Michael The Punter Nugent Wins First Ever Latin Series of Poker

As expected, the opening $500,000 guaranteed main event was epic. It exceeded all expectations. The LSOP introduced Re-Entry Tournaments to Latin America, a new type of tournament that lets hopefuls re-register for the same tournament after they’ve busted out. Thus, getting another chance of taking down the tournament and today the gunslinger was Michael "The Punter" Nugent.

An online poker grinder from Canada, Michael “The Punter” Nugent entered today’s final table standing eight in chips with a short stack of 820,000. However, in spite of the lack of chips at the beginning, Michael stayed focused, and after doubling up through Victor “Asesito” Hipolito in what was perhaps the “trophy hand” of the night, “the Punter” never looked back.

But that was only part of the story tonight. The eyes of the poker world fans were upon the Latin players for a number of reasons. Poker fanatics wanted to see their local grinders take the first LSOP title home.

The audience’s favorites Gerardo Rodriguez, a well-known online player; the Venezuelan Wilmer “Veneno” Diaz; Gerardo Issacura who entered the final table owning the chip lead; Engelberth Varela who finished 5th in the 2012 Punta Cana Poker Classic and has two final table appearances in the circuit; Victor Hipolito is perhaps one of the most popular players in Peru they all felt to Michael’s solid-aggressive style of play even when the other non-Latin players; Mladen Ivanov and Louis Salter played against, the uncrowned champion. The locals fan rooted against “The Punter”. It'll be a long time before Peru forgets the name of the man who beat their favorite local  players for the trophy.

We send our congratulations to Michael “The Punter”Nugent, the first ever champion of the Latin series of Poker Lima!

- Julius Maxwell, Special Contributor to Gambling911.com