Day 2 is done and Thiago Grigoletti leads the final 21 players with 1,981,000.

Grigoletti hails from Pelotez, Brazil and has cashed for more than $1.2 million online but will be chasing his first live title tomorrow.

Thiago Grigoletti

While Grigoletti is in the enviable position, he has a lot of competition. Bruno Marino finished second in chips with 1,590,000 while Jose Ignacio “Nacho” Barbero rounds off the top three with 1,489,000. Barbero’s also going for his third LAPT title. The Argentinian pro won two consecutive stops back in LAPT3 and now he has one more shot at the hat trick.

Jose Ignacio “Nacho” Barbero

While Barbero is the last two-time champ still in the field, he wasn’t the only one that started the day. Oscar Alache was eliminated soon after the bubble burst, finishing 38th for R$14,480. It was a lengthy 90-minute bubble that finally ended with a river bluff by Andy Hwang. It was a king-high bluff and Hwang left before the floor came to tell players to turn over their hands.

But after Hwang was eliminated the floodgates of eliminations opened. Players flowed out after that. Vivian Saliba, the NLHE and PLO São Paulo state champion, nearly made it to the end of the day but was eliminated in 28th place and won R$16,520. Team PokerStars Pro Leo Fernandez also survived the bubble and finished 42nd, earning R$12,900.

Click here for for a full payout list.

Vivian Saliba

His fellow Team PokerStars Pros, Andre Akkari and Felipe Mojave Ramos, didn’t make it that far though. The two Brazilians exited the tournament early in the day as well as the former Brazilian Olympic swimmer Fernando Scherer.

Felipe Mojave Ramos

But while those dreams are done, 21 are still alive.

Join us tomorrow as we play down to our final LAPT champion. Can Barbero end the series with the elusive LAPT hat trick?

Find out right here at the PokerStars Blog.

Boa noite. –AV

1:53am: Stop the clock
Level 20 – Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

With 15 minutes left the clock has been paused, which means just a few more hands on the night. Stay tuned for a full report of today’s action. –JS

1:45am: Barbero bordering on chip lead
Level 20 – Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

Jose ‘Nacho’ Barbero might just have become chip leader after taking a huge pot away from Pedro Madeira. I picked up the action on the turn of a K♠ 3♣ 8♦ K♣ board and there was already more than 300,000 in the middle. The river then came the [6as] and Barbero – who is looking for his third LAPT title – led out for 171,000. Madeira gave it up and Barbero has around 1.5 million now. –JS

1:35am: Three tables left!
Level 20 – Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

Two more eliminations mean we’re down to 24 players, and only three tables of eight. Jose ‘Nacho’ Barbero is still in aiming to become the first and only three-time LAPT champion, and start-of-day chip leader Alisson Piekazewicz also remains in the mix. –JS

1:33am: Two more bust-outs
Level 20 – Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

There will be no female LAPT champ here in Brazil as Vivian Saliba is out in 28th. Lewis Osvaldo busted shortly after, bringing us down to 26 players. –JS

1:25am: Blumberg out in 29th
Level 20 – Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

We’re down to 28. We’re not entirely sure when the money went it, but Luis Blumberg’s J♥ Q♥ and 340,000 stack was at risk against Alisson Piekazewicz’s K♣ Q♣ and the board ran out 10♦ 2♥ Q♠ 5♦ 2♣ , eliminating him in 29th. –JS

1:20am: Big double for Moreira
Level 20 – Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

Elcio Romao called a middle position raise from the hijack and then Vitor Moreira moved all-in from the small blind. Jose Ignacio “Nacho” Barbero was on the big blind and he started thinking. He had the small blind covered but Romao had nearly double the stack he did.

Barbero eventually folded, as did the initial raiser. Romao on the other hand thought for a bit, wished his opponent luck and called. It worked, Moreira got pretty lucky.

Moreira turned over 8♣ 8♥ and Romao had him beat with J♠ J♥ . The flop came 2♣ 6♥ 10♣ and Barbero through his hands in the air. He folded a pair of tens he said. Barbero felt a bit better when the J♣ came on the turn and then he felt incredibly relieved when a K♣ came on the river to give Moreira the flush.

Moreira doubled up to about 800,000 while Romao dropped to about 300,000. –AV

1:10am: Osvaldo’s aces cracked
Level 20 – Blinds 10,000/20,000 (3,000 ante)

Lewis Osvaldo has staged a remarkable comeback since he scraped into the money with just 15,000 – just over one big blind at the time. He’s still in, but the Chilean just had a bit of bad luck.

Picking up the action on a 10♦ 10♠ 7♣ 9♠ board, Joaquin Melogno bet 33,000 from the big blind position and Osvaldo just called to see the 4♠ river. Melogno led again for 36,000 and Osvaldo called, but when Melogno showed his K♦ 10♥ he looked deflated. Osvaldo flashed his A♥ A♠ and tossed them away. He has just 200,000 now. –JS

1am: Saliba tanks then makes tough fold
Level 19 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

Vivian Saliba is now our last woman standing, and she was almost playing for the majority of her chips just now.

Action folded to her in a big-blind only hand (Thales Leite had just been eliminated) and she opened to 35,000 on the button. Fernando Camargo defended his big blind and the two saw a 3♥ 7♠ 5♣ flop hit the felt, which Camargo checked to the raiser. Saliba didn’t c-bet, instead checking it back.

The turn came the Q♥ and Carmago checked again. This time Saliba made a bet of 26,000, only to raised to 76,000. She made a quick call and we went to the river which came the 8♦ . Carmago instantly shoved all-in for 266,000 and Saliba went deep into the tank.

She was thinking for around three minutes and counted out calling chips. It looked painful but she eventually opted to fold, leaving herself with 390,0000 moving forward. –JS

Vivian Saliba

12:50am: Down to 30
Level 19 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

Gustavo Camargo has crossed the 1 million mark after knocking out Thales Leite in 31st.

It all went in preflop but started when Camargo raised to 50,000 from the button. Leite moved all-in for 342,000 from the big blind and Camargo thought for a bit and then counted out the bet. Even if he lost it he would still have about 300,000 left over.

After another minute Camargo called and turned over a dominating A♥ K♣ to Leite’s A♠ 5♥ .

The 8♣ 6♦ 2♠ 9♦ A♣ board gave both players a pair of aces but Camargo’s king-kicker gave him the win.

Camargo’s stack rose to slightly more than 1 million while Leite finished 31st. –AV

12:41am: The three table dream
Level 19 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

Earlier on we said we’d be lucky to reach 30 by the end of the night, but with 31 left now that seems likely. Now our dream is to get down to 24 players and three tables of eight, so that tomorrow isn’t a marathon session that goes long into Friday morning. We need six more bust outs to reach that goal. –JS

12:37am: Crema curdles in 33rd
Level 19 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

Thiago Crema is the latest player to fall. It was the start-of-day chip leader Alisson Piekazewicz who played executioner, with his queen-jack up against Crema’s ace-nine. A queen on the flop and jack on the river secured Crema’s fate, while Piekazewicz increased to 640,000. –JS

12:30am: 34 and 33 go back to back
Level 19 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

There were back-to-back eliminations at one table and we’re down to 32 players.

The first to go was Jean-Luc Voyer. He didn’t move all-in, but he did call all in. In that hand, Renan Ribas moved all-in for 133,000 from the hijack and action folded to Voyer’s button. Voyer thought for a bit and counted out his stack, Ribas had him covered by just a few thousand.

Voyer called and turned over A♠ Q♣ and was flipping against Ribas’s J♦ J♠ .

The 10♥ 10♦ 8♦ 10♣ K♥ tip-toed around Voyer’s ace-queen without hitting it and he was eliminated in 34th.

Then Samara Lúcio moved all-in for about 150,000 the following hand and Oscar Barriga called from the button. Lúcio showed 10♣ 8♣ and was in need of some help when Barriga tabled A♣ K♥ .

The 9♣ K♣ 5♣ flop gave Lúcio a flush, but then a fourth club came on the river to give Barriga the nut flush and Lúcio hit the rail. –AV

12:17am: Balaban banished in 35th
Level 19 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

Guilherme Schreiber opened to 32,000 under the gun and it folded around to Felipe Balaban in the big blind. He shoved for around 130,000 with the A♦ 9♠ and Schrieber made the call with the 10♣ [j].

The flop was kind to Schrieber. It fell 10♦ 8♦ 5♥ to pair his ten, which was still good after the 4♠ and 6♥ completed the board. –JS

12:09am: Excitement in the air
Level 19 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

While our tournament has had a rather dull last two hours while we waited for the bubble to burst, there’s been no shortage of excitement in the room. That’s because the BSOP Millions has now reached a final table, and let me tell you: the Brazilians know how to rail.

There’s loud cheers every hand as the passionate crowd cheers on their friends. If only every final table were as fun and lively as that around the world. –JS

12:06am: Last two hours
Level 19 – Blinds 8,000/16,000 (2,000 ante)

Just 37 remain, with two levels to go. The players have returned and cards are back in the air. –JS

11:50pm: Break

Players are on their final 15-minute break of the night. They’ll come back to play two more levels before we bag and tag for the night. –AV

11:48pm: Alache Out
Level 18 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)

Oscar Alache is out.

This leaves Jose Ignacio “Nacho” Barber as the last two-time LAPT champion in the field. Alache had been short for some time and even moved all-in on the bubble but got no callers.

People have been calling a lot looser ever since the bubble burst though. Alache was down to about 60,000 and moved all-in. He got one caller, Thiago Goulart.

Goulart turned over K♦ K♥ while Alache showed J♥ 5♥ . The board ran 8♥ 6♣ Q♦ 5♠ A♦ and Alache hit the rail in 39th while Goulart chipped up to about average with 450,000. –AV

Could Barbero win his third LAPT title?

11:43pm: Amaral’s out
Level 18 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)

Gilberto Amaral moved all-in from the small blind for 100,000 with the A♦ 2♥ over Gustavo Camargo’s open, and he called with the A♠ 9♥ . The board ran out K♠ K♥ 3♥ 3♣ A♦ and the nine kicker played. –JS

11:40pm: Here come the bust-outs
Level 18 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)

We’ve lost eight players already since the bubble burst, and the sole remaining Team PokerStars Pro Leo Fernandez was one of them. He shoved for around 200,000 over a 24,000 open with pocket threes and was called by the raiser’s pocket queens. The ladies held and the Argentinian made his exit, via a trip to the cage to collect his winnings. –JS

11:25pm: Teles busts, Osvaldo quadruples his one big blind
Level 18 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)

Well, it’s not unusual after the bubble bursts to see short stacks getting their chips in and gambling. We just saw a four-way all-in which saw Lewis Osvaldo and Vinicius Teles at risk. Osvaldo had just 15,000 and 6♥ 6♣ , and Teles just 30,000 and A♣ 5♠ . They were up against A♠ Q♠ and A♦ 10♥ , but the board ran out 7♥ 3♠ 9♠ 4♣ 7♦ meaning Osvaldo’s sixes were good. He quadrupled up, while Teles lost his stack to the player with ace-queen. –JS

11:17pm: It be
Level 18 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)

Pop pop.

After nearly an hour-and-a-half, the bubble has finally burst.

There was a close call at that table the hand before too. Adriano Fernandes raised to 26,000 from early position and Guillherme Schreiber moved all-in from the cutoff.

Fernandes called and turned over K♦ K♠ to Schreiber’s A♦ 3♥ . The board ran 9♣ 7♣ 9♠ Q♥ Q♣ and Fernandes doubled to about 600,000 while Schreiber’s stack dropped to 230,000.

Then action folded to Schreiber the following hand but he decided to fold that one. The player to his left, Andy Hwang, raised to 20,000. Luiz Duarte Pai called from the big blind and the flop came 2♠ 5♦ A♠ . Hwang led out for 30,000 and Pai called. The turn brought another ace, the A♥ , and another bet. Hwang bet 50,000, Pai called and a 10♥ completed the board.

Hwang moved all-in and Pai quickly called.

Action was frozen to wait for the other tables to be done, but Hwang already knew he was done. He looked down at K♣ 9♦ , stood up from his chair and left the tournament area before the floor came to resume action.

Hwang’s ownerless K♣ 9♦ was turned over and mucked while Pai showed a trip aces with A♦ 8♥ .

Pai chipped up to about 700,000 while Hwang became the last LAPT bubble boy. –AV

11:09pm: Could it be?
Level 18 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)

We have our first all-in and call in an hour and 20 minutes of the bubble…could this be it? We’re just waiting for hands at other tables to finish, don’t go anywhere. –JS

10:52pm: Level up
Level 18 – Blinds 6,000/12,000 (2,000 ante)

Another hour, another level, but we’re still on the bubble. There are several micro stacks and a few short stacks so it’s only a matter of time before it bursts.

Right? –AV

10:47pm: Hanging on
Level 17 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

There are four players with less than five big blinds and they’re hoping to eke into the money. One player with three big blinds folded K♣ J♦ from the big blind after a button raise.

Everyone’s patiently hoping to score that final LAPT cash. –AV

10:30pm: Still bubblin’
Level 17 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

A combination of tanking and hand for hand play means we’re still on the bubble. Stick around! –JS

9:56pm: Two down – we’re on the bubble
Level 17 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

We’ve already lost two players meaning we’re now on the stone bubble. One of the players eliminated was Rob Gol. He shoved for 50,000 with the K♣ 9♥ and was called by chip leader Pedro Madeira in the big blind with Q♥ 5♠ . Gol had paired his king by the turn of the A♠ 3♥ 10♠ K♠ board, but the 2♠ river gave Madeira a flush to send him out with no cash.

Stay tuned to find out who will be the last ever LAPT bubble boy/girl. –JS

9:46pm: Back to work
Level 17 – Blinds 5,000/10,000 (1,000 ante)

And we’re back.

The final 50 players are fed and ready to cash. Only three of them won’t since only 47 make the money. We break down to six tables after two more eliminations and then we’ll be on the bubble.

Stay tuned.

8:32: Dinner break
Level 16 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

The final 50 players are now on a 75-minute dinner break. They’re off to get some fuel before they come back to play the bubble. Only 47 players will make the money this event and no one wants to be left out. –AV

8:28pm: Melogno back in the lead
Level 16 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

Cleider Machado raised to 20,000 from the button and Vivian Saliba called from the small blind and Joaquin Melogno came along from the big blind.

Action checked to Machado on the 7♥ 4♣ 3♠ flop and he bet 31,000. Saliba folded, Melogno called and a 7♠ came on the turn. Both players checked and then Melogno fired off a 62,000 bet on the river.

Machado looked down, the bet was about half his stack. he decided he couldn’t call and Melogno chipped up to 860,000. –AV

8:23pm: Big/notable stacks as we approach the bubble
Level 16 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

Pedro Madeira – 797,000
Jaoquin Melogno – 780,000
Rafael Caiffa – 737,000
Jose ‘Nacho’ Barbero – 650,000
Matull Lessa – 630,000
Vivian Saliba – 518,000
Alisson Piekazewicz – 385,000
Samara Lúcio – 265,000
Leo Fernandez – 255,000 (Team PokerStars Pro)
Oscar Alache – 92,000

–JS

8:10pm: Alache in the red zone
Level 16 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

Oscar Alache is in rough shape as we near the bubble.

His small stack is shrinking even more with a few preflop calls that end in postflop folds. Then he lost even more on a showdown with Luiz Gustavo Camargo.

Alache raised to 18,000 from the button and Camargo called from the big blind. The flop came 4♥ 2♠ K♣ and both players checked. Camargo bet 15,000 when the 6♦ came on the turn and Alache called.

The river brought a 3♥ and Camargo bet again, this time for 20,000. Alache threw in a chip for the call and showed a rivered two pair with 4♦ 3♦ . It was a better river for Camargo though. Camargo turned over 4♠ 5♠ for the straight and took down the pot. Camargo chipped up to about 450,0000 while Alache was left with only 55,000. –AV

7:58pm: Two shoves, both get through
Level 16 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

Still not much to report. We’re down to 51 players and those either with big hands or no fear of missing out on a cash are applying the bubble pressure.

Victor Bergara min-opened to 16,000 and faced a three-bet to 36,000. That bet was called and two players saw a 8♦ 7♥ 5♣ flop. Begara checked, and then jammed over a 42,000 flop bet to get his opponent to fold.

Team PokerStars Pro Leo Fernandez was at it too. A player had opened to 16,000 and Fernandez shoved on the button for 259,000. His opponent just had him covered and Fernandez was urging him to call by miming him slamming chips down. “Is that what you want?” his opponent asked. Fernandez nodded, but in the end his bet got a fold and he took in the chips. –JS

7:45pm: Seven tables, but not a hand in sight
Level 16 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

The past ten minutes have been pretty dry when it comes to finding hands to tell you about. It could be because we’re just eight away from the money bubble, so the players are beginning to tighten up in a bit to lock up a cash.

As always in these things, as soon as that bubble bursts (at 47 players) you can expect the short stacks to start gambling it up, resulting in a few quick eliminations. –JS

7:35pm: Another hour, another level
Level 16 – Blinds 4,000/8,000 (1,000 ante)

It’s that time of the tournament again. Blinds are up and it’s the last level before our 75-minute dinner break.

7:30pm: Melogno near the lead
Level 15 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

Joaquin Melogno keeps rising and is now near the chip lead after taking a huge pot off of Fernando Camargo.

In that hand, Vivian Saliba raised to 12,000 and Melogno made it 27,000 from the cutoff. Camargo four-bet to 55,000 and Saliba folded. Melogno upped the bet to 127,000 and Camargo called after some thought.

The flop came J♦ 2♥ 8♠ and Camargo checked. Melogno bet 105,000 and Camargo went into the tank. There was a giant pile of chips on the table and players from the rest of the tournament came over to watch.

The pot didn’t get any bigger though since Camargo folded. The pot left Camargo with about 520,000 while Melogno has one of the biggest stacks in the room with 775,000. –AV

7:17pm: Melogno magic
Level 15 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

Joaquin Melogno is on the rise at his table. There’s been a lot of chips at that table all day, including our top-two starting stacks and Fernando Camargo, who took over the lead in the first few levels of play.

But Piekazewicz has dropped to 315,000, Saliba is hovering at about 500,000 and Camargo’s lead has dropped to 640,000. Melogno on the other hand is on a roll and is close behind with about 600,000.

Some of Melogno’s recently-acquired chips came from Vivian Saliba. Saliba raised to 21,000 from the cutoff in that hand and Melogno made it 21,000 from the button. Saliba called and the flop fell 2♣ 8♠ 9♠ .

Both players checked and a Q♣ came on the turn. Melogno bet 18,000 when checked to and Saliba called. The river brought a K♥ and Saliba threw out a bet worth 25,000. Melogno thought for a bit and then called. He didn’t even have to show his hand since Saliba snap-mucked when he called.

Then Melogno went on to win the next hand too.

Action folded to Melogno on the cutoff and he called. Bruno Marino raised to 16,000 from the button and Melogno called. There was a 4♥ 7♦ 2♠ flop and a round of checks.

The 2♦ on the turn prompted a 15,000 bet from Melogno and Marino called. A 9♥ completed the board and Melogno upped the bet to 19,000. Marino thought for a bit and called. Marino mucked as well, but only after Melogno showed 4♣ 3♦ for a pair of fours.

The hand left Marino with about 260,000 while Melogno chipped up to nearly 600,000. –AV

7:05pm: Teles flops the nuts
Level 15 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

After a 12,000 open that was called by Lewis Osvaldo, Jorge Teodoulou called, another player called, and finally Vinicius Teles called in the big blind. All five went to the flop and it came the 3♣ 4♦ 2♠ . It checked to Teodoulou and he shoved for 91,000. It then folded to Teles and with 45,000 he called all-in. Everyone else folded and the cards were flipped.

Teodoulou – [9S][9C]
Teles – 5♠ 6♥

At first glance it seemed that Teodoulou’s nines were good, but Teles had flopped the nut straight, and it would hold up after the A♦ and 5♣ completed the board.

Teles moved up to 168,000 while Teodoulou dropped to 39,000. However, he’d double up in the very next hand when his A♥ 9♠ winked an ace against his opponent’s 10♦ 10♠ all-in pre-flop. –JS

6:51pm: Alache (almost) doubles through Camargo
Level 15 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

Things are looking up for two-time LAPT winner Oscar Alache on his quest for a third and final title. Picking up the action on the river of a K♠ 3♣ 5♦ 4♦ 9♥ board, there was around 65,000 in the middle and Alache was due to act. Luiz Gustavo Camargo was talking to him, in a way that suggested he was saying something along the lines of ‘be careful’ (I don’t speak Portuguese, sorry). Alache had 100,000 behind, and Camargo had him well covered.

But Alache didn’t listen to the chit chat. He put all of his blue 5k chips in the middle for an 80,000 bet, leaving himself 20,000 behind. Camargo made a quick call and Alache quickly turned over the second nuts with the 6♣ 2♣ . Camargo couldn’t believe it and slammed his A♣ K♣ down.

Alache now has 225,000, while Camargo is still healthy with 460,000. –JS

6:42pm: Closing in
Level 15 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

And we’re down to the 50s. Only eight tables remain and we’re just a few eliminations away from making it seven.

We’ll start hitting the money when we get down to six tables and then there will only be one unlucky player who won’t get a cash. Only the final 47 players will cash for a minimum of R$12,900 (US $3,811).

Our two-time LAPT Champions are still in contention as is Team PokerStars Leo Fernandez. –AV

6:33pm: Taking it to another level
Level 15 – Blinds 3,000/6,000 (1,000 ante)

The final 60 players have returned. We’ll play two more 60-minute levels before taking a 75-minute dinner break. –JS

6:15pm: Another break

We’ll be back in 15 minutes.–JS

6:13pm: Last ever LAPT; time for 1st ever female champ?
Level 14 – Blinds 2,500/4,000 (500 ante)

There has never been a female winner of an LAPT in all of the tour’s nine seasons. Now, in the last ever event with less than 60 players remaining, we have two women still in the field. And both have strong stacks.

We have Vivian Saliba. The São Paulo local who has had quite a year. She became the Paulista State PLO champion, as well as winning the CPH (Paulista Hold’em Championship) Main event, becoming the first woman to do so. She also represented Sao Paulo for the Paulista State team at the Brazil National Poker Championship, and came 11th in this very event last year, too.

We also have Samara Lúcio. You might remember her from this time last year, when she became the sixth person to become a Spin and Go millionaire. She entered a $5 Spin and Go, and took it down for a cool $1 million, beating odds in the ballpark of 3 in 10 million.

Samara Lúcio

Saliba currently has 470,000, and Lúcio sits with 330,000. –JS

6:10pm: Two hits for the two-timers
Level 14 – Blinds 2,500/4,000 (500 ante)

Jose Ignacio “Nacho” Barbero and Oscar Alache, our two remaining two-time LAPT champs, recently lost hands.

Barbero dipped a bit, but he’s still above average with 365,000. In that hand, there was a 15,000 raise from under the gun and Barbero called from the hijack. Tiago Leonel called from the big blind and all three players checked the Q♦ 8♣ 3♥ flop.

A 5♦ came on the turn and it cost 20,000 to get to the river. All three players went and a 3♣ completed the board. Leonel bet 38,000 and only Barbero called.

Leonel turned over Q♣ 10♣ for top pair and Barbero shook his head and mucked his cards.

Oscar Alache lost an even bigger pot a few tables over.

Alache raised to 13,000 from the button in that hand and Nicolas Malandre called from the big blind.

Malandre checked the K♠ 7♠ K♦ flop and Alache bet 15,000. Malandre called and then bet 22,500 when the 4♠ came on the turn. Alache raised to 50,000 and Malandre responded with a re-raise to 85,000. Alache thought and looked at his stack, he only had about 140,000 left.

He looked at his cards one last time and the flicked them away one at a time.

Malandre took down the pot and was up to 350,000 while Alache has about half the average stack with 140,000. –AV

5:50pm: Olympic swimmer Scherer takes a dive
Level 14 – Blinds 2,500/4,000 (500 ante)

We’ve just lost former Brazilian Olympic swimmer Fernando Scherer. While we didn’t see the hand that eliminated the two-time bronze medal winner, we saw the one before which took his stack down to below 20 big blinds.

Renato Kaneoya opened under the gun to 11,500 and it folded around to Scherer in the big blind. He defended and they saw a 4♠ Q♦ 2♦ flop. It went check/c-bet/call and the turn came the 10♦ which Scherer checked again. Kaneoya didn’t slow down, betting 28,000 which Scherer called.

Finally the 5♦ completed the board and now Scherer took the betting lead, sticking in 44,000. Kaneoya called quick and turned over the K♦ 8♦ for the king-high flush, while Scherer just had Q♣ 7♣ for top pair and had turned his hand into a bluff.

Scherer dropped to 85,000 after that one and would be out shortly after. Kaneoya is up to 240,000. –JS

No medals for Scherer

5:35pm: Saliba and Piekazewicz clash, tournament down to 72
Level 14 – Blinds 2,500/4,000 (500 ante)

It wasn’t the biggest clash of the tournament, but it was enough to give Vivian Saliba more chips than Alisson Piekazewicz.

There was about 27,000 in the pot and Piekazewicz and Saliba were faced with a 10♠ J♣ 9♦ flop. Piekazewicz had checked from the big blind and Saliba bet 7,000.

But it was the old check-raise at play and Piekazewicz responded with a raise to 17,000. Saliba called and a 5♥ came on the turn. Piekazewicz bet 22,000 and after a little thought, Saliba called.

The river brought a K♠ and Piekazewicz went back to checking. Saliba bet 40,000 and this time it was Piekazewicz’s turn to think. His decision was a fold though and Saliba flashed him Q♣ Q♦ before raking in the pot.

The hand put Saliba up to about 500,000 while Piekazewicz dropped to 460,000.

But the other monster stack at the table has only continued to chip up. Fernando Camargo, who got moved to that table a level ago, is now in the chip lead with nearly 800,000. –AV

5:21pm: Akkari’s gone; Ramos and Strong bust same hand
Level 14 – Blinds 2,500/4,000 (500 ante)

We’re losing players thick and fast, some of whom are more recognisable than others. We’re sad to report that Team Pros Andre Akkari and Felipe Mojave Ramos are both out, and Felipe stopped to tell us his bust-out hand.

“It was a seven handed table, and four people go all-in. Ace-queen, ace-king, kings, and tens. A ten on the river knocked us all out.”

I asked Ramos what he was going to do now. “I have two boys from my team still in the BSOP Main Event, so I’ll be railing them,” he replied.

Ramos explains the hand

I also saw Rodrigo Strong on the rail, who was on Ramos’ table. “I had the ace-king!” he told me, before asking about the first UK PokerStars Festival in London in January. It’s likely you’ll see Strong there. –JS

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5:11pm: Fernandez takes one out
Level 13 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

Team PokerStars Pro Leo Fernandez is up to about 400,000 after knocking out a player with a river call.

The hand started with a raise to 8,000 from Daniel Nagayama and Fernandez re-raised to 20,000 from the small blind. Nagayama called and then Fernandez bet 22,000 on the 4♠ 4♥ Q♣ flop.

Nagayama thought or a bit and then called. They both checked the 3♠ on the turn and a 10♠ completed the board.

Fernandez bet 45,000 and Nagayama counted out his stack and moved all-in. It was worth about 134,000 and Fernandez shook his head. Then he went into the tank. There were a few minutes of intense chip counting and head shaking before Fernandez finally put a tower of chips in for the call.

After the call it was Nagayama’s turn to shake his head. He turned over 8♥ 8♦ and Fernandez happily showed his A♠ A♥ .

Nagayama hit the rail while Fernandez chipped up to about 400,000. –AV

Leo Fernandez

5pm: Moving level
Level 13 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

Level 13 has definitely been unlucky for some. We’ve seen a flurry of eliminations to bring us down from 120 to just 80, leaving ten tables in play. Maybe we’ll reach or even have less than 30 players by 2am after all. –JS

4:50pm: Madeira shoots up the leaderboard
Level 13 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

A huge hand has just catapulted Pedro Madeira up the chip counts. It started with a 10,500 open from Luis Blumberg which Oscar Alache called on the button. Madeira was in the small blind and three-bet to 39,000 which only Blumberg called.

A [9S][QC][9C] flop fell and both checked to see the 6♥ turn. Madeira now began to count out a delayed c-bet, eventually sliding 70,000 over the line. Blumberg called almost immediately.

The 3♥ river completed the board and Madeira opted to shove for his remaining 238,000. Blumberg had roughly 570,000 so could afford to call, and he did:

Madeira – J♥ 9♥
Blumberg – J♦ J♠

With that pot Madeira is now up to around 570,000 himself. –JS

4:38pm: Big stacks attract
Level 13 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

Alisson Piekazewicz and Vivian Saliba, the Day 1 chip leaders, started at the same table today and it appears as if they’re massive stacks have formed a sort of gravitational pull that’s attracting the other large stacks around the tournament.

Alisson Piekazewicz

Fernando Camargo, who started the day at the other side of the tournament area, started chipping up quickly in the first two levels of play. Camargo rose to second in chips and then his table broke and some magical force of attraction brought him to Piekazewicz and Saliba’s table.

Vivian Saliba

It didn’t take long for him to get involved in some big pots either.

In one hand Camargo raised to 8,500 from middle position and Felipe Pasini called from the big blind. The flop came 2♦ 3♠ 7♦ and Camargo bet 11,000. Pasini called and a 2♠ came on the turn.

Both players checked and a 3♣ completed the board. Camargo bet 31,000 but it was too much for Pasini and he folded.

Camargo raked in the pot and is now up to 560,000. So far, it appears like only Piekazewicz has more chips, but he’s seated to Camargo’s immediate right. Saliba is on the two seat in that table. The chance of a major clash has just increased. –AV

4:23pm: Two long days ahead
Level 13 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

Looking at the field size right now, it looks like we’re in for two long days of poker. 120 players are still in contention, so with eight levels left to play we’d be lucky to be left with 30 when the chips are bagged.

That means it could be a marathon session tomorrow as we have to play down to a winner, regardless of how late the action goes. The good news is that Felipe Mojave Ramos has promised to take the PokerStars Blog team out for feijoada later on – a local Brazilian stew of beans with beef and pork which you can only get on Wednesdays and Saturdays. –JS

4:17pm: Back in business
Level 13 – Blinds 2,000/4,000 (500 ante)

Players have returned from break and action has restarted. –JS

4:06pm: Notable counts on the break

Alisson Piekazewicz – 530,000
Vivian Saliba – 480,000
Andre Akkari – 70,000 (Team PokerStars Pro)
Jose Nacho Barbero – 240,000
Rodrigo String – 72,000
Felipe Mojave Ramos – 95,000 (Team PokerStars Pro)
Fernando Scherer – 290,000
Leo Fernandez – 128,000 (Team PokerStars Pro)
Oscar Alache – 157,000

–JS

4:01pm: First break of the day

We’ll be back in 15 minutes as the players are taking a break. –JS

3:52pm: Akkari down, but not out
Level 11 – Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)

I came over to my laptop to tell you that Team Pro Andre Akkari was in the danger zone. He had just eight big blinds, and seemed to be quite card dead. Things weren’t looking good.

Tough times for Akkai

Then, when I’d reached my seat and sat behind the laptop screen, I glanced over once more and something had changed. Akkari had way more chips in front of him than before.

Yep – a little inspection and we can confirm that he has more than doubled up, and now sits with 82,000. Still below average, but a playable 27 big blind stack. –JS

3:40pm: Money money money
Level 11 – Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)

Registration is finally closed.

It feels weird to know that once players bust, they’ll be gone for good. We’ve grown used to writing about Akkari busting and coming back. It’ll be sad to know that if he busts again, it’ll be goodbye forever. Or until the next tournament.

But players now have a better idea of what they’re fighting for. This year’s LAPT9 Brazil champion will win R$441,000 (US $130,299). If they make it to the final table then they’ll be guaranteed at least R$45,200 (US $13,355).

Those looking to eke into the money will have to outlast a few more players. This event saw a total of 329 entries but only the final 47 will make the money. If they make it that far then they’ll be making at least R$12,900 (US $3,811). –AV

3:25pm: Contenders
Level 11 – Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)

A few large stacks are starting to sprout up across the field.

And no, they’re not just clones of Alisson Piekazewicz. Way on the other side of the tournament area is Fernando Camargo. He’s smiling and going over to his friends nearly every other hand to high five them and talk about the tournament.

Camargo appears to have jumped to second in chips with 560,000.

There’s also another Camargo with a large stack though. Luiz Gustavo Camargo is in another section of the tournament area and he’s seated with about 500,000.

Piekazewicz still leads, but massive lead is slowly losing the terrifying presence it had last night as players keep inching closer to his stack. –AV

3:15pm: Melogno three-bets Saliba light, but pays for it
Level 11 – Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)

Paulista PLO champ Vivian Saliba saw the action fold to her in the cutoff and she came in with an open to 6,500. Joaquin Melogno was on the button and he decided to bump it up to 17,200, only for the player in the big blind to move all-in for 63,600. Saliba gave her hand up, and it was on Melogno.

He smirked. It became clear he’d been caught with his hand in the cookie jar, and he hung his head as he mucked his hand. “Ahhhh!” said Saliba, knowing he’d three-bet her light.

Saliba has 400,000 and Melgono has 274,000. –JS

Vivian Saliba

3:10pm: Viva Las Veygas…until the turn
Level 11 – Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)

A bit of bad luck just saw Maximilia Veyga bust. After a 5,100 open and call, Veyga flatted too only to see Victor Begarra squeeze it up to 23,300. Only Veyga called and the two saw a Q♠ 5♥ 6♦ flop. Begara opted to check instead of c-betting, and this allowed Veyga to shove his short 37,000 stack. Begara has a big stack of 275,000 and opted to make the call with just A♦ J♦ for ace-high, which trailed Veyga’s Q♦ 10♦ .

Until the turn that is. It came the A♠ . “Ayyyyahhhhh!” Groaned Veyga, and the J♥ landed on the river to rub salt into his wound. Veyga made his exit, and Begara stacked up some new chips. –JS

2:55pm: Alache hanging in
Level 11 – Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)

Two-time LAPT champ and reigning LAPT player of the year Oscar Alache from Chile is still in this one. He ended the day with a nice stack and just added a couple more big blinds to it. On a 7♠ 6♦ 6♠ flop both he and his opponent both checked, and when his opponent led for 7,000 on the 3♦ turn Alache put him all-in and got a quick fold. –JS

Oscar Alache

2:42pm: Big stack battle brewing
Level 11 – Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)

The two biggest stacks in the room have found themselves sat on the same table, directly opposite one another.

Chip leadser Alisson Piekazewicz and second-place in chips Vivian Saliba haven’t tangled yet, as far as we’ve seen, but a huge pot could be brewing between them. In the meantime Saliba was in a pot with Elcio Romao. The board showed K♠ 4♦ 10♠ 3♦ and Roman check-called Saliba’s 12,000 bet. Both checked the J♥ river and Roman took it down with his K♥ 6♣ for top pair. –JS

2:33pm: Table separation and unification
Level 11 – Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)

Yesterday Team PokerStars Pro Leo Fernandez and Jose Ignacio “Nacho” Barbero spent a big portion of the day at the same table. Both are Argentinian, both are LAPT champions and both are friends.

Now they’re on separate tables but they’ve both been chipping up. Both finished the day with more than 100,000 and now both have crossed the 200,000 mark.

While they’re chipping up, our two chip leaders are still about even. Unlike the two Argentinian pros, Alisson Piekazewicz and Vivian Saliba didn’t share a table at all yesterday and accumulated their stacks independently of each other.

But today they’re seated at the same table, one on each end. It’s a blessing and a curse. The only person who can knock Saliba out in one hand is now at her table, but then again, he’s the only one who can double her up.

While the two seem to be avoiding each other so far, the potential for a massive clash is there and we’ll keep our eyes on the table. –AV

2:21pm: Mojave in the mix
Level 11 – Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)

Felipe Mojave Ramos was deep in the BSOP Millions yesterday. He started in the top 10 and managed to finish 64th out of a field of nearly 2,400 players.

Ramos busted late in the night and decided it was too much poker to hop right into the LAP Main Event. Lucky for him he was able to register this morning.

Happy Mojave

Ramos has now taken a seat, but the starting stack of 50,000 is worth just about 20 big blinds. Ramos is going to have to make some moves and he already has.

There was about 40,000 in the pot on an A♣ 6♠ 10♥ 10♣ board and action checked to Michel Santos on the cutoff. Santos bet 10,000, Guilherme de Castro called from the small blind and Ramos did the same from the big blind. The river brought a 2♥ and Ramos moved all-in for 34,500.

Both players folded and Ramos took down the pot. He added a few big blinds to his stack and is now up to 70,000. –AV

2:10pm: Fourth for Akkari
Level 11 – Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)

Team PokerStars Pro Andre Akkari has fired a fourth bullet into this event, making him – as far as we know – the only player to have entered four times.

He’s got his work cut out for him though as his 50K starting stack gives him just over 20 big blinds. He just opened to a pot to 5,100 and was immediately three-bet to 11,100. When it got back to Akkari he stared his opponent up and down and let his hand go. –JS

2:02pm: Cards in the air
Level 11 – Blinds 1,200/2,400 (300 ante)

Play has begun here on Day 2 of the last ever LAPT Main Event. Let’s get to it. –JS

12:40pm: Welcome back

Good morning! Did you get a good night’s sleep? Good, because today is going to get pretty busy.

We had 123 survivors out of 307 entries make it through to Day 2, but registration is officially still open. We won’t have our official field numbers until a little bit into the day, but we’re pretty sure you’re going to see a few people pony up the R$8,000 buy-in for a shot with 20 big blinds.

The man they’re all chasing right now is Alisson Piekazewicz, known as ‘heyalisson’ on PokerStars, who bagged up a massive lead with 605,700 from the 50,000 starting stack. Interestingly enough, Piekazewicz led this tournament at the end of Day 1 last year too!

Alisson Piekazewicz

You can find all of the other start-of-Day 2 chip counts here, including those of Team PokerStars Pro Leo Fernandez, two-time LAPT champs Oscar Alache and Jose ‘Nacho’ Barbero, and US pro and Twitcher Jeff Gross, all of whom will be back in action today.

Play kicks off at 2pm local time and we’ll be playing another ten 60-minute levels today. Don’t go anywhere. –JS

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PokerStars Blog Reporting Team at LAPT9 Brazil: Alexander Villegas and Jack Stanton. Photos by Carlos Monti. Follow the PokerStars Blog on Twitter: @PokerStarsBlog

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