Gus Hansen’s long-awaited return to a major poker title fell short at the 2025 Winamax Poker Open Aix-les-Bains. The Danish poker icon, who last won a tournament in 2013, was eliminated in seventh place at Casino Grand Cercle after running ace-king into aces against Mirand Murseli. Hansen collected €16,899, missing the chance to lift his first trophy in twelve years.
Hansen’s Deep Run and Reflections
This marked Hansen’s first appearance at a major final table since his last victory more than a decade ago. Earlier this summer, he also made a notable showing in the Eight Game Mix Championship at the WSOP, signaling his gradual comeback to tournament play.
Speaking during the event, Hansen said: “I’ve really enjoyed playing this week. I lost my appetite for tournaments for a while, maybe ten to fifteen years, I haven’t really played them for a long time. It’s a different game compared to cash, and my enthusiasm for it is back. It’s always nice to be running deep in any poker tournament.”
On the host city, Hansen added: “It’s my first time here, beautiful town and a great place to play poker. The atmosphere has been great all week, and I’ve enjoyed meeting everyone.”
Since joining Winamax as an ambassador in 2023, Hansen has publicly embraced his connection to the team. He said: “I believe they are doing great things for the European poker market. They have a really strong group of players as ambassadors, and that appealed to me. Shout-out to my favorite girl, Leo Margets, WSOP final tablist. We have a study group, we all support each other, it’s really nice.”
Jeremy Cauchard Wins Second Winamax Title
While Hansen fell short, France’s Jeremy Cauchard emerged victorious, securing his second Winamax title. He defeated Switzerland’s Mirand Murseli heads-up to claim the €135,000 top prize. Murseli, who knocked out Hansen earlier, earned €92,000, the largest score of his career. Third place went to France’s Nassim Rais with €68,000.
Cauchard’s win adds to an already impressive résumé, which includes his €170,000 victory at the 2024 Winamax Poker Tour Grand Finale.
2025 Winamax Poker Open Aix-les-Bains Final Table Results
| Rank | Player | Country | Prize (EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremy Cauchard | France | €135,000 |
| 2 | Mirand Murseli | Switzerland | €92,000 |
| 3 | Nassim Rais | France | €68,000 |
| 4 | Amadou Gassama | France | €48,000 |
| 5 | Alexis Tremblay | Switzerland | €33,000 |
| 6 | Adrien Burgniard | France | €24,000 |
| 7 | Gus Hansen | Denmark | €16,899 |
Final Day Recap
The last day of action began in dramatic fashion, with Benoit Pierrisnard eliminated on the first hand. Alexis Tremblay doubled through twice in the early stages and eventually secured a fifth-place finish. Brothers Julien and Eric Viel impressed by outlasting most of the 2,500 entrants but fell just short of the final table.
Nassim Rais surged ahead with a series of eliminations, yet entering the final seven it was Mirand Murseli who held the chip lead. Hansen was the first to be eliminated at the final table after running into the cooler against Murseli. Adrien Burgniard followed in sixth, then Tremblay and Amadou Gassama fell in close succession, leaving Cauchard, Rais, and Murseli to decide the title.
Three-handed play stretched over several hours. Cauchard scored a decisive double through Murseli before closing out the event. In the final hand, his king-high prevailed over Murseli’s queen-high, securing him the championship.
Looking Forward for Hansen
Although Hansen did not secure the title, his consistent deep runs in 2025 suggest the Danish star is regaining form. With a rekindled passion for tournaments and the backing of the Winamax ambassador team, the poker community may yet witness his long-awaited return to the winner’s circle.
