Sylvain Duval, a digital project manager from Brest, France, is preparing for a significant step in his poker journey. He’s qualified for the French Poker Championship final, taking place in Aix-en-Provence beginning , after finishing among the top fourteen players in a qualifying tournament held in Nantes on .
Duval’s path to the national final began in 2006, shortly after relocating to Brest for work. Originally from Paimpol, he quickly joined a local poker association, Brest Hold’em, after initially playing online. “I started playing online, but without really knowing the game,” Duval explained. “Thanks to the association, I really discovered poker and made some friends.”
He’s been a regular participant in both online and live tournaments for years, frequently traveling to events throughout Brittany. His furthest trip prior to Nantes was to that city, underscoring his dedication to the game. However, family commitments have always been a priority. “My children are in shared custody, so I travel to tournaments when the opportunity arises, and when it falls on a weekend when I don’t have them,” he said.
A previous attempt at the Winamax France tournament in 2023 ended quickly. “It didn’t go very well, I was eliminated in less than an hour with a pair of aces that got cracked,” Duval recalled. But he persevered, qualifying for the 2026 championship after successfully navigating five online qualifying rounds.
The qualification was a welcome surprise, but his first thought was logistical. “I was very happy! Then my first reflex was to check if the tournament fell on a weekend when I had my children.” Fortunately, the schedule aligned, allowing him to book his travel to Marseille, the city closest to Aix-en-Provence.
The championship boasts a substantial prize pool, ranging from euros for the winner. Duval acknowledges the potential reward but remains focused on the challenge ahead. “There’s still between 200,000 and 250,000 euros for the first place. Even though I’m not a professional, I know that anything is possible.”
The French Poker Championship, organized by Texapoker, is currently underway at the Pasino Grand in Aix-en-Provence, running until . The event will crown four new champions. Recently, Nicolas Dumont won the 1,000€ heads-up tournament, and Julien Mariani took first place in the 500€ 6-max tournament, earning 44,600€.
Duval anticipates a significant step up in competition. “I’m looking forward to it because it’s a tournament with pro players. It will be more challenging and more complicated than usual. They play very aggressively and can quickly spot amateurs.” He recognizes the skill and experience of professional players, noting their ability to identify and exploit weaknesses in less seasoned opponents.
France has a rich poker history, with players like Bruno Fitoussi achieving international recognition. Fitoussi, born in 1958, began his televised poker career on Late Night Poker, finishing 7th in his heat alongside notable players. He won the World Heads-Up Poker Championship in 2001, defeating Amarillo Slim, and has accumulated over $3,500,000 in live tournament winnings as of 2024, with $1,516,167 coming from 8 cashes at the World Series of Poker.
The 2024 French Championship was won by Heni Mokni, a satellite qualifier who took home a first-place prize of €75,000 and a package for the next WSOP Main Event. Mokni defeated Hugues Girard in heads-up play, with Girard having previously finished second in the €1,000 Heads-Up Event earlier in the week. The final table also included Alexis Rozenblat, Rachid El Yaacoubi, Cecile Ticherfatine, Lionel Foulquier, Frédéric Delval, and Axel Bayout.
Duval’s journey reflects a growing trend in French poker, where online qualifications and live events provide opportunities for amateur players to compete at a national level. The Winamax Poker Tour, in particular, offers a pathway for enthusiasts to test their skills against both seasoned professionals and fellow amateurs, fostering a vibrant and competitive poker community. The Nice stop of the Winamax Poker Tour, held at the Palais des Expositions, qualified 16 players for the national finale.
As Duval prepares for the final phase of the championship, he embodies the spirit of the game – a blend of skill, strategy, and a little bit of luck. His story is a testament to the accessibility of poker and the potential for anyone, even a part-time player balancing family commitments, to achieve success on the national stage.
