Laurent Polito Wins WPT Series Paris

Frenchman Laurent Polito has won the €1,500 WPT National Paris, after defeating a field of 229 players over four days to lift the title, and collect the €74,500 ($97,313) first place prize. Last summer Laurent Polito triumphed at the €10k EPT Barcelona High Roller for €270,229 ($332,017) and after his latest victory in France now takes his live career earnings to $910,744.
As the last day of action got underway at the Aviation Club in Paris, Polito faced a tough final table which included the likes of Stephane Benadiba and 2009 WSOPE Main Event finalist Antoine Saout. Eventually, Antoine Saout would finish in 4th place for €24,750, while in the final phase of the tournament it was left between Laurent Polito and Stéphane Benadiba to decide the champion.
However, it would be a further 90 minutes before the defining hand was played with both men in pre-flop and Laurent Polito holding 9-9 to Benadiba’s J-10. The board subsequently rolled out 7-8-7-4-A to relegate Stéphane Benadiba to a runner-up finish worth €52,000, while Laurent Polito was crowned the 2013 WPT National Paris winner. In addition to the title, Polito also received a €7,500 ticket to the WPT Grand Prix de Paris.
The final table payouts were as follows:
1 Laurent Polito – €82,000
2 Stéphane Benadiba – €52,000
3 Omar Lakhdari – €33,400
4 Antoine Saout – €24,750
5 Paul Fayngersh – €18,600
6: Yossi Iffergan – €14,850
7: Florent Estegassy € 12,340
8: Damien Lhommeau € 9,900
Meanwhile, action at the Aviation Club in Paris is set to continue until 28th as part of the tournament series known as the Euro Finals of Poker (EFOP). The festival will then culminate in the €5k buy-in Diamond Championship which will take place from January 24th to 27th.