Finito for Fournier and Alessi

The final two tables are set for this Main Event, which promises €185,000 to its winner. Greg Fournier bowed out in 18th place for €8,660 after losing two shots to Frank Schuler, who took the opportunity to climb back up to 850,000 chips with an average of 1.6 million.

First, Schuler held with a pair of 7s against King Jack to double up and cripple Gregory to 250,000 chips. On the next hand, the German opens at the cutoff and the Frenchman pays with 125,000 chips behind, taking his time (there's a tier between 18th and 17th place editor's note)... 

The dealer unlocks a King 5 5 flop with two spades and Greg goes tank-check-call with a pair of 4s when he's pushed all-in. Schuler returns King-Queen and no 4 comes to save the tricolor... 

Assured of a €9,950 payout, Salvatore Alessi jumps two minutes later with the Jacks against Romain le Dantec. The Frenchman hits with Ace-King to reduce the field to his last two tables. Semi-finalists will secure 5 figures and €11,450 in the next draw. 

With 65 minutes remaining on this level, it's on to the dinner-break... with 7 French, 5 Germans, 2 Belgians and 2 Dutch still in contention in this field of 532 entrants. 



Table 43 (in order of seating)
Frank Schuler
Mathieu Gallois
Romain le Dantec
Gilles Huet
Iman Ghasheyar 
Gaetan Lheureux 
Jorg Schneegass 
Fabian Bartuschk

Table 44 (in order of seating)
Kalidou Sow
Ali Aram
Zhong Chen
David Kahan
Raoul Kanme
Rayane Moktavarium
Axel Sebire
Idir Haiche

Iman Out

Circus Cup finalist at the CPS 2023 festival for €43,000, Iman Ghasheyar failed to reach the final of the CPS 2024 Main Event. The German insclined in 16th place after experiencing a major bad-beat.

It all started in the middle for 45 blinds on a 3 7 8 flop against Romain Le Dantec, who couldn't return better than 9s. The Frenchman was dominated by his opponent's set of 8's, but a turn 4 and above all a river 9 saw him leave the game for €9,950. Romain le Dantec is chipleader with 4.6 million chips!

There are 35 minutes to go before the dinner break, with an average of 1.7 million chips. The game unfolds over 15,000 - 30,000 (30,000)... 

Dinner break

Finally, a 75-minute dinner break. Resumption just before 10pm in blinds 20,000 - 40,000 (40,000) with 15 players and an average of 1.77 million chips... 

Faabian took over from Romain during the last level before this break... The players have played 5 levels of 90 minutes each since resuming at midday.

Table 43 (in order of seats)
Frank Schuler 1,030,000
Mathieu Gallois 1,995,000
Romain le Dantec 3,160,000
Gilles Huet 1,525,000
Gaetan Lheureux 1,265,000
Jorg Schneegass 2,540,000
Fabian Bartuschk 3,805 000


Table 44 (in order of seating)
Kalidou Sow 585 000
Ali Aram 1 980 000
Zhong Chen 650 000
David Kahan 1 900 000
Raoul Kanme 2 175 000
Rayane Moktavarium 1 520 000
Axel Sebire 835 000
Idir Haiche 635 000

In the Moktavarium

Rayane Moktavarium hesitated for 6 minutes when Raoul Kane asked for his stack on Dame Dame 2 6 5 a few minutes ago. From the small blind, the Dutchman limped then raised to 340,000 chips, from the big blind the Frenchman bet-call preflop before calling again 160,000 chips on the flop and 275,000 chips on the turn.

On the river Raoul advances a stack of white chips. 1 million, a little more than Rayane has, who apologizes after three minutes of tanking. "Sorry", he says, before continuing a minute later... "c'est close, quelle horreur", adds the BPC champion before apologizing again with a "désolé" and handing over his cards a minute later. The Frenchman leaves this exchange with 935,000 chips, while Raoul Kanme stands at 2.9 million. Table boss with Idir Haiche and Kalidou Sow lurking in the shadows.

At the other table, Romain le Dantec leads the way (4.1 million), but Fabian Bartuschk (3.4 million) and Jorg Schneegass (2.8 million) have the chips to disrupt the WSOP champion's progress. 

With 50 minutes left to play on level 25 and blinds 20,000 - 40,000 (40,000), it's rumoured that level 26 could well be the last of the day... no official announcement yet, with 15 players and an average of 1.7 million in chips. 

Blitzkrieg

No outs, 20 minutes to go before a break. Romain le Dantec has just raised to 2.8 million... chipleader the Frenchman has lost two big hands in quick succession.

First he opens under the gun with 80,000 chips and pays Jorg Scheengass ' 3-bet to 260,000 from the button. Bartuschk tanke folde in the small blind and Romain pays before checking-calling 200,000 chips on Jack 4 5 with two spades. No action on the King of Hearts turn, which opens a second color draw and the dealer unwraps a Queen of Spades river. 

Romain bets 475,000 chips... and is raised to 1.3 million. The German remained unperturbed for 4 minutes as Romain became increasingly agitated... before finally raising the white flag and preserving 3.3 million. His opponent climbs to 3.9 million.

On the next move, just as Romain confided that he "had folded three of a kind" as he raised to the rail, Fabian Bartuschk opened at the end of the floor before sending in three chocolates. The German bets to 275,000 turn chips and 615,000 river counters on 8 2 Queen 7 7 with two clubs on the flop and a third on the turn... Check-call twice and check-fold for Romain who gives up after 2 minutes... complicated passage as Fabian Bartuschk climbs to 4.1 million chips. Kaiser of the tournament at 15 left still...

Top 14: half the survivors are French

7 French, 4 Germans, 2 Belgians and 1 Dutch... With 8 minutes to go before the end of the 20,000 - 40,000 (40,000) level, only 14 players remain in the CPS 2024 Main Event. The average has climbed to 1.9 million chips with the exit of Zhong Chen in 15th place for €11,450.

The German open-shoved 10 blinds with Ace 5 and saw Axel Sebire isolate with Ace Valet. The Frenchman hit an As Valet Dix Dix Dame board to consolidate his lead and climb to 1 million just before what should be the final break of Day 3.

Break

Resume on 25,000 - 50,000 (50,000), there's a starting stack in the middle to put the blind in... The average is 1.9 million chips, or almost 40 blinds!

No announcement yet, but this level 26 could well be the last... At table 43, Mathieu Gallois held his own, while Gaetan and Gilles had little to do during the last level, when the Schneegass-Bartuschk duo took on le Dantec.

On table 44 Kalidou Sow doubled his capital during the last level, while Moktavarium lost ground to Raoul Kanme... Ali Aram and David Kahan are solid, while Axel and Idir are fighting at the back of the pack! 

Table 43 (in order of seats)
Frank Schuler 1,375,000
Mathieu Gallois 1,950,000
Romain le Dantec 3,125,000
Gilles Huet 1,185,000
Gaetan Lheureux 805,000
Jorg Schneegass 3,475,000
Fabian Bartuschk 4,300,000


Table 44 (in order of seating)
Kalidou Sow 1,135,000
Ali Aram 2,045,000
David Kahan 1,340,000
Raoul Kanme 2,870,000
Rayane Moktavarium 790,000
Axel Sebire 1,250,000
Idir Haiche 855,000

Same Old...

There's no change in the dynamics at either table, with 14 players split into two groups of 7 and an hour left to play in the 25,000 - 50,000 blinds (50,000). This is officially the last hour of poker on Day 3... 

Sow Close

No more hopes of success in this CPS Main Event for Kalidou Sow. The EPT winner and former Team Pro PokerStars player sends 785,000 chips straight down the middle with King-Queen mismatched and hears Axel Sebire go all-in over the top with two more blinds. Axel flips Ace-King and eliminates his compatriot on a board of 8 Jack 7 Ace-5. Axel reraises to 1.6 million for an average of 2 million with 13 players remaining...

Kalidou Sow pockets €11,450, the survivors have secured €13,170... with 50 minutes remaining on Day 3. 

Ciao Schuler

12 players left in this CPS Main Event, and only 3 Allemads left after the disappearance of Frank Schuler (left above). Taken down by a losing hand to Jorg Scheengrass, Schuler sent out his last 5 blinds with Ten and 8 mismatched... and was paid off by Mathieu Gallois. The Frenchman returns Ace Ten and stays ahead to climb to 2.3 million chips.

Schuler collected €13,170 for his 13th place out of 532 players in the CPS 2024 Main Event. The average is 2.2 million over 25,000 - 50,000 (50,000)...

Just 45 minutes to go before Day 3, also contested over 90-minute levels and with a 9-handed streaming final. Mathieu Gallois (below) deserves to be poker shown over the last two days! 

Gilles not unhappy

Gilles Huet opens-shoves in the small blind for 710,000 chips and grimaces when Gaetan Lheureux pays in the big blind. The Belgian returns Ace-King and faces a mismatched Jack 4!

Flop 6 7 8 gives Gilles some outs, and he misses turn on 8 but not river on 5. The straight goes to the Frenchman who raises to 1.4 million as Gaetan joins the rail for €13,170.

The average is 2.4 million chips with 11 players for an average of 2.4 million. There's one Belgian left, David Kahan, with half an hour to go before the end of Day 3! 

More Belgian

A Belgian won't win the CPS 2024 Main Event... there won't be any in the final after David Kahan's elimination. Caught by the patrol David was... he sent straight from the small blind with Ten and 6 followed by a dozen blinds. Raoul Kanme with Ace 6 quickly paid. One board later, it was the final table bubble!

With 25 minutes left to play on 25,000 - 50,000 (50,000), the next eliminated player would be the last to miss out on the Final Day starting at 1pm... but Gilles Huet would follow in the rail less than ten minutes later. Romain le Dantec opens on the button and Gilles snap reshoves in the small blind with Ace King. Romain pays Ace 7 and hits to free the 9 survivors from a field of 532 entrants.

There are only 9 left and play resumes on blinds 25,000 - 50,000 (50,000) with 17 minutes to go and an average of 2.9 million chips. The day stretched over 10 hours 15 minutes of poker and almost 7 full 90-minute levels to reduce the field from 36 to 9! 

There are 5 Frenchmen, one Dutchman and 3 Germans left in the tournament...

612,000 to be shared, Sunday from 1 p.m.

A day of poker lasting over 10 hours brought the field down to 9 players in the CPS 2024 Main Event. Guaranteed a €19,000 payout, the finalists will share nearly €612,000 on Sunday from 1pm, with 17 minutes to play on blinds 25,000 - 50,000 (50,000). The champion will walk away with €185,000 at the end of a streaming Day 4 with Club Poker Radio's Shishi and Comanche on commentary. 

5 Frenchmen, 3 Germans and a Dutchman battled it out to round off the festival in style.

The Final Table (in seating order)
Axel Sebire (Fr) 3 510 000
Fabian Bartuschk (All) 5 245 000
Mathieu Gallois (Fr) 2 050 000
Raoul Kanme (Nl) 2 500,000
Jorg Schneegass (All) 4,275,000
Idir Haiche (Fr) 580,000
Rayane Moktavarium (Fr) 590,000
Ali Aram (All) 3,100,000
Romain le Dantec (Fr) 4,750,000

Final payout for Event #23 Main Event CPS 2024 (532 players - €1,010,268 prizepool)
Champion - €185,000
Runner Up - €117,500
3rd - €84,500
4th - €65,000
5th - €50,000
6th - €38,400
7th - €29,520
8th - €22,788
9th - €19,000

Streaming

Comanche and Shishi on the mic for the CPS 2024 Main Event final... There's a 15-minute security delay, the aprtie has started with 9 players and still 18 minutes to play on 25,000 - 50,000 (50,000). 

Levels are 90 minutes long, with €185,000 at the top and another €612,000 in prizepool prizes to be shared by the finalists! 

Short Final for Idir 

Ten minutes and already out... Idir Haiche had revised his ranges and the GTO in case he doubled up, but his appearance in the final of the CPS 2024 Main Event was short-lived. The Frenchman finally bowed out in 9th place for €19,000 after two hands. On the first hand, the Frenchman made two pair on the flop but the runnout was horrible behind... so he jumped on the next one. 

Idir Haiche went all-in with 405,000 small blind chips after an open from Romain le Dantec... the Frenchman called with a pair of tens, ahead of Idir Haiche's pair of 8s.

The Parisian joined the rail at the end of an Ace 9 2 5 Ten board... Romain raises to 5 million, while Idir joins the rail before the blinds have even gone up in this final, which began with 1 minute to play on 25,000 - 50,000 (50,000).

Last in the class at the start of the final, BPC champion Rayane Moktavarium has already taken a seat! The blinds will climb to 30,000 - 60,000 (60,000) with an average of 3.3 million. 

First Break

Play resumed on 40,000 - 80,000 (80,000) with an average of 3.3 million and 8 players guaranteed €22,788. Romain le Dantec took an early lead, while Fabian Bartuschk and Jorg Schneegass maintained their stacks (as did Mathieu Gallois and Ali Aram) in the first 108-minute session... While Rayane Moktavarium has doubled up, there are 2 players under 20 blinds at the resumption and the BPC champion is last in class. There are 4 Frenchmen, 3 Germans and a Dutchman, Raoul Kanme, who has lost ground in this early final. 

The Final Table (in seating order)
Axel Sebire (Fr) 2 195 000
Fabian Bartuschk (All) 5 420 000
Mathieu Gallois (Fr) 2 100 000
Raoul Kanme (Nl) 1,150,000
Jorg Schneegass (All) 4,380,000
Rayane Moktavarium (Fr) 930,000
Ali Aram (All) 2,635,000
Romain le Dantec (Fr) 7,750,000

Final payout for Event #23 Main Event CPS 2024 (532 players - €1,010,268 prizepool)
Champion - €185,000
Runner Up - €117,500
3rd - €84,500
4th - €65,000
5th - €50,000
6th - €38,400
7th - €29,520
8th - €22,788
9th - €19,000

No double for Rayane, crazy bluffs in Namur

Winner of the BPC in May for €200,000, Rayane Moktavarium exits the game in 8th place in this CPS 2024 main Event. Successful on Day 2, the Frenchman went all-in with the best hand to get back to 24 blinds...

Moktavarium shoves 11 blinds Ace-Queen and is paid off by Jorg Scheengass who raises to 5.7 million with King-Queen when a King appears on the turn. 

Next up, Romain le Dantec gets into the action with a big bluff shown on Fabian Bartuschk. The WSOP champion shows Roi 4 for "air" after the German folds two flopped pairs to Dame Dix 7 9 7 with a spade draw on the flop. Romain bets 1.8 million into 2.7 million to soar to 9.8 million after the German blance flag. 

This was enough to heat up Jorg Schneegass, still in the 40,000-80,000 blinds (80,000) and with an average of 3.8 million. While Ali Aram has the 4th stacks of the 7 survivors and 30 blinds, he opens the queens on the big blind of his defending compatriot. Ali bets 125,000 on 6 8 6 rainbow and clicks to 775,000 when Jorg check-raises! It's paid to uncover a 9 which opens up a potential club draw... and no action. On the river, Jorg Schneegass, with Ace Ten in his hands, pushes 2 million into 2 million and Ali ends up keeping 1.4 million and folding! 

At the end of these two rounds played within minutes of each other, Romain found himself with 125 blinds and almost 10 million in chips. Schneegass (above) is at 6.5 million (80 blinds) and Fabian Bartuschk at 4.5 million (55bb) for a solid podium finish... behind them, the 5-player club is between 1.8 and 1.3 million (22 and 16 blinds ) for a huge IM pressure!

Everyone has secured €29,520 and there's still €569,000 in the pot to be shared in 7! After a short break, play resumes on 50,000 - 100,000 (100,000) with 38 blinds still on average... 

Chipcount at the start of level 29
Romain le Dantec 9 615 000
Jorg Schneegass 6 660 000
Fabian Bartuschk 4 675 000
Raoul Kanme 1 775 000
Mathieu Gallois 1 355 000
Axel Sebire 1 285 000
Ali Aram 1 215 000

Trois Sortants, Trois Français

Three Frenchmen in a row! Another Frenchman is on the rail, as Mathieu Gallois is the third victim at this final table of the €2200 CPS Main Event. There were 5 French players at the start, but now there are just 2, with the chipleader and Axel Sebire engaged in a battle with Ali Aram at 10-12 blinds down the leaderboard.

Mathieu Gallois (left below) signs off his one time with a €29,520 win for 7th place. The Frenchman goes straight to 11 blinds in the small blind and Raoul Kanme (right below) wakes up with a little more and King Jack suit to raise. Kanme moves up to 2.5 million chips after a King 4 4 King Jack board with two clubs on the flop...

The Final Table (in seating order)
Axel Sebire (Fr) 1 110 000
Fabian Bartuschk (All) 4 545 000
Raoul Kanme (Nl) 2 500 000
Jorg Schneegass (All) 6 275 000
Ali Aram (All) 1 200 000
Romain le Dantec (Fr) 9 350 000

The payout for the final of Event #23 Main Event CPS 2024 (532 players - €1,010,268 prizepool)
Champion - €185,000
Runner Up - €117,500
3rd - 84,500€
4th - 65,000€
5th - 50,000€
6th - 38,400€

7th - Mathieu Gallois (Fr) 29,520€
8th - Rayane Moktavarium (Fr) 22,788€
9th - Idir Haiche (Fr) 19,000€

50,000€ guaranteed for the Top 5

Axel Sebire was the first to put himself in danger of elimination... the Frenchman found Ace Valet with 10 blinds and logically tried his luck, only to be impaled by Fabian Bartuschk's Jacks. The German had a chance to go all in again, but an ace-raise saved the Frenchman and sent the man who was chipleader at the 1 p.m. start a little further down the table!

Next up, it was Ali Aram (below) who had to move... and the German found no new life when he went all in with the Jacks. Ali fell on the queens to chipleader Romain le Dantec, who held his nerve to climb to 11.3 million chips. Ali Aram finally pocketed €38,400 for this deep-run field of 532 entrants.

50,000 guaranteed for the last 5 players in the field, with the game still being played over 50,000 - 100,000 (100,000) and 53 blinds on average. Let's get down to business! 

The Final Table (in seating order)
Axel Sebire (Fr) 2 200 000
Fabian Bartuschk (All) 2 300 000
Raoul Kanme (Nl) 4 100 000
Jorg Schneegass (All) 6 575 000
Romain le Dantec (Fr) 11 200 000

The Big Bluff

The levels have been reduced to 75 minutes, as only 5 players are left in the running for a €50,000 prize in the €2,200 CPS Main Event, which attracted 532 entrants. It's the last level before the 75-minute dinner break...

Play resumes with an average of 5.3 million on blinds 60,000 - 120,000 (120,000), during the last level Romain le Dantec kept the tournament lead including a big all-in bluff against Raoul Kanme, a bluff once again shown at the table...

The Frenchman isn't a ton ahead as he took a "gamble" with an open shove from the button on two players at 10-20 blinds to his left. Fabian Bartuschk got back on track by finding an ace-queen versus queen-valet confrontation in the boss's house...

Axel Sebire raised fold ace-valet before the break and found himself behind after the break. 88 hands have been played so far... 

The Final Table (in seating order)
Axel Sebire (Fr) 1,760,000
Fabian Bartuschk (All) 5,000,000
Raoul Kanme (Nl) 3,900,000
Jorg Schneegass (All) 5,115,000
Romain le Dantec (Fr) 10,750,000

Dinner break

The final round resumes at 9:35pm with blinds 75,000 - 150,000 (150,000) and an average of 5.3 million. Axel Sebire is last in class after doubling up with Ace 7 against Dame Valet at Romain le Dantec's house. The chipleader hit Top pair on the flop but there were 3 hearts and a heart turn secured the survival of the second Frenchman in contention. With two Germans, two Frenchmen and a Dutchman back in action, everyone is guaranteed a €50,000 payout and is aiming for a €185,000 first prize.

The stream is 17 minutes late... 

The Final Table (in seating order)
Axel Sebire (Fr) 1,700,000
Fabian Bartuschk (All) 5,000,000
Raoul Kanme (Nl) 1,450,000
Jorg Schneegass (All) 6,000,000
Romain le Dantec (Fr) 10,700,000

Table TV live

Blines 75,000 - 150,000 (150,000) for 75 minutes with 5 players guaranteed at least €50,000. 502,000€ left in the prizepool! 

New Boss

The final level saw Romain le Dantec keep up the pressure. The Frenchman went all-in preflop against Axel Sebire, Fabian Bartuschk and Raoul Kanme... enough for Fabian to reposition himself in the lead! 

The blinds increase to 100,000 - 200,000 (200,000) with an average of 5.3 million. In 20 minutes players will have a short 7-minute break... 

The Final Table (in seating order)
Axel Sebire (Fr) 2 300 000
Fabian Bartuschk (All) 7 900 000
Raoul Kanme (Nl) 3 650 000
Jorg Schneegass (All) 3 450 000
Romain le Dantec (Fr) 8 600 000

Axel Sebire collects €50,000

After almost 4 hours with 5 players, it was a French war that brought downAxel Sebire. Very solid from the start of the tournament, the Frenchman pocketed €50,000 for his 5th place out of the 532 entrants to the CPS 2024 Main Event.

Axel rehoves Dame 9 of diamonds in the small blind after a 400,000-chip button min-raise from Romain le Dantec. Romain instantly pays with the Aces to move back into the lead.

With 50 minutes left to play on 100,000 - 200,000 (200,000), things seem to be coming together!

The Final Table (in seating order)
Fabian Bartuschk (All) 9,700,000
Raoul Kanme (Nl) 3,650,000
Jorg Schneegass (All) 4,300,000
Romain le Dantec (Fr) 9,500,000

Plan à 3 Fatal

Fabian Bartuschk cracked a bit. The German had made a blind call when Romain le Dantec had pushed him all-in with gutshots and diamonds to go between the balls, but this time he took off his headband before playing his tournament with ace-queen suite.

Romain le Dantec opened on the button for 400,000 chips with Jacks and Fabian paid in the small blind. In the big blind, Raoul Kanme wakes up with queens and pushes 2.4 million chips. Romain le Dantec goes all-in on top and Fabian decides to call for almost 40 blinds and his survival!

Romain covers both players, but the best hand comes at the end of a 5 King 3 3 Ten board. Romain takes the outside against the German and rises to 15 million chips, while Raoul triples to 7.3 million. 

The survivors are guaranteed a €65,000 payout... it's Jorg Schneegass who now seems to be in danger. 

Final payout for Event #23 Main Event CPS 2024 (532 players - €1,010,268 prizepool)
Champion - €185,000
Runner Up - €117,500
3rd - €84,500
4th - Fabian Bartuschk (Al) €65,000

5th - Axel Sebire (Fr) 50 000€
6th - Ali Aram (Al) 38 400€
7th - Mathieu Gallois (Fr) 29 520€
8th - Rayane Moktavarium (Fr) 22 788€
9th - Idir Haiche (Fr) 19 000€

Podium for Jorg Schneegass (€84,500)

Five minutes more than his mate Fabian Bartuschk... It didn't take long for Jorg Schneegass to put it all in the middle from the back of the class. The German opened from the small blind with ace-queen and paid when Romain le Dantec reshoved with ace-8 diamonds. The Frenchman went ahead on the river of a 5 6 Ten Queen King board with two diamonds on the flop and a diamond on the river, triggering the final duel! 

The last two players on ice are guaranteed a €117,500 payout... deal talks are quickly abandoned between Raoul Kanme and Romain le Dantec. With 21 million (42 blinds) against 5.5 million (27bb) the Frenchman starts with an advantage... 

Raoul Kanme Runner-Up (€117,500)

After Dutch successes in PLO, High-Roller and Mystery Bounty, Raoul Kanme was unable to pull off the perfect move in the head's up Main Event. The Dutchman was logically defeated at the end of a last duel which started late and during which he was scratched before jumping onto his first stack. 

After 25 minutes of duel, down to 2 million chips on blinds 100,000 - 200,000 (200,000), Raoul went all-in from the button with Roi 8. A quick call from Romain le Dantec with Roi Valet. One table later, the WSOP (and WSOPCircuit) champion completes his prize list with a home tournament, or almost. 

"Winning in Namur, where I started poker is a pleasure," begins the Nordiste. "It's a pleasure," he repeats before recounting his success. "I was chipleader all the way through, first on Day 1, then in the Top 3 on Day 2, Day 3 and for the final," explains the champion... who also filmed his final with a Go Pro on his chest to explain some of the bluffs on offer during this victorious TF.

"I think he went a bit crazy... my tournament was a success because I'd brought a player who knows what to do to the point where he didn't know what to do anymore... he took off his headband," Romain laughed, before congratulating his rail and posing for a photo.


More reactions to come

The final payout of Event #23 Main Event CPS 2024 (532 players - 79 paid - €1,010,268 prizepool)
Champion - Romain le Dantec (France) €185,000
Runner Up - Raoul Kanme (Nl) €117,500
3rd - Jorg Schneegass (Al) 84 500€
4th - Fabian Bartuschk (Al)65 000€
5th - Axel Sebire (Fr) 50 000€
6th - Ali Aram (Al) 38 400€
7th - Mathieu Gallois (Fr) 29 520€
8th - Rayane Moktavarium (Fr) 22 788€
9th - Idir Haiche (Fr) 19 000€

185,000 for Romain Le Dantec, winner of the CPS 2024 Main Event

Duty done. Romain Le Dantec looks happy and proud... but measured in the seconds following his success in the second edition of the €2200 CPS Main Event. Romain showed his ability to finish the job.

"(Fabian) I got him off his game, I'm satisfied with my game and what I showed," explained Romain Le Dantec, who proved beyond doubt in a final lasting over 12 hours that he "belongs to the good French players". A benchmark success in a tournament that paid its last 79 players. 

The Frenchman was among the big stacks from start to finish, dominating his tables and getting his opponents where he wanted them. "Technically, it's true that the Germans were better than me, but I didn't work on my game like they did. There's no doubt about it, I don't have their skills, but I know how to put pressure on this type of player... sometimes I can make mistakes, but not today," he said, remaining modest despite his strong words.

"I hope people see me as a good player... I play every shot as if it were my last and I give it my all after I know that technically it's not perfect... sometimes that's a strength when it comes to exploiting opponents," explains the man who has just taken the lion's share of a €1,010,800 prizepool.

"I've achieved something, and it's not just variance... I felt like I had 100 blinds the whole game," adds Romain. 

WSOP champion, WSOP Circuit winner, cash-game and sports betting enthusiast, this 29-year-old player from the North of France is establishing himself as another Frenchman to watch in the arena. His bluffs in a high-level final showed the talent of an aggressive player who doesn't mess around. In fact, Romain filmed himself at a TV table, setting up a few reels in the style of Dans La Tête d'un Pro. "People will be able to see that I don't leave things to chance, the shots aren't made at random", Romain Le Dantec continues.

Romain's mastery of the game and his ability to set the tempo were the keys to his biggest financial win at poker: €185,000 without a deal after a duel overturned in 25 minutes. "With Saint-Amand, this is my second home, I made a semi-final on a big game, then again at the BPC... I was on the verge of a good result and to concretize here is symbolic", admitted Romain, a regular at the Circus Casino Resort in Namur. 

His final Dutch opponent, Raoul Kanme, was almost non-existent, even though he had been showing good form since the tournament kicked off last Tuesday... Romain paid tribute to his last opponents after his victory, having finished 17th in last year's BPC and dreaming of a big performance in Namur. "I'm not going to lie (his runner-up and the last two Germans in the race, ed. note), they're good profiles, but I'm at ease against competent players, I make them think," continues the Frenchman who runs bakeries in real life.

"The plan was to add a little variance to the game... make them doubt, get into their brains... that's how I get out of it, I feel like I've put them in difficulty. When I see his exit with As Dame," says Romain, before saluting "the friends who coach him on a daily basis". "Thanks to the buddies for the support... a few tips and it's perfect to surpass yourself; that's how you get ahead", assures the champion. 

Probably stung by a last-longer with Omar Lakhdari at the start of the event, Romain quickly sensed that there was something to be made of this tournament. "I think I'm better than when I won my bracelet, I don't want to sound pretentious but I know what I'm doing. There are a lot fewer big spews and when I take bluff spots, I know what I'm doing", concludes the player who showed a definite maturity and knew how to respond at the right moment.

"When I made Fabian overtake me and he went back in front, it was hard in my head, but after 5 minutes I said to myself 'You're still in second place, stop worrying, if you have to lose you'll lose, but give it everything you've got'. I was happy with my play, I pushed him to the limit, he took off his headband, I feel like saying mission accomplished", added Namur's new boss. 

The future looks bright for the man who finally feels "mature at poker". "Maturity is coming... it makes me want to work hard to go further. I'm going to have to work hard on the game to go further. Here I liked the marathon format, the structure... it makes you want to do that on an EPT. The truth is, I've got some work to do, but maybe as soon as Prague," concluded the undisputed winner of the CPS Main Event.

The final payout of Event #23 Main Event CPS 2024 (532 players - 79 paid - €1,010,268 prizepool)
Champion - Romain le Dantec (France) €185,000
Runner Up - Raoul Kanme (Nl) €117,500
3rd - Jorg Schneegass (Al) 84 500€
4th - Fabian Bartuschk (Al)65 000€
5th - Axel Sebire (Fr) 50 000€
6th - Ali Aram (Al) 38 400€
7th - Mathieu Gallois (Fr) 29 520€
8th - Rayane Moktavarium (Fr) 22 788€
9th - Idir Haiche (Fr) 19 000€