Battle Royale WPO: 26 Left Before the Money in Aix-les-Bains

Battle Royale WPO is back and the bubble is close

The Battle Royale resumed alongside the Main Event at WPO Aix-les-Bains, and the post-break phase immediately turned into one of the most important stretches of the day. Out of 184 total entries, only 26 players remain, which means the field is now approaching the money bubble with very little room for mistakes.

To reach the payouts, players must make it into the top 23. In other words, just three eliminations stand between the remaining field and the minimum cash of €790. At this point, every pot matters more than before, and the tension rises sharply because one bad call or one mistimed shove can end a deep run.

Chip counts, stack pressure and the current level

The average stack is currently 353,000 chips, with blinds at Level 21: 5,000 / 10,000 / 10,000. That creates a very interesting stage of play: stacks are no longer deep enough for endless postflop maneuvering, but they are still large enough to reward disciplined aggression and smart position-based poker.

The standout stacks so far include:

• Hervé Gouzil — around 680,000 chips;
• Heni Mokni — more than 620,000 chips;
• Nicolas Duvauchelle — 250,000 chips;
• Timothé Rey (Team Bird) — 240,000 chips;
• Antoine Malle (Team Bird) — 180,000 chips;
• Skyyart — also around 180,000 chips.

That stack distribution tells us a lot about how the table dynamics are likely to evolve. Big stacks can apply pressure, medium stacks must protect their equity, and short stacks need to identify the best shove or resteal opportunities without waiting too long.

Main Event keeps growing with 607 entries

While the Battle Royale is nearing the money, the Main Event continues to build momentum. The entry count has already climbed to 607 participants, a strong number that points to a healthy turnout and a potentially very large field once late registration closes.

Some recognizable names are already in action around the tables, including Sacha Cohen (20,000), Romain des Inachevés (50,000) and DumTrip (23,000). During the break, Bruno “Kool Shen” Lopes was also spotted looking for his table before getting back into the tournament after the pause.

For a live series like this, early turnout matters. When a Day 1 already starts with 607 entries and more players are expected to jump in late, the event has a real chance to surpass last year’s registration numbers. That kind of momentum is exactly what organizers and players want to see in a regional stop with a strong poker scene.

Why the pre-ITM stage matters so much in poker

The stretch just before the money is one of the most strategically sensitive parts of any tournament. Players are no longer simply trying to survive; they are balancing survival against stack growth, because the decisions made here often determine who gets a real shot at the title.

At this stage, several skills become especially valuable:

• pressure application against medium stacks;
• precise all-in decisions;
• position awareness;
• understanding which opponents are trying to lock up a cash and which ones are still playing to win.

If you want to sharpen that kind of tournament awareness, checking out a poker school can be a smart move. And if you play regularly online or live, it also helps to compare formats across poker rooms and poker clubs, because different environments create different strategic incentives and stack dynamics.

Expert analysis: what this stage really means

From a tournament theory perspective, this is a classic bubble-pressure situation. With only three eliminations left before the money, chip EV and survival EV start to collide in a very visible way. Strong players often exploit that tension by widening their stealing ranges and forcing opponents to make uncomfortable decisions.

The strategic takeaway is clear:

• chip leaders can attack blinds more aggressively;
• medium stacks are under the most pressure because they have the most to lose;
• short stacks must stay alert for profitable resteal and reshove spots.

This kind of stage is also a good reminder of why live poker remains so compelling. A tournament can change dramatically in just one orbit, and the psychological edge often matters just as much as card strength. For players who are building a more serious poker path, studying structure, payout jumps and late-stage pressure is essential. It can also be useful to look at opportunities through a poker agent and keep an eye on promotions & bonuses that can improve long-term bankroll efficiency.

Final thoughts: Battle Royale is about to enter the money

With 26 players left and the bubble approaching fast, the Battle Royale at WPO Aix-les-Bains is entering its most dramatic phase. The chip leaders are already in position to exploit the field, but one big pot can still redraw the entire picture before the payouts begin.

Meanwhile, the Main Event’s 607-entry mark suggests that the overall festival is in a very healthy spot. If the current pace continues, this Day 1B could end up comfortably beating last year’s numbers and set up a strong finish for the series.

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