by Brad Willis and Change 100

Vina del Mar, Chile is luxury without pretension. To wit: the Hotel Del Mar is a five-star joint with a bingo parlor on the first floor. The rooms are as well-appointed as any on the PokerStars tours and the staff is friendly enough to put your restaurant doggy bag under a silver cover and carry it to your room after your meal. While we're loathe to call anything "perfect," this is about as close as it gets on a poker tour.

The Latin American Poker Tour found this Garden City by the Pacific Ocean and knew it would be the perfect place to host a stop in the second season. Players flocked from countries across South America and as far away as Iceland, the Netherlands, and Great Britain. The buy-in may not be as big as those on other circuits, but the excitement and newness of it all makes it something special.

Two hundred and sixteen players put up the buy-in for a chance to play for more than half a million bucks in prize money. Although this would be the fifth final table played on the LAPT, there had not yet been a champion from Latin America. That changed tonight. After three days of play (including a two and half hour money bubble on Day 2), we had our winner. Argentina's Fabian Ortiz is the LAPT Vina del Mar champion.

The story of the one-time disco owner's rise, fall, and phoenix-like ascent to the championship is one that will be told time and again. Simply put, when the final table reached four players, Ortiz had half a big blind. Now, he is an LAPT champion.

How it happened is a long story. Best we start at the beginning of the day.

The final table started with the same speed as the money bubble. It was possible to measure orbits by the half hour. More than that, really, Orbit number one took forty minutes to play.

Though things moved slowly at first, the increasing blinds and restless gamblers' nature took hold. It spelled the end the godfather of Uruguayan poker, Jaime Ateneloff.

Damian Salas had already proven himself to be unashamed about getting playful and occasionally out of line. In early action, he'd re-raised and shown down 9-2. So, when he opened for 33,000, the Uruguayan poker kingpin looked down at two cards that matched his age 7-7. He pushed in his final 80,000 chips and got the call from Salas. It was Qd-Js for the young man, and the pocket sevens for the man of more experience. The flop was perfect for Ateneloff: 6h-4s-4c.

As a quick aside, we should point out that in recent days Humberto Brenes has adopted the war cry of another final table player, Jyries Aguad Saba aka Chiquitita (loosely translated to "little one"). Brenes, a friend to the all-in Ateneloff, went to work

"Chiquitita! Chiquitita!" Brenes screamed from the rail. "How many days does the week have? SIETE!" he said.

The turn, though was the Qc, the lead shifting to Salas.

"SIETE!!" implored Brenes again as the river card came down. It was the 5s, though and Ateneloff exited the stage in 9th place to a hearty round of applause and a $10,476 payday.

<img alt="LAPT CHL_MainEventDay3FT_IJG_6418.jpg" src="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/LAPT%20CHL_MainEventDay3FT_IJG_6418.jpg" Ateneloff gets a congratulatory handshake from Fabian Ortiz

Ateneloff's departure did not spark an all-in festival, despite some extremely short stacks left at the table. Among those shorties was Eduardo Camia. When Damian Salas opened the action with a raise to 42,000, Eduardo Camia moved all-in for 127,000 total. Salas didn't take long to make the call. Camia's As-9s was in some pretty big trouble against Salas' 9h-9d. The Qs-5c-4d-4c-8d board ran out and put Camia out in 8th place, He earned $13,095.

Camia awaits his fate

For the past three days, there has been no question who served as the crowd favorite. Jyries Saba, a local from the host city of Vina del Mar, broke the initial silence of the Enjoy Casino ballroom with a cheer that came to define him. His "Chiquitita" cheer spread through nationalities, across language barriers, and into the vernacular of nearly everybody here.

The local crowd came out to support their man here tonight, and the Chiquitita cheer rose up over the din more often than anything else. At one point in the tournament, Saba was down to just a few blinds. He battled his way back to the final table and actually looked like he stood a chance at winning. Alas, it was not to be.

Fabian Ortiz opened the action with a 45,000 raise from early position and Saba made the call from the small blind. The flop came down Ks-5s-4d and Saba almost immediately declared himself all-in. Ortiz snap-called, having Saba slightly covered. The crowd rose to their feet, chanting, clapping, and crying "Vamo Chiquitita!"

When the cards were turned on their backs Saba showed the Kc-Jc and was in pretty dire shape against Ortiz's Ah-Ad. The crowd calling for a king or a jack, the dealer burned and turned the 8s on the turn, followed by the 6c on the river. No mas de Chiquitita and Ortiz raked in the monster pot, making him the runaway chip leader.

"CHI! QUI! TITA!" chanted his railbirds, as Saba, ever-smiling, shook hands around the table and exited stage left.

Long live Chiquitita

Up to this point, the pots has not been huge. The end of Chiquitita seemed to set off the alarms.

Damian Salas made it 78,000 to go before the flop and Giannelli wasted little time before announcing it would be 200,000 to play. After Hernan Villa folded, Fabio Escobar moved all-in. Salas folded quickly. Only having to call 4,000 more, Giannelli put in a few more chips, kissed his cards, and put them on the table. It was bad news for Escobar. Giannelli held Ad-Ks to Escobar's As-Qd. Amid raucous cheers and hoots, the flop ran out 5h-4h-2d-8d-9c and sent Escobar to the rail.

Escobar acknowledge's Giannelli's victory

After that pot, Giannelli picked up the chip lead for the first time since Day 1.

Escobar's exit seemed to shake the perpetually short-stacked Hernan Villa from his slumber. After holding on to just a few chips most of the day, he finally got them all-in and couldn't find a way to win.

The action was folded around to Fabian Ortiz, who raised to 115,000 from the small blind and Hernan Villa, 30,000 of his remaining 95,000 in chips posted in the big blind, called all in for less. Ortiz showed Qs-7c and Villa turned up his cards one by one, the 2d... and the 6d. The 7s-3s-3c flop left Villa drawing only to running cards and the Ts on the turn left him drawing completely dead. The meaningless 9h fell on the river and our man with nine lives finally met his tournament end, departing in 5th place for $28,809.

Villa, looking for life #10

Within minutes, we had the biggest pot of the tournament. Fabian Ortiz came in for a raise to 100,000 from the button, and Damian Salas re-raised to 300,000 from the small blind. Ortiz, with a bit of a flourish, announced he was all-in. Salas called just as quickly for his 547,000 chips. It was Ac-Js for Salas and Tc-Th for Ortiz. The board ran out 9s-Kh-Jc-6c-6s and Salas picked up a pot worth more than 1.1 million.

Ortiz, left with only 18,000 chips, seemed like a lock for fourth place. With not even a big blind to his name, he proceeded to defy the odds again, again, and again. After tripling up, then doubling up, he had Leandro Balotin covered.

Down to 165,000, Leandro Balotin open-shoved and Ortiz made the call, surprisingly having Balotin covered by about 55,000 chips. Balotin showed Qs-5c, needing some help against Ortiz's Ad-8d. His supporters immediately began calling for "mujeres" (ladies/queens).

The flop, though, came down Ah-2h-2d, leaving Balotin drawing only to runners. The 6s on the turn sealed his fate and by the time the Jd landed on the river, the quiet, composed young man was already shaking hands around the table and making his exit.

After a long break and some tepid three-handed play, the room was almost asleep. It was late and everyone could've been forgiven for sleeping Vincenzo Giannelli's 124,000 raise from the button. Everybody perked up a little when Damian Salas announced re-raise from the big blind. "All-in," he said. The amount was 520,000.

Giannelli bolted from his chair and yelled, "I call! I'm not stealing!" He held his cards high in the air and then planted them on the table: Ac-Qh.

Salas couldn't beat it. He held Ah-5s.

The crowd rallied behind Giannelli, singing a mini-opera built entirely around his name. The flop fell 9d-3d-6s, enough to give Salas' supporters hope.

"Cuatro!" they yelled in unison.

And there it was...the 4d.

Suddenly, Salas had life. He needed a five, a deuce, or a seven. Instead, he got the 8s.

Giannelli ran around the room, the hero of an anti-tragedy. His supporters' operatic performance rang through the air, crescendoing to a scream of "Venezuela!" and settling again on the name "Vincenzo!"

Salas finished in much more quiet third place for $52,380.

Salas stands in regret and Humberto Brenes celebrates with Giannelli

And so there began an unlikely heads-up battle. There was the hero of the opera with an army of small turtles on his chips versus a man who just an hour before had half a big blind to his name.

Heads up, Giannelli had Fabian Ortiz outchipped 1,524,000 to 637,000.

Giannelli's story had all the makings of a heroic trip to the top. With a chorus behind him, Giannelli's larger than life personality dominated the stage. It only took one tough suck-out to turn the tables.

Giannelli raised to 120,000 on the button, Ortiz moved all in from the big blind and Giannelli called, having Ortiz well covered. It was the Ad-6c for Giannelli and the Kd-7c for Ortiz.

"Ace! Ace! Ace!" chanted Vincenzo's Venezuelan choir on one side of the room, a word which, we'll remind you, has a Spanish pronunciation similar to the synonym for an oft-uttered word in our game-- donkey.

The flop came down Tc-8d-6h, pairing Giannelli's six, but giving Ortiz some more outs with a gutshot straight draw. His supporters began calling for a "nueve."

The turn? The 9d.

The Venezuelan contingent fell silent and the other side of the room exploded as Ortiz made his straight. Now the Venezuelans were calling for a "siete" to put a straight on the board and split the pot.

It was not to be, though, as the 9s fell and Ortiz doubled up, nearly evening the stacks. After the hand Ortiz had 1.15 million to Giannelli's 999,000.

Now, Gianelli's story was a potential tragedy and the focus turned to Ortiz. Once holding only 15,000 chips at the 15,000/30,000 level, he now had a shot to defy every single odd and make history on the LAPT.

It didn't take long.

It happened faster than anybody could calculate. Vincenzo Giannelli raised to 130,000, Fabian Ortiz announced all-in, and Giannelli called in a shot for the entirety of his 899,000 stack. Ortiz held As-Jc to Giannelli's Ah-Td.

Though the flops, turns, and rivers had been as exciting as anyone could want to this point, the final board ran out fairly: 7c-Qc-4d-8c-6c.

When the river hit, Ortiz jumped in the air and screamed, "Vamos!"

After accepting congratulations from his supporters, he walked over to Giannelli. Ever-gracious, Giannelli took Ortiz' hand, held it in the air, and declared, "Champion!"

Giannelli's grace and game won him $58,570.

Ortiz, still stunned, later said he only came here hoping to make it to the end of Day 1. Then, he hoped to make the final table. What happened after that is still a blur. He may not remember it, but we will.

Then, he walked away to pick up his $141,426 paycheck.

***

If you'd like to take a look back at the live coverage from the day, here are the links to all the posts.

Level 19 updates
Level 20 updates
Level 21 updates
Level 22 updates
Level 23 updates
Level 24 updates
Level 25 updates

For a complete look at the people who walked away with some cash, see the LAPT Vina del Mar winners page. For the Spanish speakers in our midst, we are happy to point you to the PokerStars Spanish blog for a wrap up in your native tongue.

That will do it for our coverage from Chile. We sincerely hope to be back here in Season 3 of the LAPT. In the meantime, our next stop is about six weeks away when we'll be traveling to Punta del Este, Uruguay.

Until then, adios, amigos.

All photography © Joe Giron/IMPDI

Live updates from the final table of the LAPT event in Vina del Mar Chile are brought to you by Change100 and Brad Willis. Click refresh to see the latest updates. This post will track the action in Level 24.

Blinds: 20,000/40,000/4,000

Last updated 2:05am

2:05am--Fabian Ortiz battles from half a big blind to win LAPT Vina del Mar

It happened faster than anybody could calculate. Vincenzo Giannelli raised to 130,000, Fabian Ortiz announced all-in, and Giannelli called in a shot for the entirety of his 899,000 stack. Ortiz held As-Jc to Giannelli's Ah-Td.

Though the flops, turns, and rivers had been as exciting as anyone could want to this point, the final board ran out fairly: 7c-Qc-4d-8c-6c.

When the river hit, Ortiz jumped in the air and screamed, "Vamos!"

After accepting congratulations from his supporters, he walked over to Giannelli. Ever-gracious, Giannelli took Ortiz' hand, held it in the air, and declared, "Champion!"

Indeed.

Giannelli wins $58,570.

Ortiz, the man who came back from half a big blind to the championship won $141,426.

We'll have a full final table wrap up in just a bit.

1:56am--And now, for another all in

Both players limped in for 40,000 and saw a Qs-8d-7d flop. Giannelli checked, Ortiz immediately moved all in and Giannelli elected to fold, showing the 7s. Ortiz flashed the 5d-9d and took down the pot.

1:45am--Ortiz gutters Giannelli, evening the stacks

Vincenzo Giannelli raised to 120,000 on the button, Fabian Ortiz moved all in from the big blind and Giannelli called, having him well covered. It was the Ad-6c for Giannelli and the Kd-7c for Ortiz, their respecting entourages on their feet.

"Ace! Ace! Ace!" chanted Vincenzo's Venezuelan choir on one side of the room, a word which, we'll remind you, has a Spanish pronunciation similar to the synonym for an oft-uttered word in our game-- donkey.

The flop came down Tc-8d-6h, pairing Giannelli's six, but giving Ortiz some more outs with a gutshot straight draw. His supporters began calling for a "nueve."

The turn? The 9d.

The Venezuelan contingent fell silent and the other side of the room exploded as Ortiz made his straight. Now the Venezuelans were calling for a "siete" to put a straight on the board and split the pot.

It was not to be, though, as the 9s fell and Ortiz doubled up, nearly evening the stacks. After the hand Ortiz had 1.15 million to Giannelli's 999,000.

1:31am-- First blood to Fabian

Fabian Ortiz had the button on the first hand of heads-up play and limped in. Vincenzo Giannelli checked his option and they saw a flop of As-Ac-2c. Giannelli checked, Ortiz bet 40,000 and Giannelli put in a raise to 100,000. Ortiz wasted no time in three-betting him to 240,000.

"Show me your poker face!" demanded Giannelli with a laugh.

Ortiz comically covered his face and it was apparently enough to convince Giannelli to give up his hand. Ortiz showed A-8 as he took down the pot.

1:11am--Damian Salas in third place ($52,380)

The room was almost asleep. It's late. Everyone can be forgiven for sleeping Vincenzo Giannelli's 124,000 raise from the button. Everybody perked up a little when Damian Salas announced re-raise from the big blind. "All-in," he said. The amount was 520,000.

Giannelli bolted from his chair and yelled, "I call! I'm not stealing!" He held his cards high in the air and then planted them on the table: Ac-Qh.

Salas couldn't beat it. He held Ah-5s.

The crowd rallied behind Giannelli, singing the mini-opera built entirely around his name. The flop fell 9d-3d-6s, enough to give Salas' supporters hope.

"Cuatro!" they yelled in unison.

And there it was...the 4d.

Suddenly, Salas had life. He needed a five, a deuce, or a seven. Instead, he got the 8s.

Giannelli ran around the room, the hero of an anti-tragedy, and the operatic performance rung through the air, crescendoing to a scream of "Venezuela!" and settling again on the name "Vincenzo!"

Salas finished in much more quiet third place for $52,380.

The heads up chip counts:

Giannelli: 1,524,000
Ortiz: 637,000

1:02am--New level, new blinds, same players, new antics

As we move up to the 20,000/40,000/4,000 level, Vincenzo Giannelli was just asked to make sure he was holding his hole cards in front of the lipstick camera. Giannelli obliged, then stood up, bent over, put his face in the camera, and said, "Heyyyyy! You in there?!"

That was enough to shake everybody out of the 1am slumber.

Live updates from the final table of the LAPT event in Vina del Mar Chile are brought to you by Change100 and Brad Willis. Click refresh to see the latest updates. This post will track the action in Level 24.

Blinds: 15,000/30,000/3,000

Last updated 12:47am

12:47am--And...we're back

Cards are in the air once again.

12:14am-- Leandro Balotin eliminated in 4th place ($39,285)

One would think after being crippled to less than one big blind that Fabian Ortiz was a lock to become our fourth-place finisher. Well...not so fast.

Down to 165,000, Leandro Balotin open-shoved and Ortiz made the call, surprisingly having Balotin covered by about 55,000 chips. Balotin showed Qs-5c, needing some help against Ortiz's Ad-8d. His supporters immediately began calling for "mujeres" (ladies/queens).

The flop, though, came down Ah-2h-2d, leaving Balotin drawing only to runners. The 6s on the turn sealed his fate and by the time the Jd landed on the river, the quiet, composed young man was already shaking hands around the table and making his exit.

Down to three players, we're now on an unscheduled 20-minute break with 12:56 remaining on the clock in Level 24.

11:59pm--Ortiz doubles... and doubles again

Fabian Ortiz moved all in for his remaining 15,000. Leandro Bolatin completed the small blind and Vincenzo Giannelli checked his option in the big blind. Both Bolatin and Giannelli checked down the entire Qs-Qd-8s-9h-Ks board.

Bolatin showed A-4 and won the side pot, but the main pot belonged to Ortiz, who showed Kd-Qh for trips and nearly quadrupled his stack to 54,000.

That 54,000 went sailing into the middle on the next hand and Bolatin obliged again with action, his Kc-8c up against Ortiz's Ah-Ts. The flop was Tc-7h-6d, making Ortiz top pair and giving Bolatin a gutshot straight draw. Bolatin picked up a flush draw to boot on the turn, which fell the 6c, but the Ad landed on the river, making aces up for Ortiz and doubling his stack again. He's now back up over the 100,000 mark.

11:46pm--Salas snags chip lead, half chips in play

We have our first million dollar man, and it came from a pot in which all the money got in pre-flop. Fabian Ortiz came in for a raise to 100,000 from the button, and Damian Salas re-raised to 300,000 from the small blind. Ortiz, with a bit of a flourish, announced he was all-in. Salas called just as quickly for his 547,000 chips.

It was Ac-Js for Salas and Tc-Th for Ortiz.

The board ran out 9s-Kh-Jc-6c-6s and Salas picked up a pot worth more than 1.1 million.

Salas raises a hand in victory

Ortiz, meanwhile, was left with 18,000 chips.

11:42pm-- Hernan Villa eliminated in 5th place ($28,809)

The action was folded around to Fabian Ortiz, who raised to 115,000 from the small blind and Hernan Villa, 30,000 of his remaining 95,000 in chips posted in the big blind, called all in for less. Ortiz showed Qs-7c and Villa turned up his cards one by one, the 2d... and the 6d. The 7s-3s-3c flop left Villa drawing only to running cards and the Ts on the turn left him drawing completely dead. The meaningless 9h fell on the river and our man with nine lives finally met his tournament end, departing in 5th place.

11:31pm--New level

Now five-handed, we're up to 5,000/30,000/3,000 blinds.

Live updates from the final table of the LAPT event in Vina del Mar Chile are brought to you by Change100 and Brad Willis. Click refresh to see the latest updates. This post will track the action in Level 23.

Blinds: 12,000/24,000/3,000

Last updated 11:27pm

11:27pm--Fabio Escobar eliminated sixth place ($23,571)

Salas made it 78,000 to go before the flop and Giannelli wasted little time before announcing it would be 200,000 to play. After Hernan Villa folded, Fabio Escobar moved all-in. Salas folded quickly. Only having to call 4,000 more, Giannelli put in a few more chips, kissed his cards, and put them on the table. It was bad news for Escobar. Giannelli held Ad-Ks to Escobar's As-Qd. Amid raucous cheers and hoots, the flop ran out 5h-4h-2d-8d-9c,

Escobar acknowledge's Giannelli's victory

Escobar and Giannelli shared a hug as Giannelli's huge frame bounded around the stage high-fiving everyone in sight and screaming his various war cries. After winning the pot, Giannelli became the new chip leader...or very close to it. His fans are currently composing a mini-opera in his honor.

Escobar, meanwhile, is going to pick up his $23,000 paycheck.

11:16pm-- As slow as Vincenzo's turtles

The pace of play has been consistently slow today, but this last hand truly took the cake, taking over ten minutes to play... without even seeing a flop.

Fabio Escobar limped in from the cutoff. Damian Salas raised to 110,000 from the button and the action folded back around to Escobar. The clock ticked down... and down... and down... eight minutes in all as he sat in the tank, before finally folding two red fours face-up. Even more shocking, perhaps, is the fact that not a single opponent called the clock on him.

10:55pm--Some free advice

Advice like this usually doesn't come free, but WSOP final table player Ylon Schwartz was feeling generous today and gave us his top tips for final table play.

Watch LAPT Vina Del Mar 09: Ylon's final table tips on PokerStars.tv

10:47pm--Villa will not die

Hernan Villa, crippled to 61,000 after the previous hand, moved all-in and got a quick call from Fabio Escobar. Villa held Kd-4s to Escobar's As-9s. Villa's buddies called for a king and got it on a 5s-Ks-8h flop. With two spades on board, though, it was a dangerous proposition. Villa's friends chanted "Roja!" at the top of their lungs, sure that if they chanted loud enough, the spade wouldn't fall. The fates didn't listen. The turn was the 2c. It wasn't roja, but it was fine. Still, the calls for roja continued and again, the fates didn't listen. The river wasn't roja either, but again...the 4c was just fine with Villa and his rail.

With that, Villa is proving to be the nine-lived cat of the final table.

10:39pm--Vincenzo Giannelli doubles through Hernan Villa

Down to 126,000 in chips, Vincenzo Giannelli moved all in blind from the cutoff and Hernan Villa made the call from the small blind. Giannelli turned up his cards to find Kd-Qd and was up against Villa's Ah-Jd.

The "ace chorus" started up again in earnest, cheering for Villa, but Giannelli's railbirds gave them a run for their money, screaming in Spanish for their man.

The flop was Qh-7s-2c, Giannelli pairing his queen. He turned to his railbirds behind him, facing away from the table, his arms around his friends, his head buried in their shoulders, unable to look as the dealer burned and turned the final two cards. They were the 4c and the 9s respectively, and Giannelli doubled up to just over 300,000. Villa was crippled, left with only 51,000.

Giannelli celebrates as Villa looks on

"My army!" Giannelli bellowed as he returned to his seat, referring to the menagerie of small clay turtles guarding his chip stack.

10:30pm--Interview with a potential champion

Hernan Villa, still alive in this six-handed final table, took a moment to sit down for an interview. Here's what he had to say.

Watch LAPT Vina Del Mar 09: Hernan Villa Final Tablist on PokerStars.tv

10:28pm--Fresh chip counts

Updated chip counts from the dinner break can be found on the LAPT Vina del Mar chip counts page.

10:17pm-- Digestion, commence!

After a 90-minute dinner, the final six players have sat down to play down to a winner.

Live updates from the final table of the LAPT event in Vina del Mar Chile are brought to you by Change100 and Brad Willis. Click refresh to see the latest updates. This post will track the action in Level 22.

Blinds: 10,000/20,000/2,000

Last updated 8:41pm

8:46pm-- Vamos a comer

Our final six players are now on a 90-minute dinner break. Action will resume at approximately 10:20pm local time.

8:41pm--Hernan Villa doubles through Damian Salas

It was the most active player at the table vs. perhaps the tightest player at the table in this latest all in confrontation. After Damian Salas made an opening raise to 60,000, Hernan Villa moved all in for his remaining 113,000 from the small blind and Salas called the balance. Salas turned up Ac-8s and Villa the Ks-Js. Villa's supporters immediately began calling for a "Rey" or a "Jota" and got their wish when the flop came down Kh-9c-8h. The turn was the 4h, the river was the 5d, and Villa more than doubled his stack to 268,000.

"Si se puede!" called out a Villa (and perhaps an Obama) fan from the stands as his man raked in the chips.

8:31pm--Famous railbird

Of the six remaining players, Fabio Escobar probably has the the most famous railbird. That's none other than Team PokerStars Pro Alex Gomes. Gomes sneaked away for a moment to chat with the video blogging team.

Watch LAPT Vina Del Mar 09: Down to 8 and Gomes is cheering for Brasil on PokerStars.tv

8:25pm-- Salas gains ground on Ortiz

Fabian Ortiz made it 48,000 to go and Damian Salas called. Both players checked the Ac-3c-2c flop. When the 7h fell on the turn, Salas led out with a 45,000 bet and Ortiz came along with a call. The river was the 8s. Salas made a small bet of 65,000 and Ortiz was practically obliged to call.

Ortiz showed As-9c for top pair, but Salas runner-runnered two pair, the 7h-8s in his hand, and added 158,000 of Ortiz's chips to his stack.

8:15pm--The face of a winner

Here's what it looks like to take the chip lead six-handed on the LAPT.

Fabian Ortiz

7:58pm-- Jyries Saba eliminated in 7th place ($18,330)

We're supposed to be objective journalists here, but we must admit, we fell a little bit in love with a slight, seventy-something Chilean man this week. Jyries "Chiquitita" Saba endeared himself to the media and the rail alike during his run at the LAPT Vina del Mar, which unfortunately just ended with his elimination in 7th place.

It's going to be a little quieter in here, that's for sure.

Fabian Ortiz opened the action with a 45,000 raise from early position and Saba made the call from the small blind. The flop came down Ks-5s-4d and Saba almost immediately declared himself all-in. Ortiz snap-called, having Saba slightly covered. The crowd rose to their feet, chanting, clapping, and crying "Vamo Chiquitita!"

When the cards were turned on their backs Saba showed the Kc-Jc and was in pretty dire shape against Ortiz's Ah-Ad. The crowd calling for a king or a jack, the dealer burned and turned the 8s on the turn, followed by the 6c on the river. No mas de Chiquitita and Ortiz raked in the monster pot, making him the runaway chip leader.

"CHI! QUI! TITA!" chanted his railbirds, as Saba, ever-smiling, shook hands around the table and exited stage left.

7:45pm--New level to make life tougher on short stacks

Summer is hot, winter is cold, college is expensive, and fatty foods will kill you. Among these facts of life...blinds will go up. They have, now to 10,000/20,000/2,000.

Live updates from the final table of the LAPT event in Vina del Mar Chile are brought to you by Change100 and Brad Willis. Click refresh to see the latest updates. This post will track the action in Level 21.

Blinds: 8,000/16,000/2,000

Last updated 7:36pm

7:36pm--Nueve, nueve

Fabian Ortiz kicked off the action with a raise to 40,000 and got two callers in Fabio Escobar and Damian Salas. The flop came down Qs-Qc-Jc and was met with checks from all three players. The turn fell the 8c. Ortiz checked again, Escobar checked and Salas decided to take a 60,000 shot at the pot. The bet chased away Ortiz, but Escobar made the call. The 8c hit the river and Escobar checked it over to Salas, who checked behind.

Escobar turned up two red nines for the queen high straight and Salas mucked, Escobar dragging the pot.

7:19pm--Villa survives the Ace Chorus

With only 59,000 left in his stack, Hernan Villa should've been shoving with any two cards when it was folded to him on the button. It just so happened that his any two cards happened to be two red kings. Damian Salas made the easy call from the big blind with Ad-7h. That's what the Ace Chorus erupted.

Now, for an American, this is funnier than it is in reality. The pronunciation of the word "ace" around these parts sounds a lot like the American pronunciation of a particular body part that we don't have to name. So, when a couple dozen Salas supporters jump into a raucous chant of, "Ace, ace, ace, ace, ace, ace!" it is worth a giggle.

Villa wasn't giggling. He knew he only had to dodge three outs and a minor miracle. He managed to do so as the board ran out Jc-2c-6h-4s-Js. Villa now has an ever-so-small amount of breathing room.

The Ace Chorus is, as you might expect, temporarily silenced.

7:13pm--Eduardo Camia eliminated in 8th place ($13,095)

Damian Salas opened the action with a raise to 42,000, Eduardo Camia moved all in for 127,000 total and Salas made the call. Camia's As-9s needed some help against Salas' 9h-9d. He couldn't get it, however on the Qs-5c-4d-4c-8d board and Camia hit the rail in 8th place, $13,095 in earnings cushioning the blow.

6:57pm--The moving version of what you see here

While there's no live TV coverage of the event here today, we can get you close with this introductory video blog recorded just a bit earlier.

Watch LAPT Vina Del Mar 09: Final Table Intro on PokerStars.tv

6:51pm-- Saba sets, can't get action

Vincenzo Giannelli opened for a 44,000 raise and the action was folded around to Jyries Saba, who reraised to 88,000. Giannelli flat-called and they saw a flop of Ah-9c-6d. Saba immediately moved all in and after a moment's dwell, Giannelli mucked his hand, electing to save the 175,000 in chips he had behind. Saba proudly showed the 9d-9s for middle set and raked in the pot. He did not, however, scream "Chiquitita!"

6:48pm--Chip counts are fresh

100% accurate chip counts from the break are now up on the LAPT Vina del Mar chip counts page.

6:44pm--Annnnnd we're back

After a protracted search for our man Chiquita and a problem with the house lights, we're back in action.

6:33pm--Players coming back from break

Players are preparing to come back from break. If you'd like to see other coverage from the day, check out the Level 20 and Level 19 live updates.

Live updates from the final table of the LAPT event in Vina del Mar Chile are brought to you by Change100 and Brad Willis. Click refresh to see the latest updates. This post will track the action in Level 20.

Blinds: 6,000/12,000/1,000

Last updated 6:24pm

6:24pm--Players take a 15-minute break

We'll return to blinds of 8,000/16,000 with a 2,000 ante.

6:15pm--Please stop sniffing our set

You know, if you put it out there, people are going to sniff it. So, there's probably enough fault to go around. Nonetheless, the scene at stageside moments ago saw a railbird walking up to table that holds the LAPT Vina del Mar trophy. It's bathed in red light and surrounded by red roses. The railbird grabbed a rose and put it to her nose.

"Ma'am," said a member of the TV crew, "you can't do that."

The lady smiled as you might expect a woman to do when sniffing a rose.

"No, ma'am, you really can't do that," the TV crew explained.

Again she smiled. That's when somebody explained she was snorting the set. She smiled again and set down the rose.

Again, you can't blame her. We always tell people to take time to smell the roses. We never mentioned that the flowers on the set are off-limits.

6:05pm-- Salas scares away Balotin with a four-bet

Damian Salas opened for 33,000 and Leandro Bolatin came in for a reraise to 87,000 from the button. The action folded back around to Salas, who asked his opponent for a count of his remaining chips. Bolatin measuredly counted out the 227,000 he had behind and Salas set him all in for that amount. After a few minutes of thought, Bolatin mucked and Salas took down the pot.

5:46pm-- Jaime Ateneloff eliminated in 9th place ($10,476)

Damian Salas opened for 33,000, Jaime Ateneloff moved all in for 80,000 and Salas made the call. They were off to the races, Ateneloff with 7s-7d and Salas with the Qd-Js. The flop came down 6h-4s-4c, a good one for Ateneloff.

"Chiquitita! Chiquitita!" cried Humberto Brenes from the rail. "How many days does the week have? SIETE!" he said.

The turn, though was the Qc, the lead shifting to Salas.

"SIETE!!" implored Brenes again as the river card came down. It was the 5s, though and Ateneloff exited the stage in 9th place to a hearty round of applause.

<img alt="LAPT CHL_MainEventDay3FT_IJG_6418.jpg" src="http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/LAPT%20CHL_MainEventDay3FT_IJG_6418.jpg" Ateneloff gets a congratulatory handshake from Fabian Ortiz

5:43pm--Chip counts updated

Final table chip counts have been updated on our LAPT chip counts page.

5:32pm--Eduardo Camia doubles through Fabio Escobar

Eduardo Camia open-shoved for 110,000 and got a caller in Fabio Escobar. It was Camia's two red kings up against Escobar's Ac-Kc. The board ran out Th-9s-8h-6s-Qc and Camia earned the double-up, his stack now totaling 247,000.

Camia celebrates his double up

5:28pm-- "Chiquitita" has a senior moment

Damian Salas put in an opening raise from the cutoff and it seemed like Jyries Saba was taking an eternity to decide on his action. After perhaps a five-minute wait, someone finally nudged him, shocking "Chiquitita" to life. It turns out he didn't even know it was his turn to act! The entire table broke up in laughter as Saba mucked his hand and Salas took down the blinds.

Not in the tank

5:19pm--And now Level 20

With the blinds at 6,000/12,000/1,000, we're now on to Level 20. For previous action, check out the LAPT Vina del Mar Level 19 live updates.

Live updates from the final table of the LAPT event in Vina del Mar Chile are brought to you by Change100 and Brad Willis. Click refresh to see the latest updates. This post will track the action in Level 19 where play ended on Day 2.

Blinds: 5,000/10,000/1,000

Last updated 5:15pm

5:15pm-- Pass the... what?

Vincenzo Giannelli raised to 23,000, Fabian Ortiz called, and Fabio Escobar called from the big blind. The flop came down 9c-3c-3h. The action was checked to Ortiz, who led out for 50,000. Escobar gave up his hand, but Giannelli moved all in for his remaining 65,000, finally eliciting an excited murmur from the crowd. Ortiz made the call.

Giannelli slapped his cards on table, screaming to the heavens or really whomever would listen in a loud torrent of Spanish as he revealed his 9h-3d for a flopped full house. Our skills at the local language are limited, but sources tell us it was a cheeky phrase equivalent to Joe Hachem's infamous "pass the sugar." Ortiz showed pocket tens and the dealer burned and turned. It was the 3s, Giannelli hitting quads. More shouting, more commotion. The river was the meaningless 2s and Giannelli earned the double-up in truly dramatic fashion.

5:05pm--All choked up

Although it had little to do with final table play (and really, when it takes 40 minutes to play one orbit, there isn't a lot of poker going on) Fabio Escobar nearly gave Eduardo Camia a shower. Escobar was a little reckless with his bottle of water, took too big a drink, and started choking. We're not sure how much got on Camia, but it wasn't enough to make him stop smiling.

4:56pm--Fool us once...

After re-raising and showing down the 9-2 just a couple of hands earlier, Damian Salas might have thought about chilling out for a bit. Instead, there he was raising again, this time to 32,000 pre-flop. Fabian Ortiz made the call from the big blind. When the flop came down Qc-Ad-9h, both players checked. On the 9h turn, Ortiz checked and Salas bet 40,000. With nary the blink of an eye, Ortiz raised to 85,000 straight. Salas made a show of counting out his chips, but ultimately folded. Of course...he could've had 9-2 again. Good thing for Ortiz, Salas apparently did not.

4:50pm--That's quite a range, Senor Salas

Eduardo Camia put in an opening raise to 31,000 and was met with a reraise to 64,000 total from Damian Salas. Camia called, and both players checked the Ah-9c-8d flop. The Jc on the turn was also met with two checks, as was the 3s on the river. Time for our first final table showdown.

Camia turned up 7h-7s and Salas revealed... 9h-2s, demonstrating our chip leader's willingness to reraise with well, any hand really. Salas' pair of nines took it down.

4:43pm-- And now, for a turn card

The room still silent and the atmosphere fairly tense, Jaime Ateneloff opened the pot for a 22,000 raise and Damian Salas made the call. The flop came down Js-9c-8h and both players checked. The 2s appeared on the turn and Salas took a shot at the pot with a 40,000 bet. It was enough to lose Ateneloff and Salas dragged the pot.

4:34pm-- Easing away the nerves

Perhaps it's due to the jitters of everyone playing their first final table under the blazing TV lights, but the first three hands resulted in nary a flop. Finally, on the fourth hand, we got our first small taste of action, when Hernan Villa and Eduardo Camia saw a Kc-9d-4d flop after limping in from the blinds. A 16,000 bet from Villa took it down.

4:28pm--Your LAPT Vina del Mar Final table

Here's a look at the final table we're watching right now.

4:24pm--Play underway

With the button in front of Leandro Bolatin, we're finally underway.

4:04pm--A look at the final table

As we prepare to get started, here's a look at the final table, courtesy photographer Joe Giron.

3:56pm--Final table player profiles

If you are unfamiliar with any of the players sitting among the final nine, check out the <a LAPT Vina del Mar final table player profiles.

3:47pm--Players taking their seats

Final table play is about to begin.

The final table of the Latin American Poker Tour event in Vina del Mar Chile will run Thursday afternoon local time. The PokerStars Blog will have live coverage of the final nine players from the first flop to the last river. For a brief look at our final table players, see any of the final table player profiles below. To see what they are playing for, check out the Vina del Mar prizes and winners page.

Seat 1: Damion Andres Salas - Argentina -- 412,000

Damion Salas, from Chascomus, Argentina, came to Viña with a group of friends from a poker club who convinced him to make the trip. This former lawyer is 33 years old and now a professional online poker player who plays usually limits from 5/10 up to 25/50 NL stakes. He plans to invest any money he wins here in his poker game. If you don't get a chance to meet him in Vina del Mar, you will find him at more LAPTs and at the World Series of Poker.

Seat 2: Jyries Aguad Saba- Chile - 208,000

Jyries Saba has been on everyone's radar since day one. His trademark phrase "chiquitita" has spread like wildfire throughout the tournament, a saying he says was born right here in Vina Del Mar several years ago. The Enjoy Casino is well aware of Jyries' antics.

He's been playing throughout Latin America and Chile for the past 40 years. This businessman has won several tournaments, including one here at the Enjoy and feels confident being on home turf.

With a number of fans and years of experience under his belt, Jyries plans on being the first Latin American to hold the title of LAPT champion.

Seat 3: Leandro Bolatin - Brazil - 339,000

Leandro is the youngest of the final table contenders at 22. A keen sportsman, he loves soccer and tennis, and playing poker with friends at home in Foz Da Iguacu in Brazil.

Brazil is full of poker notables, including Team PokerStars Pros Andre Akkari and Alex Gomes. Bolatin aims to put his name among the top players in his home country.

He is already on his way. He has won two online tournaments at PokerStars. He's won more than $16, 000 and plans to attend as many LAPT events as possible.

Seat 4: Vincenzo Giannelli - Venezuela - 122,000

47-year-old Vincenzo Giannelli is from Caracas, Venezuela where he runs a family-owned printing company. He has an impressive poker pedigree, with three first places, and eight final table cashes. He is married with three children. He also helped start a private school that now has more than 1,800 students. In between his printing business and work with the school, he's been playing tons of poker.

"I have had lots of poker success," he said. Giannelli is among the most colorful and boisterous of the final table players and is bound to put on a good show at the final table.

Seat 5: Fabian Ortiz - Argentina - 347,000

Fabian Ortiz is a businessman from Chaco, Argentina. He is 39 years old. Ortiz has owned several discos over his business career, but recently has been doing most of his dancing on the poker circuit. He's already had some tournament success and has proven himself to be fearless at the table. Near the final table bubble, Ortiz sniffed out a bluff by American Carter Phillips, calling all-in with top pair no kicker. "He was very aggressive," Ortiz said, "but his face was red and I knew he was bluffing."

That kind of confidence was good enough to put Ortiz in second chip position.

Seat 6: Jaime Ateneloff - Uruguay - 128,000

Jaime is considered the pioneer of poker in Uruguay. He makes his home in Montevideo. The 77-year-old businessman only learned to play seven years ago during a visit to Costa Rica. He has been spreading the poker gospel ever since. Age has proven to be no deterrent to ambition. Jaime hopes to win his way to the PokerStars European Poker Tour and the World Series. This former director of a casino in Uruguay came with some friends to play the LAPT. He has eight years of playing Texas Hold'em but 60 of playing 5-Card Draw. He calls it "the old style." As for his future, he says he doesn't make plans more than 15 days in advance. He just enjoys life as it comes.

Seat 7: Hernan Villa -- Colombia - 107,000

40-year-old Hernan comes from Medellin, Colombia and is normally a high stakes Hi Lo Omaha player. A businessman by day, Villa has plenty of experience in live tournaments. He has qualified on PokerStars for the EPTs in Deauville, Dortmund, and the PCA. Last year alone Villa won several seats to the World Series of Poker. Villa was on the ropes with two tables left and got K-Q all in against Fabio Escobar's pocket nines. If not for a king on the river, Villa would already be hanging out on the beach. Instead, he's sitting down at the final table and looking to win the first-ever title in Chile.

Seat 8: Eduardo Camia - Argentina - 198,000

53-year-old Eduardo is a farmer from Canals, Argentina. He is married with three children. Camia worked a relatively short stack to perfection during Day 2.

By the end of the day, Camia crippled tenth place finisher Carter Phillips. That win was enough to propel the farmer to the final table.

Camia is among the most unassuming yet friendly folks on the final table. Win or lose, the Argentinian farmer finishes each hand with a smile. There's a lot to be said for that in this day and age.

Seat 9: Fabio Escobar - Brazil - 300,000

Fabio is 38 years old and comes from Brazil. A married businessman, he learned to play in live poker games, then won his seat to Chile online at PokerStars. A keen fisherman, he has three children and hopes to play in the next LAPT event at Punta del Este.