Reporting by Aaron McBride
Alejandro Roman has been crowned the WPTDeepStacks Marrakech 13,200 MAD Main Event champion after he battled through a record-breaking 545 player-field at the Casino de Marrakech.
Roman defeated Silma Macalou heads-up to win the 1,100,000 MAD (approx. $113,601) first-place prize + a WPTDeepStacks European Championship Main Event package. Roman’s victory prevented Macalou from becoming the first-ever WPTDS back-to-back winner after the Frenchman claimed his first title at WPTDS Portugal precisely two weeks ago.
However, Macalou’s deep run means he is now the overall WPTDS Europe Player of the Year leader, and a clear favorite to claim the €10,000 WPT Passport.
The event, in partnership with partypoker LIVE, saw players from all around Europe compete in the sunshine setting of Marrakech.
Final Table Results:
| 1 | Alejandro Roman | 1,100,000 MAD + WPTDS EUC Package |
| 2 | Silma Macalou | 774,000 MAD |
| 3 | Pedro Ingles | 560,000 MAD |
| 4 | Daniel El Keslassy | 420,000 MAD |
| 5 | Francois Tosques | 320,000 MAD |
| 6 | Bruno Fitoussi | 245,000 MAD |
| 7 | Yohan Gonzales | 190,000 MAD |
| 8 | Pierre Antoine Quignard | 151,000 MAD |
| 9 | Jerome Zerbib | 123,000 MAD |
Final Day Action
Twelve players returned to the Poker Dome in the poolside setting at the Es Saadi Resort for Day 3.
Former WPTDS Deauville final tablist Mohamed Mamouni was the first to depart and was quickly followed to the payout desk by Orey Canarinho and Manuel Lopez.
Jerome Zerbib then missed out on a spot at the official final table of eight when his pocket tens lost a classic race against ace-king.
Pierre Antoine Quignard and Yohan Gonzales then departed before partypoker ambassador Bruno Fitoussi had to settle for sixth-place. Fitoussi got his chips into the middle preflop and was ahead with pocket tens versus pocket sevens. However, despite Macalou folding a seven preflop, Fitoussi’s opponent hit a set on the flop, and the Frenchman found no way back.
One of the best stories during WPTDS Marrakech was that of Francois Tosques (pictured below) who was looking to defend the title he won here just twelve months ago. Tosques battled well and put up a valiant effort, but ultimately ran king-queen into pocket aces to exit in fifth-place.
Daniel El Keslassy hit the rail in fourth-place after running pocket sevens into pocket jacks, and the final three began a lengthy sequence of action. They battled for over four hours, with each player holding the chip lead after numerous double-ups. Pedro Ingles was the most fortunate after he twice found a board to survive on despite being at a disadvantage preflop but ultimately exited in third-place when his ace-nine lost out to jack-ten.
The heads-up match began with even stacks, but Macalou took the lead before Roman doubled. After just 30 minutes of action, the final hand saw Roman hit runner-runner flush, and the Spaniard check-called a shove from the Frenchman on the river to claim victory.
That’s all from us here in Marrakech! Next up on the WPTDS schedule in Europe is Dusk Till Dawn, Nottingham, which kicks-off on October 3, as part of the massive WPT UK festival. We look forward to seeing you there!
Check out all the WPTDS Marrakech pictures at Flickr! Photography courtesy of Tomas Stacha
