Baptiste Celette Wins UDSO Annecy Main Event

The UDSO Annecy Main Event drew 940 entries, and Baptiste Celette turned a short stack into a title and €65,000. Here’s how he did it.

Baptiste Celette celebrating after winning the UDSO Annecy Main Event

Baptiste Celette wins the UDSO Annecy Main Event

The Unibet Deepstack Open Main Event in Annecy has reached its conclusion, and the champion is Baptiste Celette. Known primarily as a Spin specialist, the French pro outlasted a field of 940 entries to capture the title, the iconic UDSO belt, and a first-place prize of €65,000.

What makes this win stand out is not just the size of the score, but the way it came together. Celette was in Annecy for a Spin Elite seminar at Casino Impérial d’Annecy and ended up turning a social trip into one of the biggest live results of his career.

How a Spin specialist navigated a deepstack Main Event

Celette has spent the last five years grinding Spin formats, where short-stack play, pressure spots, and fast decision-making are part of the daily routine. That background matters a lot in live poker, especially when a Main Event reaches the later stages and the stack-to-blind ratio starts shrinking quickly.

He did not enter the final table as the chip leader or even a comfortable favorite. With six players left, Celette was down to just 8 big blinds, a spot where many players are already in survival mode. In those situations, every decision matters: shoves must be timed correctly, marginal spots have to be avoided, and chip preservation becomes just as important as chip accumulation.

This is exactly where Spin experience can translate into live success. Players used to short-stack pressure are often better prepared to handle ICM tension, stay patient, and avoid emotional mistakes when the situation becomes uncomfortable.

The final table comeback that changed everything

Celette’s route to the title was a true comeback story. He had to fight his way through the final table with a modest stack and rely on a mix of discipline, favorable spots, and survival instincts to stay alive.

The turning point came after Adnan Boutayeb was eliminated in third place. From there, Celette moved into heads-up play against Victor Pahon with a very healthy 4-to-1 chip lead. At that stage, chip advantage is more than a number: it shapes the entire match, allowing the bigger stack to pressure the shorter one and control the pace of play.

Celette kept that edge intact and closed out the final duel to secure the trophy and the €65,000 top prize.

Final table results and payouts

The final table featured a strong mix of experienced competitors and deep-run performers. Here are the official payouts from the decisive stage:

A special mention goes to Timothée Rey, who finished 5th for €16,600. In a field of nearly a thousand entries, making the final table is already a major achievement, especially in a deepstack structure where postflop skill and endurance matter so much.

Expert analysis: why this win matters for poker players

Celette’s victory offers more than a headline result. It highlights several practical lessons for tournament players, especially those moving between online and live poker.

First, a short stack is not a death sentence. At final tables, players who remain composed and understand push/fold pressure can still turn a fragile spot into a winning run. The key is discipline, not desperation.

Second, formats like Spin can build useful habits for live events. Constant short-stack pressure teaches players how to think in high-leverage spots, how to respect ICM, and how to avoid wasting chips on low-quality decisions.

Third, the result underlines the strength of mid- and high-value live festivals. These events remain very relevant for regulars who want a meaningful title, a strong payout, and a chance to build a reputation in the live circuit. For players studying their next move, it can be useful to compare opportunities across poker rooms, poker clubs, and structured learning paths such as poker school.

What the victory means for UDSO and the live circuit

The Annecy stop adds another strong chapter to the UDSO calendar. A 940-entry Main Event, a dramatic final table, and a Spin specialist converting a short stack into a title all reinforce why deepstack tournaments remain so appealing to poker players.

For competitors, the lesson is clear: success in live poker is not only about big hands and flashy bluffs. It is about adaptation, patience, and making the right decisions under pressure. Celette’s run is a reminder that even when the stack gets thin, the tournament is never truly over until the last chip is in the middle.

That is the kind of win that resonates well beyond one final table.

FAQ

Who won the UDSO Annecy Main Event?

Baptiste Celette won the UDSO Annecy Main Event. He took home €65,000 and the series belt.

How many entries did the UDSO Annecy Main Event have?

The event drew 940 entries. That made it a large and competitive live field.

How many big blinds did Baptiste Celette have at the final table?

He was down to just 8 big blinds when six players remained. Despite that, he managed to stage a comeback.

Who did Celette beat in heads-up?

Celette defeated Victor Pahon in the heads-up match. He entered that duel with about a 4-to-1 chip lead.

Why is a Spin specialist successful in a live Main Event?

Spin players are used to short-stack pressure, ICM spots, and fast decision-making. Those skills often translate well to deep runs in live tournaments.