The Costao de Santinho, in conjunction with the LAPT and PokerStars, did a fantastic job of structurally organising the make-shift tournament room so that it felt both accommodating for the players and media, but also like a real poker room. On one side of the room was a huge stage that housed the feature table where filming had been taking place over the past couple of days, as well as throughout the duration of the Final Table.
Unfortunately for us media members, we weren’t allowed up on stage like many other tournaments, and although it didn’t bother some of the other media sites, it meant that our PokerNews coverage was going to be jeopardised in the way our followers had become accustomed to; such as quality photos and detailed hands. When you throw in the Spanish-speaking, but uber-yummy Eva Mendes lookalike Costa Rican announcer (who was actually one of our PokerNews’ reporters sister), we knew it was going to be a frustrating day.
We were told that all the important hands would be repeated in English, but when perfectionists such as Donnie and I are working, we like to put in as many hands as possible – but unfortunately it wasn’t to be on this occasion!
Four and a half hours would be all that Matthias Habernig needed to hoist the trophy high in the air as he became the first Austrian LAPT Champion. It was a fairly dull final table, but I wrote the full recap for PokerNews, and it can be found here; PokerStars.net LAPT Florianopolis Day 4: Habernig Rides Chip Lead to Victory.
Trophy, Final Table, The Crowd, Rudy Blondeau, Miguel Velasco, Chips, Matthias Habernig, Dayan Vardanega, Matthias Habernig, Robson Vinicious Kozan
With only twenty-eight eliminations needed until we reached a final table, Day 3 of the PokerStars.net LAPT Florianopolis Main Event was always going to be short and sweet for the penultimate day of a tournament.
After a 20-minute delay to proceedings, there was a flurry of eliminations as Matthias Habernig captured the lead to be back in a similar position to the one he was in for the majority of the first two days. The action really started to get interesting when there was only sixteen remaining as players began to see how serious the event was, and consequently began taking an eternity to act on each decision. After moving all in, they would stand up and start to pray, before eventually collecting the pot and flashing whatever they risked their tournament life with. It was unbelievable the amount of times they would show their cards – virtually every hand!
Inevitably after six levels of play and nearly thirty eliminations, the final table would be set with Habernig amassing a stack amounting to nearly half the chips in play and four-times the amount of his closest rival.
Jorge Pereira, Alessandra Correa Dos Santos, Miguel Velasco, Jorge Arias, Matthias Habernig, Paulo Rink, Engelberth Steve Varela Moreno, Marco Caicedo Jaramillo, Matthias Habernig, Richard Gui, Andre Sa, Homero Ribeiro, Rudy Blondeau
Returning for Day 2 action of the PokerStars.net LAPT Florianopolis Main Event, we were always going to be in for a long day with the 183 returning players expected to play down to just 24!
The prizepool was announced with R$1,624,200 – or approximately US$923,892 – being spread amongst the final forty-eight players with whoever could sit atop after four days of poker earning R$435,000 or US$247,441.
Action was fast and furious in the early going as players continuously made their way to the rail as only 54 players managed to make it to the dinner break. On return, one table only featured one player, and although he could only pick up a few rounds of blinds and antes, it underlined the laid-back nature of Brazilians. We quickly found ourselves on the bubble with the short-stacked Wallacy Marcal attracting all the attention with his diminishing, and barely two big-blind stack. Marcal doubled, then tripled, before sneaking into the money when Alexandre Fracari’s Jacks were outdrawn on the flop.
A few more eliminations fell before play was paused for the night after twelve levels with Canadian Rudy Blondeau leading the final thirty-six; all ensured a guaranteed US$4,619 payday.
It is always fun working a tournament in a place where you have never been, but with that tingling excitement of being somewhere new comes plenty of obstacles to stand in your way.
Walking into the Costao do Santinho, and the subsequent ballroom where the tournament was being housed, the first concern Donnie and I had was where to sit. With two long desks next to each other, we decided to take the one closer to the action to allow easy access to the floor, however this prime location would be ruined . . . but more on that later.
After some internet issues were resolved and the opening posts were written, I went for a stroll around the hotel. I found a lobby-esque store and purchased some gum and mints to satisfy our fondness for fresh breath. On return to the desk I found two Brazilian media guys seated within a few centimetres of my laptop. Why would I be annoyed at this? Well instead of basically sitting in my lap there were five other seats vacant on the opposite side of the desk, but instead had chosen to cramp up the right hand corner.
Obviously annoyed, I shot a look at Donnie which blatantly read if these guys don’t move I’m probably going to punch them in the face! Regardless of the amount of times I tripped on their bags, or slide their computer over when they weren’t there or even plonked the camera in between us, they never budged.
One of the major issues that became apparent once the cards hit the air was the language barrier. We spoke English while the majority of the field spoke Spanish or Portuguese and about half a dozen English words. But like the professionals we are, we battled through as the 364-starting field was reduced to just 183.
A handful of PokerStars.net Team Pros bite the dust including Andre Akkari, Alexandre Gomes, Christian de Leon, Gualter Salles, Humberto Brenes, reigning World Champion Joe Cada and two-time back-to-back LAPT Champion Jose Ignacio Barbero. However, it would be Austrian Matthias Habernig that would lead the field that still included Felipe Ramos, Angel Guillen, Brandon Demes and Veronica Dabul.
As for Donnie and I . . . the end of the night would see us grab some dinner and tackle a bout of online tournaments and cash games!
Starting table, Matthias Habernig, Maridu Mayrinck, Angel Guillen, Leo Fernandez, Joe Cada, Dan Frank, Felipe Ramos, Jose Barbero, Andre Akkari, Chips
That’s about the best way to describe the day I’ve experienced on my way to Florianopolis, Brazil!
Starting early this morning in Las Vegas off just a few hours sleep, I packed a few last things before GG dropped Donnie and I off at the airport just before 11am. We checked in, and grabbed some lunch before boarding our flight to Houston, Texas.
Having only a couple of hours, we didn’t get much time for anything, although Donnie managed to bust out an article for PokerNews while I charged my laptop and iTouch while waiting. Eventually once we were on the plane, we both gave a few of the games a work out before tucking into a Terriyaki Chicken and Rice dinner before we both hit the hay for several hours.
With about four hours or so remaining in the ten-hour trip to Rio de Janiero, I grumpily awoke and decided to stretch my legs out before flicking on some TV to try and force myself back to sleep. Eventually it worked, only to be woken up by breakfast, as we sat tight for the last hour of our flight as the sun began to shine through our windows.
Once we touched down in Rio de Janiero, the wait in the immigration line was an agonisingly long one as we both were in need of the little boys room. Fortunately no questions were asked and we proceeded through to pick up our bags – all while realising that our Visas would allow us a return for the 2014 World Cup!
Although our flight to our final destination of Florianopolis was slightly delayed, we still managed to arrive at our hotel – Costao do Santinho – after a fifty-minute cab ride from the airport.
The one thing that surprised us the most was how unbelievably cold it was! Not just Brazil or Las Vegas cold . . . but extremely cold . . . around the 5 degree mark as we both instantly made our ways to the room to have a hot shower and don some more weather-appropriate clothing.
With food and services free, we made our way down to the buffet located on the beach and tucked into a C+ lunch, before returning to our rooms; Donnie to grind online, while I hit the hay for my sixth nap of the journey.
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Waking up to loud bangs on the door from Donnie at around 6:30pm, I forced myself out of bed to dress – this time with two jumpers on – before heading back to the beachfront to meet up with everyone else at the bar.
Donnie and I found a games room which housed some old video games and repair-needed table tennis tables before finding a warm room allocated for cards. We took a seat inside to warm up and played a few hands of Chinese before finding everyone at the bar.
Dinner was another buffet – this time thankfully located at another restaurant – and was rather enjoyable with freshly cooked-to-order pasta as well as pizza being delivered by-the-slice to your table by one of the waitresses. Although unsure on many of the choices on offer, we all still had a relatively enjoyable dinner before Lynn and Sarah started to organise the disaster.
Firstly a penalty shootout between Joe Cada and Andre Akkari, before a USA vs Brazil soccer match!
Akkari easily won the shootout before Cada, along with his manager Dan and myself, formed Team USA, while Akkari, Gualter Salles and Marcello formed Team Brazil as our cameraman Will stood in as mutual goalie.
Although we had a perfectly adequate futsal stadium just below the real pitch, the lighting was fairly terrible, and consequently we decided to play a half-pitch style game of first-to-three with the temperature easily dropping below 0!
Team Brazil went ahead early 2-0 before I received a cross from Cada from the left-side to set me directly in front about two metres out. This shot has never been a strong point of mine – and although I made solid contact with the cross – it angled just to the right of the goal. A few minutes later I dribbled the ball to the right side of the goal and wound up with a big swing, but yet again, perfect connection and inaccuracy didn’t fair well as Will made a good save before Brazil went on to win 3-0!
It was actually quite fun to run round and play soccer in Brazil, although none of us were wearing the appropriate clothing or shoes, on a pitch that was soft and rain-ridden. Words and a few pictures probably really doesn’t do the night justice, so here is the PokerNews video for all of you to laugh at!
Team USA vs Team Brazil PokerNews Soccer Match!
A few of the others went to the bar, while Donnie and I returned to the room to enjoy the over-worked heaters while he played online and I brought to you the randomness of what a day of travelling can bring you!
Donnie and I are leaving in just a few hours for our first trip to Brazil for LAPT Florianopolis!
I wanna go swimming with sharks, he wants to stare at their beautiful women all day, but either way we’re both looking forward to getting down there.
The event is actually located just off the mainland on the island of Florianopolis. We – along with the rest of the PokerNews team – will be treated to absolute luxury on the Costao de Santinho resort which is located on one of the most beautiful amongst the forty-two beaches encircling the island.
With nearly two full days before we work . . . who knows what type of trouble we can get up to!
Florianopolis, Brazil . . . only three long flights and an awkward language barrier away!
