Friday, 29th March 2024 15:01
Home / Uncategorized / LAPT8 Brazil: Celestino, Beláustegui, Liberal out; Difini leading last 17

They’ve played another hour-long level at the Latin American Poker Tour Grand Final in São Paulo, Brazil. Now just 17 remain gathered around three short-handed tables — still another nine knockouts to go before play concludes on Day 3.

Ariel Celestino had about half a million chips coming back from the break — around 16 big blinds’ worth — then found himself involved in a hand with fellow Brazilian Felipe Difini who had about twice that amount to begin.

The pair made it to a 753 flop, after which Celestino check-raised a bet by Difini. The latter responded with an all-in push, and after some time in the tank “Bahia” came up with a call, turning over Q7 for top pair of sevens.

Celestino winced a little, though when he saw Difini table AA, and after the 9 turn and 10 river Brazil’s top-ranked tournament player was out with a 20th-place finish (R$34,970).

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Ariel Celestino
Francisco De Beláustegui of Argentina followed Celestino out in 19th (R$34,970) after a hand versus Yuri Martins. The pair had checked a 6Q8 flop, then Beláustegui called a bet by Martins after the J turn. The river then brought the 2 and an all-in shove from Martins, called by Beláustegui. The latter had 1010, but Martins’s J8 for two pair was best and Beláustegui was done.

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Francisco De Beláustegui
Just a moment later another Brazilian, Leo Henrique Liberal, was all in at another table for his last 110,000 with AJ and ahead of Scotland’s Anthony McShane’s QJ. An ace on the flop made things seem even more secure for Liberal, but the turn and river brought running queens, and Liberal made his exit in 18th (R$34,970).

Difini is the clear chip leader at present, now up around 1.4 million as they move into Level 25.

Meanwhile, we should give a shout to Chile’s Oscar Alache, who with the elimination a little earlier of Patricio Rojas in 23rd place has now secured the LAPT Season 8 Player of the Year.

Photography from LAPT8 Brazil by Carlos Monti. You can also follow the action in Spanish here and in Portuguese here.

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Martin Harris is Freelance Contributor to the PokerStars Blog.

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