Main Event
Day 1a Completed
2015-2016 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech
Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2015-2016 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech
Buy-in
€1,350
Prize Pool
€5,795,000
Entries
444
Level
32
Blinds
60,000 / 120,000
Ante
20,000
Benaissa Leads After Day 1a of the 2016 WSOP International Circuit Morocco
Level 12
: 600/1,200, 200 ante
A total of 55 players will return for Day 2 of the World Series of Poker International Circuit Main Event on Saturday, after the conclusion of Day 1a. 148 players including 12 reentries started today in Marrakech, with Brian Benhamou and Gael Dirig among the early casualties, but it will be Sofian Benaissa leading the way with 248,300, closely followed by Loic Blarez (232,000).
Benaissa amassed most of his chips when he flopped quad nines on a 
board, and managed to get value from his opponent with 
.
Other big names include November Niner Pierre Neuville, who registered late in the day, but still managed to bag 101,400, and legendary British player Barny Boatman. Boatman was up until 5 a.m. last night after finishing second in a side event, but he didn't let that stop him from bagging up 91,400, and a second chance at a WSOP Circuit ring.
Also still in contention after Day 1a is former Reading midfielder [Removed:30] (166,000) and double PCA side event winner Guy Taylor (67,700). French pros Guillaume Diaz (62,700) and Paul Tedeschi (35,100) are also still in the hunt after Day 1a.
Sadly there was no such luck for Rakesh Lalwani, who won a WSOP ring earlier this festival as well as a host of French players including Isabel Baltazar, Micka Busto and Nicolas Chappuis, as well as Moroccans Mehdi Hsissen and Abdelhadi Kondah.
Be sure to come back at 13:00 local time for continued PokerNews updates when Day 1b gets underway!
Chip Counts (Full)
Level 12
: 600/1,200, 200 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
248,300 | 8,300 |
|
232,000 | 77,000 |
|
|
166,200 | |
|
|
166,000 | 105,000 |
|
147,000 | 42,000 |
|
142,200 | |
|
130,500 | |
|
|
128,500 | |
|
|
126,600 | |
|
126,400 | |
|
|
112,700 | |
|
|
110,400 | |
|
104,400 | 104,400 |
|
101,400 | 66,400 |
|
99,000 | |
|
|
95,100 | |
|
|
93,200 | 15,200 |
|
93,000 | 30,000 |
|
|
92,900 | |
|
91,400 | 78,800 |
|
90,200 | 90,098 |
|
90,000 | |
|
|
81,800 | |
|
80,100 | 35,100 |
|
79,700 |
Last 3 Hands
Level 12
: 600/1,200, 200 ante
Tournament staff drew for how many more hands we were going to play tonight and the answer was three!
Olivier Ferrero needed just one of those however, as his 
came from behind against his opponent's 
on a board which ran out 
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
40,000 |
Tavernier Calls Quignard's Bluff
Level 12
: 600/1,200, 200 ante
On a board of 
Pierre-Antoine Quignard moved in for 22,500 into a pot of well over 30,000. With straight and flush possibilities, Tavernier found it in himself to call with just 
, earning an approving tap of the table from Quignard, who showed 
before standing and leaving the tournament floor.
There are now just 57 players remaining as we approach the end of Day 1a
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
45,000 | |
|
Busted |
Eliminations Left, Right and Centre
Level 12
: 600/1,200, 200 ante
It would appear that several players are looking to perhaps take advantage of the reentry policy of the tournament in this, the last level of the day. The number of eliminations has increased with 61 players left from 146 who started the day. There is just over 35 minutes left in the level, and we will of course bring you confirmed chip counts at the end of the day
Level: 12
Blinds: 600/1,200
Ante: 200
Benaissa Chip Leader After Flopping Quads
Level 11
: 500/1,000, 100 ante
Earlier we saw Sofian Benaissa eliminate Brian Benhamou Jacks vs Eights, but this elimination has a little bit more 'Wow!' factor. Holding pocket nines, Benaissa saw a board of dealt, flopping quads. What's more is his opponent held top pair, top kicker, and gave him the full double up. Benaissa now leads the tournament with a colossal 240,000
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
240,000 | 152,000 |
Big Slick for Benneteau
Level 11
: 500/1,000, 100 ante
Early in the day Roland van Morckhoven had roughly 135,000 chips. Now he has fewer than half that many after losing some to Jeremie Benneteau. van Morckhoven called a bet of 3,100 on a flop of 
and then both players checked the 
on the turn. After Benneteau checked the river 
, van Morckhoven threw out a hefty bet of 10,000 which was called. The Belgian meekly tabled 
for a straight, but I think even he knew that it wasn't best as Benneteau tabled 
to scoop the pot
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
60,000 | -30,000 |
|
|
51,000 | 28,500 |
Sow Wins a Small One
Level 11
: 500/1,000, 100 ante
Kalidou Sow looks to keep the pressure on the opponents at his table. This time he 3-bet from the cutoff and put out a large continuation bet on the 
which took down the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
34,000 | -6,000 |