Fabian Ortiz wins the Latin American Poker Tour (LAPT) leg in Panama, becoming the second Argentinian to do so in successive years.
They might not have been able to lift the FIFA World Cup, but the Argentinians know how to win poker tournaments, particularly in Panama City.
Argentinian Fabian Ortiz outlasted a field of 550 players to take the largest portion of the $826,925 prize pool that fell into the pockets of the top 79 players.
It was the second time that Ortiz has tasted LAPT success after defeating 216 players on his way to victory in Chile’s Vina del Mar, back in 2009. Ortiz picked up $141,426 for that win, $143,930 for this one and that takes his career earnings over the $750,000 threshold.
It was also the second time an Argentinian had won the Panamanian event, after the controversial Leo Fernandez took down the inaugural event for $171,930 back in 2012.
It took Ortiz just three hours to clear up a final table that included the talented Hugo Lemaire. The Frenchman was the runner-up to Matt Waxman in Season X of the World Poker Tour (WPT) Grand Prix de Paris, and also finished fourth in a 2010 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Mixed-Max event for another big score.
Lemaire wouldn’t make an impression though – finishing in eighth place – and it was left to the Mexican Guillermo Olvera and Ortiz to battle it out in heads-up action.
The pair decided upon a deal that would see just $15,000 played for during an heads-up phase that saw the Mexican double up four times before Ortiz finally ended his resolute performance to become only the second player in history to win two LAPT titles.
Final Table Standings
1st. Fabian Ortiz – $143,930*
2nd. Guillermo Olvera – $114,115*
3rd. Alexander Haber – $71,280
4th. Nick Russo – $55,560
5th. Hugo Suarez – $43,580
6th. Javier Rios – $$34,240
7th. Antonio Hogaza – $25,560
8th. Hugo Lemaire – $17,700
* Indicates a deal was made with $15,000 left to play for.
