Humberto Brenes Nominated For LAPT Award

The Latin American Poker Tour (LAPT) Season Four only came to a conclusion in late February with the Grand Final Carnival Poker Festival in São Paulo – but players have already started voting on who they think should be awarded the LAPT Achievement of the Year prize.

Germany’s Daniele Nestola pocketed $167,280 for that victory over 366 opponents in the season-closing R$3,700 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em main event at the Sheraton São Paulo WTC Hotel in Brazil’s largest city on February 20.

However, he hasn’t even made the shortlist for nominations in the Achievement of the Year category, with those in line for the prize being Costa Rican Team PokerStars Pro Humberto Brenes, Uruguay’s Alex Komaromi, Brazilian Murilo Figueiredo, Argentinan duo Julian Menendez and Leandro Csome, Colombians Daniel Ospina and Pablo Gonzalez, Ecuador’s Jessica Bedoya, Chile’s Alex Manzano, and Venezuelan Miguel Alvarez de Lugo Drayer.

Uruguay Prize Up For Grabs

The award will honour the player who is considered to have provided the most outstanding achievement during Season Four of the LAPT, with the winner being handed a $2,300+$200 buy-in to the LAPT Season Five Punta del Este main event in Uruguay that runs from May 23 to 27.

Only players who took part in events – or satellites – during Season Four are eligible to vote, with the poll closing next Monday and the winners announced on May 14. If you are considering voting, it is best if you click on the following link to register your nomination: www.lapt.com/awards/vote.

The LAPT Achievement of the Year Nominees

• Alex Komaromi: First Uruguayan to win an LAPT main event title on home soil at the LAPT Punta del Este in the Mantra Resort SPA Casino for $244,720
• Murilo Figueiredo: First Brazilian to win an LAPT title at Viña del Mar in Chile at the Enjoy Viña del Mar Casino & Resort for $146,000
• Julian Menendez: Bested largest LAPT field in Colombia (Medellin) at 681 entries in the Casino Allegre for a $165,993 pay day to help Argentina re-take the lead for most victories per country
• Daniel Ospina: Made LAPT Lima final table, busted out in seventh place for $23,220, and then immediately registered for Six-Max event, which he won for $9,470 at the Atlantic City Casino
• Jessica Bedoya: Best LAPT performance by a female when taking third place at LAPT Colombia (Medellin) for $72,231
• Alex Manzano: Won LAPT Brazil at the Sheraton World Trade Center São Paulo for $368,722 – the biggest prize of Season Four – and also made three final tables in Season Four: first in Brazil main event, third in Grand Final High Roller for $31,016 and fourth in Colombia High Roller for $17,357
• Leandro Csome: Secured three final table appearances during Season Four: fifth in Brazil main event for $70,165, first in Lima $120 Rebuy event for $10,570, sixth in Grand Final $600 Turbo as part of the São Paulo Carnival Poker Festival for $1,954
• Miguel Alvarez de Lugo Drayer: Five Season Four cashes: 21st in Brazil, fifth in Brazil Bounty, fourth in Chile $120 Rebuy, 41st in Grand Final, fifth in Grand Final Turbo
• Humberto Brenes: Cashed in four of six main events: 15th in Brazil, 47th in Chile, 53rd in Colombia and 23rd in Grand Final. Also led Costa Rica to the Best LATAM (Latin America, Spain, Portugal and Canada) Country Award
• Pablo Gonzalez: Secured Player of the Year Award with two final table finishes at the Grand Final to give him four final tables in Season Four

Best LAPT Venue of the Year Category

A second category, the Best LAPT Venue of the Year, will also be decided over the next week or so, with voters reminded that their choice should be based on a player’s experience at the venue, the size of the main event field, the standard of side events, the welcome party, and, really, anything that made the venue feel superior.

The winning venue will receive prominent coverage on the LAPT website during Season Five, while a number of dealers will be given invites to work at next January’s 10-day PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) on Paradise Island to experience the world’s biggest poker festival and work with the some of the world’s best floor staff and dealers.

The Venue of the Year Nominees

• WTC Sheraton, São Paulo, Brazil (LAPT Brazil, February 16-20, 2011, and LAPT Grand Final Carnival Poker Festival, February 17-21, 2012)
• Enjoy Resort & Casino, Viña del Mar, Chile (LAPT Chile, March 17-20, 2011)
• Atlantic City Casino, Lima, Peru (LAPT Peru, April 13-17, 2011)
• Mantra Resort, Spa & Casino, Punta del Este, Uruguay (LAPT Uruguay, August 3-7, 2011)
• Allegre Casino, Medellin, Colombia (LAPT Colombia, October 12-16, 2011)

LAPT Glory is Just a Click – Or Two – Away

Now, if you fancy a shot at LAPT glory – whether you are just taking a short hop down from North America or planning a journey from the colder climes of Europe and beyond – then there are plenty of opportunities available once you have signed up at PokerStars to collect your 100% first-deposit bonus of up to $600.[isGeoAllowed]

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Incredibly, the first leg of Season Five has already taken place, with Chilean Aliro Diaz picking up $76,580 after outlasting a 651-player field – although there were also 21 no-shows – to take down the LAPT Chile National Poker Championship $1,000+$100 buy-in main event back on March 25 at the Enjoy Casino & Resort.

However, there are still four more legs of this LAPT season to go, so there is no need to despair.

Remaining LAPT Season 5 Stops

Leg 2: May 23 to 27, LAPT Uruguay, Mantra Resort, Spa & Casino (Punta del Este), $2,300+$200 buy-in main event

Leg 3: August 7 to 12, LAPT Colombia National Poker Championship, Casino Allegre (Medellin), COP$3,820,000+COP$380,000 buy-in main event

Leg 4: November 28 to December 2, LAPT Peru, Atlantic City Casino (Lima), $2,300+$200 buy-in main event

Leg 5: LAPT Grand Final (dates, venue, city and buy-ins to be announced)