by Brad Willis and Change100

In the late hours of Day 2, Tournament Director Mike Ward began joking with 20-year-old Norwegian Karl Hevroy. Ward called the young online poker player "Houdini." At first, it was an inside joke between the two men. Tonight, it has a lot more meaning.

Hevroy is, in fact, the LAPT's master of escape. No matter how dire the situation, no matter how deep the hole, no matter how sure the lock, Hevroy managed to get free. The result? One very impressive feat of magic, $283,500, and an LAPT title.

Karl Hevroy, right, celebrates

Three hundred twenty-seven players started this event three days ago. The top 36 walked away with cash, but the big money was handed out tonight at the final table.

Nine people from around the world made it to this ultimate felt. Here's how they stacked up going into final table action (you can learn more about the players at our LAPT Punta del Este final table profiles report).

Seat 1: Andre Ventura 103,000
Seat 2: Oliver Rowe 412,000
Seat 3: Bolivar Palacios 167,000
Seat 4: Waldemar Cago 263,000
Seat 5: Karl Hevroy 1,079,000
Seat 6: Magno Aragao 153,000
Seat 7: Angel Guillen 572,000
Seat 8: Alejandro De Arruabarrena 397,000
Seat 9: Ron Wasiel 134,000

Andre Ventura was the comeback story of the tournament. At the end of Day 2, Ventura got pocket sixes in against queens and was crippled to 13,000 chips--less than one big blind. Within an hour, Ventura had doubled up a few times and made the final table.

On the very first hand of the final table, Angel Guillén came in for a raise. Ventura pushed all in with pocket queens and got got called by Guillén's A-7. Ventura doubled up and looked to go deep. It took a minor cooler to bust him.

After Ventura opened for 41,000, Oliver Rowe reraised to 101,000, Ventura moved all in for 153,000 total and Rowe quickly called. It wasn't pretty: Ventura's [JH]-[JD] against Rowe's [QS]-[QD]. Ventura's chorus of railbirds started chanting "Jota! Jota! Jota!" imploring for a jack on the flop for their man.

The flop, though, came down [9H]-[5H]-[2S]. The "jota" chorus turned into the "corazon" choir when the [KH] appeared on the turn, Ventura picking up a flush draw, but he couldn't get there, the [3D] landing on the river to eliminate him in 9th place.

Magno Aragao was without a doubt one of the most affectionate poker players we have ever seen. When someone won, when someone lost, when someone looked like they just might need it, Aragao offered a giant, warm, manly hug. In our time as poker reporters, we have only one person offer so many hugs. That top spot was once held by Gentleman John Gale at the 2005 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. Mr. Gale, you have some competition in the Department of Affection.

Eventually, there came a time when Aragao needed a hug. Under-the-gun and with only 30,000 remaining, Magno Aragao dribbled his remaining chips into the middle and got two callers in Oliver Rowe and big blind Karl Hevroy. The flop came down [10S]-[7C]-[5C]. Hevroy checked, Rowe bet 40,000 and Hevroy folded. With no more action to be had, the cards were turned up. Aragao held [QD]-[QC] to Rowe's [JC]-[10D].

The room buzzed as Aragao's pocket queens were revealed. Were we going to witness yet another amazing comeback? The turn was the [8H]. Now Aragao was really sweating, as Rowe could win with a ten, a jack or a nine. And the river... was the [9H], making him a jack-high straight.

The always-affectionate Aragao hugged his opponent before heading out to collect his $26,640 in winnings.

It had only been a couple of days since we saw Bolivar Palacios take seventh place in the LAPT Mexico event. Today, he came here looking to better that performance. He was in pretty good shape to do that after a couple of timely double-ups in the early going. His Panamanian Rat Pack of poker players cheered him with as much gusto as any other group in the room. Finally, Palacios picked up a big hand and got his chips in with two black queens. He was racing against Alejandro De Arruabarrena's [AS]-[KS].

All looked well on the early part of the board. The first four cards came out [5D]-[4H]-[4S]-[7C]. Then that ugly [KD] fell on the river and Palacios was out in seventh place...again. He earned $37,740.

If you're the kind to root for an underdog, Waldemar Cogo was your man today. Short-stacked for his entire time here, he managed to turn one big blind into a couple of money jumps. Every time it looked like he was out, the cards brought him back in. Ultimately, he used the last of his nine lives. With the action folded to the small blind, Oliver Rowe completed, Cogo moved all in and Rowe made the call. It was the [KS]-[7H] for Rowe, dominating Cogo's [KH]-[3S]. The board ran out [KC]-[5S]-[2D]-[JD]-[4S] and Cogo headed out the door in sixth place. He won $48,840.

With Cogo gone, most of the stacks at the table were pretty big. We expected things to go slowly. They did not.

The next big hand was the kind that could make a player give up the game forever. On a flop of [JS]-[9S]-[3H] Oliver Rowe led out for 50,000 from the small blind and Karl Hevroy called.

The [KD] came on the turn and Rowe considered for several minutes before settling on a bet of 115,000. Hevroy moved in and Rowe quickly called, showing [3D]-[3C] for bottom set to Hevroy's [KC]-QH]. The young Norwegian who entered the final table as the dominant chip leader was now drawing to only four outs that would save his tournament life.

What happened next was the stuff of tin foil hats. The [10H] landed on the river. Hevroy made a king-high straight and claimed the rest of Rowe's stack. Rowe's face told the story.

With Rowe out of the way, short-stacked Ron Wasiel finally gave up the ghost. He got the rest of his chips in on a flop of [10D]-[10S]-[9S] and Karl Hevroy made the call. Wasiel was in a tough spot, his [JS]-[9C] up against Hevroy's pocket jacks. The [8C] on the turn gave him some outs to a chop should a seven or a queen appear, but the [3C]hit the river, giving the hand to Hevroy and sending Wasiel to the rail in fourth place.

We all started to learn our lesson on the next hand. The lesson?

Don't ever count out Karl Hevroy when he's behind.

Angel Guillen opened from the button for 64,000. Hevroy bumped it to 210,000 from the big blind and Guillen quickly moved all in. Hevroy made the call.

Guillen had his opponent dominated, holding the [AC]-[JH] to Hevroy's [AS]-[10C]. But remember what we told you...

The flop came down [QD]-[10S]-[6C], pairing up Hevroy. The crowd roared in a mixture of celebration and total disbelief. The turn was the [6H], the river was the [7D], and just like that, Hevroy had claimed another victim.

And so we went to heads-up play. How long would you expect it to take when Hevroy had a nearly 6-1 chip lead on Alejandro De Arruabarrena?

Answer: One hand.

Alejandro De Arruabarrena completed the small blind and Karl Hevroy checked his option. The flop came down [9C]-[9D]-[8S]. Hevroy checked over to De Arruabarrena, who bet 70,000. Hevroy called. The turn brought the [4H] and another check from Hevroy. De Arruabarrena fired another 100,000, Hevroy moved all in and De Arruabarrena called.

It was all over as soon as the cards were turned up. Hevroy had flopped the nut full house with [8H]-[9H]. De Arruabarrena was drawing dead, holding the [QD]-[JS]. No river card was necessary, but for posterity's sake, we'll let you know it was the [4C].

Hevroy leapt from his chair and embraced his friends on the rail. It's probably the most emotion we've ever seen from a Scandinavian poker player.

De Arruabarrena was gracious and shook the young man's hand, wearing the same bewildered look that so many opponents have shown after playing a hand with this one-man wrecking crew.

Afterward, Hevroy could barely speak. Just a few days ago, he was having trouble withdrawing money from his online account. He borrowed $4,000 from a friend to buy in. Now, he is $283,500 richer.

"I'm so happy, I don't feel like I know anything. It's so sick," Hevroy said.

If there's any way to sum it up, it was this final quote from the man with the trophy.

"I had a few moments where I was in danger," he said,"and then I luckboxed my way out of it."

Congratulations to Karl Hevroy on his knockout win.

For a look back at our coverage from the day, check out any of the links below.

Final table player profiles</a.
Level 19 live updates continued
Level 20 live updates
Level 21 live updates
Level 22 live updates
Level 23 live updates

Of course, we hope you take the time to go over to PokerStars.tv and check out all the great video blogs there. If the Spanish or Portuguese word is more your style, please head over to the coverage on the PokerStars Spanish blog and PokerStars Brazilian blog

For a complete look at the winners in this event, see our LAPT Punta del Este payouts page.

The next stop on the Latin America Poker Tour will be our final of the second season. Join us in just a few weeks as we cover the finale in Mar del Plata, Argentina.

All photography Joe Giron/IMPDI

Updates from the LAPT event in Punta del Este Level 23 (15,000/30,000/3,000) will be posted here and come courtesy of live bloggers Brad Willis and Change100.

Click refresh to see the latest updates.

Last update 9:12pm

9:12pm-- Karl Hevroy wins the LAPT Punta del Este ($283,500), Alejandro De Arruabarrena eliminated in 2nd place ($155,420)

I think the entire room agrees. It's good to be Karl Hevroy. And we all want to run as well as he does.

Heads-up play took exactly one hand. Alejandro De Arruabarrena completed the small blind and Karl Hevroy checked his option. The flop came down [9C]-[9D]-[8S]. Hevroy checked over to De Arruabarrena, who bet 70,000. Hevroy called. The turn brought the [4H] and another check from Hevroy. De Arruabarrena fired another 100,000, Hevroy moved all in and De Arruabarrena called.

It was all over as soon as the cards were turned up. Hevroy had flopped the nut full house with [8H]-[9H]. De Arruabarrena was drawing dead, holding the [QD]-[JS]. No river card was necessary, but for posterity's sake, we'll let you know it was the [4C].

Hevroy leapt from his chair and embraced his friends on the rail. It's probably the most emotion we've ever seen from a Scandinavian poker player. De Arruabarrena was gracious and shook the young man's hand, wearing the same bewildered look that so many opponents have shown after playing a hand with this one-man wrecking ball.

Congratulations to Karl Hevroy, our newest LAPT champion. We'll have a full wrap-up of all the final table action shortly.

9:06pm--Back in action

Heads-up play has just started. Blinds will go up in a matter of minutes.

8:59pm--Time to go

The players are coming back from dinner. While we wait, check out what our chip leader had to say before play started today.

Watch LAPT Punta del Este S2: Karl Hevroy - Final Tablist on PokerStars.tv

7:48pm--Updated heads-up chip counts

Karl Hevroy -- 2,927,000
Alejandro De Arruabarrena --543,000

7:41pm--Dinner break

Before we get to the heads-up match, the players are going for a bite of dinner. We'll be back at 9:00pm local time.

7:32pm-- Angel Guillen eliminated in 3rd place ($99,120)

Don't ever count out Karl Hevroy when he's behind.

Angel Guillen opened from the button for 64,000. Hevroy bumped it to 210,000 from the big blind and Guillen quickly moved all in. Hevroy made the call.

Guillen had his opponent dominated, holding the [AC]-[JH] to Hevroy's [AS]-[10C]. But remember what we told you...

The flop came down [QD]-[10S]-[6C], pairing up Hevroy. The crowd roared in a mixture of celebration and total disbelief. The turn was the [6H], the river was the [7D], and just like that, Hevroy had claimed another victim.

"Luckbox," Hevroy said, patting his chest and looking back at the crowd.

With that, we're now on a 75-minute dinner break. We'll be back just before 9pm local time (EDT+1).

7:22pm-- Ron Wasiel eliminated in 4th place ($82,160)

Ron Wasiel got the rest of his chips in on a flop of [10D]-[10S]-[9S] and Karl Hevroy made the call. Wasiel was in a tough spot, his [JS]-[9C] up against Hevroy's pocket jacks. The [8C] on the turn gave him some outs to a chop should a seven or a queen appear, but the [3C] hit the river, giving the hand to Hevroy and sending Wasiel to the rail in fourth place.

Here's an interview with Wasiel from a little earlier.

Watch LAPT Punta del Este S2: Ronald Wasiel Final Tablist on PokerStars.tv,

7:06pm-- Oh, the humanity... Oliver Rowe drowns on the river, finishes fifth ($59,960)

It was the kind of hand that could make a player give up the game forever. On a flop of [JS]-[9S]-[3H] Oliver Rowe led out for 50,000 from the small blind and Karl Hevroy called.

The [KD] came on the turn and Rowe considered for several minutes before settling on a bet of 115,000. Hevroy moved in and Rowe quickly called, showing [3D]-[3C] for bottom set to Hevroy's [KC]-[QH]. The young Norwegian who entered the final table as the dominant chip leader was now drawing to only four outs that would save his tournament life.

And in a stroke of luck that made us all want to break out our tin foil hats, the [10H] landed on the river. Hevroy made a king-high straight and claimed the rest of Rowe's stack.

Wow. I mean, just... wow.

"Just like your queen from last night!" exclaimed a railbird as Hevroy circled the table in a daze.

"This is worse," he replied.

Hevroy is still stacking up his massive lake of chips, but our estimate puts his chip count close to the 2 million mark.

Here is an interview we did with Rowe...back when we all still believed in justice.

Watch LAPT Punta del Este S2: Oliver Rowe Final Day on PokerStars.tv

6:57pm--Anyone want to see a flop?

In the 22 minutes that have ticked off the clock since returning from break, we've seen precious few flops. A pre-flop raise has been typically met with a reraise from the blinds and then a fold from the opening bettor. While Karl Hevroy and Angel Guillen still control most of the chips in play, Ron Wasiel's stack has been whittled down quite a bit by the blinds and antes.

6:30pm--On break

Players are on a short break before coming back to 15,000/30,000/3,000 blinds. Updated chip counts are:

Seat 2: Oliver Rowe 613,000
Seat 5: Karl Hevroy 1,052,000
Seat 7: Angel Guillen 760,000
Seat 8: Alejandro De Arruabarrena 450,000
Seat 9: Ron Wasiel 295,000

Updates from the LAPT event in Punta del Este Level 21 (12,000/24,000/2,000) will be posted here and come courtesy of live bloggers Brad Willis and Change100.

Click refresh to see the latest updates.

Last update 5:51pm

6:11pm--A moving look at the final table

Watch LAPT Punta del Este S2: Final Table Intro on PokerStars.tv

6:01pm--Hevroy takes a chunk out of Guillén

Karl Hevroy raised from the small blind and Guillén called out of the big (it's becoming a bit of a common thing these days). The flop fell [KH]-[JH]-[7D] and 90,000 came out of Hevroy's stack. Guillén called. The [QC] on the turn slowed both players down. They checked and saw the [JD] on the river. Now, Hevroy bet 170,000. Guillén seemed to be considering a raise, but eventually just called to see Hevroy's A-J.

5:51pm-- Waldemar Cogo eliminated in sixth place ($48,840)

Waldemar Cogo has used the last of his nine lives. With the action folded to the small blind, Oliver Rowe completed, Cogo moved all in and Rowe made the call. It was the [KS]-[7H] for Rowe, dominating Cogo's [KH]-[3S]. The board ran out [KC]-[5S]-[2D]-[JD]-[4S] and Cogo headed out the door in sixth place.

5:39pm--Cogo can't, won't, and don't stop

Waldemar Cogo just keeps doubling up. He doesn't have a lot of chips, but as long as he keeps winning, he's not going anywhere. Just a couple of hands after doubling through Angel Guillén once, Cogo did it again.

Cogo went all in for his final few chips from the button and got the call Guillén in the big blind.

Cogo: [KH]-[JC]
Guillén: [5C]-[10D]

The board ran out [AH]-[10H]-[KC]-[3S]-[2D] and the Little Cogo (his nickname, not one we gave him) is still here.

5:30pm--Bolivar Palacios eliminated seventh place ($37,740)

It;s only been a couple of days since we saw Bolivar Palacios take seventh place in the LAPT Mexico event. Today, he came here looking to better that performance. He was in pretty good shape to do that after a couple of timely double-ups in the early going. Finally, he picked up a big hand and got his chips in with two black queens. He was racing against Alejandro De Arruabarrena's [AS]-[KS].

All looked well on the early part of the board. The first four cards came out [5D]-[4D]-[4S]-[7C]. Then that ugly [KD] fell on the river and Palacios was out in seventh place...again.

5:23pm--Moving up

The remaining seven players are now on 12,000/24,000/2,000 blinds.

Updates from the LAPT event in Punta del Este Level 21 (10,000/20,000/2,000) will be posted here and come courtesy of live bloggers Brad Willis and Change100.

Click refresh to see the latest updates.

Last update 5:11pm

5:20pm--Half-million pot in battle of the blinds

After play folded around to the blind, Karl Hevroy raised to 60,000 out of the small blinid and Angel Guillén called in the big. The flop showed [QD]-[2D]-[6H]. Hevroy bet out 80,000 and Guillén called. The turn brought the [3C]. Hevroy didn't slow down and put out a bet of 150,000. Guillén, again, called. The river was the [9D]. Hevroy finally backed off and checked. Guillén checked, too.

Wanna guess their hands?

Hevroy had 8-5 to Guillén's 8-6 and Guillén raked a pot worth more than half a million chips.

5:11pm-- Magno Aragao eliminated in 8th place ($26,640)

Under-the-gun and with only 30,000 remaining, Magno Aragao dribbled his remaining chips into the middle and got two callers in Oliver Rowe and big blind Karl Hevroy.

The flop came down [10S]-[7C]-[5C]. Hevroy checked, Rowe bet 40,000 and Hevroy folded. With no more action to be had, the cards were turned up.

Aragao: [QD]-[QC]
Rowe: [JC]-[10D]

The room buzzed as Aragao's pocket queens were revealed. Were we going to witness yet another amazing comeback?

The turn was the [8H]. Now Aragao was really sweating, as Rowe could win with a ten, a jack or a nine. And the river... was the [9H], making him a jack-high straight.

The always-affectionate Aragao hugged (hugged!) his opponent before heading out to collect his $26,640 in winnings.

5:07pm--Waldemar Cogo stays alive again

With only enough chips to pay his big blind, Cogo had no choice in the matter. When play folded to Oliver Rowe on the button, he pushed all-in to drive small blind Bolivia Palacios out of the pot. After Palacios folded, Cogo realized he was ahead.

Oliver Rowe: [QS]-[6C]

Waldemar Cogo: [AD]-[3C]

The board ran out [KS]-[5S]-[5C]-[9C]-[KH] and Cogo lived to see another hand.

5:02pm-- Now that's a pot

After a thus-far subdued level of play, Angel Guillen and Oliver Rowe finally obliged us with a bit of action. Guillen opened for 42,000 and Rowe made the call. Guillen led out for 51,000 on the [10S]-[8S]-[5D] flop and was met with a raise from Rowe to 151,000. Not content to give it up, Guillen three bet to 451,000. Apparently it was enough for Rowe, who mucked his hand.

4:43pm-- Another double for Wasiel

Ron Wasiel just earned another double-up courtesy of Magno Aragao. The action played out almost exactly the same as last time, Wasiel moving in for 104,000 from early position and Aragao making the call from the big blind. This time, though, Aragao had the best hand with [5C]-[5D], racing with Wasiel's [AD]-[QC]. The board ran out [AS]-[7D]-[2S]- [QS]-[2D], Wasiel making aces up to double his stack and then some to 246,000. Aragao was left crippled with less than a big blind.

4:31pm-- Guillen playing back at Palacios

Bolivar Palacios opened for 60,000 and Angel Guillen made the call. The flop came down [8S]-[5S]-[4H]. Palacios led at it for 80,000 only to have Guillen almost immediately move in. Looking a bit frustrated and taking off his sunglasses, Palacios reluctantly folded and gave up the pot to Guillen, who currently sits in second place in the chip count.

4:20pm-- Ron Wasiel doubles through Magno Aragao

Extremely short-stacked, Ron Wasiel moved in for his remaining 62,000 and with the action folded around to Magno Aragao in the big blind, he made the call. Wasiel showed the [AD]-[7D] while Aragao turned up the [3C]-[5C]. The [QS]-[9D]-[4S] flop was safe for Wasiel, but the [6H] on the turn gave him pause, Aragao making an open-ended straight draw. A deuce, three, five, or seven could do it for Aragao, but the river fell the [AS] and Wasiel earned a reprieve with a double-up to just over 150,000.

4:16pm-- Updated chip counts

Here's how our remaining eight players stack up as of the first break:

Seat 2: Oliver Rowe 539,000
Seat 3: Bolivar Palacios 313,000
Seat 4: Waldemar Cogo 78,000
Seat 5: Karl Hevroy 1,237,000
Seat 6: Magno Aragao 174,000
Seat 7: Angel Guillen 542,000
Seat 8: Alejandro De Arruabarrena 333,000
Seat 9: Ron Wasiel 64,000

4:12pm--New level

After the break we'll be at 10,000/20,000/2,000 blinds.