Dominik Nitsche Wins LAPT

Online player qualified through PokerStars takes the big money Dominik Nitsche, an 18-year-old online poker player from Minden in Germany is the new champion in the PokerStars Latin American Poker Tour after a Grand Finale in Argentina that attracted an entry field of 291 pokerheads from around the globe. Nitsche qualified online at PokerStars for the tournament, saving himself the $5 200 buy-in, and continued his successful run in the live event, building a chip lead of almost 400 000 going into the final table where he faced Jorge Landazuri of Mexico, Rodolfo Awad from Chile, Jason Skeans of the United States, Argentinian players Sergio Ferias, Jose Barbero and Leo Fernandez, Canadian Derek Lerner and Alfons Fenijn from the Netherlands. Nitsche maintained a commanding position through the final table, content to let others do most of the eliminating until it came down to the heads up with Jorge Landazuri of Mexico. By then Nitsche, in a well judged and skilfull game, had a dominating chip lead that enabled him to make short work of the Mexican, beating him in a single hand of play. Nitsche collected the respect and the main prize of $381 030, leaving his opponent with a consolatory $211 760 for his second placing. The 4 day tournament was hosted by the Casino Central in Mar del Plata, Argentina.