LAPT -- Jose Barbero Wins Punta del Esta Main Event

The PokerStars Latin American Poker Tour just finished up its most recent tour stop in Punta del Esta, Uruguay, and the champion of the $3,500 no-limit hold’em main event was Team PokerStars pro Jose Barbero (pictured right). He came back from the shortest stack at the start of the final table to win, and he was awarded the top prize of $279,330 from a total prize pool of $1,042,060 for defeating 306 opponents.

The tournament began on Wednesday, Feb. 24, and the final table began with eight players on Saturday, Feb. 27. Here is a look at the chip counts when the final table began:

Norbert Ludger — 1,596,000
Nicolas Cardyn — 997,000
Marco Caicedo — 666,000
Ernesto Panno — 520,000
Daniela Zapiello — 519,000
Andres Korn — 512,000
Bernardo Dias — 414,000
Roman Suarez — 412,000
Jose Barbero — 404,000

Roman Saurez was the first player to bust out on the final day after a long period of slow play when he moved all in with A-5. He was dominated by the A-7 of Barbero, who made trip sevens on the board to eliminate Saurez in eighth place ($20,850). Bernardo Dias moved all in with A-6 next at the final table, and he was called down by Andres Korn, who held pocket sevens. Korn won the hand, and Dias was eliminated in seventh place ($31,270).

Barbero scored his second elimination at the final table when Marco Caicedo moved all in with K-Q against the A-7 of Barbero. Barbero hit an ace on the flop, and that was enough to send Caicedo home in sixth place ($41,690). The lone woman at the table, Daniela Zapiello, took a big hit next when Korn doubled up through her with pocket aces against her K-Q in the hole. Zapiello was forced to move her short stack all in soon thereafter with Q 5 in the hole. Norbert Ludger made the call with A 8, but Zapiello took the lead with a queen on the flop. Ludger hit a gutshot straight by the end of the hand though and Zapiello took home $52,110 in fifth place.

Ludger followed his victim to the rail a little later when he exited in fourth place. He moved all in for 910,000 when a board of Q 4 2 4 sat on the table along with 1.5 million in the pot. Nicolas Cardyn made the call with Q 10, and Ludger flipped over pocket fives. The river brought the 8, and Ludger was eliminated, taking home $72,960 in prize money.

Korn was the next player to move all in with K-10, and he quickly discovered he was dominated by the K-J of Barbero. The board ran out Q-5-2-6-8, and Korn exited the tournament in third place ($99,020). That gave Barbero a healthy chip lead of 4.3 million heading into the heads-up final against Cardyn, who held 1.7 million.

Cardyn was able to score a double-up early to even up the chip counts, and then he began to pull away with a chip lead. Barbero struck back a short time later though, and when he doubled up, Cardyn was crippled. Barbero grew his stack to 5.1 million with two pair, nines and eights, when he caught Cardyn trying to bluff him with 6-4 in the hole.

Barbero was able to close the door the second time he held the chip lead, but even the last hand of the tournament was full of excitement. Cardyn moved all in preflop for 990,000 and Barbero made the call. Their cards:

Barbero: A 10
Cardyn: A K

Board: 8 7 2 5 10

Barbero won the hand on the tournament when the 10 peeled off the deck on the river to top the big slick of his opponent. Cardyn finished as the runner-up, and he took home $161,550 in prize money. The Team PokerStars pro, Barbero, won the event and was awarded $279,330. He also became the second Latin American player to capture a LAPT crown.

Here is a look at the final table payouts provided by PokerStars:

1: Jose Ignacio Barbero (Argentina) — $279,330
2: Nicolas Cardyn (France) — $161,550
3: Andres Korn (Argentina) — $99,020
4: Norbert Ludger (Uruguay) — $72,960
5: Daniela Zapiello (Brazil) — $52,110
6: Marco Caidedo (Colombia) — $41,690
7: Bernardo Dias (Brazil) — $31,270
8: Roman Suarez (Argentina) — $20,850

The next LAPT event is scheduled to take place in Vina del Mar, Chile on Mar. 19-23. Considering the 8.8-magnitude earthquake that just hit the country the event might be rescheduled.

Related Articles

Stephen Song Wins NAPT High Roller At Resorts World

Resorts World Las Vegas NAPT Stop Now Underway

NAPT Returns To Resorts World Las Vegas This Fall

Most Viewed Articles