Rachid Rami Wins 2016 WPT National Marrakech for $97,586

The World Poker Tour National Marrakech took place at the Casino De Marrakech in Morocco, with its main event attracting an impressive field of 396 players. Many of those players hailed from France, but at the end of three days of action it was local player Rachid Rami (photo left) who would eventually take down the title, as well as the competition’s MAD 950,000 (US$97,586) first place prize.
Back in 2007, the Moroccan man won the €4,200 Paris Open for €202,200 ($273,369), and following a victory which now pushes his live career earnings to $573,843, Rami triumphantly exclaimed; “The money stays in Morocco!”
As the final table of nine got underway, six of the remaining players were French, with two Moroccans, and a Portuguese player making up the rest of the numbers. By the time three-handed play had been reached, the two Moroccans and just a solitary Frenchman remained, Arhur Conan, who subsequently refused a deal offered to him by his two opponents.
The decision ultimately cost him dearly, and after he exited in 3rd it was left up to Rachid Rami and Mohammed Lahlou to compete for the WPT National title. The final hand was eventually played with Rami (6-2) check-raising on a 3-2-2 flop, only for Lahlou to move all-in holding pocket jacks. The 6 and A on turn and river altered nothing, and so Mohammed Lahlou collected $66,769 for his runner-up finish, while Rachid Rami was crowned the champion.
Final Table Results (US$):
1: Rachid Rami (Mor) $97,586
2: Mohammed Lahlou (Mor) $66,769
3: Arthur Conan (Fra) $46,224
4: Dimitri Sukhorukov (Fra) $33,179
5: Alexandre Riccomi (Fra) $25,475
6: Alexandre De Zutter (Fra) $20,339
7: Joao Pinto Correia (Por) $16,230
8: Mathieu Maroccini (Fra) $13,148
9: Jean-Claude Guiot (Fra) $10,580
The WPT National tour has now moved onto the Holland Casino Valkenburg in The Netherlands, with some other stops on the busy tour including the Casino San Remo (Oct 7th), Grand Casino Brussels Viage (Oct 13th), Hotel Algarve Casino (Oct 22nd), and Casino Barrière de Deauville (Dec 8th).