47 Survivors on Day 1A, Big Stacks For Javier Tsunamy & Omar Lakhdari
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 |
