Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2008

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Canceled LAPT Nuevo Vallarta reborn online

Hold on a minute - Victor Ramdin could still win LAPT Nuevo Vallarta.

By Arthur Crowson

There still might be a happy ending for those who took part in the LAPT's first venture into Mexico.

PokerStars announced today that the 89 players who still held chips at the time LAPT Nuevo Vallarta was canceled will have a shot at a $50,000 freeroll and the LAPT title.

The first part of the freeroll will take place online, with players holding the same amount of chips they held in Nuevo Vallarta. The final nine players will be flown to LAPT Vina del Mar in Chile, where they will finish the tournament live on a televised table.

"We know that many of our remaining players really wanted the opportunity to finish this tournament and earn their shot at an LAPT title," said Sarne Lightman, director of marketing for PokerStars Latin America.

"Although the tournament was suspended and the prize money distributed, PokerStars still wants to offer their players this extra opportunity. PokerStars will also be adding $50,000 in prize money to the final table."

PokerStars will be contacting all the players shortly with a choice of available times and dates for the freeroll, and will then schedule the time most convenient to most players.

On Friday last week, play was suspended at LAPT Nuevo Vallarta due to issues with the Mexican government. The next day PokerStars announced it was canceling the tournament. Details are still hard to come by, but PokerStars issued a statement referring to problems with a local sponsor.

At that time it was also announced that the 89 players, including Greg Raymer and Victor Ramdin, still holding chips at the suspension of play would each receive at least double the $2,500 buy-in from the tournament's $568,850 prize pool, with any remainder being dispersed based on the player's approximate chip count. The 89 players also received an extra $500 from PokerStars.

Related Articles:

• Poker News: PokerStars decides to cancel LAPT Nuevo Vallarta
• Tournament Blog: PokerStars LAPT Nuevo Vallarta canceled
• Tournament Blog: Play suspended at LAPT Nuevo Vallarta
• Tournament Live Updates: Game called on account of government

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