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16,000 MAD Main Event
Day 1a Completed
2026 WSOP Circuit Marrakech
16,000 MAD Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info
2026 WSOP Circuit Marrakech
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1a
Buy-in
16,000 MAD
Prize Pool
23,039,000 MAD
Total Entries
1,694
Level
36
Blinds
500,000 / 1,000,000
Ante
1,000,000
Entries
645
Players Left
97
Players Left 1 / 1,694
Filter
Level 16
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
With the success of the first ring events of the 2026 World Series of Poker Circuit Marrakech at the Es Saadi Marrakech Resort, it wasn’t hard to guess that the 16,000 MAD Main Event would attract a large number of players.
After the 584 entries recorded on Day 1a in 2025, this number increased to 645 entrants this year in the first of three starting flights. Out of this field, 97 players found a bag at the end of the day and already secured a spot in the money.
They are led not by one but by two players, who almost bagged the exact same stack. Officially, Amine Moussallaoui is first in chips with a massive 1,053,000. After already building a big stack during the early levels of the day, a one million-chip pot with queens against ace-king propelled him to the top of the counts after dinner break.
He shares the chip lead with none other than Anas Tadini. At the Casino de Marrakech like at home, he used his gift of the gab to build his stack as he always does. Hassan Fares (895,000), Bartlomiej Machon (843,000) and Emmanuelle Allory (797,000) complete the Top 5.
Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amine Moussallaoui | France | 1,053,000 | 105 |
| 2 | Anas Tadini | Morocco | 1,050,000 | 105 |
| 3 | Hassan Fares | France | 895,000 | 90 |
| 4 | Bartlomiej Machon | Poland | 843,000 | 84 |
| 5 | Emmanuelle Allory | France | 797,000 | 80 |
| 6 | Kamal Sefrioui | Morocco | 765,000 | 77 |
| 7 | Nathan Tetart | France | 722,000 | 72 |
| 8 | Malcolm Franchi | France | 705,000 | 71 |
| 9 | Gerard Armengaud | France | 672,000 | 67 |
| 10 | Maher Achour | Tunisia | 617,000 | 62 |
Good calls helped Malcolm Franchi reach 705,000. Orey Canarinho (582,000), Nolan Madene (579,000) and Marc Foggin (556,000) also built big stacks, along with Anthony Apicella (550,000) and Fabrice Bigot (484,000).
The 2019 WSOP Main Event champion Hossein Ensan moves on to Day 2 with 420,000 after sharing a table during the final levels with Alexandre Reard (357,000), Marc Bougaret (270,000) and Ramon Colillas (202,000).
After doubling up several times today, Leo Margets bagged 144,000, slightly more than last year’s runner-up Gandalf (136,000). Jean-Jack Chantalat (123,000) also qualified for Day 2 only a few hours after winning the Seniors’ Event ring and the Clash of Generations heads-up.
Meanwhile, players such as Hugues Girard (95,000) and Mario Fata (92,000) battled to reach the money and ultimately managed to do so.
For those who failed to qualify on Day 1a, it’s far from being over, with Day 1b kicking off this Friday, January 23 at noon local time. Unlimited re-entries are allowed until the end of the first 12 levels, and there will be a last chance with Day 1c Turbo at 9 p.m., featuring 15-minute levels.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for all the updates until a winner is crowned!
Level 16
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
1,053,000
53,000
|
53,000 |
|
||
|
1,050,000 | |
|
895,000
895,000
|
895,000 |
|
843,000
468,000
|
468,000 |
|
797,000
22,000
|
22,000 |
|
765,000
643,000
|
643,000 |
|
722,000
667,000
|
667,000 |
|
705,000
510,000
|
510,000 |
|
|
672,000
482,000
|
482,000 |
|
617,000
392,000
|
392,000 |
|
606,000
606,000
|
606,000 |
|
597,000
597,000
|
597,000 |
|
582,000
508,000
|
508,000 |
|
579,000
527,000
|
527,000 |
|
556,000
221,000
|
221,000 |
|
550,000
225,000
|
225,000 |
|
|
511,000
511,000
|
511,000 |
|
|
510,000
15,000
|
15,000 |
|
|
492,000
165,000
|
165,000 |
|
490,000
490,000
|
490,000 |
|
484,000
418,000
|
418,000 |
|
459,000
459,000
|
459,000 |
|
446,000
446,000
|
446,000 |
|
|
445,000
445,000
|
445,000 |
|
|
441,000
51,000
|
51,000 |
Level 16
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
The 97 remaining players are now in the money and qualified for Day 2.
Stay tuned as PokerNews provides you chip counts and a recap of today's action!
Level 16
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
While the tournament director was about to break a table, another table was still playing.
According to players at this table, Nabil El Hage in the hijack limped with four big blinds behind. The cutoff raised and was called by the small blind and El Hage.
All three of them checked a flop of AxA♠J♠ leading to the 5♠ turn where the cutoff bet 15,000. Both of his opponents checked called.
The 4♠ completed the board and the small blind bet 20,000. El Hage called to find himself at risk with 9♠8♠ for a flush, but ran into the cutoff's full house with AxJx. The small blind muck his cards.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Busted |
Level 16
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
With 98 remaining players for 97 players in the money, the clock was stopped and the hand-for-hand procedure is about to start.
Level 16
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
Laurent Rimetz on the button was all-in and at risk for 64,000 against Ramon Colillas in the cutoff.
Laurent Rimetz: 10♦10♠ 
Ramon Colillas: Q♣Q♥
Rimetz ran into queens and was eliminated by Colillas' full house on J♠J♦6♠Q♦K♣.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
200,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
|
Busted |
Level 16
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
Mario Fata opened to 32,000 from the hijack keeping only 5,000 being. Abilio Silva in the big blind just called.
Silva checked a flop of 9♠K♥8♠. Fata bet and Silva snap-called.
Abilio Silva: 5♠4♠
Mario Fata: A♣9♣
Fata flopped a pair. A Q♥10♣ runout completed the board and he doubled up. At the same table, Anas Tadini reached the 1,000,000-chip mark.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,050,000
805,000
|
805,000 |
|
150,000
95,000
|
95,000 |
|
90,000
40,000
|
40,000 |
Level 16
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
Moments after Cecile Ticherfatine ran into aces to be eliminated, Nacim Amakrane in early position raised all-in for 291,000 on a board of 7♥A♥10♦5♥ with 110,000 in the pot. Bachar to his left went deep into the tank and eventually called for roughly 100,000.
Bachar: A♠5♠
Nacim Amakrane: A♣Q♥
Bachar called with two pair and thought he had the win after the 8♥ river landed on the felt. He clenched his fist but his table mates quickly told him that Amakrane hit a flush on the river and that he was eliminated.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
495,000
243,000
|
243,000 |
|
|
Busted |
Level 16
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted |
