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What an afternoon for Webb

UKIPT Birmingham moved in the course of the gears today as 158 players entered the fray through the second of 3 starting flights. The last two to take their seats were Igor Kurganov and Griffin Benger. Unfortunately for Kurganov he was also one of the crucial last out, busting a couple of hands from the end, however the November Niner made it through with 70,100.

Benger got busy

Leading the best way on the end of eight quick fire 45-minute levels was Nathan Webb who bagged up an outstanding 159,200. The 35-year-old finance director from Worcester got his books within the black way to a flush over flush hand halfway during the day. Another big pot on the death meant the Worcester based Dad of 1 pipped Caicai Huang to the chip lead. Huang finished seventh within the UKIPT4 London Main Event and can return with 134,900 tomorrow. She's handily placed as are: Colin Gillon (114,600), Claudio Cambianica (100,500) Mian Wei (97,700), David Gallagher (97,400) and Louis Salter (90,900).

Half day for Boeree

Liv Boeree was another player who took benefit of late registration, she took her seat during level five. The Team PokerStars Pro was almost out within the exact same level. She got her starting stack in with A♠7♠ on a 5♠3♠4♦ flop and had to hit against the pocket kings of Simon McGechie. She was a 60-40 favourite and the Poker gods smiled on her as a turned straight gave her a lock at the hand. She finished the day on 57,100 and completes a triumvirate of Red Spades who'll be in business on Day 2 as Chris Moneymaker and Jake Cody both advanced on Day 1A.

Other big names still within the mix for the general UKIPT Main Event trophy are: Dom Kay (80,400), Eleanor Gudger (76,200), Neil Raine (63,400), Timothy Chung (59,000), David Docherty (49,500), Deborah Worley-Roberts (45,900), Mark McCluskey (45,600), Richie Lawlor (36,700), Kelly Saxby (26,600) and Richard Jones (25,100). You'll view full end of day chip counts here.

Notable for his or her absence on that list are Dara O'Kearney, Brett Angell and Ludovic Geilich but they'll yet join the 84 players who made it through to Day 2. We are saying may, as a turbo Day 1C flight - for anyone who's bust Day 1A or 1B - starts at 10pm. Same structure but 20 minute levels in preference to 45 minutes. Way to a tweet we all know that O'Kearney could be firing a second bullet and he could be joined by the 2 UKIPT champions.

They'll be no live coverage of that flight, but control the widget at the right hand side of the page (the ground of the page if using a mobile device) and the @PokerStarsBlog and @UKIPT twitter accounts and we'll post the Day 2 seat draw and complete Day 1 chip counts before play begins tomorrow at noon.

You can scroll right down to make amends for all today's action. See you tomorrow for moving day and the bubble. --NW

6:18pm: Final four handsLevel 8 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

The clock was paused and they will be four more hands before play is completed for the day. --NW

6:08pm: Gillon's got a gallon nowLevel 8 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

Colin Gillon's stack had dropped back a bit, but he just secured a double after a battle of blinds versus Tomasz Wrobel.

The action folded around to Gillon within the small blind and he completed. Wrobel raised to 2,500 within the big blind after which called after Gillon came back with a raise to 6,500. The flop fanned 3♥2♣T♠ and Gillon continued for 5,800. Call. Wrobel called another 10,200 at the K♠ turn after which faced an all-in bet worth 26,950 at the 9♠ river.

He called with A♣T♣ but Gillon had got there at the turn with K♦6♥ and scooped within the big pot to come again with reference to the chip leaders. -- MC

King Gillon

5:55pm: PokerStars memories, with Daragh DaveyLevel 8 - Blinds 400/800 (100 ante)

Daragh Davey told the blog he's very sad to overlook the last ever UKIPT before it's rebranded, but his partner is expecting a baby, so his priorities lie elsewhere for now.

There was a time when the Irishman never missed a stop. Not even that, there has been a time where he never missed a tournament at a stop. That dedication to playing the entire events helped secure him back-to-back Player of the Year titles in Season 4 and 5, for arguably the best achievement within the tour's history. Dara was kind enough to discuss this in his UKIPT memory:

Mr consistency

"My favourite memory is from EPT/UKIPT London 2014, the general stop of Season 4. Entering it am neck and neck with Max Silver and Tomaz Raniszewski for the player of the season leaderboard with a passport to the entire next season because the prize.

"I was playing a £300 side event with a couple of days left within the two-week festival, have 2 cashes already and that i know if I make ninth place or better it will likely be nearly impossible for the opposite two to catch me. We get all the way down to 10 handed and it seems like its taking forever! Finally someone busts and that i get out of my seat and celebrate with my friends. I very rarely celebrate in poker but that felt like 16 months of labor completed. That stop ended with Kevin Killeen coming 3rd within the EPT main event as well, which was another brilliant moment!"

5:45pm: Bish bash boshLevel 7 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

A premium hand versus premium hand encounter where one player has fewer than 20 big blinds can also be going to finish in a pre-flop all-in. That is what happened when Ali Zihni found ace-king and Mudasser Hussain aroused from sleep with aces.

The T♠2♠8♠6♦9♣ board kepy Hussain in front, he was all-in for slightly below 12,000. Zihni is all the way down to 35,000. --NW

5:35pm: Chip daddiesLevel 7 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

With just over a degree left to play, listed below are one of the big stacks within the room:

David Gallagher - 105,000Mian Wei - 91,000Louis Salter - 90,000Dominic Kay - 90,000Colin Gillon - 86,000Eleanor Gudger - 78,000Claudio Renzo Cambianica - 75,000Deivis Rinkevicius - 71,000--MC

5:25pm: Benger getting busyLevel 7 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

It hasn't taken Griffin Benger long to get into the groove of this tournament. He opened to 1,300 from under-the-gun+1 and called after Neil Ryder had three-bet to 3,100 from the cutoff. The 2♣T♠K♥ flop checked through and the J♥ fell at the turn. Benger checked again after which called Ryder's bet of 4,000.

The A♦ fell on fifth street, both players checked and Benger showed down Q♥9♥ to win the hand. "THAT IS WHAT you get for slowplaying," said Ryder. After that hand Benger is as much as 41,000. --NW

Benger's building a stack

5:18pm: Easy game for GudgerLevel 7 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

In a perfect world, we'd win every pot with no need to turn down, unless we have now the nuts. We aren't sure if Eleanor Gudger had the nuts in a hand that got her as much as around 90,000, but it's unlikely.

Pablo Lamas raised from the button and Gudger (small blind) and the massive blind called to peer an A♦6♠7♥ flop appear. Lamas continued for 2,200 and only Gudger check-called to the A♠ turn where she called another 3,000. The board completed with the 3♠ and Gudger checked for a 3rd time. Lamas didn't bet, or check behind so far as shall we see; he just mucked his hand and gave up the pot to his opponent. --MC

Gudger having an excellent day so far

5:02pm: Doh for DokeLevel 7 - Blinds 300/600 (75 ante)

Dara O'Kearney's had some good times and a few bad times at the UKIPT. Unfortunately for him his latest memory can be filed within the latter category.

Joining him at the rail are: Brett Angell, Paul Dando, Joshua Wooldridge, Ryan Plant, Dominic Burn, Michael Jones, Ludovic Geilich and Ishfaq Mohammed. --NW

Ludovic Geilich

4:46pm: Get out of hereLevel 6 - Blinds 250/500 (50 ante)

The remaining players at the moment are on their second and final 15 minute break of the day. Late registration will close initially of level seven. --NW

4:45pm: Exit DawLevel 6 - Blinds 250/500 (50 ante)

Daniel Daw wished the table good luck and was on his way. A HANDY GUIDE A ROUGH post-mortem of the hand revealed that he'd got the last of his chips in with K♣Q♣ on a 8♣K♠T♠ flop. AN EXCELLENT hand for sure, however it was up against a greater one as Noel Broadbent had pocket eights for a flopped set. The 2♠ turn left Daw drawing dead and the 4♦ completed the board.

After that hand Broadbent is as much as 70,000. --NW

4:40pm: Boeree lets one go at the riverLevel 6 - Blinds 250/500 (50 ante)

"You got a suite of fours or fives?" Live Boeree asks David Wilkes after he moved all-in for 14,725 at the river. He shook his head.

The board read A♦5♥4♠7♥6♦ and there were an excellent amount of action that led as much as the purpose Wilkes made his final move.

He had opened to 1,200 from mid position and was called in a single spot before Boeree squeezed to 3,700 off the button. Both players called but only Wilkes hung around after Boeree c-bet the flop. The Team PokerStars Pro bet another 6,300 at the turn before she was check-raised as much as 15,000. She called and it's back to her deliberation at the river.

"Set of threes? Top set of aces?" Boeree continued to half ask. Wilkes kept shaking his head.

"I don't know the way you'll have an ace in you hand," she declared before admitting defeat and folding. That dropped the Brit right down to around 40,000. --MC

4:30pm: Gudger going great gunsLevel 6 - Blinds 250/500 (50 ante)

"Seat open table 13" was the cry, it was Eleanor Gudger who was stacking chips. She's had a perfect couple of levels and is now as much as 85,000.

It's not gone quite to boot for Jack Sambrook or Tom Hall as they're both out. --NW

4:25pm: Cold deck for CraigieLevel 6 - Blinds 250/500 (50 ante)

Kerryjane Craigie, takes care of all things poker on the Hippodrome Casino by day, but she's a median player in her own right and was playing today. I say was, because she's now perched in a seat at the sidelines because of a brutal bustout hand.

She had around 9,000 to start out the hand and raised it up from the small blind with pocket jacks. Robert Shiell was within the big blind, with king-queen, he moved all-in and Craigie snap called.

The 2-7-9 flop was safe, the jack turn even better because it reduced Shiell's outs to simply the four remaining tens. But it's usually the river and a 10 popped out on fifth street to send Craigie to the rail. --NW

4:20pm: He's taking from the appropriate and provides to the leftLevel 5 - Blinds 300/600 (100 ante)

David Phelan managed a double up on one hand, then handed many of the gained chips over to David Docherty the very next hand.

He and Craig Wallace took to a 3♣Q♥Q♣ flop where the previous bet 6,000. He had around seven thousand back and was asked a matter for all of them. He called and opened A♦A♠, sooner than Wallace's J♣J♦. The board ran out 5♦4♥.

The very next hand saw David Docherty open to 900 and our two friends from the hand above call. The board rolled out Q♦6♣9♥8♠T♦ without a chips stepping into until the river where Phelan led for 1,500 from the large blind. Docherty raised to 7,500 and opened K♦J♦ for the nut straight when called. Phlean flashed a jack and mucked. Docherty's stack grew to around 38,000. -- MC

DD looking good for an eighth place finish

4pm: Chip countsLevel 5 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

Here's how one of the names and notables are fairing on Day 1B:

Name Chips

Steve Jelinek	57,500
Gary Clarke	55,400
Ben Morrison	54,000
Eleanor Gudger	53,000
Liv Boeree	50,000
Joseph Lalor	49,050
Timothy Chung	47,000
Dominic Kay	44,000
Ludovic Geilich	43,000
Neil Raine	38,000
Richie Lawlor	34,900
Caicai Huang	34,000
Luke Perrott	33,000
Kelly Saxby	30,325
Ronit Chamani	26,000
Tom Hall	25,800
Richard Jones	24,600
Carl Harris	24,300
David Clarkson	24,000
Ali Zihni	23,600
Louis Salter	23,500
Jeremy Wray	22,500
Michael Kane	20,075
Mark McCluskey	18,325
Deborah Worley-Roberts	18,000
Mark Wagstaff	17,000
David Docherty	14,975
Dara O'Kearney	14,325
Jack Sambrook	14,000
Kerryjane Craigie	9,875
Brett Angell	7,300

Chung's chipped up

Angell has work to do

3:55pm: Any two for McCluskeyLevel 5 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

Mark McCluskey has cashed 3 times in UKIPT Main Events (including one final table) and a number of other side events. You do not do this by looking ahead to aces. He just won a pot off Michael Jones with the mighty four-three.

The latter raised to 1,100 from the hijack and the previous tank called within the big blind. The flop fanned 7♣2♣6♠ and Jones continued for 1,300. McCluskey check-called before both went directly to check the 4♥6♥ turn and river down.

McCluskey opened 4♣3♠ to overcome out Jones' A♣T♣. "What's he got?" asked Jones.

"A pair of fours.....with a 3 kicker!" answered a kinda helpful Joseph Lalor.

McCluskey moved as much as 22,000, whereas Jones dropped to 14,000. --MC

McCluskey massaging his stack

3:35pm: Nice turn of events for BoereeLevel 5 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

Liv Boeree had barely had time to get her feet under the table before she was playing for all her chips. David Wilkes opened to 950 from middle position, Boeree smooth called from the button, just for Simon McGechie to three-bet to 2,600. Both Wilkes and Boeree called to create a corpulent pot of over 8,000.

On the 5♠3♠4♦ flop McGechie fired out a raffle of 5,000. Wilkes folded and stood up from the table where he informed the PokerStars Blog of the pre-flop action and whispered. "I folded jacks, I put him [McGechie] on a large pair."

Boeree bouncing

Boeree was debating what to do together with her ~22,000 chip stack and settled on raising all-in. There has been no insta call from McGechie but after around 20 seconds on deliberation he did call and showed K♠K♥.

He was ahead within the hand but Boeree had a monster draw with A♠7♠ and was actually a near 60-40 favourite to win the hand. The 6♥ turn made the EPT Sanremo winner a straight and the A♦ was an unnecessary river card. She doubles up then to around 50,000 while McGechie slips back to starting stack. --NW

3:23pm: Second half underway without...Level 5 - Blinds 200/400 (50 ante)

Four levels down and 4 more to head. The next never made it out of the changing room at half time:

Thales Salomao, Baljit Singh, Victor V. Ilyukhin, Krishna Nagaraju, Romaine Morin, Chris Gordon, Frederick Evans, Samy Salah, Khaneshkan Sriravindrah, Matthew Pierre and Victor Ilyukhin. -- MC

3:15pm: Webb flush with chipsLevel 4 - Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)

I joined the action to peer a raffle of as much as 1,000 in front of Luke Haward. It was a single 1k chip so he'd raised it as much as anywhere between 600 and 1,000. I'd never discover the precise amount as Nathan Webb three-bet to 2,100 at the button and Haward smooth called.

The flop fell a monotone 3♠7♠2♠, it didn't kill the action though as Webb bet 2,625 and Haward called. The 6♠ turn saw the pattern of the hand continue, Webb bet 5,000 and Haward smooth called again.

The river was checked through, Webb opened A♣K♠ for a king high flush, while Haward held Q♠T♠ for a flopped flush which had then been outdrawn at the turn. Big hands, big pot. Webb as much as 36,000 and Haward all the way down to 11,800 because of this. --NW

3:05pm: UKIPT memories, with floor person Kate BadurekLevel 4 - Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)

We've heard from a variety of players so it was time to head behind the curtain with a key staff member, namely Kate Badurek who's some of the people working floor this week here in Birmingham.

"I used to deal at the EPT a few years ago before my services weren't required by an older regime. Then PokerStars restructured how they directed and managed events, including a fresh way to hiring dealers and floor people. Toby Stone was given the job of Tournament Director for the UKIPT and gave me the risk to come back working with the company.

Formerly referred to as Kate the dealer

"I'll be forever grateful for that chance as engaged on the UKIPT, after which at the EPT again, has enabled me to broaden my skillset and gain the experience I WANTED to progress up the ranks to the role I'VE today.

"It's been an absolute pleasure engaged on this tour with all my amazing and talented colleagues, but this is not the tip. We'll all still be around as we move right into a new era with the PokerStars Festival and Championship events.

"So I DO NOT really have a particular memory to inform you I'm afraid, the memory of all the journey is what's important to me, and that i sit up for it continuing."

2:45pm: Power poker from GillonLevel 4 - Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)

It's rare within the early stages of a poker tournament that we get lucky enough to follow a large hand from begin to finish but I DISCOVERED a haystack and a needle at table 13 and settled in to observe a hand between Colin Gillon and Thomas Simm.

It was actually John Kitchen who got the action started, he raised to 725 from middle position, Simm three-bet to 1,900 at the button and action folded to Gillon, who was within the big blind. Think, dwell, then cold four-bet to 5,000 was the way it went, Kitchen couldn't stand the warmth and got out of there but Simm stuck around.

On the 5♠7♣5♣ flop Gillon bet 6,300 after which watched on as Simm went into the tank. Excluding a few hard swallows Gillon wasn't giving much away and Simm elected to fold. He drops to 27,000 while Gillon rises to 38,000. --NW

2:40pm: Rees shows he's Jack the ladLevel 3 - Blinds 150/300 (25 ante)

Jonathan Rees' stack has grown to around 57,000 after he made a fair call in a hand versus Mian Wei.

The Welshman was within the cutoff and facing a 3,500 bet at the turn with a board reading 2♦3♠8♦4♦. He made a fast call after which faced another 6,000 bet at the K♣ river. He took his time on that street but eventually called with J♥J♠, beating out Wei's 4♠6♥ for a lowly pair of fours. --MC

2:15pm: Break timeLevel 3 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

Three levels down and that suggests the players was sent on a fifteen minute break. --NW

2:05pm: One chance down, one to goLevel 3 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

Not that many exits so far, but Chris Straghalis, John Ventre, Danish Ghandi and Tomasz Maciorowski are all out. They've the choice to go into the Day 1C turbo that gets underway at 10pm tonight though. --NW

Straghalis could also be back

1:55pm: It's kind of flash to three-bet GordonLevel 3 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

PokerStars Live on the Hippodrome ambassador Chris Gordon has just dipped below starting stack after he played two three-bet pots in a row. He was the only being three-bet, and he ended up winning one and losing one.

Ben Morrison, who came 11th on the UKIPT6 Super Series last month, was the primary player he tangled with. Gordon opened from the cutoff and called after Morrison three-bet from the massive blind. The flop came 2♦7♥6♠ and Morrison continued for 2,100. Gordon called after which bet 3,100 at the 4♦ turn after he was checked to. Morrison folded and said, "Shouldn't mess with the pros, I DO KNOW that!"

"That's the primary hand he's lost!" said Gordon to the blog. Morrison dropped to 50,000, so he's probably right on that front.

Gordon within the action

Gordon raised to 525 the very next hand and was called by Samy Salah before Graham Parkin squeezed to 1,800 from the massive blind. Only Gordon called to the 5♦6♥8♥ flop where both players checked. The board ran out 3♣Q♦ and Parkin checked to stand bets of 1,800 and 3,700. He called both times and opened A♣Q♥ to overcome out Gordon's A♦K♥. --MC

1:40pm: Bad call, good foldLevel 3 - Blinds 100/200 (25 ante)

Poker, a game of creating decisions under intense pressure with incomplete information. Sometimes you're making the precise ones, sometimes the incorrect ones.

I picked up the action on table seven at the turn of a 3♦2♣6♦T♥ board to look Craig Wallace betting 500 right into a pot of around 1,600, Tim Chung called, as did Richard Jones. The 9♦ completed the board and Wallace checked it to Chung. He bet 2,200, enough to eliminate Jones but not Wallace, who tanked for a minute or so before calling. Chung showed J♠T♠ and Wallace wore an exasperated expression which screamed "I knew it," and he showed pocket eights as Chung took the pot.

A couple of minutes later, on a unique table, a large pot had developed between Jonathan Rees and Zoltan Havacs. A WHOLE board of 6♦3♣4♣Q♠J♦ was at the felt and Rees bet 4,500. Havacs weighed up his decision before folding A♣Q♣ face-up. Rees tapped the table and was kind enough to turn 3♥3♠ as he took the pot. --NW

1:25pm: The poker chaosLevel 2 - Blinds 75/150

Small seemingly insignificant actions can dramatically alter the result of a poker hand. A card flipping face-up say, meaning a player gets a unique second card. Or, when it comes to table three, the button being within the wrong position.

Ronit Chamani had raised it as much as 450 from under-the-gun+1 and been flat called by Joshua Wooldridge by the point Brett Angell realised he was within the cut-off and should've been at the button. The ground was called and as significant action had already occurred it was ruled the hand would play out, as opposed to being a misdeal.

Action was at the UKIPT4 London champion and he three-bet to 1,500 after which tongue in cheek said to the player on his left. "Look what you've done now!". It folded back to Chamani and both she and Wooldridge smooth called.

So three to a flop then, which fell 8♠A♠7♦, of venture of 2,000 from Angell was enough to get the job done and he cheekily said to the dealer: "So I AM GETTING the button twice in a row next orbit right?". Nice try Brett, you should not have even had the cards that won you the pot within the first place. --NW

1:15pm: UKIPT Memories, with Jamie BurlandLevel 2 - Blinds 75/150

UKIPT1 Brighton champion Jamie Burland was a central cog within the early days of the UKIPT. Yes, that was partly because of him becoming a Season 1 champion, but additionally so much to do with the way in which he (and his crew) embraced the tour and everything it stood for. Way to Jamie for sharing these nice memories and a bit video of his winning moment:

Jamie and the lads (and girls)

"The UKIPT was a tour that was built on friendship. I'VE met a few of my dearest friends in poker over the felt and on the bars of most of the stops through the years in this tour. The comradery between the players, the bloggers, the development organisers, the dealing and floor staff was tangible. For a very long time every stop felt as though it was an enormous group of like-minded people pulling within the same direction, seeking to muddle their way in the course of the weekend before returning home and starting work on plans to make it to the following one!

"I need to return to the times of Season 1 for a few of my favourite UKIPT memories. My poker travelling buddies, Kevin Williams and Owen Robinson caught the UKIPT bug within the first actual event. Owen got 4th place basically Event for £21k and it was the shared experience of that deep run that I BELIEVE spurred us directly to continue attending every stop where possible for several years after that.

"We travelled to Vegas that summer and immediately on getting back from America, potless of course, we three travelled to UKIPT Brighton, a tournament I FINISHED up winning and a town I STOPPED up starting a family within the. comradery I described earlier can also be felt on this short clip of my winning moment, Kevin and Owen rushing to embrace me because the winning river card fell. Special times."

UKIPT - Brighton, Jamie Burland's winning moment

1pm: Tough to fold setsLevel 2 - Blinds 75/150

One wonders whether Ross Jarvis reads this blog. If he does, he'll have an interest to look that an old TV nemesis of his, Timothy Slater, was very unfortunate to become the primary player to bust to today after a collection over set cooler.

He, Dominic Kay and another player all took to a 9-T-5 flop where the fireworks went off. The third player within the hand had aces but managed to not get all his chips and that was an even job too as Slater had pocket nines for middle set and Kay had pocket tens for high set!

The board ran out blank and Kay shook Slater's hand who then wandered off in a daze. That put Kay into an early chip lead with 70,000. -- MC

Kay will accept that

12:40pm: Roll up, roll upLevel 1 - Blinds 50/100

New tables are opening up as players continue to reach to take their seats on Day 1B, a variety of whom have history at the UKIPT. Like Jack Sambrook, he had the chip lead going into the overall table of UKIPT3 Newcastle but nothing went right at the day and he finished seventh.

Another recent arrival is Dara O'Kearney. He's probably the most successful online qualifier in UKIPT history, mopping up seats as his bread and butter. It hasn't always been as smooth within the live arena though as a sequence of near misses from two tables out have peppered his UKIPT Main Event results sheet. He put that right last month when he finished second within the UKIPT Super Series.Another player who cashed in that event is Victor Ilyukhin, he's sharing a table with former Swindon Town chairman Jeremy Wray. We've also spotted Richard Jones, Joseph Lalor, Mark McCluskey, Mark Wagstaff, David Clarkson, Chris Gordon, Ben Morrison, Jonathan Rees, Chris Straghalis and Michael Kane. --NW

12:30pm: Poker circa 2007?Level 1 - Blinds 50/100

It's great to peer that some old faces have pop out of the poker woodwork to assist us see off the tour popular. We've already mentioned old friends corresponding to David Docherty but we've also seen Dominic Kay, Steve Jelinek and Gary Clarke - three central figures when poker began to boom within the UK and Ireland around nine-ten years ago.

Richie Lawlor had results going back eight years but he's more current after winning his first major title in Kerry a few weeks ago, at the side of a tidy €65,000.

He won a small pot off the blinds giving himself a gradual nudge within the right direction. He raised preflop and bet 250 on a T♠2♠8♥ flop. Both opponents players folded. -- MC

12:15pm: A COUPLE OF familiar facesLevel 1 - Blinds 50/100

A stroll across the tournament floor has unearthed a couple of UKIPT stalwarts some of the 70 or so players who've arrived for the outlet level.

Kerryjane Craigie - who's Head of PokerStars Live on the Hippodrome - is here. She had a deep run within the WSOP Employees event, getting the entire solution to heads-up before just failing to win a bracelet. She's sharing a table with Kelly Saxby, who's a PS Live on the Hippodrome sponsored player. That may be awkward if she stacks the boss!

KJ's got her game face on

Elsewhere David Docherty, who's made two UKIPT Main Event final tables, is on the same table as Tim Chung. That table is currently playing five handed. We spotted Ludovic Geilich getting a drink from the bar, he'll probably be joining the fray shortly.

Neil Raine has 22 cashes at the UKIPT, including three side event wins. His deepest run in a primary Event is 24th place at Cork in Season 3, how he'd like to win the general UKIPT. A sentiment shared by everyone involved after all so it won't be easy. --NW

12pm: Shuffle up and dealLevel 1 - Blinds 50/100

Card are within the air. Only a reminder that eight 45-minute levels are scheduled for today, so play will end around 6:30pm.

11:50am: UKIPT Memories, featuring Vicky Coren-MitchellLevel 1 - Blinds 50/100

I remember the primary UKIPT event in England - it was in 2010, in Manchester. There has been an ideal atmosphere; at the Saturday night the casino was buzzing, there has been a live band, and half the Manchester United football team were playing a cash game in a corner of the cardboard room. I became determined to get into that game. I went to enroll in the group watching them, and weirdly, a few the footballers seemed interested to satisfy me (I BELIEVE they should have known more about poker than I DO KNOW about football.)

Twice an EPT champion

Now, you need to remember that we were already within the money within the tournament. I CANNOT remember what number of people were left, 40 maybe. But I'm a professional! This was my bread and butter! The type of money available in a game stuffed with footballers paid thirty grand per week... and view the long game if we got a normal school going... well, naturally I left my tournament chips at the table and went in to make friends. What the hell - I let my tournament stack dwindle down as I chatted and flirted with the sportsmen. Took me maybe an hour but eventually one in every of them (I'd like to inform you his name but, as I say, they knew more about poker than I DO KNOW about football) said "Come on, it'd be fun to inform people we've played with you, sit and join in."

"Sure!" I said. "Let me just get some cash chips. How much are we in for?"

The answer: it was a Saturday night, they did not wish to seem like mugs, they were playing a fiver a head.

Meanwhile, the man who won the UKIPT got £60k. Marvellous."

11:30am: Welcome back to Birmingham for Day 1BLevel 1 - Blinds 50/100

Welcome back to the Genting Casino Star City for Day 1B of UKIPT6 Birmingham. After a comparatively quiet Day 1A, swarms of players are expected to descend at the cars room today. Players we all know needless to say in order to here here include Team PokerStars Pro Liv Boeree, Igor Kurganov, Dara O'Kearney, Kelly Saxby, Richard Lawlor, Ali Zhini and Ludovic Geilich.

It promises to be a fun day, and a fun remainder of the weekend. Most are very aware that that is the last UKIPT before it's rebranded and are keen to peer it off popular. As a part of the celebrations we're in retrospect at favourite memories of the tour. Stay tuned for a super memory from Vicky Coren-Mitchell before cards go within the air at midday. --MC

Key UKIPT6 Birmingham information:

- 25,000 starting stack- Blinds starting at 50/100 for 250 big blinds- Levels are 45 minutes on Day 1 and they will be 8 of them. From Level 13 onwards levels increase to 60 minutes.- Day 1B is today and there is also a turbo Day 1C at 10pm that may be only open to players who've busted on Day 1A or Day 1B.- The sphere will then combine for the primary time on Saturday. We'll reach the cash and hopefully the overall table too. Sunday is where the magic happens and we play to a winner. Cue mad celebrations and swigging of champagne from the trophy (possibly).- Full UKIPT6 Birmingham schedule here.

PokerStars Blog Reporting Team at UKIPT6 Birmingham: Marc Convey and Nick Wright. Photos by Mickey May. Follow the PokerStars Blog on Twitter: @PokerStarsBlog

Read More... [Source: PokerStarsBlog.com :: UKIPT]

It was a wild one here within the tournament room on the Sortis Hotel, Spa & Casino in Panama City, where Day 2 of the LAPT9 Panama Main Event played out today. A handful of players took turns fighting for the chip lead as they played right down to the money after which some, and by night's end it was Anderson Blanco of Colombia bagging the massive stack with 896,000.

Anderson Blanco

The plan today was to minimize from 172 players to only 32, and due to a rapid pace throughout it took just over nine one-hour levels to perform that goal.

Nearly 100 of these who began the day weren't going to make the money, as only the highest 79 stood to make the cash. Team PokerStars Pro Leo Fernandez was some of the first wave of knockouts, as were a few two-time LAPT champs, Mario Lopez and Nacho Barbero.

Meanwhile Jessica Perez began building her stack to imagine the chip lead through the afternoon, holding it nearly until dinner until Aaron Mermelstein surged past her to snatch first position.

Mermelstein and stacks

Meanwhile the bubble burst, with Arturo Nocedo the unfortunately 80th-place finisher landing one spot out of the cash. From there the bustouts picked up again as they raced down from 79 to 32 players, with Michelle Reyes (69th), start-of-day-2 leader Maxence Debar (68th), Andres Korn (62nd), Raul Pino (59th), Joey Spanne (55th), Bryan Schultz (49th), Matthew Wantman (37th), Hunter Cichy (35th), and Gustavo Lopes (34th) some of the players hitting the rail.

As noted slightly below in our live updates, Jessica Perez was the last knockout of the night in 33rd, and with just four eight-handed tables left from the 553-entry field play was halted for the night. 

Trailing Blanco but in addition bagging big at night's end were Mermelstein (836,000), Fernando Gutierrez (716,000), Tobias Schwecht (679,000), and Ruben Suarez (657,000). And Oscar Alache continues to be within the hunt as well, going for a record third LAPT Main Event title.

Click here to peer complete chip counts for all 32 remaining players, and do not forget you can even consult the "Prize pool and payouts" page to peer everyone who has cashed thus far.

They come again again tomorrow at 12 noon PT to minimize from 32 to an eight-handed final table, and we'll be to be had in addition to we discover out together who would be the next LAPT champion. Until then, buenos noches. --MH

DAY 2 LIVE UPDATES:

11:33pm: Perez can't discover a pair, Day 2 ends with 32Level 20 - Blinds 5,000/10,000 (ante 1,000)

After the extent went up, there have been a couple of short stacks to observe which may be the general player eliminated on Day 2. There have been a couple of all-ins but no calls until Jose Annaloro looked up Jessica Perez. The previous chip leader had dipped below the 10 big blind mark and he or she was all-in and in danger with A♣Q♠.

Annaloro held 5♥5♣ and after the board ran out clean for the pocket pair, Perez was officially sent to the rail in 33rd place. After her knockout, the rest 32 players bagged and tagged their chips and people official counts can be posted shortly. 

A complete Day 2 recap and wrap up could also be coming shortly, so remember to keep it locked here at the PokerStars Blog for your entire LAPT9 Panama Main Event end of day information. -- WOC

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE

20	5,000	10,000	1,000

11:25pm: Brazil falls, Cruz keeps climbingLevel 19 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

Gustavo Lopes worked some of the more up and down stacks because the dinner break and eventually, that yo-yoing found him near the ground of the leaderboard. His 150,000 chip stack got in in a blind versus blind encounter, shoving the small blind with A♠4♥ and getting a choice within the big blind from Luis Cruz. 

Cruz held K♠9♠ and after the K♥J♠2♥ flop, Lopes was drawing thin. The 5♣ left him with just three outs at the river but there has been no ace, just the 9♣ sealing his fate because the 34th place finisher. 

Lopes will fall a couple of tables wanting another LAPT final table but Cruz could contend for that eight-handed lineup tomorrow, as he's back over 500,000 only one elimination clear of the tip of Day 2. -- WOC

11:14pm: Schwecht's straight sinks CichyLevel 19 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

The level was as regards to to finish when a large hand developed between Hunter Cichy and Tobias Schwecht. 

The pair had reached the river with the board showing T♥J♣K♠6♣8♠ and about 150,000 within the middle. We arrived to look a big gamble in front of Cichy's position and Schwecht looking around the table at his opponent in study. Finally Schwecht announced he was raising all-in, and Cichy thought a short time before tossing a few chips forward to signal he was calling.

Schwecht quickly tabled his Q♣9♠ for a straight, and Cichy nodded as he turned over J♠T♠ for 2 pair before heading to the cashier's desk to assemble 35th-place money.

With that pot, Schwecht is now up around 580,000. --MH

It's good to be Tobias

11:02pm: Two more fallLevel 19 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

Two more quick knockouts to share -- the yankee Matthew Wantman (37th) the Colombian Jeison Mauricio Berdugo (36th). Just three more eliminations and play will conclude for the night. --MH

10:52pm: Gutierrez gets ChavesLevel 19 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

Steven Jose Bertranol Chaves is out in 39th after his K♦Q♦ did not catch as much as the A♠K♣ of Fernando Gutierrez way to a J♠5♣6♥4♣J♥ runout.

Gutierrez is as much as 425,000 now. --MH

10:42pm: Arturo's ace cracks kingsLevel 19 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

After a slow section of play, the eliminations have picked back up and Alejandro Vallejo was the newest Level 18 victim. His bust out was picked up with Oscar Alache opening to 17,000 from early position. The table folded to Vallejo, who then shoved for 126,000 from the small blind, only to look Jonathan Arturo and his big stack as for a count within the big. 

Once he got the official number, he called, putting Vallejo in danger. Alache got out of how and Arturo was drawing to 3 immediate outs with A♥Q♦. That's because Vallejo had woken up with a monster, turning over K♣K♠. Unfortunately for him, a kind of three outs came at the flop, because the A♦J♥8♣6♠2♣ runout confirmed his elimination.

As Vallejo headed to the cage to gather his 40th-place payout, Jonathan Arturo was playing just shy of 550,000. That's likely good for a top-three stack behind Andres Carrillo and Aaron Mermelstein. -- WOC

10:31pm: Otero out, Valera vanquishedLevel 19 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

Soon after play resumed following the break, Freddy David Otero hit the rail in 42nd after falling in a hand versus the young Austrian Tobias Schwecht. 

Then a couple of minutes later Valerio Vicente Varela opened with a raise, Rafael Escobedo reraised, Varela pushed, and Escobedo called. Varela had A♦Q♥ and Escobedo K♣K♦, and the latter remained in front in the course of the Q♦T♣3♣ flop. Then the A♣ fell at the turn, prompting an "ooooh!" from Escobedo as he saw he'd been momentarily outdrawn.

The adverb just there probably gave away what happened next -- the K♠ at the river! Escobedo let loose an excellent roar of satisfaction as he collected the pot to transport back to 220,000 while Valera moved over to the rail after being knocked out in 41st. --MH

10:15pm: Let's play some cardsLevel 19 - Blinds 4,000/8,000 (ante 1,000)

Players are back, cards are within the air, and the cards are landing backpedal again at the table because gravity.

We took advantage through the break to perform a little chip counting, and feature a top ten to share with you heading into the brand new level. Aaron Mermelstein surged into the lead during that last hour. --MH

The Mermelstein Express is rolling

           Name Country Chips

Aaron Mermelstein	United States	595,000
Andres Carrillo	Colombia	545,000
Austin Peck	USA	455,000
Abraham Bettsock	Panama	440,000
Ruben Suarez	Venezuela	415,000
Anderson Blanco Cassio	Colombia	410,000
Steven Thompson	Costa Rica	390,000
Raul Paez	Spain	385,000
Jose Angel Annaloro Quintoro	Venezuela	375,000
Andres Federico Jeckeln	Argentina	345,000

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE

19	4,000	8,000	1,000

9:52pm: Break it up

With 42 players left, they've reached the top of Level 18 and are taking one last 15-minute break. --MH

Want to qualify for the LAPT? Click here to get a PokerStars account and begin today

9:43pm: Slowing down into breakLevel 18 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 1,000)

Remember that rapidly disappearing field that Martin referenced QUARTER-HOUR ago? He wasn't lying, there has been some extent where we were averaging an elimination every three minutes but heading towards the general break of just today 2 session, that pace has slowed drastically. 

We're now stuck at 42 players remaining, meaning we have to lose ten to finish proceedings tonight. Once we are right down to the overall 32, the luggage will pop out and players will package their chips for tomorrow's Day 3 session. 

It continues to be seen how quickly we will be able to get all the way down to 32 however the PokerStars Blog may be here to bring you all of the action in the course of the remainder of the night. We'll also bring you an update of the larger stacks within the room shortly... - WOC

9:29pm: The rapidly disappearing fieldLevel 18 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 1,000)

In the 90 minutes because the dinner break, 28 players was eliminated, swiftly reducing the sector from 71 all the way down to 43. 

Among those sent railward in the course of the most up-to-date wave of knockouts were Guillermo Olvera (57th), Joey Spanne (55th), Ryan Colton (51st), Bryan Schultz (49th), and Pablo Ezequiel (44th).

There are only six tables in action now, and the plan remains -- as recently confirmed -- to forestall when they get to 32. --MH

9:22pm: 'Feature table' four-bet, Mermelstein topLevel 18 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 1,000)

It seems that each time we walk past our 'feature table' Aaron Mermelstein is keen on the pot. We just crossed paths with the Philadelphia native to look him put out a large four-bet to transport up and over the 550,000 chip mark. 

Action was picked up with Luis Cruz opening to 11,000 from middle position and next to act, Austin Peck three-bet to 28,000. The table then folded to Mermelstein and after some thought, and a list of his opponent's stacks, he four-bet to 78,500 from the small blind. 

The big blind and Cruz quickly folded but Peck didn't look like he desired to depart as quietly. He stared on the table, the pot, his stack and then, eventually, at Mermelstein. After a couple of seconds of locked eyes, Peck surrendered and while he was getting shipped the pot, Mermelstein quietly said, "Send it in."

Peck appeared like he contemplating that option but with well over 300,000 in front of him, he doesn't must be playing that sort of pot at this stage of the tournament. Especially against a player that has nearly double his stack, as Mermelstein has charged forwards since dinner and is now leading this LAPT9 Panama Main Event. -- WOC

9:14pm: More of the fallen...Level 18 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 1,000)

The plan is to minimize to the general four tables or 32 players and at this rate, we'd get out of here sooner, instead of later. Players are dropping like flies -- that's a saying in Panama also, right? -- with three hitting the rail in quick succession over the primary element of Level 18. 

Manuel Gomez Rivera was the primary to go, as his A♦K♦ couldn't beat Renny Bannet's K♥J♣. The Jamacian flopped a jack after which held in the course of the turn and river because the board fell J♥T♣9♣5♠9♥. Rivera was out in 54th and some moments later, Gustavo Lopes was scoring another knockout. This time, it was Cristian Rene Martinez going out in 53rd place and around the tournament area, Raul "El Toro" Paez found pocket aces to eliminate John Edilson Gonzalez. 

That's dropped this present day 2 field right down to the 51 player mark, meaning we're just about the overall half dozen tables of this LAPT9 Panama Main Event. -- WOC

9:01pm: Lopes rivers Mejia out of tournamentLevel 18 - Blinds 3,000/6,000 (ante 1,000)

Things continue to head Gustavo Lopes' way as Day 2 wears on, together with his recent knockout of Carlos Alberto Mejia in 48th providing still further evidence.

Mejia had pushed his previous couple of chips in on a Q♣J♦5♥4♠ board with Q♥6♦ for queens and Lopes called him with 3♣2♠. The river then brought the 6♥ -- two pair for Mejia, but a straight for Lopes -- and Mejia laughed as he left. 

Lopes is as much as 330,000 now. --MH

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE

18	3,000	6,000	1,000

8:48pm: Reyes, Pino outLevel 17 - Blinds 2,500/5,000 (ante 500)

Since dinner we've already seen greater than a dozen players sent railward because the field has trimmed to 57, with Michelle Reyes among them. Her ouster means Jennifer Perez -- still with a top five stack -- is the last woman remaining within the field. Panama's third-most all-time winning tournament player Raul Pino could also be a number of the fallen.

Panama's Pino still smiling

Remember, you'll open up the constantly updated "Prize Pool and Payouts" page to maintain track of the way the money's being divided. --MH

8:39pm: Trapped between Alache and a troublesome placeLevel 17 - Blinds 2,500/5,000 (ante 500)

Following a gap raise by two-time LAPT champion Oscar Alache, Alejandro Arango Vallejo defended his blind, then led with bets on all three postflop streets because the board came J♥K♣4♥, then 2♠, then 2♣.

Alache called the primary bet of 19,000, then called turn bet of 25,000. Vallejo pushed out 54,000 following the river, and after pausing for some time and counting out what he had left, Alache announced he was all-in and Vallejo quickly released his cards.

Alache was up and down all day, but now sits with about 195,000 while Vallejo is at 135,000. --MH

8:34pm: Brazil's Lopes buildingLevel 17 - Blinds 2,500/5,000 (ante 500)

Brazilian players was on a tear lately, as they've claimed eleven -- YES, ELEVEN -- PokerStars SCOOP titles during the last week and a half. A Brazilian could also be the reigning LAPT champion, after Rodrigo Strong claimed the LAPT9 Panana title earlier this year. Gustavo Lopes still has the way to visit match those roughly results but a up to date elimination has him trending up near the chip average. 

Action was picked up with Jean Luigi Zaniboni opening to 12,000 off a brief stack. A player in middle position called after which Lopes three-bet to 38,000 from the cutoff. The button and blinds folded before Zaniboni four-bet shoved for 42,000. The player in middle position folded and Lopes called to position the fast stack at risk. 

He had his opponent dominated, holding A♠Q♣ to A♥J♦. The board ran out clean for Lopes and his kicker played to send Zaniboni to the rail in 63rd place. When the dust settled, the Brazilian was playing just shy of 160,000. -- WOC 8:22pm: Cichy comes back from dinner to enroll in the 'club'Level 17 - Blinds 2,500/5,000 (ante 500)

Hunter Cichy wasn't included in our post-dinner quarter-million chip club post but after scoring two knockouts, he's well over that number. The primary elimination saw Cichy pick up pocket kings in a really perfect spot, calling the all-in of former chip leader Maxence Debar. 

The Frenchman shoved from middle position for 77,500 and after some thought, Cichy called within the cutoff. The remainder of the table folded and his K♣K♠ was up against the fast stack's A♦Q♠. The board ran out 9♥8♦2♣7♣5♠ and the pocket pair held to attain the knockout. Debar bowed out in 68th place and some hands later, Cichy made ace-queen work. 

The knockout was missed but Cichy held ace-queen and after an ace-high board, Cesar Lopez was heading to the rail in 65th place. When the dust was finally allowed to settle at Table 10, Cichy was playing just shy of 270,000. That's good for a top-fifteen stack heading through Level 17. -- WOC

Hunter seeks further prey

 

8:14pm: Back-from-break have a look at the massive stacksLevel 17 - Blinds 2,500/5,000 (ante 500)

We've done a circuit of the rest 71 players to tell you concerning the big stacks. Anderson Blanco Cassio is the leader now with 560,000, having passed Jessica Perez to imagine first position. Take a look at the members of the quarter-million club below, as compiled by the intrepid WOC. --MH

              Name Country Chips

Anderson Blanco Cassio	Colombia	560,000
Jessica Perez	Panama	440,000
Andres Carrillo	Colombia	395,000
Raul Paez	Spain	385,000
Aaron Mermelstein	United States	375,000
Austin Peck	USA	310,000
Andres Jeckeln	Argentina	290,000
Janir Muller	Brazil	285,000
Luis Cruz	Colombia	285,000
Jonathan Arturo	Colombia	270,000
Jose Angel Annaloro Quintoro	Venezuela	265,000
Steven Thompson	Costa Rica	260,000
Paul Cukier	Costa Rica	260,000

7:58pm: Play resumesLevel 17 - Blinds 2,500/5,000 (ante 500)

Players are back from dinner and Day 2 has resumed. There are 71 left at this time with the plan being to minimize to 32 tonight. --MH 

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE

17	2,500	5,000	500

6:43pm: Dinner bell rings

With 71 players still in search of the following LAPT Main Event title, players are taking a 75-minute dinner break. --MH

6:37pm: More fall as dinner approachesLevel 16 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (ante 500)

We're seeing a wave of busts here because the dinner break approaches, with Jose Luis Colin Perez going out in 77th, then Daniel Woycik -- the player with a prayer we were reporting on ahead of the bubble bursting -- following him in 76th.

Prayers answered! Woycik cashes

Pablo Rafael Bravo (75th), Pablo Emilio Vives Zamora (74th), and Hilario Ochoa Estrella (73rd) were next felted. Then it was Carlos Manuel Lam Wu getting all-in with 8♥8♦ but running into Janir Muller's Q♠Q♦, and five cards later also getting knocked out in 72nd. Muller is as much as 265,000 now.

Like everyone cashing so far, these half-dozen players picked up $2,460 for his or her efforts. --MH

6:24pm: First cashesLevel 16 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (ante 500)

Shortly after the bursting of the bubble, Joaquin Matias Ruiz was swiftly ousted in 79th. Then on a neighboring table it was Flavio Alexis Hidalgo open-pushing his last 45,900 with 5♥5♣, and after just a little a tank David Andres Barbosa called him from the blinds holding 9♠9♣.

The community cards came K♠7♦8♥, then Q♣, then J♦, and Hidalgo headed over to the cashier's desk to select up his 78th-place money. Meanwhile Barbosa has 125,000. --MH

6:20pm: ITM, short while until dinnerLevel 16 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (ante 500)

After a comparatively long bubble component of play, we're within the money here on the LAPT9 Panama Main Event. Everyone of the remainder 79 players have locked up a $2,460 score but those players all also likely have their sights set at the $138,225 that may be up top. 

The PokerStars blog will track this field throughout the remainder of this present day 2 session, that is scheduled to finish after Level 20 or when four tables remain. That coverage may be interrupted in a couple of minutes though, as this field is set to go on a 75-minute dinner break. -- WOC 

6:17pm: Blanco does it all sides of bubbleLevel 16 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (ante 500)

Before the bubble, Anderson Blanco Cassio reduce Oscar Alache and within the next meaningful pot at our stacked Table 12 lineup, he sent Arturo Noceda to the rail at the bubble. Action was picked up within the first hand on a board of J♣8♣5♥3♦2♥, with Blanco checking to an in position Alache. 

Blanco bursts the bubble

The reining LAPT Player of the Year cut out a gamble of 49,000 and pushed it around the line. Blanco went deep into the tank after which eventually called, an action that brought a faucet of the table from Alache. He was bluffing and after Blanco tabled A♠J♦, he took within the pot. That moved him up near 440,000 and cut Alache down below the 170,000 chip average but a couple of hands later, he was locking up a cash for this whole field irrespective of their stack size. 

That hand was picked up with Blanco limping in middle position and Arturo Noceda raising from the blinds. Blanco called and the J♦7♠6♠ flop went check-bet-call, for an unknown amount. The 7♦ paired the board at the turn and Noceda checked again, with Blanco betting 46,800. 

That represented just about half Noceda's remaining stack and after some thought, he called. The 4♠ fell at the turn and Noceda checked for a 3rd time, only to here his opponent declare himself "all-in". Noceda didn't wish to look that and while the remainder of the tournament field waited at their respective seats, he sent with reference to four minutes creating a decision. 

No cash for Arturo Nocedo

In the end, he elected to call, only to be shown K♥7♥. Blanco had turned trips and gotten maximum value, eliminating Nocedo in 80th place within the process to bring this LAPT9 Panama Main Event into the cash. That field is simply over 20 minutes from the Day 2 dinner break and Blanco, who's behind 550,000, is often the overpowering chip leader when that 75-minute recess begins. -- WOC

6:12pm: "Uno mano mas"Level 16 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (ante 500)

"Uno mano mas" has become the refrain here for the last 20 minutes as we've continued to look at all of the tables play one hand apiece without anyone being eliminated.

After losing that all-in to Steven Betranol, Daniel Woycik was taking to sitting together with his eyes closed and hands before him, appearing to be praying to a better power that his stack -- now under 20,000 -- will last long enough for him to make the money.

Player with a prayer

A couple of others have just a little greater than Woycik right now, while only Eugenio Luis Pernia has less, sitting with about 9,000 or simply over a few big blinds. --MH

5:55pm: Betranol's bubble double cripples WoycikLevel 16 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (ante 500)

The first hand of hand for hand play saw Daniel Woycik have a possibility to burst the bubble but he couldn't, instead shipping a majority of his stack around the table to Steven Betranol. Action was picked up with Bertranol opening to 8,500 from middle position and after some folds, Woycik three-bet to 20,000 from the small blind. 

Bertranol called and after the J♣T♦2♦ flop, Woycik continued for a 24,000 chip wager. Bertranol quickly shoved, along with his stack weighing in at 44,400. It didn't matter the volume to Woycik though, as he immediately threw in chips for the decision and awaited his fate and his opponent's fate. 

"What do you may have"? Woycik asked while the tournament staff kept their cards face down in order that other tables could finish there hands without vital bubble information. 

"Pair and a flush draw." said Bertranol sternly, to which Woycik tapped the table before admitting that that was "good". Once the opposite tables finished, the cards were finally tabled and neither player was lying, as Bertranol turned over K♦J♦. Woycik held A♥K♣ and needed an non-diamond queen or ace to attain the knockout.

Unluckily for him, the A♦ came at the turn, giving Bertranol his flush and locking up a miles needed double. He's now playing with reference to 135,000 while Woycik is now one of the vital shorter stacks within the room with just over a starting stack. -- WOC

5:40pm: One clear of the cashLevel 16 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (ante 500)

Pablo Rafael Bravo just brought the tournament one step toward the money after delivering a KO to Miguel Angel Mago Pino.

They are right down to 80 players now, meaning hand-for-hand play is ready to commence. Another elimination and they are within the money! --MH

5:39pm: Another bubble-upLevel 16 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (ante 500)

Pablo Ezequiel just avoided getting knocked out a few spots shy of the money when his 9♥9♦ ran clean versus Gustavo Lopes' 6♥6♦ after a preflop all-in. A nine at the flop meant the hand was over by the turn, and Ezequiel continues with about 22,000 while Lopes continues to be up across the leaders with about 250,000. --MH

5:33pm: Perez doubles at the bubbleLevel 16 - Blinds 2,000/4,000 (ante 500)

As Level 16 began, Jose Luis Colin Perez was all-in and in peril with J♠J♥ versus Aaron Mermelstein's Q♥9♠, but a 4♥7♣3♦K♣5♥ runout was fine for Perez, and he survives with about 40,000. Mermelstein remains to be more healthy with 208,000. --MH

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE

16	2,000	4,000	500

5:22pm: Cukier cracks aces to bring bubble closerLevel 15 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (ante 400)

We're now just two spots from the money, as Paul Cukier just cracked pocket aces to send Mario Niciforo to the rail. Action was picked up late, with the cards on their back, with Cukier behind 4♦4♥ and Niciforo standing in agony with A♦A♣ in front of him. 

The board read 4♠3♠3♦ and there has been nearly 100 big blinds within the middle, with Niciforo being the in danger player. He was screaming on the board, hoping his tournament life could be saved at the turn or river. It wasn't though, because the 5♦ and 8♥ completed the board to ensure his elimination. 

It was a drastic difference in emotions, as Niciforo cursed himself, his opponent, the cards and the poker gods, while Cukier gave himself a handy guide a rough fist pump to celebrate the double. He then returned to stack up just over 300,000, good for one of the most top stacks heading into hand-for-hand play. --WOC

5:13pm: Bravo busts CarterLevel 15 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (ante 400)

King Malik Carter has hit the rail only some spots shy of the money after having committed his last 20,000 or so with J♦T♦ and finding himself up against Pablo Rafael Bravo's A♣9♦.

The Q♦7♥K♥2♦6♣ board hit neither player's hand, giving Bravo the most efficient between them and sending Carter railward.

Bravo has 134,000. There are 82 players left -- three eliminations clear of the cash. --MH

5:08pm: Top-top no good for BrenesLevel 15 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (ante 400)

Aaron Mermelstein's stack have been yo-yoing during the last few levels but he's now peaking as this LAPT9 Panama Main Event approaches the bubble. He just flopped a collection against Daniel Brenes' top-top, scoring a whole double in the course of the Costa Rican. 

Action was picked up with Maxence Debar opening to 6,500 from early position and after some folds, Mermelstein three-bet to 20,000 from the button. Brenes, who was within the small blind, thought for a minute after which called, with Debar calling to send three players to the flop. 

Brenes then led the A♠7♦3♣ flop for 30,300 and after Debar got out of the way, Mermelstein called off an in depth to 85,000 chip stack. The 6♣ fell at the turn and Brenes immediately announced "all-in", with Mermelstein quickly answering that declaration with a couple of chips within the middle and his cards on their back.

He held 7♥7♠ and Brenes could only shake his head as he tabled A♦K♣. Mermelstein didn't need it however the 7♣ then completed the board to offer him quads. When the dust settled, Mermelstein stacked up just about 240,000, a stack that, according to the conversation after the hand, he would not have had if Brenes had shoved preflop. 

"Not you, I call him though. He has better than sevens I tap the table and laugh." Mermelstein joked while pointing around the table to Maxence Debar. The Frenchman laughed as well, as he and Mermelstein was building quite the dynamic over the past few levels... -- WOC

4:55pm: Tricky PerezLevel 15 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (ante 400)

Postflop back-and-forthing between Jessica Perez and Joey Spanne saw the latter finally choose to fold and concede the pot. As Perez gathered the chips, Spanne leaned forward to commend her on an even hand.

"You're an overly tricky player," added Spanne with a grin, and Perez just continued to stack. She has 386,000 now -- probably the most we've counted today -- while Spanne is doing well also with 188,000. --MH

4:47pm: Over 1,500,000 in play at Table 12Level 15 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (ante 400)

We've referenced Table 11 as our 'feature table' over the past few levels but Table 12 could be giving them a run for his or her money. That seven-handed line up is operating just shy of 1,500,000 total chips, with six of the seven players over the chip average. 

Anderson Cassio leads that group, as he's shot as much as the 325,000 chip mark over the past hour. Oscar Alache, the reigning LAPT Player of the Year, sits second with 260,000 and Luis Cruz is playing a large 230,000. Mexican Arturo Moreno is behind 180,000, while Hunter Cichy and Elliott Peterman are all sides of 170,000. 

Those deep stacks could create a captivating dynamic as we work towards the money bubble, especially since their table is the primary to damage after we get into the cash. -- WOC

4:47pm: Joerg busts, bubble nearsLevel 15 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (ante 400)

Another bustout before the bubble to share, this time involving Costa Rica's Charles William Joerg.

After a raise by Alcides Gomez, Joerg reraise-pushed together with his last 25,700 holding A♥8♥ and Gomez called with 5♣5♦. The board came 3♥K♣3♦Q♦6♣, failing to hook up with Joerg's hand and he's out.

Just 85 are left now -- six from the money. --MH

4:35pm: Meran mows down YepezLevel 15 - Blinds 1,500/3,000 (ante 400)

On the primary hand back from the break, Luis Alexander Yepez open-raised all in along with his last 15,800 from middle position, and after it folded around to Alberto Miguel Meran within the big blind he thought a moment before making the call.

Yepez had K♥4♦ and a slight edge over Meran's J♦9♠, however the 9♣6♣J♥ flop hit Meran's hand twice to position him in front. The Q♥ turn did give Yepez straight outs, however the river was the 8♦ and he's out shy of the cash.

Meran is as much as 70,000 with 88 players left. --MH

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE

15	1,500	3,000	400

4:15pm: Break before the bubble

With 89 players left -- just 10 from the money -- they've reached the tip of Level 14 and are actually taking another 15-minute break. --MH

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4:01pm: A race that wasn't a raceLevel 14 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (ante 300)

After Jose Luis Colin Perez committed the last of his short stack on a 9♥K♥4♣ flop, King Malik Carter thought a little while and called, then shook his head with a grin when he saw Perez table K♦K♣ for high set.

Carter showed his T♣T♥, saying "runner-runner?" pleadingly because the dealer completed the board with a few blanks to offer Perez the hand.

As Perez stacked his chips, the pair discussed the hand. 

"You gotta win those races," said Carter, still grinning. 

"Well, actually..." Perez began his reply.

Both players are sitting within the 60,000-chip range a few dozen eliminations off the cash. --MH

3:53pm: Changing of the guard at 'feature table'?Level 14 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (ante 300)

Austin Peck, mean mugging on the 'feature table'

The deadly blog jinx might need bitten Maxence Debar over the past level. He potentially might, gasp, not also be the chip leader at Table 11 because he's dropped slightly during the last 60 minutes and Austin Peck has built up an over 225,000 chip stack.

The 20-year old Texan, who isn't even allowed to play in most U.s.a. based casinos until his 21st birthday, started the day with one of the most tougher table draws. Peck was surrounded by two-time LAPT champion Mario Lopez, chip leader Maxence Debar and his countryman Aaron Mermelstein. 

He's outlasted Lopez, been above Mermelstein at the counts for the easier a part of the previous few levels and is now creeping towards Debar, even upping the stakes at an already stacked outer table. --WOC

3:44pm: Under 100Level 14 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (ante 300)

There are 99 players left from the 553-entry field within the LAPT9 Panama Main Event, which means that after 20 more eliminations the cash bubble could have burst.

Speaking of the money, a min-cash could be worth $2,460 while the winner will earn a $138,225 first prize. Here is what the payouts are on the final table -- you'll be able to check the "Prize pool and payouts" page for the whole list. --MH

1st: $138,2252nd: $86,8803rd: $62,2004th: $48,5005th: $38,0406th: $29,8807th: $22,3008th: $15,440

LAPT9 Panama Main Event Day 2 action

3:33pm: Stackin' seven over 200KLevel 14 - Blinds 1,200/2,400 (ante 300)

We're down below the 100 player mark and as we head towards the money bubble, the LAPT9 Panama Main Event leaderboard is beginning to take shape. Because it stands, just over a half dozen players are over the 200,000 chip mark, with Maxence Debar still leading the way. 

He's dropped slightly since our last update however the Frenchman remains to be pacing this field with 265,000. While Debar have been out in front from the beginning, American Ryan Colton has quietly come from the center of the pack. 

Colton is playing a quarter-million, after getting into the restart with 120,000. That's good for double his Day 2 place to begin and he's now second in chips. Brazilian Gustavo Lopez, who final tabled the LAPT Grand Final last year in his home country, rounds out the top-three. 

A list of the larger stacks within the room is equipped below. --WOC

        Name Chips

Maxence Debar	265,000
Ryan Colton	250,000
Gustavo Lopes	245,000
Anderson Cassio	240,000
Jessica Perez	235,000
Steven Thompson	220,000
Valerio Varela	215,000

Gustavo Lopes leaping up the counts on Day 2

For a whole rundown of the stacks, consult our "selected Day 2 chip counts" page via the above link. --WOC

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE

14	1,200	2,400	300

3:21pm: A double-"whoa" handLevel 13 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (ante 300)

It was a kind of hands eliciting a double-"whoa" from the table -- one after the flop, then another after the turn.

Valerio Vicente Varela raised from the button and watched Ryan McEathron reraise all-in for what amounted to 41,000 more. It folded back to Varela who thought a few beats, then made the call.

McEathron had 9♣8♣ and needed help against Varela's A♥5♥, and the 7♠T♥6♥ provided assistance quite handily, giving McEathron a straight. 

"Whoa," commented everyone.

But those two hearts were worrisome, and the Q♥ turn suddenly snatched the hand and pot from McEathron by giving Varela an unbeatable flush.

"Whoa," they repeated. 

And woe was McEathron, suddenly drawing dead. Varela is now up around 195,000 and some of the big stacks as Level 13 involves an end. --MH

3:11pm: Maxence moves himself higher, nearing 300KLevel 13 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (ante 300)

It's a shame that Table 11 goes to damage before the money bubble bursts, as that stacked table has continued to bring us action heading towards the general quarter of Level 13. That hand was picked up with Daniel Cuadra opening from under the gun and both Maxence Debar, in middle position, and Aaron Mermelstein, within the big blind, called to peer the flop. 

Mermelstein and Cuadra checked the 7♠5♥4♦ board, while Debar took the betting lead with a 8,700 chip wager. Mermelstein called and Cuadra got out of ways before the A♠ fell at the turn. Mermelstein checked again and Debar continued for 16,700. The out of position Mermelstein called to look the J♣ complete the board. 

He checked for a 3rd time and Debar cut out another bet, pushing 21,300 around the line. Mermelstein, who had just been delivered an espresso before the hand, took his head phones off and collected his cup. In a single swig, it was gone and that jolt of caffein sent him deep into the tank. He spent with reference to three minutes there and finally threw out chips to call. 

Debar slowly tabled 5♠4♠ and Mermelstein nodded his head after which said something a few "check-raise". He'd glad he didn't, as check-calling likely lost him the minimum in that encounter. After the hand, Debar is operating a number one 290,000, while Mermelstein is playing just over 60,000. -- WOC

3:01pm: Jaikel's run concludesLevel 13 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (ante 300)

We mentioned earlier Luis Jaikel surviving an all-in during which he held pocket aces and the handheld for him. Alas for the Costa Rican, he was today in another all-in spot versus David Andres Barbosa, and this time his opponent was the only holding the rockets.

Jaikel had A♦T♠ and had bet his last 35,000 or so at the hand, but Barbosa tabled A♣A♠. The board ran out 7♥2♠3♠2♥9♠, and Jaikel exited. Barbosa, meanwhile, is as much as 118,000. --MH

2:44pm: Deja vu on the topLevel 13 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (ante 300)

During Thursday's Day 1A flight, Raul "El Toro" Paez set the early pace, cracking 100,000 before anyone else could much more as much as a double starting stack. Hunter Cichy then took control of the chip lead after the dinner break and until the last two levels of that first flight, those two appeared like the betting favorite to bag the chip lead. 

Alas, they each stumbled discovering the finish line but after an afternoon off in Panama, they've come into Day 2 running. Paez is already up and over the 200,000 chip mark and Cichy is trending towards 170,000. That's good for one of the top stacks around the remaining tables and they will certainly be players to look at as this field continues to work towards the money. -- WOC

2:36pm: Escobedo continues to evaporate, Borrego buildsLevel 13 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (ante 300)

Jessica Borrego building

Rafael Escobedo was the highest stack through yesterday's Day 1B flight but he's done nothing but fall during the first two levels of this present day 2 session. He's now down below the 50,000 chip mark, after being out kicked by Jessica Borrego. That hand was picked up with Escobedo checking from the blinds on a Q♣T♥5♥5♠3♦ board. 

Borrego bet 9,000 and Escobedo quickly called, only to peer his opponent table K♦Q♦. Top pair was good and so was her kicker, as Escobedo frustratingly through over Q♥J♥. After bemoaning his luck, or lack thereof, because the restart, he sat back in his chair, just staring upwards as Borrego stacked her newly won chips. 

She's gone within the other way since starting play at 12 PM, as she's now up near the 180,000 after ending Day 1A with a top-three stack.

2:25pm: Lopez loses stack, Barbero bouncedLevel 13 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (ante 300)

We noted originally of the day how two-time LAPT champion Mario Lopez had drawn a seat at one of the most the tougher tables within the room. He's in that seat no longer, as he's also been knocked out of the event.

Lopez follows his fellow Argentinian Nacho Barbero to the rail, however the consolation for him is more attention to present to SCOOPin', as he's been doing the last couple of days.

Multi-tabling

That means we're left with only one of the two-time LAPT champs within the field, Oscar Alache who's doing just fine with a stack of around 180,000. --MH

2:25pm: Severino sunkLevel 13 - Blinds 1,000/2,000 (ante 300)

Shortly after play resumed followin the break Jose Severino lost the last of his short stack to Andres Guzman and have been sent railward. Guzman now sits with about 158,000. --MH

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE

13	1,000	2,000	300

2:00pm: Break time

Nearly 40 players hit the rail during those first two hours, as there are 133 left to take the primary 15-minute morning time 2. --MH

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1:57pm: Jaikel's aces hold, Severino slipsLevel 12 - Blinds 800/1,600 (ante 200)

Luis Jaikel was all-in on a 4♦J♠K♥ flop and in danger versus Jose Severino, albeit in an advantageous position with A♦A♠ versus the latter's K♠Q♣.

The turn wbecause the 7♠ and river the 5♣, and Jaikel's aces held. He has 65,000 now as the first break of the day nears while Severino is now right down to just 14,000. --MH

1:54pm: No sweat for ColinLevel 12 - Blinds 800/1,600 (ante 200)

Janir Muller was some of the loudest players during yesterday's Day 1B flight, both off and on the felt. He's been quiet to this point today, yet to have considered one of his must be patented celebrations but he did open this action with a pre flop raise from middle position. 

A player in late position then shoved for 37,500 and after some folds, Jose Colin called for less from the massive blind. Muller seemed like he desired to call but he eventually folded A♥4♠, meaning some of the original shovers outs were taken, as he held A♠Q♦. 

Colin turned over J♥J♦, meaning it was a flip but that flip and people outs that the unique shover had counted for nothign after the J♣9♥9♦ flop. Colin did not have a sweat, as he flopped a whole house and after the turn and river fell, he was scoring a miles needed double. 

He's now a couple of minutes from the primary break of the day, working just shy of 80,000. The unique shover meanwhile, was left with only some thousand chips and eliminated a couple of hands later. -- WOC

1:48pm: Ibolache's aces get run outLevel 12 - Blinds 800/1,600 (ante 200)

As a blogger, or reporter, or journalist, however you wish to categorize us, watching a player think they've won an all-in pot for his or her tournament life, after they really haven't, is usually difficult. That's exactly what just happened at Table 15, as Mauricio Ibolache got his stack in with pocket aces and didn't realize that he have been bounced by running cards. 

That hand was picked up with Matthew Wantman checking from the blinds on a J♣4♦4♣ flop. Ibolache, who was under the gun, quickly bet 7,500 and after some thought, Joezer Katolan announced "all-in" from the button. Wantman got out of ways and Ibolache snap called, tabling A♠A♦. Katolan rolled his eyes and turned over A♣J♥, with top pair drawing very thin against the pocket rockets. 

Those rockets went up in flames after the Q♣ and 3♣ completed the board and Katolan's unlikely runner-runner flush. To start with glance, even the dealer didn't catch the four clubs on board but after a couple of seconds, everyone had appeared to realize what just happened. Instead of Ibolache, who was mid-celebration before he finally got the bad news. 

"Aye!" he exclaimed before pushing his stack over the road to have the dealer see what the wear was. After the stacks were cut down, the wear was his tournament life, as Katolan's 34,700 had his opponent slightly covered. 

While Ibolache won't have seen the beat in real time, he's likely not soon to forget it. After leaving the tournament table, we saw the Chilean make his way across the room, telling his elimination hand to a handful of individuals before finally exiting the tournament area. Katolan isn't going anywhere though, as he's playing just shy of 85,000 heading towards the top of Level 12. -- WOC

1:39pm: From the sector to PanamaLevel 12 - Blinds 800/1,600 (ante 200)

Perhaps you recognize that Panama is home to the most important free trade zone within the entire Western half the globe. In other words, the sector (or most of it, anyway) involves Panama to trade.

You could say the LAPT9 Panama Main Event exemplifies the same idea, for the reason that players from 39 different countries have come to the Sortis Hotel, Spa & Casino to trade chips from side to side as a way to earn a work of the $721,665 prize pool.

Colombia is the most productive represented country among those 39, having sent 91 players, with Venezuela (80), Argentina (65), Costa Rica (58), and host country Panama (49) next at the list. The graph below provides more details in this international trade summit (click to embiggen). --MH

1:32pm: Tuthill collects from Escobedo, CarrilloLevel 12 - Blinds 800/1,600 (ante 200)

Rafael Escobedo ended Day 1B because the biggest stack in that starting flight and the second-biggest overall heading into today. But things haven't gone quite to boot for him thus far on Day 2, and he'd slipped on the subject of 130,000 before a hand arose at present that saw him limp in from middle position, Nathan Tuthill call from the button, Cesar Lopez also call from the small blind, and Andres Carrillo check from the BB.

The flop came J♣3♠9♦, and it checked to Escobedo who continued for 4,200. It took a while, but eventually all three of his opponents called the bet. Then after the 4♥ turn it checked to Escobedo who again bet, this time 6,100, and both Tuthill and Carrillo called.

The river was the 5♣, and this time it checked to Tuthill who considered betting, but decided also to test. Carrillo mucked his hand face down, Escobedo showed 9♥8♣ for eights, and Tuthill won with J♦8♦ for jacks.

Tuthill climbs to about 90,000, Escobedo slips further to about 120,000, and Carrillo sits with 128,000. --MH

1:18pm: Restrepo fades the arena with foursLevel 12 - Blinds 800/1,600 (ante 200)

Restrepo in action yesterday, doubling today

Winning flips with small pocket pairs is difficult. SO MUCH can get it wrong and for Carlos Restrepo, it nearly did in a up to date hand. He and Jose Severino just got Restrepo's 45,000 chip stack within the middle pre flop, with Severino holding A♠K♥ to the quick stack's 4♣4♠. 

Restrepo faded the T♠9♠9♥ flop but not really, as Severino picked up both counterfeit outs. The 2♠ added to that inventory of outs, as Severino was now drawing to a flush. The J♦ completed the board and the sweat was over, as Restrepo had faded the sector to attain the double. 

While he stacked up his nearly 90,000 chip stack, Severino, who was a late chip leader during yesterday's Day 1B flight, has to return to the drafting board behind his 55,000 stack. -- WOC

1:08pm: Lincourt no moreLevel 12 - Blinds 800/1,600 (ante 200)

The Canadian Francois Lincourt is out, having lost his short stack on the very start of Level 12. He's one in every of two dozen players who've already been sent railward during just over an hour of poker on Day 2. There are 146 players remaining. --MH

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE

12	800	1,600	200

12:59pm: Alache ascending, near 200KLevel 11 - Blinds 600/1,200 (ante 200)

In some of the final hands of Level 10, Oscar Alache and Luiz Cruz got desirous about a large pot, one who has moved Alache up near the 200,000 chip mark. Action was picked up with the two-time LAPT champion and reining Player of the Year opening to 2,700 from the hijack and after Cruz called within the cutoff, the button and blinds folded. 

That sent two players to the A♣5♣4♥ flop and Alache continued for 3,000. Cruz quickly called and after the 4♠ paired the board at the turn, Alache bet again, this time throwing out 5,000. Cruz barely hesitated and called for a second time, to look the 2♥ complete the board. 

Alache then took a couple of moments to consider his river move and finally fired another bet, sizing this one much bigger, because it weighed in at 16,500. Cruz immediately flicked a chip around the line for a call, only to look his opponent table 6♣4♦ for turned trips. Three-of-a-kind was good and while Alache was getting pushed the pot, Cruz could only roll his eyes and access the damage. 

He's still working as regards to 170,000 but Alache is now leading Table 12, playing just over 190,000. -- WOC

12:54pm: Nigh sighsLevel 11 - Blinds 600/1,200 (ante 200)

After calling a preflop raise by Luis Antonio Duprey from the large blind, Peter Nigh put his last 3,500 within the middle following a 6♦9♣T♠ flop holding K♠6♣ and was ahead when Duprey called with K♣Q♦. However the turn was the J♦ to fill a gutshot for Duprey, and after exhaling disappointedly Nigh departed even before the meaningless river completed the board.

Duprey has about 35,000. --MH

12:45pm: Jacks serve ThompsonLevel 11 - Blinds 600/1,200 (ante 200)

"I am all in...!"

Said Steven Thompson to Tournament Director Fernando Obando who was passing by the table. Thompson was standing, having pushed all-in together with his last 17,500 from the cutoff, as he saw Alcides Gomez call from the small blind.

Thompson had J♦J♣ and Gomez A♥K♣, and the 7♠7♥2♣T♣3♠ runout ensured Thompson he could keep his seat.

"Run it twice," cracked Obando, and Thompson chuckled. He'd survived the one runout of the board there would be, and now sits with about 38,000 while Gomez still has 52,000. --MH

12:38pm: The top of Nigh drawing nigh?Level 11 - Blinds 600/1,200 (ante 200)

Peter Nigh ended Day 1A sitting in 63rd out of the 63 survivors, while Janir Muller finished Day 1B some of the big stacks of the 109 making it through that second flight.

Just now Muller opened from early position, Nigh defended his big blind with a call, then the latter folded to a continuation bet following a flop containing both an ace and a king. 

Nigh has but 6,000 and appears as if he could be on the very bottom of the counts again with about 160 players left, while Muller presently sits with slightly below 140,000. --MH

12:30pm: Battle of the 'two-timers', Mermelstein cuts down MarioLevel 11 - Blinds 600/1,200 (ante 200)

At the beginning of the day, we mentioned that Table 11 was probably the most tougher lineups within the room. Two of these headlining players, both two-time champions of their own regard, just got thinking about a large pot that has moved two-time WPT champion Aaron Mermelstein up and over the 100,000 chip mark. 

Action was picked up with Austin Peck opening to 2,600 from middle position and after Mermelstein called within the hijack, another player called at the button. Two-time LAPT victor Mario Lopez was within the small blind and he three-bet to 10,800. 

Peck inspected the landscape behind him and folded, before Mermelstein installed the mandatory chips for a decision. The button folded and it went heads as much as the Q♠6♥4♠ flop. Lopez led that flop for 9,200 and Mermelstein called to look the 9♠ fall at the turn. 

Lopez prepared another barrel and bet 15,900. Mermelstein, who had on the subject of 40,000 left behind, called and after the T♥ fell to finish the board, both players quickly checked. 

"Ace-high." Lopez said, flashing the A♠ before Mermelstein flipped over Q♦J♦. Top pair was good and before folding, Lopez showed the K♦ and shrugged his shoulders to wonder what else he will have done to win the pot. Evidently nothing and when the dust settled, Mermelstein was playing just over 105,000, while Lopez is down below 45,000. -- WOC

12:27pm: So long, LeoLevel 11 - Blinds 600/1,200 (ante 200)

Team PokerStars Pro Leo Fernandez entered today with a stack of approximately 20 big blinds, but within half an hour of play today the Argentinian is right down to zero. No second LAPT Panama title for Fernandez, who won here during Season 6. --MH

Leo grins, bears it

12:16pm: Tough tableLevel 11 - Blinds 600/1,200 (ante 200)

Day 2s often begin with a large number of do something about the seat draw and who's wound up where. 

As we were cruising the 25 tables here on the start, Table 11 caught our eye way to a line-up including brothers Daniel and Erick Brenes seated next to every other, two-time LAPT Main Event champion Mario Lopez to their left, start-of-day chip leader Maxence Debar next in line, then the Americans Austin Peck and Aaron Mermelstein at the other side. 

Quite the line-up, and it looks as if Daniel has already lost his spot among it as King Malik Carter have been moved into his seat following a table break. --MH

Mario Lopez (left) and Maxence Debar (right)

12:00pm: Day 2 beginsLevel 11 - Blinds 600/1,200 (ante 200)

Most of the 172 remaining players have arrived and the primary hands of Day 2 are being dealt. --MH

LEVEL SMALL BLIND BIG BLIND ANTE

11	600	1,200	200

10:55am: Maxence Debar leads charge into Day 2

Buenos días again, everyone, from warm and sunny Panama City where just over an hour from now Day 2 of the Latin American Poker Tour Panama Main Event can be getting underway.

From a 553-entry field just 172 players remain, all vying to succeed in the highest 79 spots and the cash, with the $138,225 first prize up top providing still further motivation to make a deep run to Monday's final table.

Best positioned to start out today might be Maxence Debar who built an enormous stack of 289,900 by the top of his Day 1 flight.

Maxence seeks max dollars

Debar's nearest challengers to begin Day 2 can be Rafael Escobedo (215,500), Nicolas Baliner (184,900), Jessica Perez (178,900, and Luis Cruz (177,700). 

Meanwhile Hunter Cichy (123,500), LAPT8 Peru champion Claudio Moya (122,200), Raul Pino (116,200), Gustavo Lopes (100,200), and Aaron Mermelstein (89,700) all return to above average stacks, while two-time LAPT champions Oscar Alache (88,200), Mario Lopez (81,400), and Nacho Barbero (52,600) remain in contention, as does the lone Team PokerStars Pro within the field, Leo Fernandez (24,900).

Leo's currently looking up on the big stacks

Click here for a glance at a whole rundown of all 172 players' chip counts to begin Day 2.

We'll be back at 12 noon Central time when the primary hands of Day 2 are dealt, and carry you all the way during the bubble bursting and right down to 32 players (so goes the plan, anyway) with live updates, photos, chip counts, and more. Hasta entonces! --MH

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PokerStars Blog Reporting Team at LAPT9 Panama: Will O'Connor and Martin Harris. Photos by Carlos Monti. Follow the PokerStars Blog on Twitter: @PokerStarsBlog

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