2009 WPT Marrakech

€4,500 Championship Main Event
Day: 1
Event Info

2009 WPT Marrakech

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
87
Prize
€377,262
Event Info
Buy-in
€4,500
Entries
416
Level Info
Level
29
Blinds
40,000 / 80,000
Ante
10,000

Fitoussi Chops

In an uneventful pot until the river, the board read {K-Hearts}{K-Diamonds}{7-Clubs}{2-Spades}{6-Hearts}. The player on Bruno Fitoussi's right bet 600 and Fitoussi popped it to 2,500.

After a few moments, Fitoussi's opponent made it 5,500 to go. Bruno quickly announced all in and his opponent made the call.

Fitoussi flipped over {K-Spades}{7-Hearts} for top boat and his opponent did the same, tabling {K-Clubs}{7-Spades}. Bruno enjoyed a good laugh about it and is sitting on a stack of 21,000.

Tags: Bruno Fitoussi

Tabata-Bye

Ta-battered-bai
Ta-battered-bai
John Tabatabai has just been eliminated, we're not sure where all the money went in on the {5-?} {J-?} {A-?} {9-?} {10-?} board but Tabatabai's {10-Diamonds} {9-Clubs} had ran afoul of his opponent's {K-?} {Q-?}.

Miss for Mizzi

With the board reading {3-Hearts}{3-Spades}{8-Spades} and about 1,600 in the pot, Sorel Mizzi bet 1,100. His opponent raised to 3,075 and Mizzi put in a re-raise for most of his stack, easily having his man covered.

After a short tank, his opponent called all in. Mizzi tabled {A-Spades}{K-Clubs} and his opponent was thrilled to see that, turning over {8-Clubs}{6-Clubs}.

The {2-Hearts} turn and {10-Hearts} river were no help to Mizzi, slipping to 9,300.

Tags: Sorel Mizzi

By the Numbers

Registration for this event is now closed, and the final numbers have been tallied.

This first-ever major African tournament has pulled an impressive 416 entries at €4,500 apiece. The prize money will be distributed among the final 54 players with the bottom prize level being worth €8,219. Each of the final six players at the final table will be guaranteed more than €55,000, and the top four spots are all good for six-figure paydays.

The man or woman who outlasts the whole room and collects all the chips in play will be rewarded with a WPT title and 4,305,600 Dirhams! That's €377,262.22 if you're converting currencies at home. The full breakdown of the prize pool can be found in the tab to the right.

The big board shows that nearly 50 people have already been shown the door, leaving us with 369 at the moment.

Levi Suffers A Crack...

Nicolas Levi
Nicolas Levi
With the board reading {9-Spades} {K-Clubs} {7-Hearts} {4-Diamonds} {10-Spades} Nicolas Levi fired out about 3,000 on the river, only to be quickly raised to 8,000.

Levi thought had and called but got shown {Q-Clubs} {J-Clubs} for the nuts. His opponent then jumped up and shouted, "Yes!" in a rather loud and unsporting manner as he raked in the chips.

Boatman Pulls Off A Bluff

With the board reading {7-Diamonds} {2-Spades} {K-Spades} {3-Hearts} {A-Diamonds}, there was a bet of 1,050 and a call in front of Barny Boatman.

Boatman then raised, making it 6,050 to play instead. The other two players both folded, the latter showing the {A-Spades}.

Boatman showed {7-Clubs} {4-Hearts}.

Level: 4

Blinds: 100/200

Ante: 0

Uh-Oh, Obrestad

Annette Obrestad opened the pot with a raise from the cutoff seat, and the button and both blinds came along to a four-handed flop.

It brought {9-Hearts} {3-Hearts} {J-Clubs}, and the action checked to Obrestad. She continued out with a bet of 1,000, and the button quickly called. The small blind ducked out, and the big blind called, and it was three-handed to the turn.

It was the {8-Hearts}, and Obrestad fired another 3,100 chips at the pot. After some pause from both opponents, they each called in turn. The river was the {5-Hearts} to put four hearts on board. Obrestad flicked out another 6,000, and the button would tank hard. He eventually made the call, and the big blind flashed the {Q-Hearts} as he mucked his hand.

Obrestad turned over {K-Hearts} {Q-Clubs} and her opponent quietly said, "Nuts." He showed up {A-Hearts} {J-Diamonds}, ahead the whole time. His big flush knocks Annette down to a puny 4,400 chips.

Tags: Annette Obrestad