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

09-17-2025 22:45 UTC+1

Mamouni and Mbarek Drag in Pots

Calum Grant

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Fausto Munz opened to 3,000 from middle position before Smain Mamouni made it 10,000 from the hijack. C18 called from the button before Munz got out of the way.

C18 called a bet of 8,500 on the A♦4♠2♠ flop but conceded the pot after Mamouni fired out 23,000 on the 7♥ turn.

On one table over, El Mehdi Mbarek raised from middle position. Francesco Pillitteri three-bet to 11,500 out of his short stack. Mbarek four-bet to 25,000 and was called.

Mbarek continued on the K♣6♥3♥ flop and Pillitteri opted to preserve his last 26,000.

Tags: El Mehdi Mbarek Fausto Munz Francesco Pillitteri Smain Mamouni

09-17-2025 22:41 UTC+1

Quinlan Caught Speeding

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Calum Grant

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Edgar Aguiar limped in from the small blind and called when Aidan Quinlan made it 5,000 from the big blind.

The 9♥7♥5♣ flop checked through to the 3♠ turn. Aguiar bet 5,000 and then faced a raise to 13,000, which he called.

Aguiar then check-called for 17,000 after the A♦ completed the board.

Quinlan sheepishly showed J♥2♥ for jack-high, and Aguiar's two pair with A♥7♠ was good for the pot.

Tags: Aidan Quinlan Edgar Aguiar

09-17-2025 22:30 UTC+1

Is Shiina Okamoto Becoming a Poker Superstar? | PokerNews Podcast #915

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Calum Grant

Level 1 : 100/200, 200 ante

In the 915th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway and Mike Holtz are once again joined by Ben Ludlow to talk the latest stories and highlights from the poker world. That includes back-to-back WSOP Ladies Event champ Shiina Okamoto, who was back to her winning ways after taking down the Women's Event at the recently-completed EPT Barcelona. Is it time to start mentioning her name when talking about the G.O.A.T.s of the game?

Speaking of the EPT Barcelona, David Coleman had four runner-up finishes there, while Thomas Eychenne took down the EPT Barcelona Main Event for €1,217,175. It was actually in that tournament that PokerNews spotted Jesse Yaginuma and James Carroll, the two friends who caused quite the controversy over the summer in the WSOP Millionaire Maker, seated next to each other. Strange coincidence, that.

From there, Chad offers highlights from his Wisconsin hangout with Phil Hellmuth, who then went ot New Hampshire for a "Beat the Champ" weekend that saw Brandon Cantu emerge victorious. Hellmuth also remembered the late, great Poker Hall of Fame tournament director Jack McClelland.

Speaking of winners, Grant Hinkle, Nick Rigby, and Maurice Hawkins all took down titles, which are recapped in this episode and inspired Mike to share a Rigby story of his own. Also, a preview of the upcoming PokerGO Tour (PGT) Venetian Las Vegas Classic.

Finally, remember PokerNews is giving away a seat in the World Tournament of Slots (WTOS). You could have an approximate one in 500 chance at a $1,000,000 top prize. Click here to learn more about the WToS.

Subscribe to the PokerNews Podcast on Apple Podcasts here! You can also find us on Spotify as well as our new page on SoundCloud!

Click here to listen to the new PN Podcast!

09-17-2025 22:27 UTC+1

Late Registration Closes

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Calum Grant

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Late registration is now over in Day 1a of the UDSO Marrakech Main Event. The 210 entries have contributed 1,113,000 MAD (approx. €104,856) to the prize pool, with 82 players remaining.

It has been announced that the first starting flight will come to a close when 53 players remain.

Level: 10

Blinds: 1,000/1,500

Ante: 1,500

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.

Tags: Adrien Ricard Alexandre Reard Mehdi Hsissen

09-17-2025 22:09 UTC+1

Munz Chipping Up

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Calum Grant

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

Fausto Munz opened to 3,000 from early position and was called by Guillaume Darcourt from the button and Georges Forge from the big blind.

The J♠9♣5♠ flop checked through to the 3♣ turn. Forge led out for 3,000 and only Munz called.

The same action took place on the 7♥ river.

Forge had 9♦6♦ for a pair of nines, but Munz had his opponent outkicked with A♣9♠.

Tags: Fausto Munz Guillaume Darcourt

09-17-2025 21:57 UTC+1

Some Chip Counts After Dinner

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Calum Grant

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

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.