Tunisia's Ben Mahmoud Wins 2012 WSOPE Event#1: €2,700 Six-handed NL

Ben Mahmoud has won WSOPE Event#1: €2,700 Six-handed NL, after defeating a field of 227 players over three days on his way to capturing a gold bracelet, and the €147,099 first place prize.
In so doing, the Tunisian player has now become his country’s first ever bracelet winner, and commenting on his impressive achievement, Mahmoud said: “For me it’s already exceptional and for Tunisia it’s exceptional, it’s priceless. I’m very, very happy.
The Tunisian born Ben Mahmoud is a kitchen worker and says he has been playing the game recreationally for just over three years. The 37 year-old now lives in France just 7km from the Hotel Majestic Barriere where the tournament took place and after his famous victory in Cannes says he intends to use his winnings to buy an apartment for his family.
The WSOP Europe €2,700 Six-handed event was packed out with top talent and amongst the big names cashing in along the way was Phil Hellmuth in 24th (€4,887), Brandon Cantu in 20th (€4,887), Jennifer Tilly in 17th (€6,548) and David “ODB” Baker in 14th (€6,548).
By the time the final table had been reached, Roberto Romanello was the biggest name still remaing, but after Ben Mahmoud (K-K) eliminated Sylvain Ribes (Q-Q) in 6th (€22,876), Romanello was next to get his marching orders. The Welsh poker pro had been reduced to a short-stack and after pushing his remaining chips preflop holding J-10, he was called by Yannick Bonnet with pocket jacks and so exited the arena in 5th for €31,925.
Yannick Bonnet (A-8) followed up by eliminating Senh Ung (A-Q) in 4th (€44,913), and after Bonnet dispatched Matan Krakow in 3rd (€63,671), the heads-up phase of the competition got underway. However, half an hour later Ben Mahmoud (J-J) and Frenchman Yannick Bonnet (A-K) were all-in preflop and with no help from the board, Yannick Bonnet had to settle for a runner-up finish worth €90,884, while Imed Ben Mahmoud captured a piece of WSOP history.
The final table payouts were as follows:
1. Imed Ben Mahmoud €147,099
2. Yannick Bonnet €90,884
3. Matan Krakow €63,671
4. Senh Ung €44,913
5. Roberto Romanello €31,925
6. Sylvain Ribes €22,876