Christopher Marcadet Wins PokerStars Open Aix Main Event

Christopher Marcadet captures the PokerStars Open Aix Main Event

French player Christopher Marcadet is the latest champion of the PokerStars Open Main Event in Aix-en-Provence. The €1,100 buy-in event ended with a €130,000 payday for Marcadet, plus the trophy and the biggest live score of his career.

What makes this result stand out is the way he got there. Marcadet entered the final day with just 25 big blinds and the eighth stack out of nine finalists. In other words, he was far from the favorite when the final table began. Still, he turned a tough starting position into a title run, which is exactly the kind of finish that makes live poker so compelling.

Final table drama in Aix-en-Provence

The final table brought plenty of swings. Omar Lakhdari started the day as the clear chip leader with 91 big blinds, but he could not convert that advantage into a deep run for the title. He eventually finished fifth, a reminder that even a commanding stack does not guarantee a tournament win.

Jordan Ayasse also made a strong run and locked up third place for €62,000. In heads-up play, Marcadet met Swiss player John Rezzonico, and the Frenchman closed the match to claim first place. Rezzonico collected €87,000 for runner-up.

• Christopher Marcadet — €130,000
• John Rezzonico — €87,000
• Jordan Ayasse — €62,000
• Dinh Nguyen — €45,500
• Omar Lakhdari — €34,000
• Krzysztof Zapolski — €26,000
• Laurent Lebar — €20,340
• Arno Peronnet — €16,200
• Chenxiang Miao — €13,000

859 entries and a strong signal for live poker

The Main Event drew 859 entries, building a prize pool of €824,640. That is a strong number for a European live festival and a clear sign that demand for in-person poker remains healthy when the brand, structure, and venue all line up.

PokerStars’ return to Aix-en-Provence, in partnership with Texapoker, looks like a success on every level. For players, a field of this size means a meaningful mix of recreational and regular opponents, plus a prize structure that rewards a deep run. It also highlights why many grinders still travel to live festivals instead of focusing only on poker rooms or online-volume schedules.

Marcadet’s second live title and a career-best result

This was Marcadet’s second live victory. His previous live win came at WPO Bratislava in 2023, where he took down a €7,000 event. The jump from that score to a six-figure payday is significant, not just financially but also in terms of reputation and confidence.

The fact that he is based in Budapest while representing France adds another layer to the story. Modern poker careers are often international, with players living where the travel, game selection, and lifestyle make the most sense. That reality is why many serious players study through a poker school and stay connected to live circuits, training tools, and long-term planning.

Expert analysis: what this win tells us about live tournament poker

Marcadet’s victory is a textbook example of why live poker remains so volatile and so rewarding. Starting the final table with a short stack does not eliminate your chances; it simply changes the way you need to approach the stage.

• A short stack can still win if the player stays patient and picks the right spots.
• Chip leaders have leverage, but pressure can quickly disappear when they fail to win key pots.
• Heads-up play often decides the story, especially when pay jumps are steep.
• In major live events, ICM awareness is crucial from the moment the final table begins.

For players building a live schedule, events like this are also a reminder to look at promotions & bonuses strategically, especially when planning travel, entries, and bankroll management. And for those exploring the business side of poker, the role of a poker agent can be relevant in a growing international ecosystem.

The broader lesson is simple: live results are shaped by stack depth, timing, and decision quality under pressure. Marcadet executed when it mattered most.

Final thoughts on the PokerStars Open Aix Main Event

A field of 859 entries, a €824,640 prize pool, and a comeback win from a short stack make this a memorable stop on the PokerStars Open calendar. Marcadet’s title run was not only a personal breakthrough, but also another strong advertisement for the return of major live poker to Aix-en-Provence.

For tournament players, the message is clear: no stack is too small to matter, and no final table is over until the last chip is in the middle. That is the enduring appeal of live poker.

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