Meekma Turns $11 Satellite Entry into a Stunning $69,234 LAPT Panama Victory

After a seven-year hiatus, the Latin American Poker Tour (LAPT) has made a roaring return, with two successful pitstops in Rio de Janeiro and Montevideo. Now, Panama City got to host its share of the action.

This year’s LAPT Panama Main Event attracted an impressive 340 entrants, each chipping in a $1,500 buy-in, resulting in a hefty prize pool of $420,495.

Among many international contenders, it was Netherland’s Anton Meekma who lifted the coveted LAPT trophy, besting Argentine Diego Aro in the heads-up battle and walking away $69,234 richer. Meekma, who currently resides in Mexico with his girlfriend, has entered LAPT Panama through a mere $11 satellite and bested the whole field in a stunning turn of events.

Before taking down the event, a three-way deal was brokered between him, Aro, and another Argentine, Juan Barattini. Meekma secured $52,234, Barattini pocketed $54,114, and Aro agreed on $44,950. The three left an additional $17,000 and the trophy on the line for the eventual winner.

The decisive moment of the final duel came when Aro went all-in with a QJs, only to be met by Meekma’s pocket Nines, which held up, sealing the victory for the Dutch player.

https://twitter.com/Cooler_Grone/status/1689112279160127488

“Started the final table as an average stack, but was patient, looking at my opponents what they were doing, and figured out they were playing too tight, so I opened up my game,” said Mekme after his win. “I also ran really good, didn’t need to bluff much… wow, it was just a really good run.”

You can watch replay of the final table here:

2023 LAPT Panama Main Event Final Table Results

Place	Player	Country	Prize
1st	Anton Meekma	Netherlands	$69,234*
2nd	Diego Aro	Argentina	$44,950*
3rd	Juan Barattini	Argentina	$54,114*
4th	Michael Hou	Panama	$31,000
5th	Christian Hospina	Panama	$24,300
6th	Ricardo Rodríguez Moreno	Panama	$18,600
7th	Felipe Roldán	Colombia	$13,600
8th	Rafael Henríquez	Venezuela	$10,000
9th	Rodrigo Zouvi	Argentina	$8,200

2023 LAPT Winners

Event	Buy-in	Entries	Prize Pool	Winner	Country	Prize
LAPT Brazil Main Event	R$7,500	557	$654,204	Anthony Ribeiro	Brazil	$125,277
LAPT Uruguay Main Event	$1,500	346	$417,900	Tullio Juarez	Venezuela	$80,000
LAPT Panama Main Event	$1,500	340	$420,495	Anton Meekma	Netherlands	$69,234