off a brief stack. He then shoved the 7♠2♠2♣ flop and Cukier snap called the 203,000 chip bet.
Cukier turned over A♦A♣ and he needed to hold against Collado's 4♠3♠. He did, because the J♣ and 7♦ completed the board and the knockout. Collado will hit the rail in 17th place, one spot in need of the penultimate redraw.
A complete rundown of the 16-player, two-table redraw might be posted shortly, together with updated chip counts. -- WOC
Armando down
3:01pm: Escobedo eliminated in 18thLevel 22 - Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)
There's been a flurry of action in any respect three tables over the past quarter-hour and Table 1 is our next stop, where Rafael Escobedo just hit the rail in 18th place. Action was picked up with Aaron Mermelstein opening to 32,000 from under the gun and after a fold, Jacques Blit three-bet to 137,000 from the cutoff.
The button and small blind folded before Escobedo four-bet shoved for just over 150,000. Mermelstein got out of how and Blit rolled his eyes before setting up the required chips to name. He had greater than 50% of his stack within the middle with T♦9♦ and he had to hit to eliminate Escobedo, who tabled K♠Q♠.
The short stack paired up at the Q♣J♥6♦ flop but his opponent picked up an open-ended straight draw. Blit didn't bink at the 6♠ turn but he did at the river, because the K♦ gave Escobedo two pair but improved the Argentine to a straight.
Blit could only smile, joking that he "knew the river" and that is the reason why he made the play. Whether he knew or not, he's now playing the simpler a part of 500,000 only one elimination clear of the overall two tables. -- WOC
Escobedo moves on
2:57pm: "El Toro" top, Quiros out 19thLevel 22 - Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)
The biggest and longest pot of this LAPT9 Panama Main Event has completely altered the Day 3 landscape. Raul "El Toro" Paez now holds an enormous chip lead, Anderson Blanco is under the chip average for the primary time in recent memory and Esteban Quiros is at the rail after an almost 10 minute long hand played out on Table 3.
Action was picked up with Blanco opening under the gun and Paez calling within the hijack. Quiros then three-bet shoved for 165,000 and both players called to look the J♠T♦2♥ flop. Blanco checked and Paez bet 130,000. The massive stack called after which checked the 9♦ turn card.
Action was on Paez and after nearly three minutes of counting out his own chips and fascinated with his next move, he bet 355,000. The Spaniard had slightly below 70,000 behind, so he was kind of committed to this pot, identical to Quiros was. Blanco just couldn't appear to find the fold button though, as he then spent on the subject of four minutes in tank before he eventually announced "all-in".
Paez snap called and turned over T♣T♠ for a flopped set. When he saw Blanco's A♣Q♠, he shot his opponent a glance before saying, translated from Spanish, "What the *expletive*?"
Blanco had an up and down straight draw and if he could hit, he'd score a double knockout and pick up an incredible chip lead. He didn't though, because the 7♣ completed the board, Quiros' 19th-place elimination and gave that huge pot to Paez.
Esteban eliminated
When the dust settled, "El Toro" was playing the easier a part of 1,350,000, good for the chip lead after which some, while Blanco was down near 375,000. -- WOC
2:51pm: Suarez in front (updated chip counts)Level 22 - Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)
During a relative lull within the action -- a minimum of with regards to the bustouts halting for only a moment -- we took the chance to assemble some fresh chips counts for you. Ruben Suarez looks to be the brand new chip leader with 19 left, although he and Aaron Mermelstein seem to be trading that honor from side to side hand to hand.
Here are the highest five counts. Check the chip count page for updates on everyone. --MH
| Ruben Suarez | Venezuela | 1,080,000 |
| Aaron Mermelstein | United States | 1,050,000 |
| Austin Peck | USA | 945,000 |
| Felipe Andres Buitrago Rincon | Colombia | 905,000 |
| Anderson Blanco | Colombia | 770,000 |
Suarez soaring
2:31pm: Ortiz out in 20th; Annaloro moving upLevel 22 - Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)
Alcides Gomez opened for the minimum from middle position and it folded around to Jose Annaloro who called from the small blind. At that Didier Ortiz shoved all-in from the small blind for 155,000 and after a little bit thought Gomez pushed in excessive. Then Annaloro called all-in as well, settting up a three-way showdown:
Annaloro: J♦J♣Ortiz: Q♣T♥Gomez: 7♣7♥
The A♥8♠2♣3♠4♥ runout came clean for Annaloro, who slapped the table after the river, glad that he'd survived. Ortiz goes out in 20th, Gomez has 180,000 now, and Annaloro is as much as 765,000. --MH
Ortiz out
2:16pm: Arturo picked off by Peck in 21stLevel 22 - Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)
Arturo falls after break
Jonathan Arturo came back from break as one of the most shorter stacks and once you have one shove through, the following time he moved in, he was looked up. Arturo was all-in for 117,000 from the button and Austin Peck called within the big blind.
Peck held A♦7♥ and had Arturo's J♦7♦ dominated. The 6♠5♥2♠ flop missed Arturo and he was drawing to simply three outs heading to the turn and river. A jack didn't come to save lots of him, because the K♥ and T♠ completed the board and confirmed his 21st place elimination.
Peck is now back up near 950,000, after dropping slightly on the end of Level 21. -- WOC
2:09pm: Play resumes; 21 leftLevel 22 - Blinds 8,000/16,000 (ante 2,000)
The break is over and a brand new level has begun with three seven-handed tables in action. --MH
| 22 | 8,000 | 16,000 | 2,000 |
1:53pm: Break time
After an active hour and 45 minutes that saw 11 players hit the rail, those who find themselves left are actually taking a 15-minute break. --MH
Want to qualify for the LAPT? Click here to get a PokerStars account and begin today1:44pm: Gutierrez goes down in 22ndLevel 21 - Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)
Paul Cukier opened from the cutoff for 26,000, Fernando Gutierrez shoved his last 73,000 all-in from the large blind, and Cukier called. Cukier had A♠9♠ and was dominating the A♣3♠ of Gutierrez, and after the T♥J♣4♦K♣5♠ the Colombian was at the rail in 22nd. --MH
Fernando falls
1:38pm: Thompson stopped by MermelsteinLevel 21 - Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)
Aaron Mermelstein opened for 24,000 from the cutoff then watched Steven Thompson shove all-in for his last 130,000 or so from the small blind. The action returned to Mermelstein who thought for a few beats, then called.
Thompson had 4♦4♥ and Mermelstein K♥8♥, and thru the 9♠6♠A♣ flop Thompson's pair was still good. However the turn was the 8♠ to position Mermelstein on top, and after the 9♦ river Thompson was out in 23rd. Mermelstein is now sitting at about 970,000. --MH
Thompson taken out
1:34pm: Leveling war on Table 3Level 21 - Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)
This hand didn't even make it to a flop but whenever there's a five-bet shove, that's bloggable action. The hand was picked up with Tobias Schwecht opening to 25,000 from middle position and after Luis Cruz called within the cutoff, Ruben Suarez three-bet to 80,000 from the button.
Schwecht replied with a four-bet that weighed in precisely shy of 185,000 but after Cruz got out of the way, Suarez almost instantly announced himself "all-in". Schwecht quickly folded and Suarez flipped over J♣7♣, showing jack-high while taking within the massive pre-flop pot. He's now just over 1,000,000 midway through Level 21, while Schwecht is down under 400,000. -- WOC
1:26pm: Annaloro doubles, Posada doesn't to bust 24thLevel 21 - Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)
The action have been centered across the short stacks after the 3 table redraw. Jose Annaloro found an early double through Wilson Gutierrez, with Annaloro turning up with A♣9♥ on a A♥J♣6♣3♣T♣ board. The action was missed but if the dust settled, Annaloro was playing the easier a part of 330,000, while Gutierrez was reduce to 80,000.
A few hands later, a brief stack did fall on Table 1. Camilo Posada moved all-in for 142,000 from the hijack and after a fold, Rafael Escobedo called at the button. The small blind passed and Felipe Buitrago re-shoved from the massive blind for just shy of 470,000.
That was on the subject of Escobedo's remaining stack and he finally elected to fold. He was happy he did, as Buitrago flipped over Q♥Q♦, well sooner than the A♣J♦ of Posada. He was even further ahead after the Q♠4♥2♥ flop, which left Posada basically drawing dead.
He was after the 8♥ fell at the turn and after the K♥ completed the board, Escobedo was even happier to have folded, as he would have lost to Buitrago's rivered second nut flush. When the table reset for the following hand, Buitrago was playing the simpler a part of 800,000. --WOC
Camilio cut down
1:20pm: Final three table redrawLevel 21 - Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)
After the elimination of Elliott Peterman, this LAPT9 Panama Main Event field was all the way down to the general three tables. The players have redrawn for brand new seats and people assignments, in conjunction with chip counts, are provided below:
| 1 | 1 | Austin Peck | 1,020,000 |
| 1 | 2 | Rafael Escobedo | 540,000 |
| 1 | 3 | Aaron Mermelstein | 790,000 |
| 1 | 4 | Felipe Buitrago | 450,000 |
| 1 | 5 | Steven Thompson | 110,000 |
| 1 | 6 | Jacques Blit | 245,000 |
| 1 | 7 | Jonathan Arturo | 160,000 |
| 1 | 8 | Camilo Posada | 135,000 |
| 2 | 1 | Paul Cukier | 575,000 |
| 2 | 2 | Jose Annaloro | 170,000 |
| 2 | 3 | Dider Oritz | 140,000 |
| 2 | 4 | Wilson Gutierrez | 265,000 |
| 2 | 5 | Armando Collado | 375,000 |
| 2 | 6 | Andres Cariillo | 310,000 |
| 2 | 7 | Alcides Gomez | 440,000 |
| 2 | 8 | Janir Muller | 285,000 |
| 3 | 1 | Nicolas Baliner | 680,000 |
| 3 | 2 | Oscar Alache | 105,000 |
| 3 | 3 | Anderson Blanco | 990,000 |
| 3 | 4 | Tobias Schwecht | 690,000 |
| 3 | 5 | Raul Paez | 820,000 |
| 3 | 6 | Esteban Quiros | 310,000 |
| 3 | 7 | Luis Crus | 620,000 |
| 3 | 8 | Ruben Suarez | 730,000 |
Players will now resume play in Level 21. -- WOC
1:16pm: Peterman can't fade the river, out in 25thLevel 21 - Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)
Elliott Peterman was in a position to get some shoves through in Level 20 to maintain himself afloat however the short stack needed a double to truly come back into contention. A quarter-hour into Level 21, he had an opportunity to get that double, as he was all-in with K♣J♣ against Raul "El Toro" Paez's A♥T♥.
Peterman's stack weighed in precisely over 12 big blinds and while he paired up at the J♥7♣6♥ flop, he still needed to fade various outs. The 4♠ bricked out at the turn however the A♣ gave Paez top pair and confirmed Peterman's 25th place elimination.
He'll fail to see the 3 table redraw, which we'll bring you shortly. -- WOC
Peterman's run concludes
1:12pm: Cukier doubles through QuinteroLevel 21 - Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)
Jose Angel Annaloro Quintero opened for 23,000 from middle position, then watched Paul Cukier three-bet to 62,000 from the button. After much thought Quintero called, then pushed all-in after a J♦5♣T♣ flop and Cukier called in no time to position himself at risk.
Quintero had Q♠J♣ for jacks, but Cukier held A♠A♦, and after the 6♠ turn and A♥ river, Cukier had doubled back to about 605,000 while Quintero slipped ot 140,000. --MH
1:07pm: Bettsock knocked out in 26thLevel 21 - Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)
Abraham Bettsock just got all-in with A♠K♦ but found himself up against the A♠T♣ of Tobias Schwecht.
The board came 9♦3♣9♣, then J♣, then 6♣, that river club filling a flush for Schwecht and knocking Bettsock out in 26th. Schwecht bumps up around 620,000 with that pot. --MH
Bettsock bounced
1:03pm: Vargas reduce in 27th by PeckLevel 21 - Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)
Jose Arturo Morales Vargas was just all for a three-way hand with Austin Peck and Nicolas Baliner, but alas for Vargas only Peck and Baliner could be left with chips afterwards.
Following a 7♣Q♦3♠ flop, Vargas led by pushing his last 175,000 forward, Peck called, and Baliner folded. Vargas had T♦T♠, but Peck had K♠K♥ leaving the Costa Rican drawing thin.
The turn was the J♣ and river the 4♠, and Vargas is out. Peck adds more to his stack is now up around 800,000. --MH
Arturo out
1pm: Tuthill cut down, eliminated in 28thLevel 21 - Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)
Nathan Tuthill got one double and he was in an ideal position to get another, until he was out-flopped by Rafael Escobedo with both players kind of in a pot for his or her tournament lives. That hand was picked up with Tuthill open shoving the button for 233,000 and after some thought, and a count of his stack, Escobedo called for less within the small blind.
Aaron Mermelstein got out of ways within the big blind and Escobedo had to hit to stick alive. He held K♠Q♠ to Tuthill's A♠T♠ and after asking the dealer for help, that's exactly what Escobedo got at the Q♣T♣8♦ flop.
He stood from his chair in anticipation of the overall two cards and after the turn and river bricked out with the 2♦ and 3♥, he gave himself a snappy fist pump before re-taking his seat. When his stack was cut down, weighing in at 216,000, Tuthill got a small 17,000 chip rebate.
He was all-in and in danger at the very next hand and Armando Collado sent him to the rail in 28th place. While Tuthill headed to the payout table, Escobedo, who led the second one Day 1B flight, was stacking up over a half-million chips for the primary time on this event. -- WOC
Tuthill taken out
1:02pm: Baliner doubles through SchwechtLevel 21 - Blinds 6,000/12,000 (ante 2,000)
Most of the reports we've done throughout this present day 3 session has been short stacked eliminations but after Austin Peck doubled on Table 1, Nicolas Baliner did the similar. His double came in the course of the big stacked Tobias Schwecht, with action being picked up on a board of 3♣3♠2♥.
Baliner checked from the large blind and Schwecht continued for 17,000. The Argentine then check-raised to 41,000 and Schwecht called to peer the T♦ fall at the turn. Baliner bet 85,000, leading himself just below 170,000 behind and the Austrian called.
The 6♦ fell to finish the board and quickly, Baliner's chips were within the middle. Schwecht got a count and the flicked a chip into the center for a call, only to peer his opponent table A♣3♥. Baliner's trips were good for the double and when the dust settled, he was playing the easier a part of 625,000. Schwecth, at the other hand, is now below average with 260,000. -- WOC
| 21 | 6,000 | 12,000 | 2,000 |
12:57pm: Mermelstein ships another small doubleLevel 20 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)
Aaron Mermelstein came into this present day 3 session second in chips, meaning he had the power to take some hits but still be well stacked. Unfortunately, that is what happened so far, as Mermelstein just shipped another small double to Nathan Tuthill.
Action was picked up with Tuthill open shoving from the cutoff for 108,000. Mermelstein, who was within the small blind, asked for a count after which called to position the quick stack in danger. He held K♣J♠ and needed to hit to attain the knockout, as Tuthill held A♥6♥.
The 8♥3♣2♣2♠4♥ runout confirmed the double and Tuthill is now back up and over 200,000 with play about to go into Level 21. Mermelstein meanwhile continues to be rather well stacked with on the subject of 550,000. -- WOC
12:52pm: Peck picks up big pot from GutierrezLevel 20 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)
With the board showing A♠2♦A♦9♣ and about 150,000 already within the middle, Austin Peck checked, Fernando Gutierrez bet 66,000, then Peck check-raised all-in.
Gutierrez tanked for some time before finally emerging to call, then dropped his head slightly when he saw Peck table A♥K♣ for trips with a king-kicker. Gutierrez had A♣J♣ for a similar trips with a lesser jack, and after the 6♥ turn, Peck had doubled to around 650,000. Gutierrez still has about 265,000. --MH
12:41pm: Zacconi hits rail in 29th; Blanco over a millyLevel 20 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)
Marcio Daniel Zacconi of Argentina has become the 29th-place finisher after losing an all-in versus start-of-day chip leader Anderson Blanco.
After a Blanco button open, Zacconi had shoved his last 150,000 or so from the large blind and the Colombian called him, turning over 5♠5♣. Zacconi had a fighting chance with A♦J♦, and for the briefest of moments things looked promising when the flop revealed an ace within the window.
But underneath was an unsightly five for Zacconi, the entire flop arriving T♦5♦A♠. The 6♥ turn meant Zacconi needed a non-pairing diamond to escape, however the river was the 4♣ and Zacconi is out.
Blanco chips up over 1 million on that one, passing Mermelstein again to reclaim first position with 28 left. --MH
Zacconi eliminated
12:26pm: Alzaga doubles, then bustsLevel 20 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)
Gonzalo Alzaga came back with the shortest stack of our 32 remaining players and while he was in a position to score an early double, he was then quickly sent out in 30th place. The primary hand he was occupied with was with chip leader Aaron Mermelstein.
The American opened and Alzaga three-bet shoved for just over 65,000. Mermelstein called to check out to attain the knockout with J♥9♥ but after the K♥8♠4♣ flop, Alzaga's A♣K♦ was more healthy. The turn and river bricked out and confirmed the double but Alzaga was still short.
That short stack got within the middle again a couple of hands later, after Memelstein opened the button for 21,000. Alzaga three-bet shoved for 120,000 from the small blind and Jose Annaloro called within the big blind. Mermelstein got out of ways and he was glad he did, as Annaloro held A♦A♥.
Alzaga was drawing thin with 3♦3♠ and after the 8♠6♥2♣2♠4♦ runout, he was at the rail in 30th. When the dust settled, Annaloro was stacking up with regards to 400,000, good for the second one biggest stack at Table 2. -- WOC
12:20pm: Bennet bounced by ThompsonLevel 20 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)
Renny's run ends
Steven Thompson opened for 23,000 from middle position and after it folded around to Renny Benjomin Bennet within the blinds he announced he was pushing all-in for his remaining 160,000 or so. Thompson swiftly called, tabling A♥Q♥, and Bennet showed his A♣K♦.
The flop was bad news for the Jamaican, coming 8♠Q♦7♥, and Bennet's shoulders slumped as he grimly grinned. The turn was the 5♣ and river the 5♦, and Bennet wished the table luck before departing to select up 31st-place prize money.
Thompson has around 530,000 now. --MH
12:11pm: Jeckeln out early; Mermelstein new leaderLevel 20 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)
Early action here on Day 3 saw the Argentinian Andres Jeckeln all-in and in peril with Q♦9♠ versus the J♦T♣ of Aaron Mermelstein of Philadelphia.
We arrived only after the community cards have been dealt, although given Mermelstein's short stack the chips likely went in early. In any event, the board of 3♠Q♠A♥T♠4♥ added as much as a couple at the flop for Jeckeln, but an unbeatable straight at the turn for Mermelstein, and Jeckeln is out in 32nd.
Mermelstein is now as much as 975,000 and has taken the early lead on Day 3. --MH
12:03pm: Day 3 beginsLevel 20 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)
The third day of the LAPT Panama Main Event is underway. There's almost 45 minutes left in Level 20. --MH
| 20 | 5,000 | 10,000 | 1,000 |
11:00am: Blanco, Mermelstein final 32 into Day 3
Bienvenido, friends, to our coverage of Day 3 of the Latin American Poker Tour Panama Main Event where just 32 players are left, led by Anderson Blanco who enjoyed a late night rush on Saturday to complete with a stack of 896,000 to start out play today.
The Colombian has earned a couple of cashes before, most notably finishing 19th within the LAPT5 Colombia Main Event in Medellin. He's in good position to raised than finish here, although like everyone else still with chips he hopes to do a lot more than that and earn the $138,225 first prize awaiting the winner.
Blanco seeking to bank a large finish
Close behind Blanco to start might be Aaron Mermelstein in second position with 836,000. The Philadelphian owns two World Poker Tour titles -- both won in 2015 -- and has earned over $1.5 million in tournaments within the last five years.
Speaking of two-time champs, another storyline worth maintaining a tally of today may be how Oscar Alache fares. Alache is currently tied with the 3 Argentinians -- Nacho Barbero, Fabian Ortiz, and Mario Lopez -- for probably the most LAPT Main Event titles with two, meaning the Chilean would have the record all to himself should he be able to win a 3rd here.
Alache returns to a below average stack today, but an early double would get him back with regards to the typical moving forward, and he's shown before a capability to accomplish well throughout the endgame.
Others returning to important stacks may be Blanco's fellow countryman Fernando Gutierrez (716,000), the young Austrian Tobias Schwecht (679,000), and Ruben Suarez of Venezuela (657,000). Listed below are all the chip counts of all 32 players to begin play today, and take a look at in addition the "Prize Pool and Payouts" page to peer who earned a part of the $721,665 prize pool thus far.
Play will pick back up in the course of Level 20 (blinds 5,000/10,000, ante 1,000), which makes the typical stack (341,187) worth just over 34 big blinds when play begins. Get back at 12 noon Central time and we'll continue to bring you reside updates, hand reports, bustouts, photos, chip counts, and more as we discover out together who would be the next LAPT Main Event champion. --MH
PokerStars Blog Reporting Team at LAPT9 Panama: Will O'Connor and Martin Harris. Photos by Carlos Monti. Follow the PokerStars Blog on Twitter: @PokerStarsBlog
Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: Latin American Poker Tour]
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