With documented results in 2008,Walid Bou Habib from Lebanon has a long history of competing live in poker events. Habib, with his great expertise, does not view himself as a professional poker player either. Instead, he would participate in a few events at locations he knows and enjoys. Merit Poker is one of his preferred locations; he recently added another outstanding win to his record during the Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series.
Beginning Day 3 from a Strong Position
Walid Bou Habib started the second most chips on the third additional Day of the tournament. Having to negotiate a field of 193 entries, his trip through the $3,300 OPE Classic Cup was difficult. His approach and ability paid off as he headed to the final table. Fascinatingly, he did not knock out one player until the last hand. He dropped Julien Liarte and Antoine Hasbani simultaneously in a thrilling finale to take the title.
Creating A Trophy Collection
For Habib, winning this tournament was quite noteworthy. Not long after his triumph, he told the news channel, “This is among my main accomplishments. Since I aim to have a decent collection of awards, winning the trophy is always great. This will be my ninth trophy; I have three poker stars and four or five from Merit.
Employment Income Rising
Habib’s overall career earnings will be much raised by this first-place victory, which will now top $2.3 million. Incredibly, every last ten cashes he has recorded have come from Merit poker events, proving his continuous performance here.
One Of My Preferred Venues Is Cyprus
“I play fairly often, but I’m not professional,” Habib said. “This is among the locations I never miss. Cyprus is a charming country, so I am concentrating on it. I came here with my family; they liked the beach and the plenty of summer events. This is a fantastic surroundings.
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (USD) |
| 1 | Walid Bou Habib | Lebanon | $132,000 |
| 2 | Julien Liarte | France | $90,000 |
| 3 | Antoine Hasbani | Lebanon | $60,000 |
| 4 | Konstantin Voronin | Russian Federation | $41,500 |
| 5 | Iurii Saiapin | Russian Federation | $32,500 |
| 6 | Jeremie Zouari | France | $26,500 |
| 7 | Fadi Nakhoul | Lebanon | $21,700 |
| 8 | Azamat Tulepbergenov | Kazakhstan | $17,150 |
The Extra Day Added to the Plans
The magnitude of the field in the $3,300 OPE Classic Cup required an additional day to decide a winner in the tournament schedule. All ready to play down to a champion, the final 29 players from Day 2 returned to the field for an unscheduled extra day.
Early in the day, the goal was to reach the money bubble since only the top 23 players would get a payout. The min-cash was set at $5,110, and Darius Neagoe’s elimination on the very first hand swiftly caused the bubble to pop. From there, the surviving players fought for their fair portion of the $532,680 prize money.
Final Table Action: An Excursion on a Roller Coaster
By simultaneously knocking out Edgar Yamin and Azamat Tulepbergenov, Konstantin Voronin created a significant splash at the beginning of the final table. Voronin’s path, though, was a roller coaster; he finally placed fourth. Reaching the last three players, Antoine Hasbani kept a sizable stack throughout most of the final table. In the meantime, Habib played a cautious game, avoiding conflict and acting decisively when it counted most.
Another Win in Cyprus
Habib’s most recent triumph in Cyprus adds to his remarkable record on the island. He paid less than a year earlier a heads-up deal in the 2023 PokerStars EPT Cyprus $3,000 Mystery Bounty event for $242,623. 2016, he also won the Merit Poker Western Series $2,200 Main Event. Habib’s constant motif in Cyprus is a success.
Savouring Success with Family
With this most recent triumph, the OPE Classic Cup champion will keep enjoying his stay in Cyprus with his family and friends. Apart from a terrific poker scene, the island presents a fantastic setting for leisure and family activities. Habib keeps collecting awards, and he is still a strong player in the poker scene, particularly at his preferred venues.
