Said El-Yousfi Wins 2016 WSOP Circuit Global Casino Championship

Said El-Yousfi has won the 2016 World Series of Poker Circuit Global Casino Championship, defeating a field of 126 players to capture his first gold bracelet and the $343,256 top prize.

“I feel wonderful. It’s fantastic. It’s like the cherry on the cake. Now I have the bracelet and a ring,” El-Yousfi told WSOP.com reporters after his win.

This season marked the WSOP Circuit’s largest foray into hosting international events, so it was only fitting that Morocco’s El-Yousfi came out on top. He qualified for this unique event, which featured a $1 million prize pool put up by the WSOP, by winning the Marrakech Casino Champion title. This invitation-only tournament, formerly known as the WSOP Circuit national Championship, featured one hundred players who earned free seats based on their performance during the 2015/2016 WSOP Circuit.

All Main Event winners, Casino Champions and the top 52 point-earners on the season-long leaderboard were able to play this event without putting up any money. The top 100 POY point earners at the WSOP in 2014 & 2015 and any ring winner on the Circuit last season also had the option to buy in for $10,000 which was added to the prize pool. A total of 26 players exercised that option, increasing the prize pool to $1,260,000.

El-Yousfi came into the final day as the chip leader with six players remaining. Perennial Card Player Player of the Year contender Joe Kuther was the only player to make the final day who put up $10,000 to play this event, with the other five players all winning their way into this event for free.

Kuether finished fourth for a $109,192 payday, turning a good profit on his buy-in. Joshua Turner followed him to the rail in third place ($150,851) to set up the heads-up showdown for the title. El-Yousfi took just under a 2-to-1 lead over Yasin Ahmady into the final battle.

The two played 34 hands before it was decided. In the final hand El-Yousfi raised to 250,000 and Ahmady made the call from the big blind. The flop brought the J97 and Ahmady checked. El-Yousfi moved all in and Ahmady called, flipping up the KQ. El-Yousfi had the A8 for the lead with the best high card.

The turn brought the 7 and the river the 9, keeping El-Yousfi’s hand ahead and sending Ahmady to the rail as the runner up with $212,150.

Here is a look at the payouts at the final table:

Winner photo courtesy of WSOP.

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