$5,300 High Roller | 2024 Merit Poker Western Series

2024-01-20 16:11 UTC+3

Nikitin Flips Sibgatova to the Rail

Livello 19 : 8,000/16,000, 16,000 ante

Anatoly Nikitin opened to 32,000 from under the gun and Alisa Sibgatova three-bet to 105,000 from the cutoff, leaving roughly 160,000 behind. Nikitin moved all in with a covering stack and Sibgatova snap-called.

Alisa Sibgatova: Q♠Q♦
Anatoly Nikitin: A♠K♥

It was a classic preflop race that Nikitin got the better of on the A♦6♥3♦ flop. He remained ahead on the 10♥ turn and K♦ river to send Sibgatova to the rail in the first hand of the day and score nearly a full double up.

Giocatore	Chip	Avanzamento
Anatoly Nikitin	665,000 300,000	300,000
Alisa Sibgatova	Eliminato

2024-01-20 16:36 UTC+3

Held Wins Battle of Chip Leaders

Livello 19 : 8,000/16,000, 16,000 ante

With two players seeing a board of 5♦6♠9♦7♣ and roughly 270,000 already in the middle, Justus Held bet 85,000 from the big blind and was called by Aleksandr Kirichenko from under the gun.

Held fired again for 160,000 on the J♥ river. Kirichenko, looking slightly exasperated with the situation, flicked in the call.

Held turned over 7♥5♥ for two pair to take the chip lead from Kirichenko.

Elsewhere in the tournament area, Giorgiy Skhulukhiya was recently eliminated.

Giocatore	Chip	Avanzamento
Justus Held	1,835,000
Aleksandr Kirichenko	1,095,000

Giorgiy Skhulukhiya	Eliminato

Tags: Aleksandr Kirichenko Justus Held

2024-01-20 16:56 UTC+3

Luo Catches a Bluff

Livello 20 : 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante

Shuang Luo had opened from early position and received a call from Aleksandar Tot in the small blind.

The flop came 6♠5♦6♣ and Tot check-called a 25,000 continuation bet from Luo.

Tot lead out with a 50,000 bet on the 9♦ turn which was called by Luo.

On the 5♥ river Tot bet 180,000. Luo thought for roughly 45 seconds before flicking in a calling chip.

Tot tabled 4♣4♠ for a small pocket pair turned into a bluff. Luo showed down 8♠8♣ for a bigger pocket pair to take down a healthy pot.

Elsewhere in the tournament area, Joseph Sabe and Andrey Pateychuk were recently eliminated.

Giocatore	Chip	Avanzamento
Shuang Luo	885,000 64,000	64,000
Aleksandar Tot	391,000 -293,000	-293,000
Joseph Sabe	Eliminato
Andrey Pateychuk	Eliminato

Tags: Aleksandar Tot Shuang Luo

2024-01-20 17:15 UTC+3

Chisu Falls to Skrbic

Livello 20 : 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante

Danut Chisu moved all in from the button for 316,000 and was called by Milos Skrbic in the small blind who covered.

Danut Chisu: A♣4♦
Milos Skrbic: K♦Q♦

The board ran out Q♣4♠6♠7♥10♥. Skrbic's pair of queens was good at showdown and he took down a decent pot while sending Chisu to the rail just two spots away from making the money.

The tournament staff have now announced the start of hand for hand play.

Day 1 chip leader John Doe was also recently eliminated.

Giocatore	Chip	Avanzamento
Milos Skrbic	765,000 431,000	431,000
Danut Chisu	Eliminato
John Doe	Eliminato

Tags: Danut Chisu John Doe Milos Skrbic

2024-01-20 17:38 UTC+3

Tot Knocks Out Mustafov on Stone Bubble

Livello 20 : Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante

Fahredin Mustafov moved all in for 262,000 from the button and Aleksandar Tot called with a covering stack from the small blind to put Mustafov at risk.

Fahredin Mustafov: 7♣6♣
Aleksandar Tot: A♣6♦

Tot had his opponent dominated with a bigger six and remained ahead on the 5♦J♦Q♠5♣2♣ runout to send Mustafov to the rail on the stone bubble and take down a nice pot.

Giocatore	Chip	Avanzamento
Aleksandar Tot	633,000 242,000	242,000
Fahredin Mustafov	Eliminato

Tags: Aleksandar Tot Fahredin Mustafov

2024-01-20 17:45 UTC+3

Ceyhan Tezcan Eliminated in 20th Place ($7,800)

Livello 20 : Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante

Maksim Shornikau opened to 40,000 from the hijack and Ceyhan Tezcan three-bet to 80,000 from the button. Shornikau moved all in, covering Tezcan who started the hand with 188,000. Tezcan made the call and was at risk.

Ceyhan Tezcan: J♦J♥
Maksim Shornikau: K♣J♣

The board ran out 6♣2♣A♣7♠K♥. Tezcan made the nut-flush on the turn to send Tezcan to the rail and collect the last of his chips.

Giocatore	Chip	Avanzamento
Maksim Shornikau	1,800,000 480,000	480,000
Ceyhan Tezcan	Eliminato

Tags: Ceyhan Tezcan Maksim Shornikau

2024-01-20 18:05 UTC+3

Marius Kudzmanas Eliminated in 19th Place ($7,800)

Livello 20 : Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante

Bogdan Munteanu moved all in for 368,000 from the cutoff and Marius Kudzmanas called off for his last 200,000 to put himself at risk.

Marius Kudzmanas: K♦J♣
Bogdan Munteanu: A♦J♦

The board ran out K♣10♦3♦3♥A♣. Kudzmanas had pulled ahead on the flop with a king despite being dominated but the ace on the river sealed his fate and he was sent to the rail in 19th place.

Giocatore	Chip	Avanzamento
Bogdan Munteanu	653,000
Marius Kudzmanas	Eliminato

Tags: Bogdan Munteanu Marius Kudzmanas

2024-01-20 18:24 UTC+3

Maroun Jazzar Eliminated in 18th Place ($8,950)

Livello 21 : Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

Maksim Shornikau opened to 50,000 from the hijack and Maroun Jazzar moved all in for his last 218,000 from the small blind. Shornikau made the call to put Jazzar at risk.

Maroun Jazzar: A♠K♦
Maksim Shornikau: K♣Q♦

The board ran out Q♠10♥5♠2♦8♦. Shornikau's pair of queens were good at showdown and Jazzar made his exit from the tournament area.

Giocatore	Chip	Avanzamento
Maksim Shornikau	2,000,000 200,000	200,000
Maroun Jazzar	Eliminato

Tags: Maksim Shornikau Maroun Jazzar

2024-01-20 18:34 UTC+3

Paul Amsellem Eliminated in 17th Place ($8,950)

Livello 21 : Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

Roman Gadzhiev opened to 50,000 from the hijack only for Maksim Shornikau to three-bet to 150,000 from the small blind. Paul Amsellem moved all in for 196,000 from the big blind. Gadzhiev took a couple minutes before deciding to fold. Shornikau then made the call to put Amsellem at risk.

Paul Amsellem: 10♥10♠
Maksim Shornikau: 5♠5♥

Shornikau drilled a set on the 4♠5♠9♠ flop and remained ahead when the rest of the board ran out A♦6♥ to take down a decent pot while Amsellem's run came to an end in 17th place.

The tournament has now briefly been paused to prepare for a two table redraw.

Giocatore	Chip	Avanzamento
Maksim Shornikau	2,300,000 300,000	300,000
Roman Gadzhiev	524,000 153,000	153,000
Paul Amsellem	Eliminato

Tags: Maksim Shornikau Paul Amsellem Roman Gadzhiev

2024-01-20 19:06 UTC+3

Monika Zukowicz Eliminated in 16th Place ($8,950)

Livello 21 : Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

In a preflop confrontation, Monika Zukowicz moved all in from the button for her last 86,000 and was called by Aleksandar Tot in the big blind who covered.

Monika Zukowicz: Q♥4♠
Aleksandar Tot: A♠9♦

Zukowicz could not connect with the 10♣9♠7♦3♠7♥ runout and was sent to the rail in 16th place.

Giocatore	Chip	Avanzamento
Aleksandar Tot	699,000 96,000	96,000
Monika Zukowicz	Eliminato

Tags: Aleksandar Tot Monika Zukowicz