France's Maxime Parys won the 2026 Unibet Open Marrakech Main Event, taking the 1,500,000 MAD first prize after four days of play. The 12,000 MAD buy-in tournament drew 853 entries and built an 8,845,000 MAD prize pool, paying 111 places, according to PokerNews' results page.
The win closes the 11-day Unibet Open festival at Casino de Marrakech, which ran from September 24 to October 4. Here is a look at the result, the numbers behind the series and what it means for players who follow European live poker.
The Main Event in Numbers
The key figures from the Main Event:
- Buy-in: 12,000 MAD (roughly €1,100)
- Entries: 853
- Prize pool: 8,845,000 MAD
- Places paid: 111
- First prize: 1,500,000 MAD
- Winner: Maxime Parys, France
- Winning hand: J♠3♦
The published payout structure showed 1,500,000 MAD for first, 1,000,000 MAD for second and 670,000 MAD for third, with 150,000 MAD for ninth place. The results page does not detail any deal among the final players, so the exact amount each finalist received may differ from the table.
The Final Table
Nine players reached the final table after Day 3. The chip counts at that point, as listed by PokerNews, were:
| Player | Country | Chips |
|---|---|---|
| Tiresias | France | 12,475,000 |
| Mounim Kaddouri | France | 4,950,000 |
| Tunisianking | Tunisia | 4,675,000 |
| Abdullah Akbarpoor | Turkey | 4,450,000 |
| Maxime Parys | France | 4,150,000 |
| Camiel Van Der Werf | Netherlands | 3,900,000 |
| Redwan Ferman | France | 3,725,000 |
| Ryan Abed | France | 2,350,000 |
| Hammer | Spain | 1,975,000 |
The most striking feature was the chip lead of the player listed as Tiresias, who held more than 124 big blinds, roughly two and a half times the next stack. Parys began the final day in fifth place with 4,150,000 chips, behind the leader and three other players. That makes his win a comeback story of sorts: starting from the middle of the pack and overcoming a dominant stack.
It is a good reminder that chip leads at a final table are not decisive. When blinds are high relative to the average stack, shorter stacks can double through, and a big stack can lose a pot or two quickly. Our what is ICM explainer covers how tournament equity differs from chip count and why a player in fifth place can have a real chance of winning.
About the Festival
The Unibet Open Marrakech ran for 11 days at the Casino de Marrakech. Over 30 tournaments covered buy-ins from satellites up to the 25,000 MAD Super High Roller. The programme included a 16,000 MAD High Roller, a 6,000 MAD MonsterStack and a 3,000 MAD Mini Main Event, as well as bounty, progressive knockout, Omaha and turbo formats. The 6,000 MAD Unibet DeepStack Open ran earlier in the festival with four starting flights.
The festival followed a successful Paris stop earlier this year, which PokerNews noted produced the tour's largest field to date. With 853 entries in Marrakech, the Main Event may be smaller than that record, though entries at a destination event depend on travel and timing as much as on buy-in.
Our preview, Unibet Open Marrakech 2026: an eleven-day festival, covered the schedule in more detail. We also have a guide to the sister event, the Irish Open in Marrakech.
Why Marrakech Works as a Poker Destination
Morocco has become a growing destination for European poker festivals. The appeal is simple: warm weather, reasonable travel costs and a well-organised casino venue. A buy-in of about €1,100 is accessible for many European players, and the festival's online satellites, which began at €5, allowed players to qualify cheaply.
PokerNews also noted that packages were available for €2,000, including the Main Event buy-in, hotel accommodation, hospitality and a contribution towards travel. These packages are common in modern poker festivals, because they bundle the cost of a trip into a single price and appeal to recreational players.
Lessons From the Result
Survive the early stages
Parys was not the chip leader going into the final day. He won by surviving and capitalising on later spots. In deep-stack tournaments, patience matters, and a mid-sized stack can still win if it avoids unnecessary risks. Our poker strategy section covers tournament fundamentals.
Don't be intimidated by a huge stack
The leader's stack was more than twice the size of the next largest. But in tournament poker, the chip leader still has to play hands, and the other players can pick their spots. A short-stack's best weapon is choosing the right moment to move all-in. Understanding equity helps you decide when a shove is profitable.
Think about variance
A field of 853 players means a long road to the title. Any single tournament has high variance, even for strong players. If you play events like this, set a bankroll plan; see our bankroll management page.
What It Means for Players
The result is a good reminder that live tournaments can be won by anyone, and that mid-priced festivals attract substantial fields and meaningful prizes. The 1,500,000 MAD first prize, which is roughly in the €135,000 range based on the buy-in conversion, is a major payday for a €1,100 entry. Players wanting a similar experience should keep an eye on the Unibet Open calendar and other European festivals. Our tournaments page and poker on TV page can help you find coverage and schedules.
For players who prefer online play, the same format has equivalents in online series. Our high stakes and cash games guides outline where to find them.
Bottom Line
Maxime Parys' win in Marrakech is a strong result in a festival that has become a regular on the European calendar. With 853 entries, a prize pool of 8,845,000 MAD and a final table that mixed French, Tunisian, Turkish, Dutch and Spanish players, it showed the draw of a well-run international series.