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€1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event
Day 1a Completed
2026 WSOP Circuit Middelkerke
€1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event
Day: 1a
Players Left 27 / 72
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Chip Counts
Chip Counts
1
875,000
3
460,000
4
451,000
6
104,000
8
48,000
Level 17
: Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante
It took roughly two hours at Casino Middelkerke to eliminate two players and finally burst the bubble on Day 1a of the WSOPC Middelkerke Main Event. But a long bubble doesn't necessarily mean a boring one, as almost all of the eight remaining players came close to elimination at one point or another during those two hours.
Raf de Wever eventually became the unfortunate bubble boy, falling to Toby Roots (451,000). However, it could also have been Lorenzo van der Velde.
After an early elimination, van der Velde re-entered and made his way into the final nine with an above-average stack. Then, on the bubble, he found himself involved in a massive pot against Samy Barka holding ace-king against queens. Van der Velde fired two barrels and paired his king on the turn, allowing him to scoop the pot. Losing that hand could have left him among the shortest stacks, but instead, it propelled him to the top of the counts. He eventually bagged the chip lead with 875,000.
Barka managed to double up a few hands later and finished the day second in chips with 486,000.
Day 1a Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lorenzo van der Velde | Netherlands | 875,000 | 73 |
| 2 | Samy Barka | France | 486,000 | 41 |
| 3 | Dylan Dereuddre | Belgium | 460,000 | 38 |
| 4 | Toby Roots | Belgium | 451,000 | 38 |
| 5 | Hesham Ayoub | Netherlands | 150,000 | 13 |
| 6 | Ben Devers | Belgium | 104,000 | 9 |
| 7 | Anthony van Walleghem | Belgium | 76,000 | 7 |
| 8 | Daan Vandewalle | Belgium | 48,000 | 4 |
Dylan Dereuddre also found himself in trouble shortly before the bubble. He was at risk with pocket kings but managed to double up. His stack continued to grow thanks to what he described as a "good run," and he eventually bagged 460,000.
Behind him, there is a significant gap to the other players who qualified, all of whom finished with 13 big blinds or fewer. Hesham Ayoub leads this group with 150,000 after tripling up and then doubling up twice during the bubble. Despite his short stack, he also doubled up Ben Devers on the bubble, allowing the Belgian player to bag 104,000.
Anthony van Walleghem follows with just four chips in the bag for a total of 76,000. He even considered playing another flight to build a bigger stack for Day 2, as the rules allow players to do so.
Daan Vandewalle might have the same idea with just four big blinds (48,000). He had reason to hope for much more, having held a commanding chip lead when late registration closed. However, a bluff that got picked off and several opponents doubling through him cost him most of his chips during the final hands.
After this first flight, the Main Event continues this Thursday, November 12 at 12:30 p.m. local time with Day 1b. From a 50,000 starting stack, players will try the reach the final 15% of the field which will reach the money and qualify for Day 2. Late registration remains open for 12 levels and unlimited reentries are allowed.
PokerNews will be on site tomorrow from the North Sea shore to follow all the action of this second flight!
Level 17
: Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante
Level 17
: Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante
The eight remaining players are currently bagging their chips. They 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 17
: Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante
Raf de Wever jammed for 40,000 from the cutoff and he was called by Toby Roots in the small blind.
Raf de Wever: K♣10♠ 
Toby Roots: 2♦2♥
Roots kept the lead all the way through a board of 5♦4♦J♥A♠7♥ and De Wever was eliminated on the bubble.
Level 17
: Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante
Samy Barka in the big blind and Daan Vandewalle in the hijack were facing each other on a board of K♣A♥8♥J♥3♦ with already 218,000 in the pot. Vandewalle ended up moving all-in and Barka called off his last 169,000.
Samy Barka: J♠8♣
Daan Vandewalle: 10♦7♦
Barka called with two pair, catching Vandewalle bluffing with his missed straight draw to secure a double-up.
Level 17
: Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante
After Daan Vandewalle took a big pot from Samy Barka with ace-king against queens, Daan Vandewalle on the button bet 15,000 on a board of K♣A♥7♥8♣ with roughly 60,000 in the pot. Hesham Ayoub in the big blind raised all-in for 56,000 and Vandewalle called.
Daan Vandewalle: K♦J♥
Hesham Ayoub: A♦9♦
The 4♥ completed the board and Ayoub doubled up.
Level: 17
Blinds: 6,000/12,000
Ante: 12,000
Level 16
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
The action was picked up on a board of A♥5♣K♠4♠ with 80,000 in the pot and Daan Vandewalle betting 60,000 from middle position. Toby Roots to his left made the call.
The 9♦ landed on the river, and Vandewalle moved all in for 242,000. "Sorry guys," Roots apologized as he went deep into the tank for several minutes. Roy, who was among those watching the hand, captured the tension around the table.
Vandewalle eventually called the clock, and Roots decided to fold with just a few seconds remaining on the countdown.
Level 16
: 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
Daan Vandewalle opened from the cutoff, Hesham Ayoub in the big blind moved all-in for 34,000 and Vandewalle called.
Hesham Ayoub: A♦J♦
Daan Vandewalle: K♣J♥
Ayoub kept the lead all the way through a board of 9♣J♠2♣10♥10♠ and doubled up.