Nizar Anafal

Nizar Anafal is a French amateur poker player from Cesson-Sévigné, France. Primarily a real estate professional, he has nevertheless built a noteworthy live tournament record, with total earnings of $65,129 according to the Hendon Mob. His best live cash stands at $22,610. Anafal represents the growing trend of skilled amateurs who excel on the international stage while maintaining a career outside poker.

Nizar Anafal first made his mark on the live circuit in June 2019 by cashing in a World Series of Poker (WSOP) event. That initial success foreshadowed his major breakthrough just a few months later. In January 2020, he entered the Road to PSPC Le Havre, a €175 buy-in tournament organized by PokerStars and Texapoker at the Pasino Partouche in Le Havre. The event drew 883 entries, and Anafal emerged victorious, earning €20,292—more than 116 times his buy-in—plus a Platinum Pass valued at €26,000 for the PokerStars Players Championship (PSPC) in Barcelona.

The heads-up duel was particularly dramatic: Anafal faced off against Amine Loueslati, the cousin of his wife. Despite starting with only a quarter of the chips, Anafal doubled up and eventually defeated Loueslati. Reflecting on the win, he told Club Poker, "C'est fabuleux, extraordinaire, incroyable ! Je n'ai pas vraiment les mots pour décrire ça." This victory marked his first ever tournament win on the live circuit and his largest cash to that point.

The Road to PSPC Le Havre win catapulted Anafal into the spotlight. The tournament saw 108 players reach the money, with the bubble bursting on Nafis Dundar, a friend who had traveled with Anafal and Loueslati from Brittany. The final table payouts included:

• 1st: Nizar Anafal – €20,292 + Platinum Pass (€26,000)
• 2nd: Amine Loueslati – €13,100
• 3rd: Arnauld Leonard – €9,100
• 4th: Max Leho – €7,100
• 5th: Bruno Occhipinti – €5,300
• 6th: Philippe Rohaut – €4,200
• 7th: Nicolas Gourlier – €3,450
• 8th: Marc Popelier – €2,750

The Platinum Pass granted him entry to the PSPC Barcelona, scheduled for August 2020, where he hoped to achieve another deep run.

Following his breakthrough, Anafal continued to perform well in high-stakes events. In July 2022, he finished 3rd in the 2022 Aria Poker Classic $400 No-Limit Hold'em event at the Aria Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Out of 406 players, he earned $17,545, further boosting his live tournament resume.

In February 2023, he placed 10th in the PSPC Mystery Bounty event at the same venue, winning $2,350. These results demonstrate his ability to consistently cash in sizable fields.

As an amateur who works in real estate, Nizar Anafal approaches poker with a disciplined and focused mindset. His background suggests a strong understanding of risk management and patience, essential traits for navigating large-field tournaments. He is known to travel and compete with friends and family, as evidenced by the unique heads-up against his wife's cousin. While not a full-time professional, his ability to compete at the highest levels—including a WSOP cash and deep runs in major live events—marks him as a formidable opponent.

Nizar Anafal's story resonates with aspiring players who balance poker with other careers. His victory at the Road to PSPC Le Havre remains his crowning achievement, a tale of friendship, family rivalry, and a €46,292 combined prize package. As he continues to compete, he represents the enduring appeal of the amateur who can conquer the pros on any given day.