The action started with a raise to 7,000 by Masbah Ben Baba and Barny Boatman in the small blind as well as Sonny Franco in the big blind called. On the flop, Boatman check-raised to 31,000 and solely Ben Baba called after having put in a continuation bet worth 11,000.
On the turn, Boatman check-raised all in with pocket fours and Ben Baba looked him up with the for a turned straight. A blank river changed nothing whatsoever and the World Series of Poker Bracelet winner was gone.
In 45 minutes from now at 2 p.m. local time, Day 2 of the 2016 Marrakech Poker Open 10,000 MAD Main Event gets underway. After a reentry festival yesterday, only 55 players out of a 220-entry strong field bagged up chips and Anas Tadini leads the survivors with massive 330,000 chips.
The Moroccan, who is third in the all-time money list of his country, won two big flips at the end of the day to claim the top spot.
Fahd, also from Morocco and 2nd in the 15,000 MAD High Roller where the top four including Tadini made a deal to cash 250,000 MAD each, follows with 305,700 chips and Abdenbi Abida completes the overnight podium with 288,200. Other big stacks include Fadhil Farag (255,200), Dominique Terzian (244,800), Philippe Ktorza (215,200), Arthur Conan (192,700) and Alexandre Viard (176,300).
Also returning to the tables of the Casino de Marrakech Es-Saadi are 2016 LAPT Vina del Mar champion Rodrigo Strong (125,500), Said El Yousfi (120,000), World Series of Poker bracelet winner Barny Boatman (110,600), Romain Paon (102,000), Sonny Franco (96,100) as well as 2016 World Series of Poker Circuit Marrakech runner-up Anthony Rodrigues (82,800).
Action resumes with level 14 and blinds of 1,200-2,400 with a running ante of 300. As of Day 2 and until the end of the tournament, the level duration has increased to 60 minutes each and there will be a dinner break after the completion of the sixth level today. Tune back in regularly for the PokerNews live reporting until a winner is crowned on Sunday.