Gus Hansen misses out on victory at the Winamax Poker Open 2025 due to a cooler

Legendary Gus Hansen finished seventh at the final table of the Winamax Poker Open Aix-les-Bains 2025, losing a tough cooler and missing out on the title after 12 years.

The main event of the Winamax Poker Open Aix-les-Bains 2025 has concluded at Casino Grand Cercle, drawing an impressive field of 2,500 participants. The main intrigue of the final day was the return of legendary Danish pro Gus Hansen to the final table of a major tournament for the first time in twelve years. However, the long-awaited victory was not to be: Hansen exited the tournament in seventh place after a brutal cooler against Mirand Murseli. The triumph went to French regular Jeremy Cauchard , who secured his second Winamax title. Gus Hansen’s Return: The Road to the Final Table Gus Hansen —WSOP bracelet holder and three-time World Poker Tour champion—had not won a major tournament since 2013. After a long break from live series, he was back in the spotlight, making the final table of the Winamax Poker Open Aix-les-Bains 2025. Since 2023, Hansen has been a Winamax ambassador, and this year he already made a deep run at the WSOP in the Eight Game Mix Championship. Now, he confirmed his status by reaching the final seven in this prestigious European tournament. However, misfortune struck on his way to the trophy: in a key hand, he went all-in with ace-king (A-K) against the pocket aces (A-A) of Mirand Murseli and lost the battle for the top prize. For his seventh-place finish, Hansen received €16,899. Despite the disappointment, he noted that he had rediscovered his passion for tournaments after a long break: “I really enjoyed playing this week. Over the last ten to fifteen years, I’ve barely played tournaments, but now the enthusiasm is back. It’s a completely different format compared to cash games, and I’m happy to go deep again.” Hansen told PokerNews. He also praised the atmosphere in Aix-les-Bains and the work of the Winamax team, saying he was glad to be part of a strong ambassador team, highlighting WSOP finalist Leo Margets . According to Hansen, they regularly support each other and work together to improve their game. Jeremy Cauchard: Second Winamax Title and a Confident Victory While fans’ attention was focused on Hansen’s return, the battle for the top prize unfolded among the other finalists. In the end, Jeremy Cauchard claimed victory, becoming a Winamax champion for the second time in his career. In heads-up play, he defeated Mirand Murseli , earning €135,000. For Murseli, second place was a career-best result—he took home €92,000. This success was another major achievement for Cauchard: in March 2024, he won the Winamax Poker Tour Grand Final, where his prize was €170,000. Thus, the Frenchman continues to confirm his status as one of the strongest players in the series. How the Final Table Action Unfolded The final day of the tournament started off fast: Benoit Pierrisnard was eliminated in the very first hand. Alexis Tremblay doubled up twice early on and eventually finished fifth, making the most of his advantage. Brothers Julien and Eric Viel also made deep runs but fell just short of the final table, stopping just outside the top 8. In the middle of the final table, Nassim Rais took the initiative, knocking out several opponents in a row. However, it was Mirand Murseli who reached the final seven as chip leader. The first finalist to bust was Gus Hansen, followed by Adrien Burgniard . Tremblay and Amadou Gassama were next to leave, leaving Cauchard, Rais, and Murseli as the final three. The three-handed battle lasted several hours. The turning point came when Cauchard doubled up against Murseli, gaining a decisive advantage. He managed to hold onto the lead and secure the win: in the final hand, his king-high beat Murseli’s queen-high, earning the Frenchman the main trophy. Payout Table: Final Table of Winamax Poker Open Aix-les-Bains 2025 1st place: Jeremy Cauchard — €135,000 2nd place: Mirand Murseli — €92,000 3rd place: Nassim Rais — €66,000 4th place: Amadou Gassama — €49,000 5th place: Alexis Tremblay — €36,000 6th place: Adrien Burgniard — €26,000 7th place: Gus Hansen — €16,899 8th place: Benoit Pierrisnard — €12,000 Tournament Format and Series Features The Winamax Poker Open Aix-les-Bains is a major annual event on the European poker scene, organized by Winamax. The tournament was held at Casino Grand Cercle and attracted 2,500 participants, highlighting the high level of interest in the series. The format is a multi-table tournament (MTT) with progressive elimination: as soon as a player loses all their chips, they are out, and the winner is the last player remaining at the table. A key feature of the series is the large number of qualifiers and a strong field of professionals, including Winamax ambassadors such as Gus Hansen and Leo Margets. For many players, participating in such events is a chance to test themselves against the best in European poker and gain valuable experience. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players The results of the Winamax Poker Open Aix-les-Bains 2025 clearly show that even after a long break, experienced players can successfully return to tournament poker. Gus Hansen, despite years away from regular tournaments, made the final table and demonstrated a high level of play. For PPPoker club members, this is a great example that continuous development and community support help you stay competitive at any level. Another important takeaway is the significance of teamwork and sharing experience. As Hansen noted, regular hand discussions and support within the Winamax ambassador group contribute to everyone’s growth. PPPoker clubs should also focus on joint training, hand analysis, and sharing strategies, which can raise the overall level of play within the team. Finally, the Winamax Poker Open proves that major live series remain an excellent opportunity for ambitious players to showcase their skills, gain valuable experience, and win significant prizes. Practicing in PPPoker online tournaments can be great preparation for such events, and the successes of players like Jeremy Cauchard and Gus Hansen provide extra motivation for growth and new achievements.