$2,700 No Limit Hold'em Main Event | 2008 PokerStars.net LAPT Punta del Este

08-09-2008 20:35 UTC-3

Dinner Time

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[user66118]

The clock has been paused while we take 25 quick minutes for dinner.

08-09-2008 20:23 UTC-3

Status Quo

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[user66118]

Fifty minutes into heads-up play now, and still there is virtually no change in the chip stacks of our two players. The spectators have grown a little disinterested as play is creeping along. As soon as there is a flop though, they all seem to perk right up as they pine for any shred of post-flop action.

08-09-2008 19:54 UTC-3

Back and Forth

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[user66118]

The two men are basically trading chips back and forth, and after nearly a half-hour of heads-up play, the stack sizes are almost exactly where they began.

08-09-2008 19:48 UTC-3

Pace of Play

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[user66118]

The two remaining players are clearly in a bit of a feeling-out period, comparable to the start of the day. Out of seven hands, we have seen just two flops. In the other five, a preflop raise has won the pot every time. The pace is fine, but we can already feel the tension building a little bit. The stacks are deep though, and there is plenty of play left without the players feeling the need to get too crazy, too fast.

08-09-2008 19:33 UTC-3

Heads Up, Cards in the Air

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[user66118]

We're back in action, as we go heads up for the championship here at the PokerStars.net LAPT Punta del Este!

Level: 24

Blinds: 15,000/30,000

Ante: 3,000

08-09-2008 19:21 UTC-3

Updated Chip Counts

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[user66118]

Here's how the last two competitors stack up:

Jose Miguel Espinar: 1,993,000
Alex Brenes: 1,528,000

There is a slight break while the table is prepared for heads-up play.

08-09-2008 19:17 UTC-3

Lisandro Gallo Eliminated in 3rd Place ($93,630)

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[user66118]

Immediately following his two double-ups, Lisandro Gallo moves all in on the button for his last 46,000. Alex Brenes reraises, and Jose Miguel Espinar folds.

Brenes flips over {A-Diamonds}

and he has the fate of Gallo in grave danger. The all in player turns over {Q-Hearts}

. The flop comes {K-Spades}

, leaving Gallo drawing to runner-runner. A second {K-?}

on the turn seals the deal, and Gallo has been sent to the rail in third place. He will pocket close to $100,000 for his efforts, which should do wonders to ease the pain of being eliminated so close to the end.

Tags: Alex Brenes Jose Miguel Espinar

08-09-2008 19:13 UTC-3

Gallo Still Fighting

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[user66118]

After losing that pot to Espinar, Gallo has doubled up twice now to stay alive.

In the first hand, he is all in from the big blind for his last 10,000. He holds {9-?}

and finds himself in a good spot versus the {8-?}

of Jose Miguel Espinar. The board runs out {A-?}

, and that's good enough to double up Gallo.

The very next hand, he is all in for 23,000 holding {A-?}

against the {7-?}

of Alex Brenes. The board comes {6-Spades}

, and Gallo has worked back to 46,000.

Tags: Lisandro Gallo

08-09-2008 19:08 UTC-3

Espinar Now All In

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Lisandro Gallo has the button in Seat 4

He raises to 60,000, and Alex Brenes folds. Jose Miguel Espinar reraises to 170,000, and Gallo makes the call.

The flop comes {10-Diamonds}

. Both players check.

Fireworks come on the turn though, as the {J-Hearts}

peels off. Espinar leads out with a bet of 200,000, and Gallo looks a bit disappointed. After a moment though, he shrugs and announces, "All In!" Espinar takes just a moment before making the call, and the hands are shown down:

Gallo: {6-?}

Espinar:

When the chips are counted down, it is Espinar who is covered, so he is all in for his tournament life, but leading in the hand. The crowd of spectators are screaming and hollering in Spanish as they await the final card.

River: {J-Diamonds}

Jose Miguel Espinar takes down a monstrous pot, the biggest one of the tournament so far. In doing so, he cripples Gallo all the way down to just 10,000 lonely chips.

Tags: Jose Miguel Espinar Lisandro Gallo