Six months ago Angel Guillen played in his first ever live tournament and cashed. He went much better at the PokerStars LAPT Punta del Este tournament by finishing first - and tonight he so nearly capped it all with a coveted WSOP bracelet.
Team PokerStars Mexico Pro Guillen had shot through a 1,088 field in the $2,500 No Limit Hold'em event, enjoying watching his chips moving north at every level.
"I'm feeling pretty good with lots of confidence," he said before play got under way a little earlier. "I'm hoping to do some good work today."
That was with 20 players left, and do good he did, first securing a final table place, and then getting down to heads-up play at what seemed like a record-breaking pace.
All that stood between him and the bracelet (and the bigger $506,786 prize) was Keven Stammen, but it proved a step too far. Stammen had the dominant chip lead at the start of heads-up, and never looked like giving it up.
The final hand saw Stammen raise to 150,000 and Guillen call. The flop came 9♠8♥2♥. Guillen checked, Stammen bet 225,000, the Mexican re-raised to 775,000, all in, call!
Guillen: J♥9♥
Stammen: J♣J♠
Guillen had a bucket full of outs, but missed them all as the turn and river came T♠ and 2♣.
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Heads-up play is still going on between Team PokerStars Pro Daniel Negreanu and Brock Parker in the $2,500 Six-handed Limit. They're currently neck and neck.
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Maridu Mayrinck is all-a-quiver. The Team PokerStars Pro from Brazil, playing in today's $1,000 Ladies Event, has just made a player with only 4,000 left lay down a set. "I had J♥9♥ and missed the flop completely," she said. "I think I need a table change now."
