Omar Lakhdari Wins Belgian Poker Challenge 2023 Main Event in Namur
Belgium, where poker is as popular as cycling, football and fries all together! Last week, Namur, the poker capital of the country, played host to the highly anticipated Belgian Poker Challenge. The newly renovated Circus Casino de Namur, in collaboration with PokerStars, set the stage for an unforgettable tournament. With a jaw-dropping guaranteed prize pool of €750,000 in the Main Event, the event would exceed all expectations, attracting 1332 entries, made by players from across Europe. As the chips flew and the cards were dealt, the stakes rose, leading to an impressive prize pool of €1,277,388. In this article, we delve into the electrifying atmosphere of the tournament, the fierce competition among players, and the enchanting city of Namur itself. Join us as we recount the excitement that unfolded during this remarkable edition of the Belgian Poker Challenge, powered by PokerStars.
The Main Event Win Goes to Algeria
Omar Lakhdari, a force to be reckoned with, emerged as the standout player at the final table of the Belgian Poker Challenge. Starting as the second chip leader, Lakhdari had his sights set on victory right from the beginning, and his determination paid off in spectacular fashion. As the final table unfolded, Lakhdari showcased his skills and strategic prowess, eliminating five out of eight opponents, including the last remaining female contender, Baho Hosseini from Germany, who secured a respectable 8th place and a cash prize of €24,770.
Notably, two Belgian players, David Janssen and Jérôme Balthazar, battled their way to the final nine. Janssen demonstrated a commendable performance, finishing in 4th place, while Balthazar secured the 9th spot. As the game intensified and the stakes grew higher, the last three contenders, Lakhdari, Tal Ohana from Australia, and Jerome Arnaud from France, each guaranteed themselves a life-changing sum of €92,100.
However, it was Lakhdari's unyielding momentum that proved insurmountable for his opponents. With a formidable display of skill, he triumphed over all obstacles, capturing the prestigious trophy and a remarkable payday of €206,000.
Lakhdari's victory serves as a testament to the unpredictable nature of poker, where key situations can often shape the outcome. With a series of favourable turns throughout the final table, Lakhdari capitalized on every opportunity that came his way, solidifying his status as a deserving champion.
It wasn’t the first Main Event win of Lakhdari, the player from Algeria has roughly been active for 15 years in the live poker circuit, resulting in €2.600.000 of total winnings. Three years ago he won another big event in Belgium, the WPTDS in Brussels for €92.000.
| Place | Name | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Omar Lakhdari |  | €206,000 |
| #2 | Tal Ohana |  | €129,000 |
| #3 | Jérôme Arnaud |  | €92,100 |
| #4 | David Janssen |  | €70,830 |
| #5 | Benoit Grobocopatel | | €54,480 |
| #6 | Arthur Thiriart | | €42,000 |
| #7 | Paolo Calculli |  | €32,300 |
| #8 | Baho Hosseini |  | €24,770 |
| #9 | Jérôme Balthazar | | €19,073 |
Side Event Action
With plenty of Side Events on the schedule and big guaranteed prize pools set for these events, also the events alongside the Main Event reached their potential. The BPC Cup had a guarantee of €50.000, and the BPC High Roller had a guaranteed prize pool of €100.000. Here are all the results of the most notable side events, where we can see a couple of familiar names, including The Festival Series 2022 winner of Bratislava, Michel Molenaar from The Netherlands.
| €2.200 High Roller | Name | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Eros Calderone | | €73,000 |
| #2 | Raoul Refos |  | €45,600 |
| #3 | Antoine Vranken | | €32,500 |
| #4 | Wesley Peinen | | €25,100 |
| #5 | Christian Alilovic | | €19,285 |
| #6 | Johnny Nedved | | €14,824 |
| #7 | Eric Denizart | | €12,055 |
| #8 | Mark Roovers | | €10,045 |
| #9 | Jean Fong |  | €8,370 |
| €330 BPC CUP | Name | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Sebastien Matrige | | €31,827 |
| #2 | Raf Ielegems | | €21,827 |
| #3 | Kevin Schaefer | | €21,827 |
| #4 | Francois Gauthier |  | €21,827 |
| #5 | Sabri Philips | | €10,710 |
| #6 | Unknown | | €8,240 |
| #7 | Christophe Colantoni | | €6,340 |
| #8 | Unknown | | €4,870 |
| #9 | Schayan Schakeri | | €3,754 |
| €550 NLHE | Name | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Michel Molenaar | | €24,800 |
| #2 | Romain Louis | | €15,560 |
| #3 | Michal Polchlopek |  | €11,115 |
| #4 | Andreas Puhl | | €8,560 |
| #5 | Angelo Mancuso | | € 6,586 |
| #6 | Dang Nguyen |  | €5,135 |
| #7 | Igor Lyubimov | | €4,280 |
| #8 | Alexandra Quach | | €3,581 |
| #9 | Vegard Melgalvis | | €3,150 |
