Argentinian ace takes the LAPT

03/02/2010

Jose 'Nacho' Barbero, a Team PokerStars.net Pro who hails from Argentina, is the new Latin American Poker Tour Punta del Este champ after besting a field of 306 players over the weekend.

Pokerstars hailed the event as a success which generated a prize-pool of $ 1 042 260, putting 48 entrants 'in the money' and delivering a main prize of $279 330 to Barbero.

The final table was made up of three Argentinean players, two Brazilian players, one Colombian player and one local player from Uruguay; Norbert Ludger – who started the final day as chip leader. The only player from outside South America to reach the final table was French PokerStars qualifier Nicolas Cardyn, who cashed $161 550 for second place after the heads up tussle with Barbero.

The tournament was held at the Mantra Casino & Resort at Punta del Este, Uruguay's premier seaside resort and was well attended by both players and spectators.

Before taking up poker 'Nacho' represented the Argentinian national team in Magic: The Gathering tournaments. One of the best poker players in Argentina, Barbero boasts a strong record in poker tournaments around the world. His most notable recent result was his final-table cash at the LAPT season 2 event in Mar del Plata, finishing 9th for $28 220. 'Nacho' has also recorded six cashes at the World Series of Poker* including two in the $10 000 main event, the second of which in 2008 was a top 100 finish – 89th for $64 333.