Gabriel’s Emotional Victory Kicks Off 2025 UDSO Marrakech
The 2025 Unibet DeepStack Open (UDSO) Marrakech is off to a memorable start after Spain’s Gabriel captured the UDSO Cup for 200,000 MAD (~€19,000). The triumph was especially moving as it marked his return to the felt following a heart attack suffered in Las Vegas earlier this summer.
Out of 275 entries that built a €100,000 prize pool, Gabriel overcame a tough final table that included French veteran Guillaume Darcourt, who finished runner-up for 140,000 MAD, while Jason Barton rounded out the podium with 100,000 MAD. The final hand saw Darcourt’s ace-king fall to Gabriel’s ace-seven, sealing the Spaniard’s first post-recovery title.
At the trophy ceremony, Gabriel was overcome with emotion, dedicating his victory to his family and travel companion Manuel. “Thank you, life,” he told ClubPoker, looking skyward as he held the champion’s belt aloft.
Side Event Winners
The festival’s early action also produced victories in the smaller-buy-in tournaments. Jérémy Pasini collected 26,000 MAD in the Progressive Knock Out, while Unibet Poker Pro Aurélie Reard bagged 33,000 MAD for her win in the Warm-Up.
| Event | Buy-in | Winner | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| UDSO CUP | 4,500 MAD (€399) | Gabriel Villar Montes | 200,000 MAD (€19,000) |
| UDSO Progressive Knock Out | 3,000 MAD (€266) | Jérémy Pasini | 26,000 MAD (€2,462) |
| Warm-Up | 2,000 MAD (€177) | Aurélie Reard | 33,000 MAD (€3,125) |
Record-Breaking UDSO Silver
The UDSO Silver drew 296 entries, smashing last year’s 211-player record and generating an €80,000 prize pool. The surviving players return today to battle for the title at 2 p.m. local time today, with the finale set to be streamed live on the Poker Marrakech platforms (Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch).
What’s On Today
The action continues on Tuesday, Sept. 16, with a packed slate of events:
| Date | Time | Event | Buy-in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Sept 16 | 2 p.m. | UDSO SILVER - Day 2 | - |
| Tue, Sept 16 | 2 p.m. | Mini UDSO Main | 3,000 MAD (€266) |
| Tue, Sept 16 | 4 p.m. | Hit&Run UDSO High Roller | 1,200 MAD (€106) |
| Tue, Sept 16 | 6 p.m. | UDSO High Roller | 15,000 MAD (€1,329) |
| Tue, Sept 16 | 6 p.m. | Sat Main Event | 800 MAD (€71) |
| Tue, Sept 16 | 8 p.m. | Progressive Knock Out | 2,000 MAD (€177) |
Main Event Starts Tomorrow
With the UDSO Cup wrapped up, the Silver building to its climax, and today’s High Rollers ready to take center stage, all eyes now turn to the UDSO Marrakech Main Event, which kicks off tomorrow at Casino de Marrakech. PokerNews will be on-site with live updates from start to finish.