French player Quentin Lo won the UDSO Main Event in Marrakech

The main event of the Unibet DeepStack Open at Casino de Marrakech has concluded with a record number of participants. The victory went to Frenchman Quentin Lo, who received 765,000 MAD.

The main event of the Unibet DeepStack Open (UDSO) series at Casino de Marrakech has come to a close, featuring a 6,000 Moroccan dirham (MAD) buy-in and drawing a record-breaking 937 entries. The title went to French player Quentin Laugt, who showcased confident and aggressive play at the final table. For his victory, he received the UDSO champion’s belt and the top prize of 765,000 MAD (€74,125) from a total prize pool of 4,768,000 MAD (€462,000). Unibet DeepStack Open Marrakech: A Festival for Poker Fans The Unibet DeepStack Open series is traditionally geared toward recreational players rather than high-stakes professionals with multi-million-dollar winnings. The organizers emphasize a friendly atmosphere, player-friendly tournament structures, and the chance for anyone to test themselves in a true poker competition. The main event in Marrakech was a perfect example: not only did seasoned regulars take part, but also many newcomers and amateurs hoping to cash in a live tournament for the very first time. For context: according to The Hendon Mob, the combined live earnings of all final table participants at the start of the final table barely exceeded $1 million, with nearly half of that total belonging to just one player. The Road to the Final Table: Dramatic Finishes and Key Moments Initially, 16 players were expected to return for the final day, but after the previous day’s action, 31 remained, making the start of the final day especially tense. Within just two levels, the field was reduced to 18, and the real race for the final table began. Much attention was focused on Ghali Hsissen, whose father—well-known Moroccan poker pro Mehdi Hsissen—was closely following his son’s progress from the rail. However, family support wasn’t enough, and Ghali finished in 16th place. The last woman standing in the tournament was Cristina Jugastru. Her hopes for a deep run ended in 14th place after losing a classic coin flip (a situation where both players have roughly equal chances of winning). Malik Corbin came close to reaching the final table, but after his two pair were beaten on the river, he was left short-stacked and was eliminated soon after in 10th place. The Final Table: How Quentin Laugt Seized Control Hassan Atigh, who led the field after Day 1d, had played an aggressive game throughout the tournament. However, at the final table, he lost a classic all-in coin flip and became the first player eliminated from the final nine. Habib Rachedi picked up pocket kings twice and used them to knock out Steven Bohn in eighth place and Frederic Popot in seventh. Soon after, Ahmed Blili eliminated Manuel Lopez in sixth, and both he and Quentin Laugt began to pull away from the rest of the field in chips. The last Moroccan hope, Belghiti Smail, bowed out in fifth place. From that point on, only French players remained in contention for the title. At this stage, Quentin Laugt began to make the most of strong value bets and well-timed bluffs, allowing him to accumulate more than half the chips in play. The remaining players were forced to tighten up due to ICM (Independent Chip Model) pressure, which takes into account the value of chips in a tournament and influences decision-making near the payouts. Quentin Laugt eliminated Ahmed Blili in fourth place, while Habib Rachedi sent Tristan Forge to the rail in third. This result was especially meaningful for Forge: his father was cheering him on from the rail, and his partner was expecting their first child in the coming weeks. Remarkably, Forge’s father also finished second in one of the series events, making it a true family celebration. Heads-Up: The Decisive Duel Between Laugt and Rachedi The final showdown for the title came down to Quentin Laugt and Habib Rachedi. Although Rachedi managed to double up at the very start of heads-up play, Laugt quickly regained the chip lead. He continued to apply pressure, built his stack, and ultimately closed out the win, securing the second-largest score of his career. For Quentin Laugt, this triumph was the culmination of an intense run: at the time of his victory, he had been playing non-stop—both online and live—for 22 consecutive days. Now, with the champion’s belt and another trophy added to his collection, he can finally enjoy a well-deserved break. UDSO Marrakech Main Event Payouts 1st place: Quentin Laugt — 765,000 MAD (€74,125) 2nd place: Habib Rachedi 3rd place: Tristan Forge 4th place: Ahmed Blili 5th place: Belghiti Smail 6th place: Manuel Lopez 7th place: Frederic Popot 8th place: Steven Bohn 9th place: Hassan Atigh The total prize pool for the tournament was 4,768,000 MAD (€462,000), with the top prize of 765,000 MAD (€74,125). Prior to this victory, Quentin Laugt had already amassed over $237,000 in live tournament earnings, with his previous best result being $89,448. Key Hands and the Champion’s Strategy At the final table, Quentin Laugt stood out not only for his aggressive play but also for his excellent timing with value bets and bluffs. These tactics allowed him to build a big stack and put pressure on his opponents in the most crucial hands. This became especially apparent after the last non-French players were eliminated, as the remaining contenders tightened up, wary of losing out on payouts due to ICM pressure. Key all-ins also played a significant role: Habib Rachedi picked up pocket kings twice and used them to eliminate opponents, while Ahmed Blili knocked out one of the chip leaders. Ultimately, it was Quentin Laugt who best capitalized on the table dynamics to convert his advantage into victory. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players Quentin Laugt’s win in the UDSO Marrakech Main Event demonstrates that even tournaments with relatively modest buy-ins and player-friendly structures can become arenas for fierce competition and substantial prizes. For PPPoker club members, this is a great example of how important it is to skillfully use poker tools—such as value betting, bluffing, and ICM awareness—even in events aimed at recreational players. Moreover, the success of players without massive lifetime winnings proves that everyone has a chance to shine in these series. Deep-structured tournaments with large fields allow players to showcase their strategic skills and gain valuable experience, which is useful both online and in live events. For PPPoker club members, this is a reason to pay attention to tournaments with friendly structures and not be afraid to take a shot at major events. Technical skill is important, but so are psychological resilience, the ability to adapt to table dynamics, and knowing when to apply pressure to your opponents. These are exactly the qualities that led Quentin Laugt to victory in Marrakech.