Florian Desgouttes

Florian Desgouttes and Joël Benzinou from Team Titan were ready to take to the tables to play Day 2 of the EPT PokerStars.fr Deauville tournament. 501 players were remaining in the action and the Day 2 schedule called for 5 levels of 75 minutes to play. Action!

Level 9 – Blinds 500/1000 Ante 100 -

During this level, Joël Benzinou was completely card dead and lost a little bit less than 10K during the 75 minutes and was down to 40K. Florian Desgouttes played a few hands and took the blinds to keep his stack at 95K.

At the end of the level, Florian Desgouttes received pocket Aces and raised to 2800 (UTG +3). Everybody folded until the big blind player who pushed all-in for 48K. Insta-call from Florian and a big smile when he discovered the K8 of his opponent. But it was a bad beat for Florian who had to split the pot => Board: 4-5-6-8-7

Level 10 – Blinds 600/1200 Ante 100 -

UTG player raised and 2 other players made the call. Joël Benzinou paid in late position.

Flop: 2♠ Q♦ Q♥

Check/check/check and Joël Benzinou bet 4K. Just a Scandinavian short stack made the call.

Turn: J♥
Check/Check.

River: 7♦
Bet of 5.5K by the Scandinavian player and Joël thought a while before asking his opponent “You have pocket Aces or Kings ?”

He finally decided to pay and his opponent showed Aces saying “Good read, you should have trusted it”.

Joël Benzinou is down to 24K.

And finally Joël Benzinou is eliminated few minutes later in the level. He went all-in for 21K with AJ and got paid by AQ. No help on the flop, turn and river to save Joël and the tournament is finished for the Belgian member of Team Titan.

Florian Desgouttes succeeded in maintaining his stack between 86 and 90K without playing significant pots.

Level 11 – Blinds 800/1600 Ante 200 –

In big blind, Florian Desgouttes called the raise of 3800 from the UTG +2 player with 10♦10♣

Flop: J♦9♥6♣

Florian Desgouttes bet 4200 but his opponent made a strong raise to 13.9K. Florian took his time before folding.

No cards for Florian who is just up the average at the end of the level with 89K (average: 87.K).

Level 12 – Blinds 1000/2000 Ante 200 -Florian Desgouttes raised in middle position to 4700 with K♥10♥ and the big blind paid.Flop: 10♠7♠4♥
The big blind player check-called Florian’s 5K bet.

Turn: 8♣
The big blind player did another check-call for 10K this time.

On the river: 9♦ both players checked and Florian’s opponent showed an astonishing 6-6 for a straight from nowhere.

Florian Desgouttes stood up from his chair and went out of the poker room for awhile to try to calm down after this hand. “How it is possible to call with that hand ?!! What did he think ?!!”. 

At the middle of the level, Florian raised to 6K in middle position and the player at the button decided to pay.

Flop: 2♠7♣8♠
Florian Desgouttes made his continuation bet for  7.5 K and his adversary paid.

On the turn: 3♠ Florian Desgouttes fired a 22K bet and the button made the call.

Finally on the river, 6♣ both players checked and Florian mucked his card. His opponent showed the winning hand (5-5).

Florian Desgouttes fell to 35K.

He had the same at the end of the level for an average of 102K for 260 players remaining – Hard time !

Finally, after resisting and fighting to stay alive, Florian Desgouttes pushed all-in with AQ suited. He was  dominated by the AK of his opponent. No miracle for the French player of  Team Titan who is eliminated after a terrible, unlucky day.

Florian Desgouttes and Joël Benzinou

It’s Day 1B of the EPT Pokerstars.com Deauville event and Team Titan players go into action.

Yann Brosolo and Florian Desgouttes had some problems registering and finally reached the poker room where 472 players took their seats for the second day of qualification.. The two members of the team joined their tables about two hours after the gameplay began.

During this time the Belgian player of Team Titan  Joël Benzinou was sitting at table 2.

Flop: 10-10-5

Joël Benzinou flopped the dream with a quad of 10. The three players involved in the hand checked.

Turn: 7
The small blind bet 750. The limper and Joël Benzinou called.

River: 6
The small blind bet a second time, 1200 chips this time. The preflop limper called and Joël Benzinou raised to 3900.

His two opponents finally gave up the hand.

Joël Benzinou finished the first level with 36K.

During the second level at blinds 75/150, Joël Benzinou played a few small hands and folded them after seeing inadequate flops.

But just before the first break of the day, Joël Benzinou raised under the gun to 400. 3 players called and the small blind squeezed for 1850. Only Joël made the call.

Flop: A♥ Q♥ J♥

The small blind opened to 1500 and Joël flat-called.

Turn: 8♦

Joël Benzinou called the second barrel of his adversary for 2900.

And on the river, the magic card came for the Belgian pro from Team Titan to offer him the second quad of the day in less than two hours, the J♠

The small blind fired a third barrel for 2900. Joël took a while before raising to 8500 chips.

His opponent quickly called showing Q-Q and convinced he would win the hand with his full-house.

Joël took the pot and climbed to 50K after 2 hours and a 15-minute break.

Just before the break, Florian Desgouttes played two hands and climbed to 38 K.

Alain Roy bet 450 at the cut-off and Florian Desgouttes called in small blind with K♣J♦. The big blind completed and the 3 players saw the flop:  J♣7♥3♣

Check from Florian and the big blind. Alain Roy made his continuation bet for 800 and Florian raised to 2250. The two opponents immediately folded.

Then in middle position, Florian Desgouttes raised to 450 in middle position with K♥Q♥. Three players made the call.

Flop: Q♣7♣5♠

The big blind checked, Florian c-bet to 1150 and 2 players called (an unknown player and Sam ElSayed, recent winner of WPT Amneville). 

Turn: 3♦

Florian Desgouttes continued aggressively betting 2650. Sam ElSayed called and the other player gave up.

Both players checked when the As appeared on the river.

Sam ElSayed showed Q-J which was not enough. Florian Desgouttes took the chips and had 38 K at the break.

Level 3: Blinds 100-200 – Yann Brosolo is eliminated of the tournament.

It is such a deception for Yann Brosolo who really wanted to do well in this French step of the EPT circuit but he had really no luck as we can see.

A French man bet 500 at the cut-off. Yann raised him to 1400 from the button with Q-Q and get called by his opponent.

Flop 8♠8♥2♠

The cut-off bet 1400 and Yann just called.

Turn: 6♣

The cut-off player check-called the 2600 of Yann.

River: 2♥
The cut-off fired 3600 and Yann Brosolo paid and mucked his hand when he discovered the pocket Kings of his compatriot.

A few minutes later, Yann Brosolo raised to 500 from the button position with Q-10 and the big blind made the call.

Flop: 8♣ 9♥ 10♥
The big blind bet 700 and Yann paid.

Turn: A♥
Big blind check-called the 1100 bet from Yann.

And on the river, J♦, the big blind put 1100 in front of him which was called by the Team Titan member.

The big blind turned J♥9♥ and won the pot.
Yann Brosolo lost a coin flip to get eliminated of the EPT Deauville 2011. Yann Brosolo raised to 500 with A-K. An adversary reraised to 1700. Yann went all-in and went up against J-J

The flop J-J-9 is really crual for Yann Brosolo who is drawing dead and eliminated from the tourney. We will see him next time for the WPT in Paris from 9th to 15th of february. He left the poker room quite disappointed just after declaring: “In Paris, I will be at home, it will be different, I am sure”.

Yann Brosolo

Level 4: 150/300: Florian Desgouttes and Joël Benzinou in control

Both Team Titan pro players kept quiet waiting for good spots. Joël lost 6K with Aces and finished the level with 46 K. Florian Desgouttes had 36K when the second break of the day came.
 

Level 5 – 150/300 Ante 50: Joël Benzinou climbed to 60K, Florian Desgouttes still quiet.

French player Jérôme Zerbib bet 850 under the gun and Joël Benzinou called with K♣10♣ from the button.

The Belgian player hit another fantastic flop: 4♣5♣7♣

His opponent put 1200 in front of him and Joël Benzinou paid with pleasure.

Then came the 5♥ on the turn and the UTG player check-called the 2400 bet of Joël.

On the river, a blank, Joël paid the 5800 bet of Zerbib and won the pot.

He was up to 59K with an average at 36K.

No action for Florian Desgouttes during this level until the last hands. Bruno Fitoussi raised to 850 in early position and Alain Roy made it more expensive: 2200 total. Florian Desgouttes in late position made the call with A♣K♣

Flop: K♠ 10♥ 4♠
Bruno Fitoussi and Alain Roy checked. Desgouttes decided to bet 3700 and only Fitoussi called.

Both players checked on the river, the 4♦.

Fitoussi had a King but an inferior kicker and lost the pot. Florian reached the 60K just before changing of level and the increase of the blinds.

Level 6: 200/400 Ante 50 – Florian Desgouttes up to 86K, Joël Benzinou maintained his stack.

Middle of the level: Alain Roy raised to 1150 at the cut-off. The small blind completed and Florian Desgouttes as well in big blind position with 7♣ 9♣

Flop: J♣ 7♦ 3♣

The small blind and Florian checked. Alain Roy fired 2250. The small blind folded but Florian mad the call.

Turn: 4♦

Florian check-called the 5.2 K bet of the French pro Alain Roy.

River: 2♣
Florian decided to bet 12,5 K. Alain Roy hesitated a while before calling and mucking his hand. Florian Desgouttes is up to 84K.

Levels 7 and 8: Florian Desgouttes finished the day 2 in good position and Joël Benzinou has an average stack.

Joël didn’t play a lot of hands. He eliminated a short stack with pocket Queens versus pocket Tens and made some successfull 3-bets to maintain his position in the middle of the pack. He finished the day with 49 500 chips.

Florian Desgouttes increased his stack during the last level.  With blinds at 400/800 Ante 75 a player in early position raised to 1950 and get called three times. Florian Desgouttes made the call as well with K♥Q♣

Flop: Q♦8♦2♥

Florian Desgouttes opened to 4200 and the initial raiser called this bet. Florian Desgouttes fired a 7750 bet and saw his opponent quickly folding. Florian Desgouttes finished the day with 96K.

The average is 50,800 chip sfor 279 survivors.

Florian Desgouttes

Marvin Rettenmaier

Yesterday noon saw the start of EPT Pokerstars.com Deauville, the French step of the European Poker Tour circuit in Deauville, France.
 
419 players took their seats in the poker room for Day 1A of this Main Event (Buy-in: €5,300) and amongst them, the young and talented German player of Team Titan,  Marvin Rettenmaier. 

The plan was for the players to play 8 levels of 60 minutes without dinner break. But unfortunately for Marvin, the day finished at the end of Level 3 at blinds 100/200.

At the beginning of the tournament, Marvin Rettenmaier observed his table and noticed that his neighbor on whom he had the position was a really weak and bad player. This man was playing almost every hand, limping, calling or raising preflop before checking in the dark. He was making big overbets, bluffs etc. and showing face-up his cards. The whole table tried to trap him and some of them succeeded quite well but unfortunately Marvin didn’t find a nice hand or spot against him to try to eliminate him and double up.

At the end of the first level, the German player was at the same point as one hour before, with 29K in chips.

Nothing really interesting happened during the second level at blinds 75/150 and Marvin Rettenmaier was down to 27K. Unfortunately after less than 3 hours playing, Marvin Rettenmaier busted out. The hijack player raised to 600 and the cut-off called. Marvin Rettenmaier made it more expensive; 2K in total. Both players called.

The flop came Q♦ Q♥ J♥

Check from the hijack, check from the cut-off. Marvin made his continuation-bet for 2400 but was raised to 5800 by the hijack. Fold from the cut-off player and call from Marvin.

Turn: 7♣

Rettenmaier’s opponent bet 11 K and Marvin moved all-in for 27K total.

Quick call from his adversary who turned over AQ which was a bit better than the Q9s of the Titan Team pro. Marvin was eliminated but not too disapointed.

“I have nothing to regret on this hand. It is an unavoidable situation. Next time will be better and now Ii will show support for my teammates”.

Indeed, today Team Titan pros Yann Brosolo, Florian Desgouttes (from France) and Joël Benzinou from Belgium are registrated for the day 1B which is on the verge of kicking off.

Joël Benzinou - 10th place finisher

Team Titan member Joël Benzinou from Belgium has finished in 10th Place at the WPT Marrakech tournament sponsored by Chilipoker. He took home a prize of €16,918.

His Team Titan colleague Marvin Rettenmaier busted out earlier in the day, long before players reached the money.

Joël Benzinou, the Belgian player from Team Titan, had an aggressive and quite successful start of Day 2 of the WPT Marrakech tournament as he opened, raised and 3-bet a lot of pots. He succeeded in climbing to 95K without showing his hands.

Then a Swedish player who was seated just after him started to make his “life” more difficult by putting a lot of pressure on the table and on Joël thanks to his position. Another offensive player came and had position on Joël as well, making things even more complicated.

French poker phenomenon Roger Hairabedian and Antonin Teisseire were seated at his table at this time as well.

Joël lost a significant pot against French player Sébastien Comte: Comte raised 6400 in cut-off position and Joël 3-bet him to 15.2 K from the big blind. Comte flat-called the Belgian player. On the flop A-J-Q rainbow, Joël made a continuation bet to 10.5 K (with 25K left) but Sebastian Comte raised him to 24 K. Joël had to give-up the pot mucking his hand and keeping a small chance to come back to the tournament and make the money.

A few hands later, he doubled up to 60K on a preflop all-in with A♣6♣ versus 10-J for his opponent.

Board: 4♠5♥7♠Q♦4♦

Then, Joël Benzinou changed his aim and maintained his stack at around 60K, stealing the blinds regularly to pass the bubble time with 10 big blinds.

After the dinner break, the bubble exploded at Level 18 (Blinds 3000/6000, Ante 1000). Just after returning from the dinner break, Joël was in the money at WPT Marrakech 2010.

Joël Benzinou changed tables and joined Bruno Lopes, Guillaume Cescut and Guillaume De La Gorce.

At that precise time a new tournament started for Joël. A lot of players quickly busted out because of the high cost of the blinds. And the field was reduced to 15 players in about one hour.

With 13 players left, Joël stole the pot a few times to reach 120K when he pushed all-in with A♣7♣ and got paid by an adversary with Q♠J♥. The board came: 10♥8♥K♣2♥A♠. Joël’s stack increased to 265K giving him a little bit of air.

The next hand, a player raised from the button to 27K at Blinds 5K/10K, ante 1K, and Joël made it more expensive (69K total). Call from his opponent.

The flop came 5♠7♦K♠
Joël Benzinou didn’t take more than 2 seconds before reaching for his stack and firing out a 86K bet which was enough to make his opponent fold. Joël was up to 355K.

Less than 5 minutes later he was All-in preflop with AK vs AJ. The board brought nothing to the players and Joël took the pot to climb up to around 850K.

Things were going so fast. Indeed, another 5 minutes later, Joël called the All-in preflop of Guillaume De La Gorce with K-J offsuit for 130 K. Guillaume was in front with A♥7♠. Board: 10♥6♠8♦10♠9♣.

Joël had a stack of 620K.

Level 21: Blinds 6K/12K Ante 1000 - Joël Benzinou’s nightmare!

Guillaume De La Gorce raised to 28K and Joël 3-bet to 75K. Instant All-in from De La Gorce and insta-call fom our Team Titan member with KK. Enormaous pot of 750K !

De La Gorce showed AQ

A crual Ace came directly on the flop and Joël was down to 250K.

Then Benzinou won a pot against the same Guillaume De La Gorce for 80K.

Finally, a few hands later and during the last hand of the day (What a frustration !), Joël didn’t think he would play his last hand of the tournament.

Guillaume Cescut raised to 28 K and Joël called. Flop: 4♣6♥J♣ Cescut opened to 36 K and Benzinou made the call.

Turn: J♦
Cescut continued his offensive betting with 55K and Joël announced All-in for 250K. Quick call from Cescut for an amazing set-up.

Hands:
Cescut: 6-6
Benzinou: Q♥J♥

The river was 9♥ and Joël Benzinou got eliminated at the worst place; just before the final table in 10th position for 
16,981 €. So sick!

No words could console our representative and Team Titan member. He left the poker room completly knocked out. 
I am really sorry for him and this is one of the worst moments I have experienced as a reporter. But I also know that Joël Benzinou is a big talent and will make us dream again soon. He’ll reach the Final Table of a big event and play and win!

As for Team Titan teammate, Marvin Rettenmaier, our German player started the day with 16K below the average stack. His day was just a bad poker day and would not witness the return of the glory of the recent win at the Spanish Poker Tour Grand Final.

During the first level of the day he lost a coin flip for around 50K with A♣K♥ vs 10♦10♣. No ace and no king came to help Marvin.

He told us that “it was one of the easiest table of the field”.  He just had the chipleader at his table and the French rap star Bruno “KoolShen” Lopes, who is really a conservative player. So no special danger apparently. But his day was just a black day.

After 2 hours playing, he had missed 2 straight and flush draws, leaving him in an unconfortable situation with less than 35K, while the average was over 100K.

Then,  Marvin called an All-in from the button with 9-9 for 13K but the player in BB moved All-in at his turn for 70K. Marvin decided to fold. He lost a good chance at winning a monster pot of 120K. Indeed he would have won the hand against his two opponents; they were holding two inferior pocket pairs.

 Marvin concluded his day by saying:  ”Finally,  I just had no spot today with the chipleader two seats after me and opening every hand.  Even if the level of the players was not really high, I found no good spots”.  Today was one of those bad days when everything went wrong.

Marvin Rettenmaier and Joël Benzinou

It is the end of the Day 1A of WPT Marrakech sponsored by Chilipoker. Our two Team Titan members have advanced to Day 2.

Average stack: 80,588 with 51 players remaianing.

Marvin Rettenmaier: 64.9 K

Joël Benzinou: 38.5 K

Our 2 members of Team Titan Pro

Level 10 – Blinds 500-1,000, Ante 100. The average chip stack is 58,714 with 70 players remaining.
 
Marvin Rettenamaier doubled up with J♣J♦ against 10♥10♠. The Team Titan member kept his preflop advantage and is now up to 52K. 

Joël Benzinou lost a few hands and is now sitting behind a 58K stack.

Marvin Rettenmaier

Just after the break, Marvin Rettenmaier pushed all-in in position with K♥Q♥ and was called by an opponent with A♣J♠

Marvin Rettenmaier hit a Q on the flop and raised his stack to 33K.

Just after this nice news, Marvin’s table broke and he joined Joël Benzinou at his table. The Belgiuan player from Team Titan has a stack of 67K.

We are now playing at Level 8 with Blinds 300/600, Ante 75, and the average stack is 46,180 with 89 players remaining.

Day 1A will stop at the end of Level 11.

Joël Benzinou

After 5 and a half hours of playing, the Blinds are now at 200/400, Ante 50, and we see that our 2 players from Team Titan are having two totally different days.

While Joël Benzinou is winning a lot of small pots and is increasing his stack slowly but regulary, Marvin Rettenmaier is fighting hard with a short stack (15.8 K) while the average is 38K.

108 players are remaining of the 137 who started play on Day 1A.

One hour break for the dinner…

Marvin Rettenmaier

Marvin Rettenmaier

Day 1 of the WPT Marrakech 2010 Main Event (buy-in €4,250 ) started two hours ago. Joël Benzinou from Belgium and Marvin Rettenmaier from Germany are representing Team Titan in this event and both men started the tournament today.  

Joël Benzinou lost a big pot during the first hour with set over set and is down to 22.5K from a starting stack of 30 K.
But he just doubled-up when he hit a set of eights on a 10-8-3 flop. His opponent was holding pocket Aces and all the money went into the pot on an unhelpful turn. No miracle for his opponent on the river and Joël is going on the break with 48K.

Marvin Rettenmaier is down to 28K after 2 hours. He is sitting next to English player Surinder Sunar (photo).

Joël Benzinou

Joël Benzinou

Joël Benzinou just experienced a nightmare today.

At Blinds 2000/4000, Ante 400, Joël raised to 11K and in late position a French player shoved for 60K. Joël made the call.

Benzinou: JJ
X: AJ

Flop: A-6-3-9-10

Benzinou was down to 40K when he played his last hand. Raise in early position to 10K from the same player from the hand before. Joël pushed all-in with KK for 40K. His opponent called and showed K-J.

I let you see the awful board: 2-4-10-Q-9. No comment !