The 2016 PMU.fr WPT National Marrakech started September 24th and runs till coming Sunday, October 2nd. The festival started with a slate of warm-up events, but yesterday the big boys turned up for the 20,000 MAD (€1,800/$2,060) High Roller. Today, that event continues with still 40 players left in contention. As registration remains open till start of play, that number might still grow.
The likes of Tony Dunst and Roberto Romanello gave it a shot yesterday but failed to make it last. As the dust settled after 12 levels of 40-minutes each, no Dunst or Romanello was seen on the list of players that made it through to Day 2. They still have the option to re-enter before start of play today, so they might give it another go. Even if they don't, the event is not shy of star power. Albert Peres (485,200) leads the field. Romain Lewis (149,100), Sarah Herzali (139,800), Eric Sfez (108,300), Kuljinder Sidhu (81,600), and Jean Montury (69,000) are all still in contention.
The event resumes at 4pm local time (in about 60 minutes). The first level on the schedule will be level 13 (1,500/3,000 with a 400-ante). Follow along with the action today till a winner is crowned, right here on PokerNews.com.
We're not entirely sure what has happened, but Imad Derwiche was down on the ground, surrounded by players and tournament staff.
Several players were trying to help the French high roller and the tournament was halted. Derwiche was conscience and was seen walking away just now with help from the tournament staff. His chips are still in play but things aren't looking too good for him.
The tournament has since been resumed, now without Derwiche. We hope he's going to be ok and will update when we receive additional information.
Just minutes after writing about Sfez's failed three-bet, his seat was empty and he was nowhere to be seen. One of his former table mates told us he lost his last chips in a blind battle with against the big blinds . No luck for Sfez and he made his exit from the tournament.
Action folded to Albert Peres in the cutoff and he opened for 12,000. Peres, who started the day as chip leader but now only had about 200,000 or so to start the hand, found a caller in small blind Kully Sidhu.
The flop came and both players checked. The on the turn saw Sidhu check again, and he called as Peres bet 20,000.
With the completing the board, Sidhu was pondering for a bit. Peres, grabbing 40,000 or so and looking like he was about to bet, asked the dealer if action was on him. It wasn't, and Sidhu checked. Peres instantly checked behind.
Sidhu showed for the rivered straight. Peres open mucked his .
Action folded to French player Dimitri Sukhorukov in the cutoff and he made it 13,000. The button and small blind both folded but Sarah Herzali in the big blind made the call.
Both players checked the flop of and the hit the turn. Herzali checked again and Sukhorukov answered with a bet of 10,000. Herzali quickly check-raised to 25,000 and Sukhorukov called casually.
The completed the board and Herzali bet 17,000. Sukhorukov called, but mucked upon being shown .
Johan Guilbert was first to act and made it 22,000. Action folded around to [Removed:152] in the big blind and he called.
[Removed:196] checked on and Guilbert bet 23,000. [Removed:196] instantly announced "50,000" and put the needed chips in right after that. Guilbert thought about it for a bit before he called.
The turn came the and [Removed:196] instantly said he was betting 60,000. Guilbert, with about 170,000 behind at this point, tanked for a fair bit before open mucking his .
[Removed:196] put his cards towards the muck, but right before the dealer started the scramble he pulled one back to revealed the .
Romain Lewis was down to his last 116,000 and moved in from early position. Action folded around to big blind Nabil Mohamed Abdien Cardoso and he inquired how much it was. Upon finding out it was "just" under 10 big blinds, he called.
Romain Lewis:
Nabil Mohamed Abdien Cardoso:
Lewis was leading but his hand was volatile. The made Cardoso the favorite. The on the turn left the door open for a chop, but the on the river was a blank and Lewis said his goodbyes.
Bernard Guigon was first to act and opened for 28,000. Action folded to Sarah Herzali on the button and she moved all in for 136,000. Johan Guilbert, in the big blind, made the call and Guigon folded.
Johan Guilbert:
Sarah Herzali:
The board ran out and Herzali doubled.
Not much later, she squared off against Andrei-Salustiu Luncan. Herzali raised to 25,000 from early position and Luncan called from the big blind.
Luncan check-called a bet of 29,000 on and the fell on the turn. Luncan checked again and Herzali bet 42,000. Luncan check-raised all in for 270,000 and Herzali called instantly.
Andrei-Salustiu Luncan:
Sarah Herzali:
The river was the meaningless and Herzali knocked out her opponent.
Joseph Pineiro waited a long time, but in the end, it wasn't enough. He was down to just 9,000 in chips, less than a big blind, and moved in from middle position. [Removed:152] (cutoff), Sarah Herzali (button), and Henrique Pinho (small blind) all called. Big blind Mathieu Selides checked.
The flop came and all four players still eligible checked. The hit the turn and Pinho bet 30,000. The three other players all folded and Pinho gave his opponent the bad news right away.
Joseph Pineiro:
Henrique Pinho:
The on the river wasn't one of the aces or the remaining five Pineiro was looking for, and he made his exit in 9th place.
Gabriel Ergen opened for 54,000 and Bernard Guigon, down to his last 59,000 again already, shoved all in for just a tiny bit more. Mathieu Selides cold called, Ergen added the 5,000 to make it three way.
There would again be no side pot as Ergen and Selides checked down the board of .
Ergen showed for the rivered two-pair and Selides mucked. Guigon tabled but that hand was no good anymore, the king on the river had meant the end of it for him.
8th place for grinder Bernard Guigon, worth MAD 80,000 (±€7,333/±$8,247). The remaining 7 players are guaranteed MAD 100,000 (±€9,167/±$10,308) from here on out.