Latin American Poker Tour (LAPT): History, Champions & Legacy
For over a decade, the Latin American Poker Tour was the region’s premier live tournament series – the tour that brought PokerStars-backed, internationally competitive poker to Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Peru, and beyond. The tour has not run since 2024, and no new LAPT schedule has been announced for 2025 or 2026, so this guide now focuses on its history and most recent events rather than upcoming stops.
What the LAPT Was
Launched by PokerStars in 2008, the LAPT ran mid-to-high-stakes Texas Hold’em Main Events, bounty tournaments, and high-roller side events across South and Central America. It combined genuine international competition with the enthusiasm of comparatively young, fast-growing poker markets – stops in Brazil and Argentina in particular regularly drew some of the region’s largest live tournament fields.
Season Highlights (2008-2014)
| Season | Notable Event | Winner (Country) | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 (inaugural) | Rio de Janeiro | Julien Nuijten (Netherlands) | $222,940 |
| 2009 | Mar del Plata | Dominik Nitsche (Germany) | $381,030 |
| 2011 | São Paulo | Alex Manzano (Chile) | $368,703 |
| 2013 | São Paulo | Victor Sbrissa (Brazil) | $252,971 |
| 2014 | São Paulo | Caio Hey (Brazil) | $304,501 |
The Comeback Seasons (2023-2024)
| Event | Winner (Country) | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| Montevideo (2023) | Joaquin Melogno (Uruguay) | $177,300 |
| Lima (2023) | Diego Ventura (Peru) | $192,700 |
| Rio de Janeiro (2024) | Andre Akkari (Brazil) | $243,000 |
| Santiago (2024) | Alejandro Lopez (Chile) | $198,500 |
| Grand Final, São Paulo (Nov. 2024) | Bernardo Soares (Brazil) | R$673,000 (~$115,500) – the most recent LAPT Main Event held to date |
After running from 2008 to 2016, the LAPT went on hiatus before returning for two comeback seasons in 2023 and 2024, with stops in Panama, Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro that final year. The tour closed with a Grand Final held during the BSOP Millions in São Paulo in November 2024, where Bernardo Soares defeated Rodolfo Tanaka heads-up to become the most recent LAPT Main Event champion. No LAPT event has been held since, and no 2025 or 2026 schedule has been announced – regional PokerStars-backed events in Latin America now run under other tournament branding rather than the LAPT name.
Champions Worth Remembering
An Argentine player widely regarded as one of the tour’s most successful multi-time Main Event winners across its run.
A WSOP bracelet holder and one of Brazil’s most recognizable poker exports, who won the 2024 Rio de Janeiro stop during the tour’s final season.
Won the most recent LAPT Main Event held to date, the São Paulo Grand Final in November 2024.
An early LAPT pioneer with multiple titles across the tour’s first several seasons.
Why It Mattered
The LAPT’s real legacy is the players it helped launch onto the international stage – regional champions who went on to compete (and win) at EPT, WSOP, and other major stops, at a time when Latin America had comparatively few live tournament opportunities of its own. Although LAPT has not run since 2024, its influence on the region’s competitive poker scene has outlasted the brand itself. For other major regional tours still running, see our guides to the Asia Pacific Poker Tour and the European Poker Tour.
