WPT Marrakech draws over 400

WPT Marrakech champ Christophe Savary.

The relatively unknown Christophe Savary beat a surprisingly strong final table to win WPT Marrakech for €379,515 this weekend.

The ChiliPoker-sponsored event took place at Casino de Marrakech in Morocco with 416 players paying the €4,500 buy-in, including big names like Liz Lieu, Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier, Annette Obrestad, Antonio Esfandiari, Antoine Saout, Tony G and WPT Merit Cyprus winner Thomas Bichon.

None of the aforementioned players made the final table, but there were several compelling storylines with Ludovic Lacay, Benny Spindler and Eoghan O'Dea all vying for the title.

They were joined at the final table by Savary, Julien Arneodo, Adrien Marin, Hicham Benhalima, Patrick Meurisse and ChiliPoker qualifier Balazs Botond.

Spindler, best-known for his third-place finish at the 2009 PCA, fought the good fight, but eventually busted out sixth after a confrontation with O'Dea.

The always unpredictable Lacay finished 16th at the 2009 World Series of Poker Main event for $500,000 and was looking for his first major title at WPT Marrakech.

But it was not to be as the Frenchman busted out third after an ill-timed shove was called by Savary.

That left Savory to fight it out for the title heads-up with O'Dea, the son of Donnacha O'Dea, one of the pioneers of Irish poker and the first player inducted into the European Poker Hall of Fame.

O'Dea did his best to do the family name proud, getting it in good heads-up with A♣ 3♣ on an ace-high flop, only to have Savary turn a straight to take the title.

WPT Marrakech marked yet another effort by the tour to increase their global presence with events in Venice, Cyprus and Barcelona already this year.

Next up for the WPT is the annual Fest al Lago event at Bellagio in Las Vegas beginning Wednesday Oct. 21.

Here are the complete final table payouts:

1. Christophe Savary - €379,014

2. Eoghan O'Dea - €263,662

3. Ludovic Lacay - €164,789

4. Julien Arneodo - €105,465

5. Adrian Marin - €72,507

6. Benny Spindler - €56,028

7. Patrick Meurisse - €42,845

8. Balazs Botnod - €34,606

9. Hicham Benhalima - €28,014