Friday, 29th March 2024 13:33
Home / Uncategorized / LAPT5 Punta del Este: Looking back before moving forward

lapt-promo.gifAs players begin what will ultimately be a four-day journey to the first-place trophy here at the Mantra Resort Hotel and Casino, we can report that trophies have already been won in Punta del Este. It was during last night’s welcome party just a short ways up the coastal highway that awards for the recently completed Season 4 of the Latin American Poker Tour were handed out.

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Left to right: Television presenter Jean Duverger, LAPT Season 4 Player of the Year Pablo Gonzalez, LAPT President David Carrion, Best LAPT Online Qualifier of the Year Engelberth Varela

Pablo Gonzalez of Colombia took away the big one — LAPT Season 4 Player of the Year — on the strength of a third-place finish at LAPT Lima back in April plus many cashes in other LAPT tourneys last year, including side events.

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Pablo Gonzalez, Season 4 LAPT Player of the Year

Among the other Season 4 awards handed out last night was the one for Best Online Qualifier of the Year, won by the Venezuelan Engelberth Varela. Varela also made a run at Gonzalez’ POY title last season, ultimately finishing seventh in that race.

The award for Best LATAM Country was given out last night as well, recognizing the country making the best showing at LAPT events during season 4. The winner was determined via a formula in which the number of players registered per country was divided by the number of players cashing in an event. Costa Rica took the prize with nine cashers out of 47 entrants (19.1%), just edging out Guatemala and Brazil.

The LAPT Venue of the Year was named, too, an award determined by a vote of players. Medellin’s Allegre Casino, host of LAPT Colombia, took away that award, thanks no doubt to the large field that inaugural event attracted.

Finally, Daniel “DazzleO” Ospina of Colombia managed to snag two awards last night — the LAPT Shorthand Player of the Year as well as the Best LAPT Achievement of the Year.

The latter Ospina also won as a result of a vote by fellow players, recognizing for a bit of hustle at LAPT Lima. After final tabling the Main Event (finishing seventh), Ospina dashed over to join the six-max event where he topped a field of 62 to win the title. As an achievement it was… well… dazzling.

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Daniel “DazzleO” Ospina at the final table of LAPT Lima Season 4, just before his seventh-place finish and dash to go win the six-max event

Word is that Ospina is on his way to Las Vegas at the moment for the upcoming WSOP and thus isn’t trying to replicate any other hustling feats by playing here first.

Gonzalez and Varela are here, however, and will no doubt being among ones to watch as we follow the early action. They were all smiles last night, though today it’s back to business as they each look to snag some Season 5 LAPT hardware.

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Pablo Gonzalez and Engelberth Varela

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