Paul Tedeschi Wins the €1,100 PokerStars Open Cannes Main Event (€195,700)

“Cannes is a promised land.” Again in 2012, Paul François Tedeschi made his poker debut on the foot of the steps of the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, final-tabling each the previous Partouche Poker Tour and the WSOP Europe Major Occasion that 12 months. Since then, he has added many trophies to his assortment, and yet another this Sunday by successful the €1,100 PokerStars Open Cannes Major Occasion.

Out of a subject of 1,202 entries, which generated a complete prize pool of €1,153,920, Tedeschi claimed the €195,700 first-place prize by sustaining his chip lead all the way in which to the end. Because of this efficiency, he surpassed the $4,000,000 mark in whole dwell event earnings, putting him contained in the High 20 of the French All-Time Cash Listing.

After a comparatively brief ultimate desk, “PFT” defeated Nikolai Mamut heads-up, denying the Russian participant a second PokerStars Open victory this 12 months after NAPT Las Vegas. Kamel Atoui completed in third place for €87,430, whereas Axel Bayout (4th – €67,250) and Julien Sitbon (fifth – €51,730) rounded out the highest 5.

€1,100 PokerStars Open Cannes Major Occasion Last Desk Outcomes

From costly aircraft tickets to the win

“It’s great. What extra may I ask for?” smiled Tedeschi after lifting the trophy and the bottle of champagne that got here with it. “The ultimate desk was very powerful, so I’m actually proud of the outcome.”

The victory carried an much more particular taste, as he wasn’t even speculated to play the event. After a visit to Asia, Tedeschi had deliberate to fly straight again dwelling this weekend, however the aircraft tickets have been just too costly. He let his household take the preliminary flight and later discovered a less expensive first-class ticket for himself earlier this week, prompting him to make a detour to Cannes. A call that not solely saved him cash but additionally earned him €195,700.

The story didn’t finish there: not solely did Tedeschi play the event, however he additionally constructed a commanding stack on Day 3, notably because of a straight accomplished on the flip towards two pair, permitting him to enter the ultimate day because the chip chief.

Nonetheless, even from that place, he remained cautious: “After all, generally I challenge myself, however I attempt to keep away from it as a lot as potential as a result of it creates an excessive amount of frustration. I might’ve been fairly pissed off if I hadn’t gained this one, so I want to take issues step-by-step.”

That strategy paid off, because the victory marked his seventh PokerStars occasion title, including to a résumé that already consists of an FPS Excessive Curler win in 2022 and a first-place end within the EPT Blended Video games Major Occasion in Prague final 12 months.

The one lacking piece now could be an EPT Major Occasion title. “However I’m unsure I’ll play one other event anytime quickly. We’ll see,” he added, explaining that for now he’s “heading dwelling to spend the vacations with my household.” On the very least, Tedeschi has already given himself an exquisite Christmas current.

Last Day Motion

Seven gamers reached the ultimate day of the Major Occasion, all assured €30,600 however clearly hoping for far more. Adria Diaz Dalmau and Michel Marcone held the shortest stacks on the restart, and their fates shortly grew to become intertwined on the very begin of the ultimate desk. Each moved all-in with ace-king and ace-jack, respectively, solely to be referred to as by Nikolai Mamut within the huge blind. His pocket sevens held, leading to a double elimination, with Diaz Dalmau ending in sixth place for €39,790 and Marcone exiting in seventh for €30,600.

Moments later, it was Julien Sitbon who discovered himself all-in and in danger with king-nine. He ran straight into Tedeschi’s pocket kings and was despatched to the rail in fifth place for €51,730.

Whereas it took simply half-hour to cut back the sector from seven to 4 gamers, one other full stage was wanted earlier than the following important motion. Axel Bayout shoved with pocket sixes, however as soon as once more Tedeschi stood in the way in which, this time holding pocket queens. The board supplied no assist, and Bayout was eradicated in fourth place for €67,250.

Kamel Atoui was subsequent to fall after making an attempt a hero name with pocket kings on a board with three diamonds and two aces. Sadly for him, Mamut had flopped a flush, sending Atoui to the rail in third place for €87,430.

Tedeschi started heads-up play with a 2:1 chip lead and continued to increase his benefit all the way in which till his pocket tens held towards Mamut’s king-nine, crowning the 35-year-old participant as the brand new PokerStars Open champion.

That wraps up PokerNews’ protection of the PokerStars Open Cannes Major Occasion and all the 2025 season. The PS Open circuit will quickly be again on the street in 2026, kicking off in Campione, Italy, from January 23 to February 1. The PokerStars crew will then return to France for the extremely anticipated return of EPT Paris in February. An occasion that the PokerNews dwell reporting crew will not miss!