Brasil Poker Live’s WPT Argentina at Casino Iguaźu wrapped up its five-event schedule this week. In the Main Event, an up-and-coming Argentinean showed off his poker chops, while in the High Roller an establish veteran showed why he’s one of his country’s best.
Argentina’s Rising Star
The WPT Argentina $1,500 Main Event attracted 327 entries and created a $404,417 prize pool, which was distributed to the top 41 players. Among those to cash were Leonardo Lisi (12th for $6,835), Joao Dauer (25th for $2,845), former WSOP November Niner Bruno Politano (28th for $2,845), and Gustavo Muddolom (41st for $2,495).
When the final table rolled around, Cristian Vilches sat third in chips among the final eight players. He eventually made it to heads-up play against Oscar Ferreyra, who began the final table as the chip leader.
In the final hand of the tournament, Ferreyra got his shorter stack in with the A♦6♠ and was looking to hold against the J♦7♦ of Vilches. He did so on both the 2♣K♥9♦ flop and Q♠ turn, but then the 7♥ spiked on the river to give Vilches a winning pair. Ferreyra had to settle for second place and a $56,675 consolation prize.
The win was the largest of Vilches’ career. Other highlights on his poker résumé include runner-up in the 2016 Circuito Argentino de Poker Main Event for $56,094, eighth in the 2017 WSOP International Circuit Argentina for $14,530, and 16th in the 2017 BSOP Foz do Iguacu High Roller for $4,107.
WPT Argentina Final Table Results
1 Cristian Vilches $84,992
2 Oscar Ferreyra $56,675
3 Daniel Klachuk $41,580
4 Affif Prado $30,895
5 Raul Manzano $23,250
6 Martín Piñeiro $17,725
7 José Latorraca $13,690
8 Luiz Montagna $10,715
Old Dog, New Trick
The other big event on the WPT Argentina schedule was the $3,000 buy-in High Roller, which attracted 84 runners (51 unique entries, 33 rebuys at $2,000 each) and created a $219,000 prize pool.
The top 11 spots were paid, and among those to cash but fall short of the final table were Raúl Doutreleau (11th for $4,830), David Santarelli (10th for $4,830), and Armando Collado (9th for $5,505).
The title came down to Argentina pro Jose “Nacho” Barbero, formerly of PokerStars and now representing Aconcagua Poker, and Brazil’s Ivonir Bento. The two opted to strike a deal that saw the Brazilian take home $45K and Barbero $50,708 and the title.
The win brought Barbero’s lifetime earnings up to $3,704,003, which keeps him in second place on Argentina’s all-time poker money list, behind Ivan Luca.
It was just the latest win for Barbero in his home country. Back in November, he won the Circuito Argentino de Poker ARS$20,000 No-Limit Hold’em for $47,846, and before that took down a different Circuito Argentino de Poker in July for $39,271.
Also cashing the WPT Argentina High Roller in third place for $24,725 was Argentina’s Andres Korn, a 2017 World Series of Poker bracelet winner and the inaugural WPT National Thailand Main Event champ. He also finished 23rd in the Main Event for $3,290. The only other player to cash both the High Roller and Main Event was Rogerio Siqueira, who finished fifth in the former for $15,065 and 33rd in the latter for $2,495.
High Roller Final Table Results
1 Jose Barbero $50,708*
2 Ivonir Bento $45,000*
3 Andres Korn $24,725
4 Juan Francisco Barattini $19,025
5 Rogerio Siqueira $15,065
6 Alexis Martínez $11,785
7 Roberto Duek $9,270
8 Ivo Chiodi $7,245*Denotes a heads-up deal
