PokerStars releases LAPT Chile Poker Championship schedule
17 Feb 2011
The LAPT did not visit Chile during Season 3 due to the earthquake that devastated the country in the early part of 2010. Instead, PokerStars.net sponsored a charity event called 'Poker for Chile', which PokerStars produced in coordination with the Enjoy Group at Casino Pucon. This event raised USD $200,000 to help the country with its recovery. Now, in 2011, the LAPT returns to Chile for the National Poker Championship, which is on course to be the biggest poker tournament held in the country.
David Carrion, Present of the LAPT said: "It feels great to be returning to Chile. Poker has grown since we were last here and we look forward to helping it grow even more. Our partnership with the Enjoy Group, the leading live poker operator in Chile, is very strong, and we are looking forward to an exceptional tournament".
Juan Pablo Covacevich, Gaming Marketing Manager of the Enjoy Group, said: "This will be the second LAPT to take place in Viña del Mar, and we are very proud to bring this type of event to Chile. We believe this is a great opportunity to give our players a chance to take place in a tournament of high calibre and worldwide recognition, providing a significant push to the development of tourism within the region.
Milos Miskovich, Regional Director of Senatur (National Tourism Service for Chile), added: "To us, supporting events like the LAPT has become a priority. Today, the Valparaiso region has diversified its touristic offer beyond beach and sun, but is also a place of company encounters and activities focused in all kind of participants. We are very happy to host this event and we are looking forward to more than 400 people visiting, hoping that they will be delighted with our region."
Carrion added: "The range of buy-ins and tournaments provides players with something to suit everyone. We have added a $4,000 High Roller event to give regular LAPT players more value on this new proposition."
Viña del Mar is bright, fun, beautiful and has plenty of entertainment at this time of the year. Players from around the world will find it an incredible destination worth visiting for the beaches, the sun and the nightlife.
There are opportunities to participate, either by buying in directly on-site or qualifying via live or online satellites. The easiest and cheapest way to play the LAPT Main Event, however, is by winning a seat on PokerStars.net via freerolls which start from February 21. Live satellites are currently running every week at Vina del Mar Enjoy Casino.
By the time the players hit the felts in Chile, the LAPT Player of the Year award will also be under way with the results from the Sao Paulo leg in Brazil, which takes place February 16-20, already in.
For more information about LAPT Season 4, go to www.lapt.com.