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

09-18-2025 15:57 UTC+1

Dirty Diaper on Table #14

Calum Grant

Level 4 : Blinds 200/500, 500 ante

Sing Boun opened to 1,200 from under the gun and was called by Ali Alawadhi and Guillaume Bailet-Goiran.

The action checked through to the river for the board to read K♠8♠4♣3♣A♣. Nobody took a stab at the pot and the cards were tabled.

Boun and Alawadhi had queen-high with Q♥10♥ and Q♠5♠ respectively. However, they were both pipped to the small pot by Bailet-Goiran, who had 3♠2♦. His pair of threes with the 'Dirty Diaper' was good for the spoils.

On the one table over, Guillaume Darcourt doubled through Eric Apikan to move his stack over 130,000.

Player	Chips	Progress
Guillaume Darcourt	135,000 90,000	90,000

Garik Grigoryan	125,000 25,000	25,000
Jonathan Burek	101,300 70,300	70,300
Marina Mendy	85,000 85,000	85,000
Guillaume Bailet-Goiran	65,000 65,000	65,000
Eric Apikan	45,000 55,000	55,000

Tags: Ali Alawadhi Guillaume Bailet-Goiran Sing Boun

09-18-2025 16:08 UTC+1

Is this the End of Poker in America? Here's Why the Future Looks Bleak | PokerNews Podcast #917

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Chad Holloway

Level 4 : Blinds 200/500, 500 ante

In the 917th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway and Mike Holtz are joined by Ben Ludlow to talk about the latest stories from the poker world, including a discussion on the future of poker following the failure of a provision that would've mitigated the concerning gambling tax implications of the Big Beautiful Bill. Is there still time to turn things around?

The trio then discusses some of Monarch's recent seven-figure heads-up matches, Phil Hellmuth issuing a $1,000,000 challenge, and recent tournament winners from the 888poker LIVE London, including Gang Wang, Aaron Barone, and Vivian Saliba.

Chad then sits down with the winner of PokerNews' World Tournament of Slots (WTOS) giveaway. Find out who will be headed to the Bahamas in October, where they'll have a shot at a million bucks and the opportunity to meet reigning World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event champ Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi.

Finally, Chad reveals the latest code word for this year's NAPT Gold Pass giveaway valued at $10,000! There are not many up for grabs this year, so you won't want to miss out on this limited opportunity to win one just by listening to the PokerNews Podcast and MSPT Podcast Presented By PokerNews.

A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode!

Click here to listen to the new PN Podcast!

09-18-2025 16:15 UTC+1

James Building a Massive Stack

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Calum Grant

Level 4 : Blinds 200/500, 500 ante

Xavier James opened to 1,200 from early position and picked up five callers.

Six players saw the K♦6♦3♠ flop, and after the blinds checked, James fired out 2,800. Yahya Sadoq called called from the button as did "Raf" from the small blind.

On the 10♥ turn, James continued firing, sending 8,000 into the middle. This time, Sadoq was the only caller.

The 3♣ completed the board and James sized up to 17,000. Sadoq quickly called but then mucked his hand after James tabled K♣10♣ for kings and tens.

Player	Chips	Progress
Xavier James	275,000 275,000	275,000
Yahya Sadoq	40,000 40,000	40,000

Tags: Xavier James Yahya Sadoq

09-18-2025 16:22 UTC+1

Too Many Outs for Byrne

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Calum Grant

Level 4 : Blinds 200/500, 500 ante

There was 13,700 in the pot on the J♦9♥7♥ flop, with four players contesting for it.

Daiva Byrne checked from under the gun before Guillaume Bailet-Goiran bet 2,500 from the next seat over. Oliver Armougon raised to 6,200 from the hijack and saw Marina Mendy cold-call from the cutoff.

Byrne then sprang into life, moving all-in for 19,300. Bailet-Goiran called, which pushed out Armougon. Mendy made it 56,200, and after some thought, Bailet-Goiran folded.

Daiva Byrne: A♥8♥ All in
Marina Mendy: J♠9♠

Bryne had a flush and straight draw, while Mendy had top two pair. Unfortunately for Byrne, the board bricked out with the 2♠7♦ and she exited the room.

Player	Chips	Progress
Marina Mendy	235,000 150,000	150,000
Daiva Byrne	Busted

Tags: Daiva Byrne Guillaume Bailet-Goiran Marina Mendy Oliver Armougon

09-18-2025 16:30 UTC+1

Cold Deck for Fisher

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Calum Grant

Level 4 : Blinds 200/500, 500 ante

There had been some action preflop, but Gary Fisher and Nafis Dundar had their cards on their backs, with Dundar at risk for his last 16,100.

Nafis Dundar: A♠7♠ All in
Gary Fisher: A♣K♦

Dundar couldn't have asked for a better flop, as he paired his seven and picked up a flush draw after the dealer fanned out the Q♠8♠7♦. The Q♥ turn and 6♣ river confirmed Dundar's double-up, much to Fisher's dismay.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nafis Dundar	40,000
Gary Fisher	38,000 54,000	54,000

Tags: Gary Fisher Nafis Dundar

09-18-2025 16:36 UTC+1

Break Time

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Calum Grant

Level 4 : Blinds 200/500, 500 ante

The players have been sent on another 15-minute break.

Level: 5

Blinds: 300/600

Ante: 600

09-18-2025 17:04 UTC+1

Darcourt Doubles

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Calum Grant

Level 5 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante

Guillaume Darcourt had chipped down from his 130,000 chip stack, and was all-in for his last 30,000 against Anas Tadini.

Guillaume Darcourt: A♦5♥ All in
Anas Tadini: A♥3♥

It was a battle of the baby-aces, but Darcourt remained best as he made trips fives on the 10♣9♠5♦6♥5♠ runout to stay alive.

Player	Chips	Progress
Anas Tadini	75,000 75,000	75,000
Guillaume Darcourt	65,000 70,000	70,000

Tags: Guillaume Darcourt

09-18-2025 17:10 UTC+1

Big Stacks Emerging

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Calum Grant

Level 5 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Xavier James	315,000 40,000	40,000
Hamza Lamzariki	170,000 170,000	170,000
Javier Barral	135,000
Christopher Pollet	130,000 40,000	40,000
Gabriel Villar Montes	120,000
Quentin Hupliez	116,000
Raphael Godard	110,000
Eric Apikan	110,000 65,000	65,000
Daragh Davey	110,000
Peter Feusi	100,000

09-18-2025 17:30 UTC+1

Voltolina Leads into Four Players

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Calum Grant

Level 5 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante

Houssam El Bassunie limped in from under the gun before Karim Abdelmoumene made it 3,000 from the next seat over. Achafar Fayssal, Laurent Lavige and Achille Voltolina called from middle position, the hijack and big blind respectively. El Bassunie also stuck around.

Voltolina led out for 10,000 on the A♦8♦2♦ flop, and only Lavige called.

The 8♥ turn paired the board, and Voltolona announced all-in, gunning for Lavige's last 32,000. The latter opted on a fold and Voltolina tabled his A♥K♥.

Player	Chips	Progress
Achille Voltolina	130,000 80,000	80,000
Laurent Lavige	32,000

Tags: Achille Voltolina Laurent Lavige