Thomas Eychenne biography
Thomas Eychenne is a French poker player who discovered the game while attending business school in Lyon, initially focusing his early development on specialized online heads-up cash-game play before relocating to Malta in 2011, where he built a career as a professional through coaching and staking other players.
For years, Eychenne accumulated deep runs and high-roller cashes without ever quite closing out a major title, repeatedly finishing runner-up in significant events and earning the nickname "La Watch" from French poker media as a nod to his frequent second-place finishes, including a €323,100 runner-up result at the 2023 EPT Monte Carlo €25,000 High Roller.
That narrative changed decisively in September 2025, when Eychenne won the EPT Barcelona Main Event outright, defeating Romania's Sebastian Ionita heads-up in a deal to claim €1,217,175 from a field of 2,045 entries, the third-largest turnout in EPT history and a prize pool exceeding $11.5 million. Reflecting on the breakthrough, Eychenne credited his years of specialized heads-up study, saying, "I have played lots of hands heads-up…
I have a better understanding," a testament to the specialized skill set that finally delivered the signature title that had eluded him for years.
Career summary
Nicknamed "La Watch" by French media for years of runner-up finishes, Eychenne finally broke through at EPT Barcelona 2025, defeating Sebastian Ionita heads-up for €1,217,175 in the third-largest EPT field ever.
Thomas Eychenne poker winnings
| Year | Event | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | EPT Barcelona Main Eventheads-up deal, 2,045-entry field, third-largest EPT turnout ever | 1st | €1,217,175 |
| 2023 | EPT Monte Carlo €25,000 High Roller | 2nd | €323,100 |
Verified live tournament earnings: $4,000,000+.
Thomas Eychenne playing style
Eychenne specializes in heads-up play, built through years of dedicated online study, an expertise he credits directly for his ability to close out his career-defining EPT Barcelona title.
Cash games
Built his reputation through years of specialized online heads-up cash-game play before transitioning primarily to tournaments.
Business & sponsorships
Works as a poker coach and stakes other players, based in Malta since 2011.
Thomas Eychenne Net Worth
As of November 2026, Thomas Eychenne net worth estimates range from $3 million to $6 million.
Verified live tournament earnings account for $4M of prize money. Sponsorships, business ventures and cash games, covered above, make up the rest of the picture. Tournament prize money is not the same as profit: buy-ins, staking deals and taxes are not deducted, so all net worth figures are estimates based on public reporting.
Why Thomas matters
A French player who discovered poker at business school in Lyon before relocating to Malta in 2011, Eychenne earned the nickname "La Watch" from French media for a long run of runner-up finishes before finally breaking through with a career-defining title at EPT Barcelona 2025.
FAQ about Thomas Eychenne
Why was Thomas Eychenne nicknamed "La Watch" by French media?
The nickname referenced his long run of runner-up finishes in major tournaments before his 2025 breakthrough.
What is Thomas Eychenne's biggest tournament win?
His signature result is winning the 2025 EPT Barcelona Main Event for €1,217,175, defeating Sebastian Ionita heads-up.
How much has Thomas Eychenne won playing poker?
Thomas Eychenne has won $4,000,000+ in live tournament earnings.
How many WSOP bracelets does Thomas Eychenne have?
Thomas Eychenne has not won a WSOP bracelet yet.