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 just like the cherry at the cake. Now I'VE 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 post by the WSOP, by winning the Marrakech Casino Champion title. This invitation-only tournament, formerly referred to as the WSOP Circuit national Championship, featured 100 players who earned free seats in accordance with their performance through the 2015/2016 WSOP Circuit.

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

El-Yousfi came into the general day because the chip leader with six players remaining. Perennial Card Player Player of the Year contender Joe Kuther was the one player to make the overall day who submit $10,000 to play this event, with the opposite five players all winning their way into this event for free.

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

The two played 34 hands before it was decided. Within the final hand El-Yousfi raised to 250,000 and Ahmady made the decision from the large 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 most productive high card.

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

Here is a glance on the payouts on the final table:

Place	Player	Earnings (USD)
1	Said El-Yousfi	$343,256
2	Yasin Ahmady	$212,150
3	Joshua Turner	$150,851
4	Joe Kuether	$109,192
5	Sean Small	$80,483
6	Cody Pack	$60,427
7	Alexander Rocha	$46,231
8	Brian Green	$36,054
9	Blake Whittington	$28,673

Winner photo courtesy of WSOP.

Read More... [Source: CardPlayer Poker News]