Last year’s EPT Barcelona Main Event champion, Simon Wiciak, steps into the role of the newest PokerStars ambassador. He becomes the first French player to represent the brand since 2021.
Simon’s rise to prominence is nothing short of remarkable. In just two years, this La Rochelle native transitioned from being an online player to making a significant impact on the live circuit.
His journey saw a pivotal turn in April 2022 when he secured his first live cash, finishing 23rd for €3,350 at an EPT Monte Carlo event. Subsequently, he made waves by cashing prestigious tournaments like WPO Main Event, WSOP, and EPT events. However, it was his thumping victory in the 2023 EPT Barcelona Main Event that garnered PokerStars’ attention, leading to his appointment as a worthy representative of the world’s premier poker brand.
In just two years from April 30, 2022 to February 19, 2024, Simon’’s ascent reached new heights, culminating in his recent appointment as a PokerStars Team Pro. The absence of French representation in the Poker Stars’ Team Pro roster since Kalidou Sow’s departure in 2021 raised eyebrows, given France has a rich poker history and has produced some of the biggest names in the poker industry like Bertrand Grospellier and Antoine Saout. The PokerStars’ search for the face of the brand’s French representation recently concluded at the 2024 European Poker Tour stop in Paris, where Simon Wiciak was announced as the latest addition to the prestigious Team Pro lineup.
“I won an EPT, had success at the right time, and PokerStars saw in me a good representative. I know I can bring good things to the community, and I am well aware that it’s incredible to become a Team Pro after only two years on the live circuit.” Simon said as quoted by LivePoker.
Simon was unveiled as the newest Poker Stars Team pro on Day 1A of the ongoing EPT Paris €5,300 Main Event where he qualified with a stack of 115,000 chips, starting his new ambassadorship in fine fashion.
The ongoing EPT Paris has a few Indian players in attendances as well, including the WSOP bracelet winner Abhinav Iyer, 2023 POY India champion Ankit Ahuja, Sahil Chutani, Apoorva Goel and high-stakes player Santhosh Suvarna to name a few. Chutani bagged a 183k stack on Day 1A of the EPT Main Event and Iyer qualified with a 60k stack. Notably, Ahuja notched up a commendable fourth-place finish in the the €1,100 No Limit Hold’em of the series, claiming €19,400. He also made Day 2 of €2.2K FPS High Roller along with Iyer. Ankit is currently playing Day 1B of the EPT Paris main event.
Currently ranked 65th on France All Time Money List, Simon is undoubtedly a rising star from France and has amassed $1,339,448 in live tournament earnings in just two of his live poker journey. Given his power-packed performances across several tournaments, he is poised to make a significant impact in 2024. We wish him a lasting adventure and hope he takes down new titles under his ambassadorship role!
Image Credit: Live Poker
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