Phillip Huxley Wins the 2019 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event

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Jun 24, 2019 5 min read

The 2019 WSOP International Circuit 50th Anniversary Marrakech 15,000 MAD (€1,350) Main Event is over, and it was a player with no history in Morocco who managed to take it down.

Phillip Huxley entered the winner's circle during his first visit to Marrakech, after striking a heads-up deal with Portuguese player André Marques. The British poker pro won 947,780 MAD ($99,632), the coveted WSOPC ring, and a ticket to the WSOP Global Casino Championship coming August worth $10,000.

"Fifteen years of poker, and finally, I won a big one."

Huxley won the biggest prize of the event and earned 817,780 dirhams before the head's up, adding 130,000 dirhams to his total after a duel of only one hand. Huxley missed the six-figures score in US dollars as he won $99,632, but it's still his biggest score. André Marques secured 732,220 dirhams during the deal; he is going back to Portugal with $81,435 for his deep-run.

"Fifteen years of poker and finally I won a big one," Huxley said who confessed he was "very tense" at the beginning of the final table. "I played ok, but I was last at one point. You got to get lucky to win", he added before detailing his resume a little bit more.

"I'm playing for a living for eleven years. I used to work for the BBC for four years. I'm not a super crusher; I try to pay my bills [...] But I tried to go for it, Joseph Cheong style," he said humbly.

With the big boost to his bankroll, Phillip will first buy a good dinner for his girlfriend. "It's a rule, I'm going to meet her tomorrow, then I'll think about the future," he said before confirming he'll go to North Carolina and maybe play the WSOP Main Event for the fourth time.

Coming from Birmingham, Huxley "loves to try different places," that's why he chose Marrakech over a destination like Rozvadov he had already visited. "The casino is beautiful, the nature is great, the setup of the Final Table is reminding me of the WPT and that duel with Haxton in the Bahamas. The nature is great; I certainly will come back to Marrakech", concluded the champion who was right to fire a second bullet in the tournament as it paid off massively!

2019 WSOP International Circuit 50th Anniversary Marrakech 15,000 MAD (€1,350) Final Table Payout

_{* A deal was agreed upon heads-up. Huxley also secured a $10,000 ticket for the WSOP Global Championship}

WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event History

Final Day Action

There was a super fast start as sixteen players came back for the final day. Among them was the last WSOP bracelet winner of the field, Giovanni Rosadoni. The Frenchman lasted less than fifteen minutes and was the first to hit the rail in 16th position ($5,050). The Last Moroccan standing departed shortly afterward on a flip as Ali Mechiche finished in 14th ($5,892) place. Day 1 chip leader Jose Luis Reconquista went out in 13th place ($6,839) before the first.

After the restart, Karim Abgar tripled but then busted to exit the tournament in 12th position ($6,839). Usually a cash-game player, the Frenchman was playing his first tournament after he invited Thomas Meignan for a birthday trip to Marrakech. He outlasted Meignan who busted late on Day 2 on Saturday.

"I'm not a super crusher; I try to pay my bills [...] But I tried to go for it, Joseph Cheong style"

When Javier Tsunamy busted German player Michael Allmrodt, he found himself a top of the leaderboard, but it was time for Anthony Marchetti to rise. The Frenchman showed a big bluff and made some disciplined folds to surge to the position of chip leader.

Franck Lelong bubbled the Final Table after losing all-in preflop with the best hand against Florian Geiger ($9,259).

At this point, Souhayl Fjer was in trouble, and Philipp Huxley was at the middle of the pack. With very little difference between the stacks of the players, Huxley, who started the Day in 7th position with 40 blinds, started a good run by winning two crucial flips.

The final table was already seven hours in before Souhayl Fjer, and Florian Geiger exited. It was fireworks right after the break with the tournament going from six to a winner in three hours.

Anthony Marchetti busted in a monster pot where three players were all-in. As a result of this clash, Marchetti was out and Javier Tsunamy in trouble. Chipleader at the end of the Day 2, David Vergnes, was suddenly in good shape again and the last French player standing.

Tsunamy, a bit of a local hero in Marrakech having lived there for quite some time, busted minutes later against Vergnes.

The most important hand for Huxley took place soon after. Vergnes opened under the gun and Huxley three-bet holding pocket aces. Vergnes four-bet shoved, and Huxley called instantly. Vergnes showed king-ten suited and doubled Huxley who now had a third of the chips in play. Vergnes was eliminated by André Marques soon after.

"ROMI" lost ground quickly and Huxley continued his destruction of the table. Committed after he raised it with queen-three suited, Huxley called "ROMI" who showed ace-king. Huxley hit a backdoor flush to get heads-up and see "ROMI' exit in third for $47,830.

Seconds after his departure, Huxley and Marques started a discussion for a deal. In great shape, Huxley agreed on a deal which let the $10,000 ticket for the WSOPC Global Championship and 130.000 dirhams ($13,665) on the table.

The head's up lasted only one hand. The two got it in on the turn with Huxley having two pair against Marques' middle-pair. The river was a blank, and that was it; a champion was crowned in beautiful Marrakech.

• Tags WSOP Circuit Phillip Huxley Marrakech
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