LAPT Kicks Off in Rio Tomorrow

The Latin America Poker Tour (LAPT) is kicking off in Rio de Janiero, Brazil today for the inaugural event.  The event has 300 hopeful poker players and media from all over the world.  The tournament is a $2,500 No Limit Texas Hold'em event and it looks like all the tables will be full for this one so they got a great turn out.

The first ever tournament is going to be held at the Intercontinental Hotel which is one of Rio's most luxurious hotels and is located on Sao Conrado Beach.  So when players get a break they can hit the town or go right outside and relax on the beach.

The total prize pool is expected to be $750,000 dollars and the first place finisher can expect a great payday.  The tournament will last for three days,starting May 3rd and finishing on May 5th.  Latin America Poker Tour President Gleen Cadematori said, “I am as passionate about the LAPT as Latin Americans are about life. 

“Poker is exploding in Latin America and the game is more than ready for its own major poker tour. It’s one of the fastest-growing poker regions and in every regard, the LAPT is going to put Latin America on the map as the newest hot-spot to play high-stakes championship poker.”

Among the players that will be in the tournament are Team PokerStars pros Andre Akkari from Brazil, Humberto Brenes and Vanessa Rousso from Costa Rica, Chris Moneymaker, Victor Ramdin, Greg Raymer, Chad Brown, Isabelle Mercier and Gavin Griffin.

The LAPT will be heading to San Jose in Costa Rica after the tournament for the next event that will start on May 22nd and run til May 24th.  So far there are over 140 players that have already won their seat online for this event through PokerStars and you can still win your seat as PokerStarrs will be running satellites for the Costa Rica event through May 11th.