Thomas Bichon saw a raised flop with Davidi Kitai.
Flop: 
- Bichon bet 2,150, and Kitai called.
Turn: 
- Bichon fired again, this time, 5,250. Kitai flatted once more.
River: 
- Fifth street got a check from Bichon. Kitai responded by moving all in for his last 15,450. Stumped, Bichon headed deep into the tank. And stayed there. And stayed there. And emerged with a fold after more than five minutes. Kitai rebuilt to around 33,000 while Bichon was left with 16,000.
We have a new Day 1b chip leader here at the start of Level 5 -- Ahmed Dedabeche -- who went to the break with an impressive stack of 138,000. Late-comer David Benyamine just happened to draw a seat to Dedabeche's right, and the two were just now both involved in a hand.
Benyamine opened from the cutoff with a raise to 700, and Dedabeche called from the button. The big blind called as well, and all three saw the flop come 
. The big blind checked, Benyamine bet 1,300, Dedabeche called, and the big blind called, too.
The turn then brought the 
. This time it checked to Dedabeche, who took the invitation to bet 3,300, forcing folds from both of his opponents.
Dedabeche moves up over 140,000, while Benyamine is still right at his starting stack of 30,000.
Now that Level 5 has begun, registration has finally closed for Day 1b of WPT Marrakech presented by Chilipoker.
The big board shows a total of 85 having come to play today, giving us a total of 222 for the two Day Ones. We await official numbers regarding entrants and the prize pool.
We've only lost 11 of those 85 thus far today, by the way, meaning we are looking at 74 players gathered around nine tables.
Level: 5
Blinds: 150/300
Ante: 25
The players are on a 15-minute break.
Level 4 is nearing its end, meaning late registration is due to end as well. David Benyamine has just bought in and taken his seat at Melanie Weisner's table.
Thomas Bichon opened with a raise from early position to 525, then Davidi Kitai made it 2,000 to go from a couple of seats over.
It folded around to Bertrand Grospellier in the small blind. Grospellier's difficulties have continued, and at that point his stack had dwindled down to around 6,000. He looked across the table at the reraise from Kitai then with an exasperated look folded his hand. A bit sloppy with the toss, the cards turned over to reveal 
.
The big blind folded, too, and Bichon called. The flop came 
. Bichon checked, Kitai bet 1,100, and Bichon called. Both then checked the 
turn and 
river. After some hesitation by both players, Kitai flashed a cheeky grin as he showed his 
. Bichon tabled 
to claim the small pot.
Grospellier couldn't help but smile at how the hand went, somewhat indicative of how his timing hasn't quite been right today. Holding his small stack of chips in his hand, he feinted as if to throw them at Kitai for his having reraised his out of that one, and all laughed.
Grospellier heads to the break with less than 5,000.
Liz Lieu lost a big pot just before the last break, then headed off to her room to change into more comfortable clothes. The switch seems to have worked, as she's back in the groove. Turning the nuts helps, of course. She saw a 
flop six-handed. After the blinds checked to her, Lieu bet 1,500. A player behind her and the small blind called to see the 
hit on the turn. This time, the small blind took the initiative with a bet of 3,200. Lieu flatted, and the other player called as well. The 
river paired the board. His turn stab having failed, the small blind quickly checked. Lieu bet 6,000, and the next player called. After the small blind folded, Lieu showed 
to take the pot with the nut flush. She's up to 38,000.
Having slipped to short-stack status, Arnaud Mattern finally found himself all in and at risk and lost the last of his chips.
Davidi Kitai raised to 525 under the gun and was called by four players, including Thomas Bichon on the button.
Each checked the 
board. The 
turn card was checked to the player in the cutoff and he bet 2,000. Bichon was his lone taker and the fell on he river. The cutoff checked and Bichon checked behind. It was a wise check as it turned out, as Bichon's opponent tabled 
.
Bichon has about the starting stack of 30,000.
button in Safari
