Players are now on their third 15 minute break of the day. The next break after this one will be a 2 1/2 break so players (and staff) can enjoy watching the Champions League finals.
Aggression sometimes pays off and Pierre Merlin is no stranger to either aggression or to winning big in Winamax events. In 2014, Merlin became famous in Winamax circles by taking down the Winamax Poker Tour Paris Main Event for a cool €100,000.
Merlin is right in the thick of things with under 65 players left thanks to aggressively playing a mid pocket pair from the blinds. Julien Laroze raised the action to 12,000 from the button, Bruno Michels 3-bet to 32,000 from the small blind. Undeterred, Pierre Merlin fires a cold four-bet from the big blind for 71,000. Laroze folded and Michels calls.
Here is where the aggression ended as the flop, turn, and river were all check-checked with Merlin showing 
and Michels turning over 
on a 
board. After shipping this pot worth around 160,000 chips, Merlin's stack has soared to 350,000 chips.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
350,000 | 292,600 |
One third of the field to start Day 2 now remains in contention as players continue to depart from the tournament and a fairly quick pace.
Here is a look at the most recent players to be eliminated, each being awarded 13,500 MAD or about €1,244.
2016 Winamax SISMIX Main Event Eliminations (66th - 71st Places)
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
|
Busted |
Earlier we mentioned that Jonathan Therme, Vincent Mathieu, and Manu Martin were the three players that bubbled. Since it wasn't just one "bubble boy", the first two players received 7,330 MAD (about €676) for 113th and 114th places while Martin was awarded 10 MAD more or 7,440 MAD for 112th place.
Therme and Mathieu actually were fortunate enough to walk away with more than just a partial cash. Since both players were wearing Winamax logos, they each received a ticket to next year's Winamax SISMIX Main Event valued at 6,000 MAD (€550)!
No free seat next year for Manu Martin since he was not wearing the Winamax logo despite numerous announcements that this was one of the requirements for the bubble promotion.
Team Winamax's Alexandre Luneau headlines the most recent eliminations out in 73rd place for 12,000 MAD (€1,106). We are working on finding out how his demise in the tournament transpired.
2016 Winamax SISMIX Main Event Eliminations (72nd - 79th Places)
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
|
Busted | |
|
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
|
Busted |
Level: 18
Blinds: 3,000/6,000
Ante: 1,000
No, we aren't talking about the 1980's, but instead players that were eliminated in 80th to 89th places for 12,000 MAD or approximately €1,106. Here's a look:
2016 Winamax SISMIX Main Event Eliminations (80th - 89th Places)
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
Busted | |
|
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
|
Busted | |
|
Busted |
Sofiene Belaid began the day near the top of the field in chips. Belaid will have to settle for a min-cash of 11,000 MAD (approximately €1,014) for his 95th place finish.
Meanwhile, Michael Menetrier who began the day with 10 big blinds was able to squeeze into the money in 98th place.
Here is a look at the rest of the players to be eliminated for a min cash. Players are now guaranteed at least 12,000 MAD (approximately €1,106).
2016 Winamax SISMIX Main Event Eliminations (90th - 99th Places)
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
|
Busted | |
|
|
Busted | |
|
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
|
Busted |
Level: 17
Blinds: 2,500/5,000
Ante: 500
After the bubble broke, players began busting at a fast and furious pace.
Here is a look at some of the recent eliminations, each being awarded 11,000 MAD (€1,014).
2016 Winamax SISMIX Main Event Eliminations (100th - 111th Places)
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
|
Busted | |
|
|
Busted | |
|
|
Busted | |
|
|
Busted | |
|
|
Busted | |
|
|
Busted | |
|
Busted |