by Brad Willis and Change100

If you don't know the story of LAPT Mexico by now, it's hardly worth re-telling in its entirety. Suffice to say, this is almost certainly the first time we have ever arrived at a champion in such a fashion.

And what fashion would that be?

Well, Day 1 of the LAPT Mexico event was played live in Mexico. It was postponed due to unforeseen circumstances. So, what was essentially Day 2 of the event played out online at PokerStars. Once play reached a final table, the final nine players traveled more than 5,000 miles south of where they started the event to play down to a champion. In short, we'll likely never see anything like this again.

To say there was a disparity in chip counts would be a bit of an understatement. At the end of the online portion of this event, American Rory Cox went on an amazing tear and somehow managed to pick up nearly half the chips in play.

Seat 1: Rory Cox (USA) 1,074,500
Seat 2: Victor Ramdin (USA) 104,000
Seat 3: Pavel Naydenov (USA) 80,000
Seat 4: Helen Prager (USA) 326,500
Seat 5: Leonardo Emperador (Venezuela) 284,000
Seat 6: Steven Thompson (Costa Rica) 135,500
Seat 7: Bolivar Palacios (Panama) 128,500
Seat 8: Martha Herrera (Mexico) 88,000
Seat 9: Alex Brenes (Costa Rica) 154,500

While Cox's chip lead was frightening, he still had eight other people who weren't just going to roll over for him. In the early going, Cox used his stack to push people around. Eventually, Steven Thompson flopped a set against Cox' overpair for the first level double-up. Cox rolled with the minor loss and moved on.

Before the event began, Team PokerStars Pro Victor Ramdin figured he had a couple of rounds in him before he started pushing with any two cards. He made it through the first hour before doing just that.

Victor Ramdin moved all in from the cutoff and Helen Prager quickly made the call from the small blind.

"Do I get a lifeline?" Ramdin laughed as he turned up his hole cards. He held Jd-6d to Prager's As-7s.

As Ramdin revealed his hand, several players on the other side of the table confessed to folding a jack.

"Thanks for the information, guys" quipped Ramdin dryly.

The flop was Td-7h-4h. As the Kc landed on the turn, the good-natured Ramdin stood up from his chair, resigned to his fate. The river was the Kd, eliminating him in 9th place. After shaking hands around the table, the Team PokerStars Pro took a seat in the audience to watch the rest of the action play out.

With Ramdin gone, play went on for another full hour before the blinds started eating deeply into the stacks.

Running low, Alex Brenes open-shoved from under the gun for his remaining 100,000, Pavel Naydenov moved all in behind him from middle position, and the rest of the table folded. Naydenov had Brenes slightly covered as the cards went on their backs. Naydenov held As-Qh to Brenes' 9s-9d

The flop ended the drama fairly quickly, Ad-Kc-2c, pairing Naydenov's ace.

"Nueve, Alex, nueve!" called Brenes' brother, Humberto, begging for a nine.

The turn, though, came the 7h, and the river the 4s, sending Brenes to the rail in 8th place.

Despite the increasing blinds, the players held firm to their seats.It would take nearly an hour before we saw the next elimination. That's when Steven Thompson open-raised on the button, Bolivar Palacios moved all in from the small blind for 60,500, Martha Herrera folded the big blind and Thompson made the call. Thompson held Ad-5d to Palacios' Kh-Qs

The flop favored Thompson (as you can see in the photo below), coming down 9h-6s-3c, and the Ac on the turn left Palacios drawing dead.

The now-meaningless Ks hit the river and Palacios hit the rail in 7th place, collecting $2,000.

Martha Herrera had a harder time getting here than the other players. After Day 1 in Mexico, Herrera managed to break her leg. She arrived here in a leg cast and with her eye set on the title. It was not to be.

Rory Cox raised to 36,000 and got calls from Pavel Naydenov and Steven Thompson. Herrera was in the big blind and moved all in for an additional 29,000. She got called in all three places.

All the players checked the Ts-Ad-4d flop and Th turn. On the Ks river, Naydenov bet out 50,000 and got a call from Thompson. Naydenov turned up Q-T for the turned trips. That was good enough to beat Thompson, not to mention Herrera who held Ac-Kh.

Thompson was crippled as the players went on a 15 minute break. On the first hand back from the break, Thompson got his remaining 22,000 in the middle and got three callers in Rory Cox, Pavel Naydenov, and Helen Prager.

The flop came down Kd-7h-6h. Naydenov and Prager checked, while Cox put out a bet. A few groans came out of the audience as Naydenov and Prager gave up their hands. Cox held 6d-8d to Thompson's 9h-Td

Cox had paired his six, but Thompson could double up with an eight, a nine or a ten. The turn fell the 7c, pairing the board and giving him even more outs with the three remaining kings, but the river was a blank, the 2h, and Cox raked in the pot, sending Thompson to the rail in 5th place.

With the action folded to him in the small blind, Leonardo Emperador moved all in for 149,500 and Rory Cox snap-called from the big blind. Emperador knew he was in trouble with his Ks-8c. Cox held Qs-Qh.

"Ocho, ocho, ka!" cried LAPT Vina del Mar runner-up Vincenzo Gianelli from the audience, calling for an 8-8-K flop for his friend.

Unfortunately for Emperador, it came down Td-5h-3s, leaving him drawing to the three remaining kings in the deck.

"Ka! Ka!" called Gianelli as the dealer burned and turned... the Ad.

"KA! KA!" he shouted again to the poker gods, or anyone who would listen.

The river, though, was the Ah, and Emperador hit the rail, collecting $5,000 for his efforts today. It's also worth noting that he arrived at this final table with only ten big blinds and was able to parlay that short stack into a 4th place finish.

Minutes laters, on a flop of 5s-8s-4d, Rory Cox bet out and Pavel Naydenov raised to 75,000. Cox almost immediately raised all-in. Naydenov called after a moment and showed Ks-3s. Cox held 4h-5h. Naydenov picked up some more outs with the 3h on the turn. He missed all the kings, threes, and spades left in the deck on the 2c turn. He finished in 3rd place.

And so we were left with two. Rory Cox had come into the day with such a large chip lead, it didn't seem like he could be beaten. Helen Prager came in with a reasonable stack, but what seemed to insurmountable odds. By the time they got heads up, Cox had Prager by 5 to 1.

It seemed like it would be all over in a matter of minutes. Instead, Prager managed two double-ups within just a few minutes. Her first came courtesy of getting in with second pair, an overcard to the board and a gutshot straight draw against Cox's top pair. She made her gutshot. Moments later, she turned the nuts against Cox's top pair. He got it in with a flush draw against her nut straight. Cox missed on the river and suddenly, the opponents were nearly even in chips.

After the dinner break, the pair settled in for two more full hours of heads-up play. At one point, Cox got it all in with pocket sevens versus Prager's K-T. Prager flopped her ten and Cox fell way behind in chips.

But he battled back and back and back. Ultimately, he regained the chip lead.

Rory Cox opened from the button for 72,000, Helen Prager moved all in for 972,000 from the big blind and Cox made the call.

Prager Kh-7d

Cox As-Ts

Cox let out a whoop and pumped his fist as the flop came down Ac-Jh-8c, leaving Prager drawing only to running cards.

With her husband's arm around her, she watched the 5s land on the turn, a resigned look on her face as she realized she was drawing dead.

The river was the Js and Cox extended his hand to Prager for a sportsman-like shake, congratulating her on a good game.

When it was over, Cox looked at Prager and said, "You made me go bald!"

Later he admitted Prager had him on his heels for a bit. "She played the perfect style against me--very aggressive."

At 26 years old, Cox plays professionally from his home base in San Francisco, California. Before going pro, Cox worked as a counselor for special needs children. While much of his money comes from playing online, he says he has played some big live events.

"But not with much success," he said.

Now, he can add a major title to his resume. It may have taken three months and thousands of miles of travel but Rory Cox is now the LAPT Mexico champion.

For a complete look back at all the action from the day, check out any of the links below.

4,000/8,000 Level
5,000/10,000 Level
6,000/12,000 Level
8,000/16,000 Level
10,000/20,000 Level
12,000/24,000 Level
15,000/30,000 Level

Here's a rundown of the LAPT Mexico final table prizes.

Thanks for joining us today. Join us here Wedneday at noon for Day 1 of the LAPT Punta del Este event

All photography © Joe Giron/IMPDI

Updates from the postponed LAPT Mexico final table 15,000/30,000/3,000 level will be posted here and come courtesy of live bloggers Brad Willis and Change100.

Click refresh to see the latest updates.

Last update 11:35pm

11:35pm - Rory Cox wins the LAPT Mexico ($15,000), Helen Prager eliminated in 2nd place ($11,000)

Rory Cox opened from the button for 72,000, Helen Prager moved all in for 972,000 from the big blind and Cox made the call.

Prager Kh-7d

Cox As-Ts

Cox let out a whoop and pumped his fist as the flop came down Ac-Jh-8c, leaving Prager drawing only to running cards.

With her husband's arm around her, she watched the 5s land on the turn, a resigned look on her face as she realized she was drawing dead.

The river was the Js and Cox extended his hand to Prager for a sportsman-like shake, congratulating her on a good game.

For her runner-up finish, Prager earns $11,000 while Cox takes home $15,000 and the prestige of an LAPT title.

Stay tuned for a full wrap-up.

11:28pm--Happy birthday to Mike Ward

We're pretty familiar with Tournament Director Mike Ward, but it wasn't until just a few minutes ago that we learned that today is his birthday. It appears we won't be able to buy him a drink until his day is over. So, we'll take this opportunity to wish our favorite TD a happy....32 minutes.

11:15pm--Cox charges ahead

With both players in for the 30,000 minimum, the flop came down Ks-9s-4d. Prager checked, Cox bet 47,000, and Prager called. The 6c hit the turn and Prager check-called a 79,000 bet from Cox. The river was the Kc and Prager checked a third time, leaving Cox to fire a third barrel for 137,000. Prager, though gave up her hand and conceded the pot to Cox, who has now taken a slight chip lead.

11:10pm--Cox uses his PokerStars Blog One Time Chip

On a flop of 4c-8h-Js, Rory Cox moved all-in and Helen Prager called with 8s-3h.

"Hold just one time," Cox begged as he turned over his Kc-8c.

After thinking for a moment, Cox felt sure Prager would suck out. "Just give her the three of clubs," he said. At least then he would have the redraw to the flush.

The turn was the 9c.

"That's a good card for me," Cox said with a sigh.

The river was the Ts. Cox let out a l little "Whoop!"

With that, the stacks are nearly dead even again.

10:58pm-- Helen Prager seizes the chip lead with coinflip gone good

Rory Cox opened for 72,000, Helen Prager reraised all in for 959,000, and looking a bit exasperated, Cox made the call.

Prager Kh-Tc

Cox 7c-7d

"I'd rather play it out but she moves all in so much!" said Cox as the dealer counted down their stacks and pulled in the amount of his call.

Again, Prager's husband Josh ran to her side from his seat in the audience. She folded her hands, covering her face as she waited for the board to reveal her fate.

The flop came down Ts-5c-2d, pairing Prager's ten. Still looking concerned, she leaned back against her husband, who now wore a mile-wide smile.

There would be no two outer for Cox, as the turn fell the Ad and the river the 6c. Prager doubled her stack to 1.9 million, while Cox was left with approximately 700,000.

10:42pm--Level up, blinds up

We've now moved up to 15,000/30,000/3,000 blinds.

Updates from the postponed LAPT Mexico final table 12,000/24,000/2,000 level will be posted here and come courtesy of live bloggers Brad Willis and Change100.

Click refresh to see the latest updates.

Last update 10:40pm

10:40pm-- Prager regains some ground

After Rory Cox picked up a few small pots off her, Helen Prager's chip count dipped below the the 1 million mark, but she was able to reclaim some of those lost checks on this most recent hand.

Cox opened for 53,000 on the button and Prager called. The flop came down Kc-5h-3s and both players checked. The turn was the 3d and Prager led out for 80,000. After quite a long think, Cox decided to raise to 176,000, prompting a three-bet shove from Prager. Cox quickly mucked and Prager raked in the pot.

10:28pm - Tick and tock like peanut butter and chocolate

As Rory Cox slowly picks away at Helen Prager's stack, we're left with little to report but the weather, which, by the way, is quite nice.

10:24pm - Updated chip counts

Rory Cox 1,600,000
Helen Prager 940,000

10:04pm--And now, for a showdown

Both players limped in and saw a flop of 8h-7d-2s. Prager led out for 25,000 and Cox called. The turn came the 9c and Prager bet another 80,000, Cox coming along with a call. The river paired the board with the 9h and Prager fired a third barrel for 120,000 and Cox made the call.

Prager turned up 2h-7s for a flopped two pair, but Cox caught up on the turn with his 8c-Ts for the better two pair with nines and eights to win the pot.

9:59pm-- Prager playing pre-flop poker

Thus far in our heads-up match we've seen about ten hands, only one resulting in a flop. Most pots have been taken down with a single pre-flop raise while Prager has already moved all in three times over the top of Cox's opening bet. Cox folded each time. Both players are still nearly dead even in chip count.

9:44pm--Play begins

Rory Cox and Helen Prager are now playing heads up for the championship. On the very first hand, Cox picked up pocket eights, but couldn't get any action.

9:30pm--Heads up play about to begin

The players are making their way back from dinner. After starting the heads-up match with a 5-1 advantage, Cox now finds himself nearly dead even with Helen Prager. He has her outchipped by 3,000 chips. Keep in mind, there are about 2.6 million chips in play.

Updates from the postponed LAPT Mexico final table 8,000/16,000/1,500 level will be posted here and come courtesy of live bloggers Brad Willis and Change100.

Click refresh to see the latest updates.

Last update 6:35pm

6:53pm--Herrera limps out with head high ($3,000)

A four-way pot has just sent Mexico's Martha Herrera out on her crutches.

It began when Rory Cox raised to 36,000 and got calls from Pavel Naydenov and Steven Thompson. Herrera, from the big blind, moved all in for an additional 29,000. She got called in all three places.

All the players checked the Ts-Ad-4d flop and Th turn. On the Ks river, Naydenov bet out 50,000 and got a call from Thompson. Naydenov turned up Q-T for the turned trips. That was good enough to beat Thompson, not to mention Herrera who held Ac-Kh.

Players are now on a 15-minute break.

6:35pm-- Pavel Naydenov doubles through Rory Cox

In the first few levels of this final table, Rory Cox seemed unstoppable, rolling over his short-stacked opponents with pressure poker and all-in moves. He may still be our dominant chip leader, but Pavel Naydenov just gained some significant ground on Cox via this double-up hand.

Naydenov opened for 41,000 from UTG, Steven Thompson flat-called from middle position and with the action folded to Cox in the big blind, he put the squeeze on and moved all in. Pavel called all in 210,500 and Thompson gave up his hand.

Naydenov 6h-6d

Thompson 5s-5c

The board ran out As-Th-3s-9h-8c, Naydenov doubling up to over 400,000 and for the first time at this final table, Cox found himself below a million in chips.

Just over ten minutes remain in this level.

6:21pm-- Largest pot of the day ends in a chop

Pavel Naydenov moved all in for 138,500 from the button and Helen Prager quietly declared "call" from the small blind. Prager's husband Josh looked on with rapt interest from the front row of the audience as their cards were turned over.

Prager Ad-4d

Naydenov Ac-6c

Though Naydenov had Prager's hand dominated, the Kh-Tc-3h flop left them with a good shot at a chopped pot. The 8s fell on the turn, upping that percentage even more.

Josh Prager cried for a chop as the dealer burned and turned and got his wish when the 7s hit the river. Prager and Naydenov split the pot, easily the largest of the final table thus far.

6:16pm--An autograph upon leaving

Here's a fine photo from our man Joe Giron.

Upon leaving in eighth place, Alex Brenes signed Martha Herrera's cast.

6:09pm-- Palacios' reprieve is all-too temporary as he exits in 7th place ($2,000)

Steven Thompson open-raised on the button, Bolivar Palacios moved all in from the small blind for 60,500, Martha Herrera folded the big blind and Thompson made the call.

Thompson Ad-5d

Palacios Kh-Qs

The flop favored Thompson (as you can see in the photo below), coming down 9h-6s-3c, and the Ac on the turn left Palacios drawing dead.

The now-meaningless Ks hit the river and Palacios hit the rail in 7th place, collecting $2,000.

6:03pm--Cox saves Bolivar Palacios

With only 22,500 in his stack, Palacios moved all-in under the gun. Rory Cox isolated with a big raise from middle position and everybody else folded. Palacios held Kh-9c. Cox held a curious Qh-Tc. The board ran out 4d-6d-4c-Ad-3d and Palacios doubled up. Steven Thompson remarked, "You should't have raised. I could've called the extra 6,000." Thompson left us with the impression that if Cox hadn't isolated, we would be down to six players. Instead, seven players are still in action.

5:58pm-- Herrera victorious in battle of the sixes, triples up

Martha Herrera moved all in for 46,000, Helen Prager made the call from the small blind, and Leonardo Emperador came along as well from the big blind. The flop was 8c-5s-3c and both Prager and Emperador checked. The 4c landed on the turn and was met with checks from our two remaining active players, as was the 5c on the river. Prager and Herrera turned over their hands revealing...

Herrera 6c-6s

Prager 6h-6d

Despite having the same hand, Herrera had rivered a flush with her sixes. Emperador mucked.

"So sick!" cried an audience member as Herrera raked in the pot, tripling her stack to over 150,000.

5:52pm-- New level, new blinds, same players

We're going into our fourth level of the day. Seven players remain.

Updates from the postponed LAPT Mexico final table 6,000/12,000/1,000 level will be posted here and come courtesy of live bloggers Brad Willis and Change100.

Click refresh to see the latest updates.

Last update 5:47pm

5:47pm-- Steven Thompson doubles through Bolivar Palacios

Steven Thompson opened for 39,000, Bolivar Palacios moved all in behind him and Thompson made the call. Palacios had him covered, but just barely.

Thompson Qd-Jd

Palacios Js-Jc

Palacios had his back to the table and his head bowed as the flop came down Qh-7s-2s, Thompson seizing the lead with a pair of queens. The Qs on the turn made Thompson trips, but gave Palacios a sweat as he picked up a flush draw. However, the 9c on the river gave the hand to Thompson, leaving Palacios with only 23,000 (less than two big blinds) remaining in his stack.

5:23pm-- Emperador chipping up

Leonardo Emperador raised to 29,000 from the cutoff and Martha Herrera called from the big blind. The flop came down Jh-Th-Ts. Herrera led out for 35,000, and after a bit of a think, Emperador moved all in for 87,000 total. Now it was Herrera's turn to tank, and she ultimately mucked her hand, declining to call the additional 52,000 and leaving Emperador to pick up the pot.

5:02pm-- Alex Brenes eliminated in 8th place ($1,500)

Alex Brenes open-shoved from UTG for his remaining 100,000, Pavel Naydenov moved all in behind him from middle position, and the rest of the table folded. Naydenov had Brenes slightly covered as the cards went on their backs...

Naydenov As-Qh

Brenes 9s-9d

It was a classic race situation as we went to the flop, which came down Ad-Kc-2c, pairing Naydenov's ace.

"Nueve, Alex, nueve!" called Brenes' brother, Humberto, begging for a nine.

The turn, though, came the 7h, and the river the 4s, sending Brenes to the rail in 8th place.

4:51pm--Updated chip counts

Seat 1: Rory Cox (USA) 1,200,000
Seat 3: Pavel Naydenov (USA) 110,000
Seat 4: Helen Prager (USA) 410,000
Seat 5: Leonardo Emperador (Venezuela) 200,000
Seat 6: Steven Thompson (Costa Rica) 127,000
Seat 7: Bolivar Palacios (Panama) 120,000
Seat 8: Martha Herrera (Mexico) 130,000
Seat 9: Alex Brenes (Costa Rica) 145,000

4:50pm--Players returning from break

With eight players remaining, we're coming back to 6,000/12,000/1,000 blinds.

Updates from the postponed LAPT Mexico final table 5,000/10,000/1,000 level will be posted here and come courtesy of live bloggers Brad Willis and Change100.

Click refresh to see the latest updates.

Last update 4:30pm

4:30pm--Level ends with eight players remaining

After two hours of play, only Victor Ramdin has found the rail. Everyone else is still in action. We're on a 15-minute break.

4:24pm-- Martha Herrera doubles through Bolivar Palacios

With the action folded to Bolivar Palacios in the small blind, he put in a raise to 32,000, only to be met with an all-in reraise for an additional 82,000 from Martha Herrera. Palacios made the call, Herrera's tournament life on the line.

Palacios 5s-6c

Herrera Ac-3c

The board ran out Ks-Jh-3h-Kh-8d and Herrera survived, making two pair kings and threes.

Palacios recognizes his fate

4:10pm--Thompson may be crippled, but he's still breathing

Crippled, Stephen Thompson moved all-in for 30,000 and got a call from Leonardo Emperador. Emperador called to see Thompson's Ah-6h. Emperador held Jh-Tc.

"Steven's tournament life is on the line," tournament director Mike Ward announced.

"Once again!" Thompson exclaimed. "I'm the only one putting action the table!"

The flop came Ac-9c-2h.

"There's the ace," Thomson exhaled.

The 2d on the turn gave Thompson the hand. Then ten on the river meant nothing except a bullet Thompson never had to dodge.

3:55pm-- Bolivar Palacios cripples Steven Thompson

Stephen Thompson made it 35,000 to go and Bolivar Palacios made the call. The flop came down Qc-9c-4c. Palacios moved all in for 92,000 and got a quick call from Thompson.

Thompson Ac-Jh
Palacios As-Ad

It was Thompson with the nut flush draw and Palacios with the made pair of aces as the dealer burned and turned the 8d, giving Thompson even more outs with a straight draw. He now needed a ten or a club, but the Qs landed on the river, Bolivar's aces holding up to double his stack. Thompson was left crippled, with less than 40,000.

3:48pm - Martha Herrera doubles through Leonardo Emperador

Martha Herrera was handicapped in more ways than one coming into this final table, not only with the second-shortest stack, but with a broken right leg, which sits propped up on a white upholstered cube next to her chair in the eight seat.

Leonardo Emperador made it 21,000 to go pre-flop and Herrera moved all in for 50,500. Alex Brenes went into the tank for a bit before deciding to fold, and Emperador made the call.

Emperador Ah-8d

Herrera Ac-Ks

Herrera kept her significant lead on the Td-4c-2h flop. The 4h on the turn paired the board and the river was the 5d, Herrera doubling up to over 100,000 on the hand.

3:32pm-- Victor Ramdin eliminated in 9th place ($1,000)

Victor Ramidin moved all in from the cutoff and Helen Prager quickly made the call from the small blind.

"Do I get a lifeline?" he laughed as he turned up his hole cards.

Ramdin Jd-6d

Prager As-7s

As Ramdin revealed his hand, several players on the other side of the table confessed to folding a jack.

"Thanks for the information, guys" quipped Ramdin dryly.

The flop was Td-7h-4h. As the Kc landed on the turn, the good-natured Ramdin stood up from his chair, resigned to his fate. The river was the Kd, eliminating him in 9th place. After shaking hands around the table, the Team PokerStars Pro took a seat in the audience to watch the rest of the action play out.

3:30pm--Blinds up

We're now up to 5,000/10,000/1,000.