Freddy Torres opened to 450 in early position and found two callers, one from the cutoff and the other from the small blind.
An 
flop fell and action checked to Torres. He bet 1,050, only getting called by the cutoff. The 
turn was checked by both, landing the 
on the river. Torres checked it to his opponent who bet 1,200.
He didn't appear to want to call, but Torres talked himself into it. His opponent tabled 
, besting Torres' holdings.
With 2,200 in the pot and a board reading 
, Stuart McDonald bet 750 and was quickly raised to 1,500 by his opponent in the hijack. McDonald called and the 
was put out on the river. McDonald took his time counting out some chips before sliding out a bet of 3,750. The hijack snap-folded while showing 
, and McDonald raked in the pot.
The Australian is holding steady around 22K.
With 2,400 in the pot and a board reading 
, a player in the hijack bet out 1,000 and action was on Leo Fernandez on the button. The Team PokerStars Pro (Argentina) thought long and hard before showing a 
and folding. His opponent returned the favor by revealing 
for a turned set.
With 4,000 in the pot and a board reading 
, we happened by Ernesto Panno's table and saw him in the tank, facing a bet of 2,000 from his opponent in the small blind. We're not sure how long Panno had been thinking about it before we arrived, but we do know that he thought about it for several minutes before making the call.
"Siete," the small blind said confidently as he rolled over 
. Panno excitedly revealed 
before slapping the table. With that, Panno is up to 26K.
In a limped pot and a battle of the blinds, Team PokerStars Pro Leo Fernandez and Season 4 LAPT Colombia champion Julian Menendez each checked an 
flop.
The hit the turn and once Fernandez checked, Menendez took a stab with 300. A call from Fernandez led to the 
river which quickly went check-check.
Menendez played the board with 
, while Fernandez collected the small pot with 
.
Just before the level up, an under-the-gun player limped and action folded to Freddy Torres in the cutoff. He promptly put in a raise to 600, which was called by both blinds and the limper. All four players proceeded to check the flop, leading to the 
turn. The small blind checked, big blind bet 1,200, and UTG folded. Torres made the call before the small blind folded and the was put out on the river. Both players checked, and the big blind rolled over 
for the winner. Torres dropped a bit on the hand, but is still well above average.
Meanwhile, last year's sixth-place finisher, Daniela Horno, is off to a good start as she is already up to 38,000.
Level: 4
Blinds: 100/200
Ante: 25
Season 5 of the PokerStars.net Latin American Poker Tour kicks off in Viña del Mar, Chile. Kristy takes a tour around the gorgeous beach town.
As evidenced by another occupying what was once his seat, Jonathan Markovits has been eliminated in the early stages of Day 1a.
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