Quentin Laugt Wins Record-Breaking UDSO Marrakech Main Event

Many poker festivals around the world are filled with players with obscene Hendon Mob scores, boasting earnings with multiple commas. But that’s not quite the case for the Unibet DeepStack Open (UDSO).

The festival has always been geared toward recreational players seeking a poker holiday with a player-friendly structure that guarantees plenty of play and a true poker experience. The 6,000 MAD buy-in UDSO Marrakech Main Event at Casino de Marrakech was the perfect example, attracting not just grinders but also plenty of newcomers and casual players chasing their first recorded cash.

To put the field in perspective, the players who reached the final table had just over a combined $1 million in live cashes on The Hendon Mob, with nearly half of that total belonging to a single player.

Emerging from the record-breaking 937 entry field was Quentin Laugt, who combined sharp value betting with relentless pressure at the final table to take control of the tournament. The Frenchman secured the UDSO Championship Belt and the 765,000 MAD (€74,125) top prize from the 4,768,000 MAD (€462,000) prize pool. According to The Hendon Mob, Laugt had already amassed more than $237,000 in live earnings prior to this victory, with a career-best score of $89,448.

UDSO Marrakech Main Event Final Table Results

Final Day Action

While the plan had been to return with just 16 players, the previous night saw 31 bags come through, setting up a hectic start to the final day. The eliminations came thick and fast, and within two levels the field had already been trimmed down to 18.

From there it became a race to the final table. Among those drawing attention was Ghali Hsissen, who had his father — Moroccan poker veteran Mehdi Hsissen — following every hand from the rail. The proud support wasn’t enough to extend his run, however, as Ghali bowed out in 16th place.

Cristina Jugastru carried the flag as the last woman standing, but her hopes of a deep run ended in 14th when she lost a flip. The pain of a near miss was even more acute for Malik Corbin, who looked set for the final table until disaster struck. His two pair was cracked on the river, and he was left with crumbs that disappeared shortly after in tenth place.

Final Table Action

Day 1d chip leader Hassan Atigh had played a loose-aggressive style throughout the tournament, and it served him well as he reached the final nine. But his run ended there, as he lost a classic flip to become the first player eliminated at the final table.

Kamel Rachedi picked up pocket kings twice, using them to send Steven Bohn out in eighth and Frederic Popot in seventh. Soon after, Ahmed Blili downed Manuel Lopez in sixth as he and Laugt began to distance themselves from the rest of the pack.

The last Moroccan hope, Belghiti Smail, was knocked out in fifth, leaving four French players to battle for the title. Laugt took full advantage of the dynamic, mixing in well-timed bluffs with strong value bets to amass more than half the chips in play, while the others tightened up under ICM pressure.

Eventually, Laugt ousted Blili in fourth before Rachedi eliminated Tristan Forge in third. Forge’s run carried extra meaning, with his father cheering from the rail and his partner — expecting their first child within weeks — supporting him throughout. Remarkably, Forge’s father also claimed a runner-up finish in another event during the festival, making it a family week to remember.

That left Laugt heads-up with Rachedi. Although Rachedi managed an early double-up, Laugt’s momentum was simply too strong. The Frenchman pressed his advantage, rebuilt his chip lead, and closed out the contest to secure the title, the championship belt, and the second biggest score of his career.

For Laugt, the win capped off a remarkable stretch. He had been grinding both online and live for 22 days straight. With the belt now in hand and another major score secured, he can finally step away from the tables for a well-deserved break.

Calum has been a part of the PokerNews team since September 2021 after working in the UK energy sector. He played his first hand of poker in 2017 and immediately fell in love with the game.

Calum has written for various poker outlets but found his home at PokerNews, where he has contributed to various articles and live updates, providing insights and reporting on major poker events, including the World Series of Poker (WSOP).