Fadhil Farag Wins the Marrakech Poker Open High Roller
Seventeen-and-a-half hours since the final three players bagged up early on Friday morning, there was a champion.
Overnight chip-leader Fadhil Farag, was beaming from ear to ear for the winner’s photograph, with his wife watching on. The Moroccan businessman was no match for his opponents Phu Truong and Said El Yousfi as he called shoves from the pair of them, each time holding pocket kings to emerge victorious.
“I played good and I was so lucky. I’m very happy,” said Farag afterward. "It was a very happy finish to this tournament.
"It took only eight minutes, but I didn't think that I would win so quickly, I was chip leader but..." he trailed off as if the trophy and gigantic bottle of Chivas Regal in front of him spoke for itself.
| Place | Name | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fadhil Farag | Lebanon | €27,878 |
| 2 | Said El Yousfi | France | €20,723 |
| 3 | Phu Truong | France | €15,705 |
| 4 | [Removed:432] | France | €11,800 |
| 5 | Jerome Sgorrano | Belgium | €9,014 |
| 6 | Paul Guichard | France | €7,155 |
| 7 | Fernando | €5,668 | |
| 8 | Arthur Conan | France | €4,460 |
| 9 | Sebastien Compte | France | €3,531 |
First came Phu Truong. His shove from the button with 
attracted the attention of Said El Yousfi in the small blind who thought about his decision.
“Phu Truong was short,” said Farag, reflecting on the hand. “And maybe Said wanted to catch him. But I was waiting for him!”
El Yousfi folded 
and Farag instantly called with 
and the kings held to bring it down to two.
The second time was perhaps even more of a surprise. After raising preflop, both he and El Yousfi checked a flop and a turn of 
and the 
came on the turn. Farag checked to his opponent who moved all in, and Farag snap-called with 
for a full house. El Yousfi laughed and showed 
and we had a winner.
Farag, who only registered for the tournament at the start of Day 2 with the blinds at 1,200/2,400, said that it was a great day to win the tournament.
"Every tournament I am here in Casino de Marrakech. I play here often, tournaments and cash games," he said. "I'm very lucky here. They are very nice, the people are very nice and professional."
Farag has been here since the beginning.
"When they started playing poker, I was here. I'm not a full-time poker player, but I have a lot of experience. I am a businessman, not just a poker player. I have a lot of business, but every time when they have a tournament here in Morocco I will be there."
For the final eight minutes, Farag was joined by his wife on the rail, and she was documenting proceedings long after the final card was dealt.
"This tournament is the first time that she has followed me," he said with a smile. "She was very excited for me to win.
"Honestly, when I started this tournament I had a lot of luck. I've never had such luck in my life in tournaments. So you see, I came in and suddenly I am up! So you must have also luck, not just only experience."
Fadhil Farag provided the perfect mix of luck and experience to take down the Marrakech Poker Open High Roller, winning 300,000 Moroccan Dirham (€27,878) for his efforts.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for live coverage of the Marrakech Poker Open Main Event, which resumes at 1:00 p.m. tomorrow.