Main Event
Day 1a Completed
2019 WSOP International Circuit Anniversary Marrakech
Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2019 WSOP International Circuit Anniversary Marrakech
Buy-in
15,000 MAD
Prize Pool
4,685,000 MAD
Entries
359
Level
31
Blinds
75,000 / 150,000
Ante
150,000
47 Survivors on Day 1A, Big Stacks For Javier Tsunamy & Omar Lakhdari
Level 12
: 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Day 1a of the 2019 WSOP International Circuit 50th Anniversary Marrakech 15,000 MAD (€1,350) Main Event is in the books after twelve levels of 45 minutes each.
A total of 166 entries (including 39 reentries) were made on the first flight of the tournament which took place at the Es Saadi Resort.
Only 47 players survived after 540 minutes of poker and Jose Luis Reconquista (lead photo) ended the day at the top of the count. He bagged 483,000 in chips, sixteen times the starting stack of 30,000 chips.
The Spaniard is followed by his fellow countryman Javier Tsunamy (223,500) and Frenchman Axel Jacquin (210,000). With a stack of 132,000 chips, Omar Lakhdari is just outside the Top 10.
With just 17 entries on the clock, Day 1a started slowly. Only five tables began playing when the 'Shuffle up and Deal' was announced, but soon enough players left the pool of the beautiful resort and made their way to the poker tables. By the end of registration, there were 166 entries made, fewer than in January (194 entries) but more than in 2018 (155 entries).
Mohamed Mamouni and Gregory Grech were the two primary victims of the chip leader after the end of the registration period. Gregory Grech was a heavy favorite with ace-king against king-jack on a king-high flop, but a jack on the turn crucified Grech and launched José Luis Reconquista. Then, less than an hour before the end of the day, Mamouni erupted after being felted by the Spaniard. "They give him Aces he knocks everyone out; they give me Aces, he knocks me out," summarised a disgusted Mamouni.
There were a lot of players felted during this opening day. Bruno Fitoussi, Thierry Morel, Sarah Herzali, Olivier Ferrero, Anas Tadini, Smain Mamouni, Imad Derwiche, Sammy Berrehail, and WSOP bracelet winners Said El Yousfi and Giovanni Rosadoni were just some of many to hit the rail. They have another chance on Friday's Day 1b if they want a chance to succeed Sonny Franco who won this event here last season (earlier this year.)
PokerNews will be on the tournament floor to provide updates. So don't miss the action by checking out WSOP Marrakech coverage on PokerNews.com.
Former WSOPC Marrakech Champions
| Year | Entries | Winner | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 484 | Ricardo Manquant | France | €122,330 |
| 2016 | 446 | Mathieu Selides | France | €95,479 |
| 2017 | 511 | Arron Fletcher | United Kingdom | €130,755 |
| 2018 | 486 | Vladimir Shabalin | Russia | €118,182 |
| 2019 | 544 | Sonny Franco | France | €140,140 |
Chip Counts at End of Day 1a (full)
Level 12
: 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
483,000 | |
|
223,500 | 92,500 |
|
210,000 | 210,000 |
|
|
188,000 | 188,000 |
|
|
161,000 | 161,000 |
|
148,000 | 148,000 |
|
|
140,500 | 140,500 |
|
|
138,000 | 138,000 |
|
137,000 | 137,000 |
|
|
137,000 | 137,000 |
|
|
133,500 | 133,500 |
|
132,000 | 47,000 |
|
|
127,000 | 127,000 |
|
126,500 | 126,500 |
|
123,500 | 68,500 |
|
123,000 | 13,000 |
|
117,000 | 117,000 |
|
113,500 | 113,500 |
|
112,500 | 112,500 |
|
106,000 | 106,000 |
|
102,000 | -23,000 |
|
|
95,500 | -29,500 |
|
|
95,000 | 95,000 |
|
90,500 | 90,500 |
|
87,500 | 87,500 |
Five More Hands
Level 12
: 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
The floor just announced that five more hands will be played before the day is over.
Clock is stopped, bagging and tagging will start soon...
Sick Runout For Fitoussi
Level 12
: 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
No bag for Bruno Fitoussi. Down to 26,300 chips, the French went all-in with 
after a raise and a call form early position. The player situated under the gun elected to call with 
.
The board ran out 
, very bad news for Fitoussi.
Squeeze Light
Level 12
: 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
A player in the Cutoff opened to 5,000 chips and was followed by the button. In the Big Blind, Omar Lakhdari took some chips and throw a squeeze for 20,000 chips.
After some consideration, the two players folded. "Do you want to see one ?" asked Omar Lakhdari in French before showing 
.
"You Can See On Their Face That They Are Dead Money", joked the french-algerian player in English a few seconds later...
Local Heroes
Level 12
: 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Javier Tsunamy is from Spain but he has lived in Marrakech a few years... he just faced another player who is living in Morocco since a decade, Sébastien Compte.
The spaniard opened 3,500 chips in Middle Position and call the 3-bet from the French which was situated in the Cutoff. Tsunamy check-called 9,000 chips and then donked 14,000 chips on a 
board.
After some consideration, Seb Compte has released his hand. With 75,000 chips in front of him, everything is still possible for the bronze medalist of the WPT Marrakech 2010.
Javier Tsunamy has a stack of 214,000 chips.
Level: 12
Blinds: 1,000/2,000
Ante: 2,000
Blitzkrieg
Level 11
: 800/1,600, 1,600 ante
Michael Behnert is rising. The German player just busted two players in one hand where he was the opener.
Anas Tadini moved all-in for 30,000 chips and the big blind reshoved for a little less. Under The Gun, Behnert called for a showdown.
Anas Tadini : 
Big Blind :
Michael Behnert :
No Ace, no King were dealt and Behnert climbs to 125,000 chips less than an hour before the end of the Day 1A.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
125,000 | 125,000 |
Fitoussi Wants a Day Off
Level 11
: 800/1,600, 1,600 ante
Bruno Fitoussi re-entered the tournament just before the end of the registration period with a simple objective, bag a stack for the Day 2 so he could enjoy a day without poker on friday. There's plenty of things to do in Marrakech !
The French Godfather just executed a check-raise on a 
board in a blind versus blind hand... and the BB snap folded !
Fitoussi's plan is coming together as he has now a 50,000 chips stack.