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The Casino Grand Cercle in Aix-les-Bains hosted the €500 Winamax Poker Open Main Event, drawing a massive field of 2,873 entries and building a prize pool of €1,185,974. While many expected a Winamax Team Pro to triumph, it was local amateur Lucas Archeny who claimed the title.
The 23-year-old, who typically plays freerolls and small games at local clubs rather than high-stakes tournaments, defeated Etienne De Soultrait heads-up to secure the €150,000 top prize. De Soultrait settled for €105,000, while streamer Mathieu Pontin rounded out the podium in third for €74,000.
Archeny’s path to the title reflects a familiar Winamax story: he began playing for free at local clubs at age 18 before progressing to low-stakes events. He credited his experience in the amateur circuit for helping him read opponents and stay composed under pressure at the final table.
The final day began with rapid eliminations, as five of the seventeen remaining players fell within the first hour. Notable exits included Nicolas Marin, who lost a flush race to De Soultrait, and Paul Bigot, eliminated after running into aces.
The final table took shape after a dramatic hand saw Leo Viales eliminated in tenth. Archeny built momentum by eliminating Le Dissez with aces and later sending Pontin to the rail with a flopped set, entering heads-up play with a commanding chip lead.
Despite a brief comeback from De Soultrait, Archeny sealed the victory when his king-seven held up in the final all-in. He plans to grow his bankroll cautiously and will return for the Winamax Poker Tour Grand Final in March.
