Final Table Set at Inaugural 2008 LAPT Rio de Janeiro
May 6th, 2008
At the inaugural Latin America Poker Tour in Rio de Janeiro, history has been made with the tournament becoming the biggest ever event held in Brazil. 314 players turned up for the $2,500 buy-in event creating an estimated total prize pool of $785,000.
Among the many hopeful poker players who began the tournament at the Intercontinental Hotel in Rio de Janeiro included Vanessa Rousso, Gavin Griffin, Isabelle Mercier, Greg Raymer, Chad Brown, Chris Moneymaker, as well as a host of local Brazilian and South American poker pro’s.
An eventful two days of eliminations cut a swathe through the field with a host of players leaving the tables with barely a whimper. Those that would not be returning to the tables for Day 2 included Chad Brown, Costa Rican Humberto Brenes, Vanessa Rousso and Isabelle Mercier.
On Day 2 the remaining 102 players took to the tables hoping to last long enough to make the final table and take home a at least a cash prize. Spaniard Carlos Neira held the chip lead over Dutchman Julian Nuijten and Brazilian Cyril Bernard.
Only nine players would survive the day and still have a chance of lifting the inaugural LAPT Rio championship. Some of those who wouldn’t make it this far included Day 1 chip leader Carlos Neira, Victor Randim, and Andrew Li.
Julien Nuijten held the chip lead going into the final table’s play.
Final Table Standings:
Julien Nuijten, Holland - 970,000
Vitaly Kovyazin, USA - 380,000
Alex Brenes, Costa Rica - 324,000
Nikolai Senninger, Germany - 318,000
Juan Carlos Burguillos, Venezuela - 297,000
Rafael Pardo, Columbia - 278,000
Eduardo Henriques, Brazil - 275,000
Oliver Kugler, Germany - 176,000
Severin Walser, Switzerland - 175,000
