Let’s remember the history, Day 1 of the LAPT Mexico event was played live in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. It was postponed due to unclear circumstances. So, what was essentially Day 2 of the event played out online at PokerStars. Once play reached a final table, the final nine players traveled more than 5,000 miles south of where they started the event to play down to a champion. Probably, we won’t see something like this again.
At the start of the match, there was a disparity in chip counts. At the end of the online part of the event, American Rory Cox went on an amazing rush and somehow managed to pick up almost half the chips in play.
Seat 1: Rory Cox (USA) 1,074,500 in chips
Seat 2: Victor Ramdin (USA) 104,000 in chips
Seat 3: Pavel Naydenov (USA) 80,000 in chips
Seat 4: Helen Prager (USA) 326,500 in chips
Seat 5: Leonardo Emperador (Venezuela) 284,000 in chips
Seat 6: Steven Thompson (Costa Rica) 135,500 in chips
Seat 7: Bolivar Palacios (Panama) 128,500 in chips
Seat 8: Martha Herrera (Mexico) 88,000 in chips
Seat 9: Alex Brenes (Costa Rica) 154,500
While Cox’s chip lead was unbelivable, with him there were other eight players who weren’t just going to give it up. In the early going, Cox used his stack to push people around. Eventually, Steven Thompson flopped a set against Cox’ big pair to double up. Cox rolled with the minor loss and kept playing.
Victor Ramdin was the first eliminated
When we reached the heads-up, Rory Cox still had a huge chip lead, it didn’t seem like he could loss the match. Helen Prager entered with moderate stack, but too short for Cox’ one: Cox had Prager by 5 to 1.
It seemed like it would be all over in a matter of minutes. Instead of that, Prager could double up a couple of times in the first minutes. The first time after going in with second pair against Cox’s top pair. She completed a gutshot. Moments later, she turned the nuts against Cox’s big pair. He got it in with a flush draw against her nut straight.
After the dinner, the pair settled in for two more full hours of heads-up play. At one point, Cox got it all in with pocket sevens versus Prager’s K-T. Prager flopped her ten and Cox fell way behind in chips. But he battled back and back and back. Ultimately, he regained the chip lead.
Rory Cox opened from the button for 72,000, Helen Prager moved all in for 972,000 from the big blind and Cox made the call.
Prager Kh-7d
Cox As-Ts
The flop came Ac-Jh-8c, leaving Prager drawing only to running cards. With her husband’s arm around her, she watched the 5s land on the turn, a resigned look on her face as she realized she was drawing dead. The river was the Js and Cox extended his hand to Prager, congratulating her on a good game.
When it was over, Cox looked at Prager and said, “You made me go bald!”. He was right.
Rory Cox, LAPT Mexico winner
LAPT Mexico final table results:
1st — Rory Cox (USA) $15,000
2nd — Helen Prager (USA) (Mexico) $11,000
3rd — Pavel Naydenov (USA) $7,500
4th — Leonardo Emperador (Venezuela) $5,000
5th — Steven Thompson (Costa Rica) $4,000
6th — Martha Herrera (Mexico) $3,000
7th — Bolivar Palacios (Panama) $2,000
8th — Alex Brenes (Costa Rica) $1,500
9th — Victor Ramdin (USA) $1,000