34 players including 17 Belgians on Final Day, with Sam Hilger in the lead

A regular at Namur, Sam Hilger is in the lead at 34 left from the Winter FestivalThe biggest tournament in Namur's history drew 4,324 entrants, and the winner will receive a cheque for €90,000 at the end of a streamed final on Sunday. Here he poses at the end of the day with his runner-up, Belgium's Ibrahim Aslan. 

The field is still looking good, with the Dutch, Germans and French on the lookout for a good performance and a 5-figure payout. For the time being, players present on Day 3 insured €1,750... a ticket for a €250 investment, but a figure that doesn't quite live up to the dream of big money for the finalists. 17 Belgians to return for home win! 




Appointments Sunday at 2 p.m. With other regulars still racing, Noah Alem and Francois Heine are dreaming of a home title, as are Guy Goossens, Andrea Caizzi and Somsong Intharanop.

There are 171 million chips up for grabs to lift the trophy, and Farukh Tach, 4th in the provisional chipcount, knows how to do it, having won the Namur Classic's in 2022! 


Chipcount partial Day 2 (selection - 34 left) 
Sam Hilger 9,900,000
Ibrahim Aslan 9,775,000
Dilicious 9700 000
Farukh Tach 9,600,000
David Olurebi $9,350,000
Philippe Merckx 8,225,000
Cueneyt Senguen 6,950,000 
Amael Argento 6,775,000
Denis Schneider 6,300,000
Stephane Vincent 5,825,000

Fabio Quattrochi 5,675,000
Fabrice Bayart 5,425,000
Noah Alem 5,300,000
Carla Verbeeck 4,325,000
Guy Goossens 4,100,000
Roman Langner 4,000,000
Francois Heine 3,700,000
Sergio Benso 3,400,000
Andrea Caizzi $2,900,000
Somsong Intharanop 2,800,000



They Sautéed at the end of Day 2 for €1,750
35th - Christophe Lecocq
36th - William Mansart
37th - Cornelis Orry
38th - Giovanni Danker
39th - Erwin Philips

Payout restant Event #6 Winter Festival Main Event
Winner - €90,000
Runner Up - €55,022
3e - 39 420€
4e - 30 315€
5e - 23 320€
6e - 17 810€
7e - 13 680€
8e - 10 615€
9e - 8 160€

10th and 11th - €6,280
12th and 13th - €5,235
14th and 15th - €4,365
16th and 17th - €3,645
18th to 20th - €3,070
21st to 23rd - €2,670
24th to 27th - €2,315
28th to 31st - €2,010
32 to 34th - €1,750

Olurebi takes the lead

David Olurebi took the lead at the Winter Festival in less than ten minutes. As the levels increased to 50 minutes for this Final Day, the Belgian eliminated Guy Radjiai to move up to 11 million chips. 

The Frenchman had started the day with 2.7 million, and his supporters barely had time to sit down before he had to get up again... The croupiers are already well in place, as the Csino Resort in Namur is open non-stop from Friday to Sunday. 

Canon start

With half the field at around 20 blinds at the start, the bustos began in earnest. There were 7 exits in the first 30 minutes of play.

After the exit of Frenchman Guy Radjiai, Italian Sergio Benso gave up the ghost. A former regular at the Paris tables and increasingly present in Namur, this WSOP Circuit winner bowed out in 33rd place from a monstrous field of 3,423 entrants.

17 Belgians were in place at the start of this Final Day, three of whom jumped in. End of the dream for Abedin Omerovic, the red lantern of Day 3 Dylan Onsval and Andrea Caizzi...

There were 5 tables at the start of the day, now there are only 4...

Collecting €2,010
28th - Roman Langner
29th - Henri Malara
30th - Andrea Caizzi
31st - Dylan Onsval

Collecting €1,750
32nd - Abedin Omerovic
33rd - Sergio Benso
34th - Guy Radjiai

Ca Va Très Vite

Blinds 125,000 - 250,000 (250,000), Sofiane El Yachouti has just gleaned a ton without showdown. Open to half a million, paid once and Sofiane goes all-in for 3 million from the blinds...

It's all in and on to 4.7 million for Sofiane, who takes more than half his stack without a flop on this 3-bet shove. The options are limited with little depth, but it can go either way very quickly... 

Top 25

The last 25 survivors are on the bubble at the last 3 tables of this record-breaking Winter, have reached the top 0.7% of the field and are guaranteed a €2,315 payout.

François Heine jumped in, going all-in directly for 3.7 million under the gun. Just to his left his Belgian compatriot Ian van Hove goes all-in for 3 million... and on the button German Denis Schneider pushes while covering everyone. Fabrice Bayart passes his Ace-King and avoids the 3-way! 



François turns over the 7s, Ian the ace-queens and Denis the queens, but while the 9 jack-ten flop with three hearts confirms Denis' advantage and his queen of hearts, the ace-of-diamonds turn and the 4-of-diamond river take Ian to 9.2 million... in the upper echelons of the ranking. 

Heine jumps to 26th position and Schneider drops to 2.7 million by winning the outside, he'll split Ace-Queen against Ace-Queen on the next hand against van Hove! 

In less than ten minutes the blinds climb to 150,000 - 300,000 (300,000) with an average of 6.8 million chips. 


They collect €2,315
24e - 
25e - 
26th - François Heine
27th - Antonio Almeida

Redraw

With 40 minutes left to play on blinds 150,000 - 300,000 (300,000), the first break of the Final Day will take place at the end of this level. Only 23 players are left in the running, guaranteed a €2,670 payout - just over ten times the starting stake. 

With the exit of Carla Verbeeck, Somsong Intharanop remains the last woman standing. A regular at Namur, Somsong has already deep-run the main tournaments at Circus Casino Resort, finishing 13th in the Havana in June 2023, 19th in the Monster Poker Belgium 2022, 18th in the Carnival 2020 or 29th in the WInter 2015 edition. One Time ?!?



Here's the draw for the new seats, in order. 

Table 15
Dillan Dilicious
Jerome Gerardy
Cueneyt Senguen
Noah Alem
Guy Goossens
Philippe Merckx
Sam Hilger
Andrei Chiriluc

Table 16
Markus Wellen
Baptiste Da Cunha
Sofian El Yachouti
Diab Khodr
Fabrizio Quattrochi
Ibrahim Aslan
Amael Argento

Table 17
Farukh Tach
Fabrice Bayart 
Stephane Vincent
David Olurebi
Pel Nieuwenhuis
Ian van Hove
Somsong Intharanop
Denis Schneider




They collected €2,315
24th - Daniele Venditti
25th - Carla Verbeeck
26th - Franois Heine
27th - Antonio Almeida

Tach already in the rail, Alem at the controls

With a quarter of an hour to go before the break, Farukh Tach was in the rail. In the Top 5 at the start of the second half, Farukh Tach has lost everything in two rather close shots. He suffered two horrors in the space of a few minutes. Da'bord he loses with Aces to Lady Jack on a Jack-high flop... which puts him in danger.

Farukh found a situation to raise with Jacks against 5s preflop... a 5 ended his tournament in 21st place for €2,610. Just before that we lost a competent German who wished to remain anonymous, Dillian Dilicious...

The other big news of the last few minutes was the biggest pot of the tournament between Sam Hilger and Noah Alem.

Philippe Merckx opened to 700,000 chips, 3-bet just to his left on the hijack for 2 million from Sam Hilger, who couldn't resist putting it all in the middle when Noah Alem clicked to 4.5 for half his stack in the small blind. Alem was very active, committing his 9.6 million when called, and flipping Kings confidently.

With Tens, Sam Hilger falls back to 13 million after a board that doesn't help him. Alem soars to 20 million or thereabouts, leading the tournament at 20 left for an average of 8 million.

Break

Play resumes at 4.15pm with 18 players guaranteed a €3,070 payout, the game will resume on 200,000 - 400,000 (400,000) with an average of 9.5 million. 

Table 17 (in seating order)
Cueneyt Senguen 6,300,000
Fabrice Bayart 9,100,000
Stephane Vincent 6,000,000
Pel Nieuwenhuis 15,200,000
Somsong Intharanop 5,700,000
Denis Schneider 9,600,000

Table 16
Markus Wellen 3,600,000
Baptiste Da Cunha $2,600,000
Sofian El Yachouti 6,000,000
Diab Khodr 375,000
Ibrahim Aslan 29,700,000
Amael Argento 4,100,000

Table 15 
Jerome Gerardy 5,375,000 
Noah Alem $19,400,000
Guy Goossens 9,425,000
Philippe Merckx 6,700,000
Sam Hilger 16,575,000
David Olurebi 14,825,000

Edit: Unsurprisingly after the break, Diab Khodr jumped into 18th position. 

They collect €3,070
18th - Diab Khodr
19th - Fabrizio Quattrochi
20th - Ian van Hove

They collect €2670
21st - Farukh Tach
22nd - Dilicious
23rd - Andrei Chiriluc

Semi-finals

15 players remain, with an average of 11.4 million or just under 30 blinds... A redraw has taken place, and the survivors are reunited at two tables with a guaranteed payout of €4,365. 

Table 16 (in seating order)
Ibrahim Aslan
Noah Alem
Pel Nieuwenhuispel 
Sofian El Yachouti
Cueneyt Senguen
Fabrice Bayart
Amael Argento

Table 17 (in seating order)
David Olurebi
Stephane Vincent
Samp Hilger
Guy Goossens
Philippe Merckx
Somsong Intharanop
Jerome Gerardy 
Denis Schneider



They collect €3,645
16th - Baptiste Da Cunha
17th - Markus Wellen

Final approaching

Just under 3 hours into the Final Day, the field has been whittled down from 34 players to 13 survivors in this Winter Festival Main Event.

The field is now down to 13 after Amael Argento's exit. Amael sent his stack under the gun for 2.3 million and just over 5 blinds, and was called by Fabrice Bayart in the big blind with Ten Jacks of Hearts.

The Frenchman beats his opponent's mismatched Ace 3 on a 9 Ten 2 9 8 board. The average climbs to 13.1 million with 20 minutes left to play on 200,000 - 400,000 (400,000).

Then, on the other table, Denis Schneider moves all-in for 2.7 million with Tens and doubles up on Philippe Merckx who pays Ace 9 in the big blind. A little breathing space for the German at the end of a King 5 King 4 King 8 table!

Collecting €4,365
14th - Amael Argento
15th - Cueneyt Senguen

5,235€ in Poches

Only 11 players remain in the running for this Main Event, with the €90,000 first prize taking shape... for Philippe Merckx and Guy Goossens, that's for another time. 

The Belgian duo have jumped within three minutes of each other, and the Final Table is just around the corner. 




They collect €5,235
12th - Philippe Merckx 
13th - Guy Goossens (photo)

Pas Au Top

There are no more women in the running at this Winter Festival Main Event. Somsong Intharanop defends in the big blind after a David olurebi open and donk-shove for just over 4 million on an Ace 6 7 flop. 

David pays with Ace Valet, ahead of the Ace 4 of the last woman standing, and nothing changes the turn or river order of things. David Olurebi climbs to 27 million as play is paused to balance the two 5-player tables. 

There are 32 minutes left to play on 250,000 - 500,000 (500,000) with an average of 17 million. Somsong Intharanop cashed in €6,280 for his new deep-run on a Main Event in Namur. 



Table 16 (in seating order)
Noah Alem 29 million
Pel Nieuwenhuis 28.9 million
Sofian El Yachouti 6 million
Jerome Gerardy 5 million
Fabrice Bayart 9 million

Table 17 (in seating order)
David Olurebi 27 million
Stephane Vincent 30.5 million
Sam Hilger 12 million
Ibrahim Aslan 26 million
Denis Schneider 13.4 million

Noah Alem misses out on the Final

How tough this game is! Noah Alem has just come out of a 60 million pot with Aces, while there are 171 million chips in circulation. 



Pel Nieuwenhuis will be a huge chipleader going into the 9-handed final which starts in a few minutes. This is thanks to a 3-bet to 3.1 million from the small blind! 

On the button, Noah Alem opens to 1.1 million and 4-bets to 8.4 million. It takes Pel Nieuwenhuis almost three minutes to call... The duo see a flop for what is now almost the biggest of the tournament. 

The dealer unlocks a Queen Ten 4 flop with three diamonds and the action is about to heat up. Check from Lieuwenhuis, continuation bet to 7.4 million from noah who snaps when his opponent check-raises all-in. 



With the Aces and the Ace of Diamonds, Noah discovers the Tens in his opponent, who has therefore made three of a kind at the best possible moment. Noah calls for 12 million more than his c-bet, covered with nothing, and nothing helps with a 2 of clubs and a Jack of clubs to finish the board. 

Pel Nieuwenhuis climbs to 60 million, Noah is on the rail. In an understandable mood micro gesture, Alem quickly bangs his fist on the table, then quickly greets his opponents and wishes them good luck. He will try to console himself with a win of €6,280.

The game resumes with 27 minutes to play on 250,000 - 500,000 (500,000), heading for the TV table...

The players are on break until 6.20 p.m., followed by a short photo session, and then the streaming kicks off at around 6.45 p.m.... 

Tous En Finale

The 9 finalists are guaranteed a prize of €8,160 and a CPS Main Event ticket worth €2,200.

Here's an update on the stacks with 27 minutes left to play on 250,000 - 500,000 (500,000) when proceedings resume at around 6.30pm. 



Final Table Event #6 (in seating order)
Jerôme Gerardy 6,875,000
Sofiane El Yachouti 5,900,000
Pel Nieuwenhuis 54,550,000
Stephane Vincent 10 950 000
Ibrahim Aslan $30,275,000
Fabrice Bayart 10,800,000
Denis Schneider 11,900,000
David Olurebi 27,450,000
Sam Hilger 12,125,000




Payout restant Event #6 Winter Festival Main Event
Winner - €90,000
Runner Up - €55,022
3e - 39 420€
4e - 30 315€
5e - 23 320€
6e - 17 810€
7e - 13 680€
8e - 10 615€
9e - 8 160€

Streaming

Dinner break

The 9 finalists are guaranteed a cash prize of €8,160 and a CPS Main Event ticket worth €2,200. Ibrahim Aslan, Fabrice Bayart and Sam Hilger won some chips, while the shorts managed to survive the first hour of the final. 

Here's an update on the stacks as play resumes on the 400,000 - 800,000 (800,000) binds at 9pm... stream to follow cards revealed some 20 minutes later. 

Final Table Event #6 (in seating order)
Jerôme Gerardy 8,300,000
Sofiane El Yachouti 8,500,000
Pel Nieuwenhuis 48,750,000
Stephane Vincent 6,400,000
Ibrahim Aslan 35,100,000
Fabrice Bayart 15,200,000
Denis Schneider 7,500,000
David Olurebi 24 600 000
Sam Hilger 16,500,000



Payout restant Event #6 Winter Festival Main Event
Winner - €90,000
Runner Up - €55,022
3e - 39 420€
4e - 30 315€
5e - 23 320€
6e - 17 810€
7e - 13 680€
8e - 10 615€
9e - 8 160€

Streaming 

Denis Schneider leaves the final (8.160€)

Just under two hours from poker and finally an exit to the Winter Festival finale.

Denis Schneider bowed out in 9th place after posting 6.5 million from the 400,000 - 800,000 blinds (800,000), while Stéphane Vincent paid in the big blind with Ace 5 of diamonds to raise to 14 million at the end of a Ten As Lady 5 As board! 

The German player turned €250 into €8,160 for this deep-run in a field of 3,423 entrants. He also cashed in a €2,200 CPS Main Event ticket...

Farandole de Bustos

Ten minutes after the exit of the last German in the running for the WInter Festival Main Event, Sofian El Yachouti joins the rail. The Belgian is the first player to cash in 5 figures in this tournament, and he also adds the €2,200 CPS Main Event ticket to his bankroll.

Sofian El Yachouti finally sends Ace 9 to the hijack and sees Stéphane Vincent go all-in over the button with Kings. The 4 4 Jack 2 6 board allows Stéphane to climb to 18.5 million.

Payout remaining Event #6 Winter Festival Main Event
Winner - €90,000
Runner Up - €55,022
3rd - €39,420
4th - €30,315
5th - €23,320
6th - €17,810
7th - €13,680
8th - Sofian El Yachouti €10,615
9th - Dennis Schneider €8,160

Remontada for Stéphane

Stéphane Vincent made a fine dinner-break comeback with a second victim to climb back up to 29 million, while the blinds quickly rose to 500,000 - 1,000,000 (1 million).

This time he raised for just under 10 blinds with Ace 9 and shattered Jerome Gerardy's last hopes. The Belgian had gone all in with Ace 3 and was defeated in a 6 Queen 5 4 Queen table. He collected €13,680 and a €2,200 CPS Main Event ticket.

There are 171 million tokens in circulation...



Payout restant Event #6 Winter Festival Main Event
Winner - €90,000
Runner Up - €55,022
3e - 39 420€
4e - 30 315€
5e - 23 320€
6e - 17 810€
7th - Jerôme Gerardy €13,680
8th - Sofian El Yachouti €10,615
9th - Dennis Schneider €8,160

Bayart au Tapis

It's all over for Fabrice Bayart, who goes all-in for 13 blinds after a min-raise from Stéphane Vincent. The Frenchman continues his rush by paying with the Jacks. Fabrice reveals As Valet and joins the rail after a 9 6 2 7 board. Stephane climbs to 39 million, he's in the trio of players with a little depth... 

They are 5 with two players at 10 blinds, Stéphane pockets €17,810 and a €2,200 ticket...

David Olurebi finishes 5th (€23,320)

Like the other 9 finalists, David Olurebi wins a €2,200 CPS Main Event ticket. The Belgian came out in 5th place after going all-in for 7 blinds with King Jack from the big blind. Stéphane Vincent limp-called Roi Dix to hit a board of 8 Dame 6 Dix 5 and climb to almost 50 blinds. 

Chipleader for a long time of the tournament at the end of Day 2, Sam Hilger finds himself last in the class with a dozen blinds... 



Payout restant Event #6 Winter Festival Main Event
Winner - €90,000
Runner Up - €55,022
3e - 39 420€
4e - 30 315€
5th - David Olurebi €23,320
6th - Fabrice Bayart €17,810
7th - Jerôme Gerardy €13,680
8th - Sofian El Yachouti €10,615
9th - Dennis Schneider 8,160&euro

Break

Resume on 500,000 - 1,500,000 (1,500,000) with four players guaranteed a €30,315 payout and a €2,200 CPS Main Event ticket. 

Just before the break Sam Hilger doubled up from slightly behind, then lost the minimum to Stéphane Vincent. He'll be back with 14 blinds...

Chipcount (in seating order)
Pel Nieuwenhuis (NL) 73,100,000
Stéphane VIncent (Fr) 49,500,000
Ibrahim Aslan (Bel) 27,500,000
Sam Hilger 20,700,000

No podium for Ibrahim (30.315€)

There are no more Belgians in the running for the Winter Festival Main Event. Ibrahim Aslan finished 4th for €30,315 plus a €2,200 CPS Main Event ticket, multiplying his starting stake of €250 by 121! 

Ibrahim went last in the class when he tried to snatch a 3 on the flop... on the next hand he went straight to 17 million or 12 blinds with King Jack in the small blind. 

Sam Hilger paid with King 9 to eliminate his opponent at the end of a 6 6 9 8 9 table, which took him up to 38 million chips...



Chipcount (in seating order)
Pel Nieuwenhuis 88 million
Stéphane Vincent 46 million
Sam Hilger 38 million

Podium for Sam (39.420€)

A head's up between a Dutchman and a Frenchman for the €250 Winter Festival Main Event. There were 3,423 players on the starting line, a record for the Circus Casino Resort in Namur, and Sam Hilger came very close to a head's up. 

The Luxembourger limped in and re-raised all-in from the small blind for 23 blinds with the tens... He ran into Kings in the big blind at Pel Nieuwenhuis's, who captured 80% of the chips one board later. 

The Dutchman will start with 137 million to Stéphane Vincent's 34... The blinds are 1,000,000 - 1,500,000 (1,500,000).



Payout restant Event #6 Winter Festival Main Event
Winner - €90,000
Runner Up - €55,022
3rd - Sam Hilger €39,420
4th - Ibrahim Aslan €30,315
5th - David Olurebi €23,320
6th - Fabrice Bayart €17,810
7th - Jerôme Gerardy €13,680
8th - Sofian El Yachouti €10,615
9th - Dennis Schneider 8,160&euro

Stéphane Vincent Runner Up (55.022€)

The last duel of the Winter Festival lasted just 15 minutes. Stéphane Vincent closed the gap a little before pushing 30 blinds from the button. 

The Frenchman opened 4.5 million with 4's before sending 44 million on his Dutch opponent's 11 million 3-bet. Pel Nieuwenhuis snapped with the queens to win the tournament on a Jack 7 7 7 Ten board later! 

Stéphane Vincent cashed in €55,022 for his best performance at poker, he will also be there for the CPS Main Event as, like the 9 other finalists, he won a €2,200 ticket to the 2024 edition! 

90,000 for Pel Nieuwenhuis, Winter winner ahead of 3,422 competitors

360 times his starting stake for the Dutchman, who turned €250 into €90,000 plus a CPS Main Event ticket at €2,200 per entry for the biggest tournament in the history of the Circus Casino Resort in Namur. With 3,423 entries and a prizepool of €690,000 to redistribute, the teams kept busy during the week! 



Leading with 80% of the chips going into the final duel, Pel Nieuwenhuis conceded a little ground before settling the matter in a quarter of an hour, his final opponent going all-in for thirty blinds on a 4-bet with 4s. The champion's pair of queens held, Pel Nieuwenhuis reigned undisputed over a final he had entered with the chiplead and almost 30% of the 171 million chips in circulation.  



Pel Nieuwenhuis built his success on aggression and good hands. He hit three of a kind in a 4-bet pot to eliminate Noah Alem on a setup. In 10th place, this serious contender also had a big stack... Pel Nieuwenhuis didn't miss the opportunity after this stroke of fate. 

He beat a Frenchman who signed his first HendonMob line. Stéphane Vincent, who plays for poker and is a passionate amateur, represented PC77 with brio. Short to the bubble, he showed his seriousness to avoid the traps and walk away with a hefty win of €55,000. The last 8 players in the running turned €250 into a 5-figure win! 

Chipleader for much of the rest of Day 2, Sam Hilger earned himself a lucrative podium finish. The Luxemburgish rider put in a solid performance to finish ahead of the last two Belgians in the race, Ibrahim Aslan (4th) and regular David Olurebi (5th). 



The final lasted just over 5 hours, with the Final Day resuming with 34 players on Sunday at Circus Casino Resort. 

Sam Hilger was quickly overtaken, with several players exchanging the lead in a first hour played at a very intense pace despite 50-minute levels. 7 players jumped during the first half-hour, including Sergio Benso (33rd). 

Andrea Caizzi (30th) didn't last too long, soon joined in the rail by François Heine (26th). Carla Verbeeck (25th) fought hard for her first result.

Winner of the Namur Classic's Farukh Tach was less than happy to go out on the last three tables, having been leading the tournament for a good hour beforehand. It took 4 hours at the start of Day 3 to reach the final, with Guy Goossens (12th) and Somsong Intharanop (11th) stopping in extremis. 

Noah Alem must still be thinking about it. 
which took him out of the tournament and gave the future winner a decisive boost. A discreet and polite winner who talked with the cards during an exceptionally well-attended tournament. Always a big crowd in Namur!

See you from February 25 to March 3 for the Carnival Festival, and before that, come and visit us for our regular tournaments. With self-deal, there's something for every bankroll in Namur. 

Finale Event #6 Winter Festival Main Event
Winner - Pel Nieuwenhuis €90,000
Runner Up - Stéphane Vincent €55,022
3rd - Sam Hilger €39,420
4th - Ibrahim Aslan €30,315
5th - David Olurebi €23,320
6th - Fabrice Bayart €17,810
7th - Jerôme Gerardy €13,680
8th - Sofian El Yachouti €10,615
9th - Dennis Schneider €8,160
* 2200 CPS Main Event ticket for each finalist