2018 Winamax Poker Open Dublin

Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info

2018 Winamax Poker Open Dublin

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
66
Prize
€89,716
Event Info
Buy-in
€550
Prize Pool
€570,489
Entries
1,191
Level Info
Level
49
Blinds
500,000 / 1,000,000
Ante
1,000,000

Baumann Makes a Good Laydown

Level 6 : 250/500, 500 ante

Five players saw a flop of {9-Clubs}{7-Hearts}{5-Hearts} and the blinds both checked to Gaelle Baumann who was under the gun. She bet 3,000 into a pot of 5,500 and the big blind was the only caller.

The turn was the {7-Spades} and the big blind opted to bet out for 4,000. Baumann then raised to 11,000. Her opponent then three-bet to 25,000 and Baumann thought before folding {6-}{8-} face up for a straight.

Her opponent showed {9-}{9-} for a flopped set and turned full house, with Baumann's fold warmly received by her tablemates.

"Nice hand," she said to her opponent.

Player Chips Progress
Gaelle Baumann fr
Gaelle Baumann
23,000
-16,000
-16,000

Tags: Gaelle Baumann

Level: 7

Blinds: 300/600

Ante: 600

Double for Captain Vodka

Level 7 : 300/600, 600 ante
Franck Besnard
Franck Besnard

On a {7-Clubs}{6-Diamonds}{j-Spades} flop two players including Franck Besnard, still in his Captain Vodka costume, checked to defending champion Otto Richard who bet 5,000 into a pot of 15,500. The first player called before Besnard check-raised all in for 30,350. Otto thought before calling and the other player folded.

Franck Besnard: {6-Hearts}{6-Clubs}
Otto Richard: {q-Diamonds}{q-Clubs}

Besnard had flopped a set and the {8-Diamonds}{2-Hearts} didn't help the overpair of Richard as Besnard doubled up.

Photos courtesy of Caroline Darcourt

Player Chips Progress
Franck Besnard fr
Franck Besnard
81,000
81,000
81,000
Otto Richard fr
Otto Richard
24,000

Tags: Franck BesnardOtto Richard

Calamusa Chips Up, Loosli In, and Defending Champion Richard Out

Level 7 : 300/600, 600 ante

The player under the gun raised to 1,400 and Pierre Calamusa defended his big blind. The flop came {4-Clubs}{6-Diamonds}{3-Diamonds} and the pair both checked. The turn was the {5-Clubs} and the former champion checked to his opponent who bet 1,500. Calamusa then check-raised to 6,000 and his opponent folded.

After doubling up Franck Besnard earlier, Otto Richard's seat was empty. He has until the end of Level 15 to re-enter today, as well as up to two bullets on either Day 1b or 1c.

Meanwhile, Winamax Team Pro Sylvain Loosli has joined the field with a starting stack of 50,000.

Player Chips Progress
Pierre Calamusa fr
Pierre Calamusa
55,000
13,000
13,000
Sylvain Loosli fr
Sylvain Loosli
50,000
Otto Richard fr
Otto Richard
Busted

Tags: Franck BesnardPierre CalamusaSylvain Loosli

Level: 8

Blinds: 350/700

Ante: 700

Former Champion Calamusa On "Good Memories" in Dublin

Level 8 : 350/700, 700 ante
Pierre Calamusa
Pierre Calamusa

Pierre Calamusa was spotted heading to the cage to re-enter and we caught up with the former Winamax Poker Open Dublin champion.

"In 6-Max there's a lot of variance," he said. "My first bullet was {a-}{q-} vs {j-}{j-}. When you're 50 blinds deep there's nothing that you can do; you just have to get the chips in and pray!"

Calamusa took down the WPO Dublin title in 2015 and says he has a bunch of good memories here in the Irish capital.

"It's good to see all the players from online, as well as the amateurs that qualified for free. The WPO and the SISMIX are very special tournaments and I enjoy playing them.

"I like having fun, meeting new people and creating new friendships. That's really what Winamax tournaments are all about. You're here to maybe win money but if you don't and you bust you still have a lot of things to do and have fun."

Earlier this year at the Winamax SISMIX in Marrakech, Calamusa enjoyed a deep run of a different vareity - in the Beer Pong tournament. Will we see him in this week's competition?

"Hopefully yes!" he said, laughing. "The only problem is that I don't drink beer; I play vodka pong. So by the end of it I don't see anything, so I need a good partner!"

Player Chips Progress
Pierre Calamusa fr
Pierre Calamusa
50,000
-5,000
-5,000

Tags: Pierre Calamusa

Level: 9

Blinds: 400/800

Ante: 800

Defending Champion Richard Hopes for More Success...For His Girlfriend!

Level 9 : 400/800, 800 ante
Otto Richard
Otto Richard

It's always interesting to see how defending champions approach returning to the site of quite possibly their finest hour in poker, and Otto Richard is no exception.

"I was a bit stressed today I have to say," he told us on break in the Main Event. "I mean, I do for most tournaments, but more so today than for the High Roller yesterday for some reason.

"Maybe it's because I had a bit to drink yesterday, I'm not sure!"

Already on his second bullet, Richard says that he's "not even disappointed" after losing out in a hand against Franck Besnard aka Captain Vodka. In fact, Richard was spotted taking a selfie with Besnard as the pair headed out on break.

"I still have six entries [total] and I'm quite happy to lose against someone like Captain Vodka rather than anyone else. I know that he played the hand well and I didn't so he deserves it."

Otto Richard Winamax Poker Open Dublin
Otto Richard Winamax Poker Open Dublin

Richard says that he's here in Dublin with his girlfriend, so any off-the-felt activities such as the Beer Pong tournament might be kept on the down-low. Instead, he'll be cheering on his girlfriend at the tables.

"I'd really like for her to win something," he said. "She's just starting as a player; new blood with the money from last year! I've seen her play quite a few times and she's intelligent and has a good chance."

Player Chips Progress
Otto Richard fr
Otto Richard
50,000

Tags: Franck BesnardOtto Richard