Highlights from day 3 of the 2012 WSOP Europe (September 23)
The first event of the sixth annual World Series of Poker Europe (€2700 Six-Handed No Limit Hold’em) concluded earlier today at the Hotel Majestic Barriere in Cannes, France with Imed Ben Mahmoud (pictured), a Tunisian-born kitchen worker who resides in Antibes, France, conquering a field of 227 to become Tunisia’s first WSOP champion.
Mahmoud was born in Tunisia but resides just seven kilometres away from the Hotel Majestic Barriere. He is 37 years old and says he plans to buy an apartment for his family with the €147,099 in first place prize money. Having played poker recreationally for three years, Mahmoud wasted no time breaking through on the game’s biggest stage.
Similarly to Mahmoud, France’s own Bonnet Yannick was vying for his country’s first WSOP Europe title. France lays claim to 10 WSOP bracelets, but the host country has yet to break through on its home turf. The pair’s heads-up battle lasted less than a half hour.
WSOP Europe event 1: €2700 Six-Handed No Limit Hold’em final table payouts
1 Imed Ben Mahmoud (France) €147,099
2 Yannick Bonnet (France) €90,884
3 Matan Krakow (Israel) €63,671
4 Senh Ung (UK) €44,913
5 Roberto Romanello (UK) €31,925
6 Sylvain Ribes (France) €22,876
• The second day one flight of event two (€1100 No Limit Hold’em) attracted a further 331 players, taking the total to 626 thus creating a prizepool of €600,960 with 98 returning in pursuit of one of 63 spots in the money.
Germany’s in-form pro Marvin Rettenmaier topped the day 1B count on 69,950 after re-entering for this flight. Others who fronted up for their second shot at glory, including Andy Frankenberger, Aussie Millions champion Oliver Speidel, Vanessa Selbst and Michael Mizrachi weren’t as fortunate.
A number of Aussies joined Speidel for day 1B, including Leo Boxell, Terry Gillespie, Jeff Rossiter and Jeff Lisandro, but all were eliminated.
WSOP Europe event 2: €1100 No Limit Hold’em end of day one chip count (top 10)
Marvin Rettenmaier (Germany) 69,950
Ashly Butler (USA) 48,125
Antonio Esfandiari (USA) 47,275
Florian Ciuro (France) 44,300
Antonin Teisseire (France) 43,750
Bruno Tarcisio (Italy) 43,125
Jamel Haddad (France) 41,900
Ran Azor (Israel) 41,150
Dominik Nitsche (Germany) 40,350
Gianluca Cedolia (Canada) 36550
• Additional reporting, WSOP.com
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