It's been a quiet start to the final table as the players got accustomed to the change of scenery, but Hugo Larachiche seems to have found his groove first.
First he squeezed to 700,000 from the big blind after a raise from Rakesh Lalwani and a call from [Removed:445], and took it down with two bullets on the board.
The very next hand Haho opened the button to 350,000 and both Larachiche and Lalwani called in the blinds called. Larachiche proceeded to check-call 325,000 on the flop, before check-raising the turn to 1,525,000 heads up against Haho. Haho ultimately mucked his hand and Larachiche raked in the pot.
The official introductions are out of the way and play is back underway. For the seven remaining players, the final push for the trophy and the 1 million Moroccan Dhiram starts now. Here we go.
The players have not yet taken their seats in the Lion's Lounge at Casino de Marrakech. Right now they are having their final table photos taken, and after that follows the official final table introductions.
With the elimination of Ivan Deyra the official final table is reached, but before play recommences, the players have been awarded a 75-minute dinner break. Action will resume at approximately 7.30 pm local time, and when it does, it will be with 35 minutes and 17 seconds left of level 29 with blinds of 75,000/150,000 and a running ante of 25,000.
The action folded around to Ivan Deyra in the small blind who announced all-in for just above two million chips. Paul Guichard in the big blind only had 1,650,000 and put those at risk with , which were in front of the of Deyra.
The flop brought two pair to Deyra, but the on the turn gave Guichard a whim of hope. The hit the river, and Guichard got the double with the better two pair.
Deyra was left with just 525,000 chips, and he put them at risk from the button the very next hand. Hugo Larachiche in the big blind made the call, and hands were on their back.
Deyra:
Larachiche:
The flop was best for Deyra as it came , but the turned it all around, and the river didn't change anything. Ivan Deyra hit the rail, while the remaining seven players are heading to Lion's Lounge to play out the official final table.
Christophe Beyer made it 375,000 to go from first position and the action folded around to Hugo Larachiche in the big blind, who made it 850,000 total. Beyer announced all-in rather quickly, and Larachiche made the call of 2.4 million even quicker.
Larachiche turned over and Beyer shook his head and revealed for quite the cold deck. The board ran out , and Beyer was out in 8th place.
After the next elimination, the official final table is reached.
Nine players still fight on for the trophy here at the Palace of Casino de Marrakech, but as soon as two more have hit the rail, the remaining seven will be playing it out for the title in the exclusive Lion's Lounge on the first floor.
Right now there are no real obvious candidates for missing the upstairs party as a handful of the players are hovering around the 15 to 20 big blind mark.