Lyon-Tardieu, it's all over, everyone is out!

It was brief and intense but great. François Tardieu gave a good lesson in poker as he got rid of his opponents round by round at the final table. Playing his role as the chip leader to semi-perfection, the backgammon champion never gave his opponents a chance. This is how it went…

François Tardieu’s victory at the final table had everyone in agreement; the backgammon champion was certainly the best player that night. Blinds of 20,000 and 40,000, a 4,000 ante and three players remaining with more than 300,000 chips: François Tardieu, Aurélien Angenieux with 364,000 and Bruno Balvay with 325,000. Cédric Torrent, from Casino de Plouescat, had the least with only 85,000 chips and was knocked out first by a flush from Yves Enderli. It was a great poker moment. Enderli went all in , 174,000 with , Cédric Torrent followed with . Final table : . Torrent was out. Then François Tardieu became active. When Christian Venturini went all in at 144,000 with , Tardieu had . The pot went up to 567,000. the table deal brought nothing and Tardieu eliminated Christian Venturini. At Rémy Mougel’s go to beat the Grand Tardieu. He went all in at 173,000 with but was knocked out by the Maestro with . Tardieu won the bet with a pair or 10s . Mougel was out.

Hurricane Tardieu

“To the next!” said Tardieu with his giant stack of chips. Rotger and his few chips had no other choice but continue. After Tardieu raised 120,000 with , Laurent Rotger completed his bet by adding . A pair of kings at the Flop against a pair of 8s at the Turn . It was over for Rotger. Hurricane Tardieu took all the chips in his path and carried on around the table. He accumulated close to 1,000,000 chips. Next victim was Yves Enderli. Same story: big raise from Tardieu of 150,000 with , Enderli with went all in at 160,000. Tardieu lined himself up and got a pair of 3s at the flop . Enderli was out…

Tardieu had so many chips he didn’t know where to put them: “I don’t know anymore how much I have”. Then Aurélien Angénieux, who had let pass the hand before, went all in without looking at his next cards. Tardieu had . Angenieux put down his cards , the table had an Ace . Angenieux was out.

The Maestro brings about the coup de grace

Bruno Balvay was trembling trembled at his go; Tardieu had more that 90% of the chips. The blinds rose again from 40,000 to 80,000. Discovering a pair of 7s , Tardieu did not pussyfoot. He went all in and was called by Balvay with . The table was dealt : . A full house for Tardieu. The Maestro accepted his win of a place at the Main Event gracefully. Patience, boldness, talent and a bit of success allowed the master Tardieu to win both the Side Event at the Pharaon and the Super Satellite at Lyon Vert. We respect you Master Tardieu!