6,000 MAD Main Event Day 1a | 2025 Unibet DeepStack Open Marrakech

09-16-2025 10:22 UTC+1

Gabriel’s Emotional Victory Kicks Off 2025 UDSO Marrakech

Calum Grant

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.

09-17-2025 11:28 UTC+1

The 2025 Unibet Deepstack Open Marrakech Main Event Begins Today

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Calum Grant

The spotlight shifts to the purple and black felt of Casino de Marrakech today as the 2025 Unibet Deepstack Open (UDSO) Marrakech Main Event gets underway at 1 p.m. local time. The 6,000 MAD (€531) flagship tournament features four Day 1 flights from September 17–19, with a turbo option for the late arrivals, before survivors return for Day 2 on September 20. A new champion will be crowned on Sunday, September 21.

Last year, the event drew 861 entries, and after three hard-fought days, it was Nicolas Barkusky who came out on top. Barkusky secured the lion’s share of the prize pool, pocketing 705,000 MAD (~€66,000) after defeating Portugal’s Saul heads-up. The 2024 final table also included notable names such as Lucien Cohen, Nizar Comaty, and Daragh Davey.

2024 Unibet Deepstack Open Marrakech Final Table Results

Place	Player	Country	Prize (in MAD)	Prize (EUR)
1	Nicolas Barkusky	France	705,000	€66,388
2	Saul	Portugal	490,000	€46,142
3	Lucien Cohen	France	350,000	€32,958
4	Nizar Comaty	Canada	300,000	€28,250
5	Joan Crespi	Spain	205,000	€19,305
6	Henning Wendlandt	Germany	155,000	€14,596
7	Daragh Davey	Ireland	115,000	€10,829
8	Orey Canarinho	Spain	89,000	€8,381
9	Soner Vanelderen	Belgium	72,000	€6,780

2025 Main Event Structure

Players begin with 50,000 in chips and 50-minute levels on Day 1. Blinds extend to 60 minutes from Level 19. Each Day 1 flight plays down to 25% of the field, with the survivors merging for Day 2 where play continues until the final 16 remain. The last day will see the new champion will be determined.

Late registration remains open for the first nine levels of each Day 1 flight, with unlimited re-entries available during that time. A dinner break will follow Level 8, while shorter breaks are built into the early stages of play.

UDSO Marrakech Main Event Schedule

Date	Time	Event	Buy-in
Wed, Sept 17	1 p.m.	UDSO MAIN EVENT - Day 1a	6,000 MAD (€531)
Thu, Sept 18	1 p.m.	UDSO MAIN EVENT - Day 1b	6,000 MAD (€531)
Fri, Sept 19	1 p.m.	UDSO MAIN EVENT - Day 1c	6,000 MAD (€531)
Fri, Sept 19	9 p.m.	UDSO MAIN EVENT - 1d Turbo	6,000 MAD (€531)
Sat, Sept 20	1 p.m.	UDSO MAIN EVENT - Day 2	-
Sun, Sept 21	1 p.m.	UDSO MAIN EVENT - Final

PokerNews will be on-site throughout the festival, bringing you live updates, chip counts, photos, and everything you need to know from the 2025 UDSO Marrakech Main Event.

09-17-2025 13:28 UTC+1

Joslyn Runs into a Set

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Calum Grant

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

A pot of 14,300 was pushed to Marko Krajacic, with Samuel Joslyn being the player to chip down. The duo tangled in a hand shortly after, with Nicolas Boton joining in.

In a three-bet pot with 7,700 in the middle, Joslyn checked from the small blind, with Boton betting 2,000 on the Q♠6♦5♣ flop. Krajacic called before Joslyn raised to 10,000. Boton quickly called before Krajacic exited the hand.

The K♥ turn checked through to the 3♥ river, where Joslyn checked.

"I have 15,400 behind," he said as Boton eyed up his stack.

Boton put Joslyn all-in and was quickly called.

Boton tabled Q♣Q♦ for a set of queens, which bested Joslyn's Q♥J♠.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nicolas Boton	98,000 98,000	98,000
Marko Krajacic	58,000 58,000	58,000
Samuel Joslyn	Busted

Tags: Mark Krajacic Nicolas Boton Samuel Joslyn

09-17-2025 14:05 UTC+1

Nice Pots for Majer & Marie

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Calum Grant

Level 1 : Blinds 100/200, 200 ante

On Table #8, Michael Ahmetaj opened to 500 from under the gun and was called by Louis Michaud from the hijack. Maxime Majer made it 2,400 from the button before Milosz Siedlecki four-bet to 6,500 from the small blind. Ahmetaj and Michaud folded and then Majer called.

Majer called a bet of 4,000 on the K♦10♠8♠ flop, before Siedlecki checked on the 5♠ turn. Majer fired out 7,700 and was called.

The 7♥ river saw another check from Siedlecki, who had around 29,000. Majer thought for a moment before moving all-in as the slightly bigger stack. After some time in the tank, Siedlecki conceded the pot. Majer then tabled Q♦Q♥.

Over on Table #10, David Marie picked up a nice pot of his own. There was around 25,000 in the pot, on the K♣6♦8♥A♦Xx board. Marie bet 10,000 from early position and Guillaume Darcourt quickly called. Marie tabled A♣8♣ for aces and eights, and Darcourt, who's booked two runner-up finishes already at USDO Marrakech, mucked his hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
David Marie	77,000 77,000	77,000
Maxime Majer	75,000 75,000	75,000
Michael Ahmetaj	51,000 51,000	51,000
Louis Michaud	50,000 50,000	50,000
Milosz Siedlecki	29,000 29,000	29,000
Guillaume Darcourt	28,000 28,000	28,000

Tags: David Marie Louis Michaud Maxime Majer Michael Ahmetaj Milosz Siedlecki

09-17-2025 19:27 UTC+1

Can Tondeur Make a Straight Flush?

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Calum Grant

Level 7 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Dawoud Berbiale opened to 2,000 from under the gun before Henri Dupont made it 6,000 from the next seat over. Salah Eddine Taleb called from the cutoff, and Berbiale also kept himself in contention.

The action checked to Taleb on the A♦8♣8♦ flop. Berbiale was the only caller. The 7♦ turn and 4♥ river checked through to showdown. Berbiale's A♥3♥ was good for the aces and eights to take the pot.

On the next deal, Dupont raised to 2,000. Aubin De Kermadec reraised to 5,500, prompting Benalo Zerrouki to four-bet to 15,500 from the cutoff. Roger Tondeur committed his last 11,000 from the button. Dupont folded before De Kermadec called.

De Kermadec led out on the 9♣9♦7♣ flop, and Zerrouki snap-folded for the cards to turn over.

Roger Tondeur: 8♣6♣ All in
Aubin De Kermadec: QxQx

Tondeur was behind but had an open-ended straight flush draw for plenty of hope. However, the baord bricked out with the 9♠A♠ and De Kermadec scooped in the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Salah Eddine Taleb	150,000 20,000	20,000
Benalo Zerrouki	120,000
Dawoud Berbiale	117,000
Henri Dupont	110,000
Aubin De Kermadec	80,000
Roger Tondeur	Busted

Tags: Aubin De Kermadec Dawoud Berbiale Henri Dupont Roger Tondeur Salah Eddine Taleb

09-17-2025 19:35 UTC+1

"Belmehdi" Cracks Aces for the Chip Lead

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Calum Grant

Level 7 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

"Pot and pot" raised to 2,000 from under the gun before Denis Vladmirov made it 7,000 from the hijack. "Belmehdi" cold-called from the cutoff and then the action folded to Mohamadou Abilil in the big blind. He mulled over his options before raising to 22,000. Belmehdi was the only caller.

Abilil continued for 25,000 on the Q♦8♣6♦ flop and was called.

On the 10♥ turn, Abilil had 115,000 behind, and fired out another 50,000. Belmehdi jammed as the bigger stack, and was snap-called.

Mahamadou Abilil: A♣A♥ All in
Belmehdi: 10♠10♦

Belmehdi turned a set of tens to leapfrog the aces, much to Abilil's dismay. The latter left the table in disgust as the 4♠ river confirmed his departure.

With the pot, Belmehdi became the new chip leader.

Player	Chips	Progress
Belmehdi	370,000 200,000	200,000
Pot and pot	210,000 10,000	10,000
Mohamadou Abilil	Busted

Tags: Denis Vladmirov

09-17-2025 19:55 UTC+1

Blind All-In Doesn't Work for Derwiche

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Calum Grant

Level 8 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Imad Derwiche moved all-in blind from under the gun for 14,200. The action folded to "aymanam," who raised to 30,000 from the cutoff. This folded out the rest of table.

"Protection, protection," Derwiche cheered as the duo exhanged a high-five.

Imad Derwiche: 4♦2♦ All in
aymanam: K♣J♠

Derwiche appeared quite pleased with his hand, but the A♠10♠9♠ flop gave him less reasons to be happy. The K♦ turn confirmed Derwiche's exit ahead of the 10♥ river.

Player	Chips	Progress
aymanam	85,000
Imad Derwiche	Busted

Tags: Imad Derwiche

09-17-2025 20:10 UTC+1

Spencer Puts on His Cape and Hero Calls

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Calum Grant

Level 8 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Bo Cruz opened to 2,400 from middle position, with Aidan Quinlan calling on his direct left. Tony Prenveille then three-bet to 10,000 from the hijack. Ricardo Spencer called from the button before Cruz and Quinlan folded.

Spencer called a bet of 7,000 ion the 10♦6♣4♣ flop before the 8♠ turn checked through to the K♠ river. Prenveille fired out 21,000, and after some thinking time, Spencer called.

Prenveille could only show ace-high with his A♥Q♣. A few eyebrows were then raised as Spencer showed down 2♦2♣ for a pair of deuces to take the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Bo Cruz	150,000 20,000	20,000
Ricardo Spencer	115,000 25,000	25,000
Aidan Quinlan	89,000
Tony Prenveille	50,000 25,000	25,000

Tags: Aidan Quinlan Bo Cruz Ricardo Spencer Tony Prenveille

09-17-2025 21:53 UTC+1

Mbarek Coolers Seck in Battle of the Blinds; Allera Busts Mahieddine

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Calum Grant

Level 9 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

On Table #11, the action folded to El Mehdi Mbarek in the small blind who raised to 7,000. Tom Seck three-bet to 21,000 and snap-called when Mbarek jammed for around 52,000.

El Mehdi Mbarek: K♠K♣ All in
Tom Seck: J♣J♥

Mbarek's kings held out and he doubled up after the Q♣8♠2♥Q♦Q♥ runout.

On another table, Florence Allera and Abdelkarim Mahieddine had their cards on their backs. Allera had around 84,500 and had Mahieddine slightly covered.

Mahieddine was ahead with JxJx, but Allera's A♥Q♣ paired up on the runout to scoop the pot and secure the bust out.

Player	Chips	Progress
Florence Allera	165,000 165,000	165,000
8	115,000 64,000	64,000
El Mehdi Mbarek	105,000 74,000	74,000
Tom Seck	100,000 100,000	100,000
Ronald	85,000 55,000	55,000
Sebastien Guinand	31,000 5,000	5,000

Abdelkarim Mahieddine	Busted

Tags: Abdelkarim Mahieddine El Mehdi Mbarek Florence Allera Tom Seck

09-17-2025 22:16 UTC+1

Reard Spins Up a Stack

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Calum Grant

Level 9 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Unibet Ambassador Alexandre Reard found a double up quickly after the restart. His pocket queens held out against Mehdi Hsissen's pocket nines to get a double up to just over 100,000.

The following hand, Reard raised to 3,000 on the button. Hsissen, who was forced all-in for the big blind woke up with a monster.

Mehdi Hsissen: AxQx All in
Alexandre Reard: Ax6x

The better ace held out and Hsissen survived following the 10♥8♠3♣8♣2♦ runout.

On the next deal, former chip leader "Belmehdi" raised 3,000 from middle position. Adrien Ricard three-bet to 9,000 from the next seat over but both players quickly folded when Reard made it 22,000.

Player	Chips	Progress
Juan McGregor	280,000 145,000	145,000
Belmehdi	210,000 165,000	165,000
Alexandre Reard	120,000 120,000	120,000

Mehdi Hsissen	4,500 4,500	4,500

Tags: Adrien Ricard Alexandre Reard Mehdi Hsissen