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Imed Ben Mahmoud Wins WSOPE Opening Event
Imed Ben Mahmoud got his World Series of Poker Europe journey off to a flyer as he successfully navigated his way through a field of 227 runners before ultimately defeating Yannick Bonnet heads-up in the €2,700 buy-in Six-Handed NLHE event.
For his efforts the Tunisian player collected the first gold bracelet of the 2012 WSOPE and a 1st prize of €147,099 – with the win representing far and away the biggest cash of the player’s career and the first time he has captured a major tour title of any kind.
In doing so, Mahmoud also became the first ever player from the small African nation to capture a bracelet and his little piece of WSOPE history will be most-remembered for a gritty final table performance in which he came back from 6th place in chips.
Having began the final table trailing Bonnet by some distance, it didn’t take long for Mahmoud to find his stride and by the time he had doubled up into the chip lead, all the momentum had gone his way and it never looked like he would relinquish his position.
Sure enough, Mahmoud found himself heads-up with Bonnet and the pair got it all-in a huge pre-flop clash, with Bonnet’s AK needing to improve against Mahmoud’s JJ if he was to get back into the match, but no help arrived on a 10-9-2-5-9 board and Mahmoud was crowned champion.
Obviously, the opening event win was the perfect way for Mahmoud to start his WSOPE and given the boost it gave to his bankroll, he may well be tempted to enter the €5,300 Pot-Limit Omaha event, which begins this afternoon in Cannes.
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