Sandro Carucci Scores Comeback Win In WSOP Circuit Marrakech Main Event

When the final eight players in the 2026 World Series of Poker Circuit Marrakech main event began their dinner break, Sandro Carucci was among the shortest stacks. After play resumed, he bided his time, laddered up, and won a key coin flip to kick off his ascent. The 36-year-old from Switzerland continued to spin it up from there, and by the time the dust had settled, Carucci won the WSOP Circuit ring and $330,000.

This was the largest result of Carucci’s career by a wide margin. His first-ever Card Player Player of the Year result netted him 1,080 POY points, moving him inside the top ten in the yearlong race presented by CoinPoker.

🇲🇦 A massive congratulations to Sandro Carucci, who outlasted the field to capture the WSOP Circuit €1,500 Main Event in Marrakesh, earning €280,000! 🔥💍 pic.twitter.com/m9MTUV2nxH

— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) January 26, 2026

The €1,500 no-limit hold’em main event at Es Saadi Marrakech Resort in Morocco drew 1,694 total entries, for a prize pool of more than $2.5 million.

The Fury Of Franchi

After Malcolm Franchi secured a double knockout to reduce the field from 10 to eight, the remaining contenders returned from dinner with two top-heavy stacks. Franchi held the chip lead, with a Spanish player identified only as Raul close behind in second.

Salim Safiat eliminated Luc Ramos in eighth place ($42,350), as pocket kings held off Ramos’ A♠K♣. Carucci was all in and at risk with seven players left, and managed to hold with pocket eights against A♥K♦.

Franchi picked up yet another elimination when his pocket nines turned into a queen-high straight, sending Alexandre Bermon out in seventh place ($56,650). He added his fourth knockout by turning 9♠6♠ into a rivered ten-high straight, besting Aitor Cruz’s (6th – $77,000) overpair pocket kings.

Carucci largely bided his time while Irish player Turlough Mchugh rode a rush to the chip lead. As Mchugh’s stack grew to twice the size of any other player’s Carucci was well behind, in fifth out of the remaining five players.

Mchugh appeared poised to run away with the tournament when his A♣8♠ found an A♠ to crack Sefiat’s pocket jacks. But after Sefiat’s exit in fifth place ($103,400), Carucci made the first move. Once again, pocket eights held, in a slightly better spot against Mchugh’s J♥6♣, and Carucci’s run continued.

The Comeback Ensues

After a brief discussion of a deal, which ultimately didn’t go anywhere, Franchi doubled his way back into the chip lead through Mchugh. Carucci promptly took a big chunk of those newfound chips, as he called a button jam with A♥10♥ and held against Franchi’s Q♦9♦.

‘Raul’ fell in fourth place, at the hands of Mchugh, when Mchugh’s K♦6♦ flopped a pair of sixes to beat ‘Raul’s’ A♣J♠.

Carucci pulled himself into true title contention when his K♠10♥ connected with a 10♦ on the flop, doubling through Franchi’s A♠2♠. The true turning point came shortly thereafter. On a J♥J♣2♠ flop, Carucci floated with 7♠4♠. The K♠, which gave Carucci a flush draw, and he bet 3 million. Mchugh called, and on the 10♠ river, fireworks ensued. Carucci bet 10 million with his flush, and Mchugh shoved for 26.1 million, more than Carucci’s stack.

On the paired board, Carucci tanked for several minutes before ultimately calling. Mchugh’s bluff with the A♠7♥ left him with just over 1 big blind. Mchugh doubled multiple times, but eventually became the fifth elimination (3rd – $187,000) by Franchi among the final ten, when an untimely 5♠ on the turn elevated Franchi’s J♠5♥ beyond Mchugh’s J♦8♠.

Carucci recorded his only elimination of the final table in a moment of good luck. He was well behind with A♣6♥ against Franchi’s A♠9♠, but the A♥J♦6♣ flop delivered two pair. That held through the turn and river, and Carucci’s victory was sealed.

Final Table Results

Photo credit: WSOP / PokerNews.