185.000 for Romain Le Dantec, winner of the CPS 2024 Main Event in front of 531 opponents! The Frenchman is starting to build up quite a track record, taking over from Max Wind, winner of the first edition, which attracted 555 entrants
Duty done. Romain Le Dantec looks happy and proud... but measured in the seconds following his success in the second edition of the €2,200 CPS Main Event. Romain showed his ability to finish the job.
"I love moments like that, you have to think about every hand, there's something at stake, and the Finals are where you can destroy your opponents psychologically. (Fabian) I got him off his game, and I'm satisfied with my game and what I showed," explained Romain Le Dantec, who proved beyond any doubt in a final lasting more than 12 hours that he is "one of the good French players". It was a benchmark success in a tournament that paid off 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 that 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 each 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," explained 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 all game," added 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 keep an eye on in the arena. The bluffs he played 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 to set 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," continues Romain Le Dantec.
It was by mastering the game and setting the tempo that Romain made his biggest financial poker win: €185,000 without a deal after a duel overturned in 25 minutes. "Saint-Amand is my second home, I made a semi-final on a big hand, then again at the BPC... I was on the verge of a good result and to come through 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 shown some good form since the tournament kicked off last Tuesday... Romain paid tribute to his last opponents after his victory, having finished 17th in the BPC last year 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, editor's note), they're good profiles but I'm at ease against competent players, I make them think," continued the Frenchman who manages bakeries in real life.
"The plan was to add a bit of variance to the game... make them doubt, get inside their heads... that's how I get out of it, I feel like I've put them in difficulty. When I see his exit with Ace Dame," says Romain, before saluting "the friends who coach him on a daily basis". "Thanks to the friends for the support... a few tips and it's perfect to push yourself; that's how you get ahead", says 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 done at 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 man who has shown a definite maturity and was able to respond at the right moment.
"When I had 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 and I feel like saying mission accomplished," added Namur's new boss.
The future looks bright for the man who finally feels "mature in poker". "Maturity is coming... it makes me want to work hard to go further. I'm going to have to work hard on my game to go further. I liked the marathon format here, the structure... it makes you want to do that on an EPT. The truth is that I've got some work to do, but maybe as soon as Prague," concluded the undisputed winner of this CPS Main Event.
The final payout of Event #23 CPS 2024 Main Event (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
