After four thrilling days of poker, the record-breaking 2025 Winamax Poker Open Aix-les-Bains is set to conclude today, September 21, with 18 players set to return to Casino Grand Cercle d'Aix-les-Bains at 12:30 p.m. local time for Day 3.
The tournament was the first opportunity for French players to attend a Winamax live event on home soil for over three years, and it was devoured with gusto as the home nation dominated the 2,566-entry field. Those figures created a €1,083,878 prize-pool from the €500 buy-in event, marking the first seven-figure prize pool in the 15-year history of the Winamax Poker Open. With €135,000 up top, a six-figure score awaits the winner.
Tristan Vernay (16,000,000) starts the day at the head of the field, and declared yesterday to PokerNews that he was here to play for the win. He is chasing his first career six-figure score, with recorded live tournament earnings of $16,000. Vernay had the support of a boisterous rail yesterday as he laid waste to his table in the final session to bag the chip lead.
Nassim Rais (11,300,000) sits in second after a consistent performance in Day 2, and Mirand Murseli of Switzerland (10,000,000) rounds out the podium places.
Rais has already secured a career-best score, while Murseli has recorded cashes of just over $50,000, his best effort being a fifth-placed finish in a high roller event at WPT San Remo for $13,287 in 2024.
Start of Day 3 Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tristan Vernay | France | 16,000,000 |
| 2 | Nassim Rais | France | 11,300,000 |
| 3 | Mirand Murseli | Switzerland | 10,000,000 |
| 4 | Julien Gadanho | France | 9,600,000 |
| 5 | Jeremy Cauchard | France | 9,425,000 |
| 6 | Steven Lamalle | France | 8,725,000 |
| 7 | Adrien Burgniard | France | 8,675,000 |
| 8 | Amadou Gassama | France | 8,200,000 |
| 9 | Nino Bellenger | France | 8,200,000 |
| 10 | Yacine Adamon | France | 6,975,000 |
Without doubt the most accomplished player remaining in the field is Winamax ambassador Gus Hansen (6,500,000), who has racked up cashes of over $10,000,000 during a storied career. Hansen suggested to PokerNews his appetite for tournaments has returned, fired by studying with his fellow Winamax ambassadors, and this may be the start of a return to the circuit for the poker legend.
Brothers Julien Viel (2,930,000) and Eric Viel (2,250,000) have both progressed to the final day, a remarkable feat in a 2,500 runner event, and they will be hoping to make the final table a family affair. Jeremy Cauchard (9,425,000) is a Winamax Grande Finale winner, having triumphed in 2024 for a €170,000 payday.
All players have locked up a €4,900 payday, and the players will return to four minutes left at blind level 100,000/200,000, with a 200,000 big blind ante.
Blinds will be increased to 40-minute levels, and play will continue until a winner is crowned.
Remaining Payouts
| Place | Prize | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | €135,000 | 7 | €16,900 |
| 2 | €92 000 | 8-9 | €13,450 |
| 3 | €68,000 | 10-11 | €10,200 |
| 4 | €48,000 | 12-14 | €7,850 |
| 5 | €33,000 | 15-17 | €6.150 |
| 6 | €24,000 | 18 | €4,900 |
The final day will be streamed, and our coverage will be on a thirty-minute delay to match the stream. A link will be available once it is live.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for all your coverage of what is sure to be an exciting day of battle, as we see who can lift the Winamax Poker Open Aix-les-Bain trophy.
