Sacha Cohen Dominates Winamax Poker Tour Grande Finale to Claim the Champion’s Sword

This year’s finale made history by recording a staggering 3,610 entries, making it the largest tournament of its kind in France. With a €500 buy-in, the total prizepool soared to an impressive €1,524,864, and the path to victory involved seven starting flights and three playing days.

The festival’s success underscores the WiPT's position as the leading tournament in France. Organizers have already confirmed that the Grande Finale will return to the Pasino Grand Partouche casino in Aix-en-Provence in 2027.

More Than Just the 'Son of a Legend'

The 27-year-old Sacha Cohen is no stranger to the poker world, yet he had long been seen primarily as the son of Claude Cohen, an early legend of French poker and a WSOP bracelet winner in 1997.

Sacha, born just a year after his father’s triumph, humorously remarked that he might have been “a celebration of that bracelet.” Before fully dedicating himself to poker, Sacha was a competitive Call of Duty player and later worked as a TV commentator and video game analyst.

His competitive nature and dislike of losing drew him to poker. Although initially struggling with discipline and bankroll management, Sacha gradually became a respected professional. The morning before the finale, his father sent him a heartfelt message: “The most important thing is for our family name to no longer be associated with just one first name.”

The Tournament Journey

Sacha’s path to the title was anything but straightforward. He had to reinvest four times before successfully advancing from Day 1F. A decisive turning point in his winning campaign came in the final half hour of Day 3, where he went on a “crazy run” to boost his stack from 19 million to over 50 million chips, securing the position of massive chipleader heading into the final table.

The final table was a showcase of talent and intriguing backstories. Among the nine finalists was seasoned player Hervé Gouzil, who had recently won the Battle Royale tournament for €25,000, and Samuel Bifarella, whose final table appearance was emotionally charged as his wife was expecting a baby any day.

Another notable participant was Guillaume Anthonioz, a submariner electrician by profession, who fulfilled his poker dream by reaching the finale as a shortstack holding just nine blinds.

Heads-up Drama

The final duel between Cohen and Cervettaz lasted nearly two hours. At one point, Cervettaz overturned the odds with a “runner-runner” straight, cutting Cohen’s stack down to a critical 34 million chips. Yet Sacha remained calm and held strong in a crucial hand with 5-5 against K-Q.

In the tournament's final hand, Cohen announced all-in with K h 3 s, and Cervettaz called with Q h 7 c. The board 4 h 6 c 6 s 5 s A h secured Cohen’s victory, unleashing wild celebrations among his supporters.

Winamax Poker Tour Grande Finale 2026 Final Table Results:

Sources: YouTube, Winamax, Photos credits Winamax @Guillaume Gleize