Seat 6: Axel Bayout, Dubai – 4,475,000
Axel Bayout was interviewed during EPT Barcelona in 2024, when he had recently left his job as a delivery driver to try his hand at professional poker, saying that one of the most important things for a person's quality of life was being able to choose a profession you love. With numerous live results this year, Bayout is on track to succeed in this sometimes volatile profession, with an especially strong record in the Czech Republic recently, including two cashes totalling over €50,000 two weeks apart in June.
Originally based in the Marseille area, Bayout now lives in Dubai and travels frequently across France and Europe more widely to make a living from his passion. And he doesn’t travel alone: “We have a small team of regular French players who go to Rozvadov every month to play every possible festival at the poker room. There are buy-ins between €200 and €1,000 almost every day—for tournament poker at reasonably cheap limits, the schedule is incredible.”
The 30-year-old headed further afield this year, as, brimming with confidence, he flew to Las Vegas this summer. It paid off; he achieved his biggest live win in an $800 Aria event, finishing as runner-up for $67,387. Bayout also has two notable pieces of poker jewellery: he won a WSOP Online bracelet in December 2024 for $532,000 (equal to his live total cashes), and a WSOP-C ring in San Remo just 15 days ago.
Tournament progression
Day 1: 61,000 (73/350, 1a)
Day 2: 665,000 (22/65)
Day 3: 4,475,000 (4/7)