David Benyamine

Name: David Benyamine
Nickname: magicpitch
Current Residence: Paris, France
Birth Date: July 5, 1972
Birth Place: France

David Benyamine enjoys the status of being France's number-one poker player in terms of earnings. His winnings for 2004 totaled 649,940 Euros.

He actually started out as a professional tennis player in his native south of France but suffered a back injury. A friend who worked at a poker club brought him in to play one night; he quickly progressed from small games to being a top European player. Now, he is a fixture at the Aviation Club...

Trivia

Married with one child
Entertains no poker superstitions
Has never read a poker book or magazine

Recent Tournament Placings

Tournament	Place	Winnings
EPT Season 5, EPT London £1m Showdown	8th	£69,000
EPT Season 5, EPT London	12th	£35,891
WPT Season 7, Bellagio Cup IV	2nd	$840,295
2008 WSOP, Event 37, World Championship Omaha Hi-Lo Split...	1st	$535,678
2008 WSOP, Event 33, World Championship 7-Card Stud Hi-Lo...	10th	$30,667
2008 WSOP, Event 28, Pot-Limit Omaha w/Rebuys	3rd	$316,307
2008 WSOP, Event 18, No-Limit 2-7 Draw w/re-buys	7th	$58,991
2008 Special, NBC Heads-Up Championship	8th	$75,000
WPT Season 6, Bellagio Cup III	20th	$41,310
2007 WSOP, Event 26, H.O.R.S.E.	14th	$11,731
2007 WSOP, Event 5, Omaha/7-Card Stud Hi-Lo 8-or-Better	6th	$29,708
2007 Special, Irish Poker Open	64th	€3,500

View All >>

Player Statistics

Cashes	14
Total Winnings	$2,609,069
First Place Finishes	2
WSOP Bracelets	1

Player Analysis of David Benyamine

Description

David has been trying his luck out in Vegas for several years now. He would usually go home empty handed from his trips to the States because his first losing session would last for days until he lost whatever he had brought. Somehow his game became ready for prime time after spending 2004 in exile in France, where he honed his skills by dominating the Internet poker world.

His control is still suspect, but his skill has overcome it. David bets and bluffs well, calls down his opponents well, and is also capable of making great laydowns.

Best Game

Pot-Limit Omaha

Weakness

Seven-Card Stud variations

David Benyamine's Score

7/10

Agressiveness 7
Looseness 8
Limit 7
No-Limit 7
Side Games 8
Steam Control 3
Against Strong Players 8
Tournaments 7
Short-Handed 8
Against Weak Players 7

Amusing Anecdote

One day, David was stuck several hundred thousand in the Big Game and had been playing for 24 hours when I entered the game. Twice he made comebacks and got close to even and then informed me that he was quitting soon. Each time he lost a big pot and then that plan was shot.

After another 24 hours, I was up $500,000 and David was down over $1 million and playing recklessly. I was determined to stay until David quit, although his stamina had become legendary. David went on a rush 60 hours into his session and, amazingly, got even. Most of his winning was at my expense, and I was now stuck $800,000.

He looked at me with the innocence of a young child and said, "I think we have been playing too long and the other players have been alternating resting. We should quit." Apparently, he thought I wouldn't notice that the fact that he got even was the only reason he was saying this.

Analysis brought to you by Barry Greenstein