$2,200 Warm Up Day 1bc | 2023 Merit Poker Gangster Series

11-23-2023 17:21 UTC+2

No Kicker? No Problem for Babayev

Ryan Lashmar

Level 5 : Blinds 700/1,500, 1,500 ante

With two players seeing a board of K♦Q♥7♠ and roughly 7,000 already in the middle, Agharazi Babayev checked in the hijack and called a 3,200 bet from Adem Marjanovic on the button.

Babayev check-called another bet from Marjanovic on the 4♠ turn, this time for 23,000.

Both players checked the Q♣ river. Babayev tabled K♥2♥ for top pair and Marjanovic mucked.

Elsewhere in the tournament area, Maxime Chilaud was recently eliminated.

Player	Chips	Progress
Agharazi Babayev	344,000 40,000	40,000
Adem Marjanovic	117,000 117,000	117,000
Maxime Chilaud	Busted

Tags: Adem Marjanovic Agharazi Babayev

11-23-2023 16:59 UTC+2

Chudapal Triples Up

Ryan Lashmar

Level 5 : Blinds 700/1,500, 1,500 ante

In a preflop confrontation Zeki Taysi was all in for roughly 45,000 against Siarhei Chudapal, who was all in for roughly 70,000 and Sergey Baranski who was also all in, covering both players.

Zeki Taysi: 10♣10♦
Siarhei Chudapal: A♦K♣
Sergey Baranski: Q♠Q♦

Baranski was ahead on the 4♦9♥3♠ flop but Chudapal took the lead with top pair on the K♠ turn. The A♥ river gave him two pair and nearly a full triple up while Taysi was sent to the rail and Baranski was left with less than half the chips he had before.

Player	Chips	Progress
Siarhei Chudapal	210,300 210,300	210,300
Sergey Baranski	56,000 56,000	56,000
Zeki Taysi	Busted

Tags: Sergey Baranski Siarhei Chudapal Zeki Taysi

11-23-2023 16:40 UTC+2

Angelos Takes from Babayev

Ryan Lashmar

Level 5 : Blinds 700/1,500, 1,500 ante

Agharazi Babayev opened to 3,000 from under the gun and Angelos Michael three-bet to 10,000 from early position. Babayev made the call.

The flop came 10♦2♥2♠ and Michael check-called a 5,000 continuation bet from Angelos.

Michael bet again for 25,000 when checked to on the 7♥ turn which was enough to force a fold from Babayev.

Player	Chips	Progress
Agharazi Babayev	304,000 -55,200	-55,200
Angelos Michael	122,000 22,000	22,000

Tags: Agharazi Babayev Angelos Michael

Level: 5

Blinds: 700/1,500

Ante: 1,500

11-23-2023 16:18 UTC+2

Break Time

Ryan Lashmar

Level 4 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Players are now on their second 10-minute break of the day. The field has grown to 151 total entrants, of which 116 players remain.

11-23-2023 16:02 UTC+2

Matta Gets Value on Wet Board

Ryan Lashmar

Level 4 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Boris Smuskevicius opened to 2,600 from under the gun and Nabil Matta three-bet to 6,000 from middle position. Smuskevicius made the call.

Both players checked the 10♥9♥8♥ flop leading to the K♥ on the turn. Smuskevicius bet 7,100 and Matta called.

Smuskevicius bet again for 5,000 on the K♦ river and Matta raised it to 15,000. Smuskevicius quickly called and tabled A♦Q♥ for the second-highest possible flush. Matta showed down A♥Q♣ for the nut-flush to take down a healthy pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nabil Matta	140,200 40,200	40,200
Boris Smuskevicius	62,000 62,000	62,000

Tags: Boris Smuskevicius Nabil Matta

11-23-2023 15:43 UTC+2

Hassan Forces a Fold

Ryan Lashmar

Level 4 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Amir Hassan opened to 2,500 from middle position and Mehmet Dalkilic defended from the big blind.

Both players checked the A♦6♠5♦ flop leading to the 6♥ on the turn. Dalkilic checked and called a 2,500 bet from Hassan.

Hassan bet again for 4,600 when checked to on the 6♦ river and Dalkilic snap-folded.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mehmet Dalkilic	125,200 25,200	25,200
Amir Hassan	75,000 75,000	75,000

Tags: Amir Hassan Mehmet Dalkilic

11-23-2023 15:23 UTC+2

Lungu Cracks Queens to Double

Ryan Lashmar

Level 4 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Rudu Lungu opened to 2,500 from the button and Mohammad Milani three-bet to 7,000 from the small blind. Lungu made the call.

The flop came 7♣6♠4♣ and Milani fired a 12,000 continuation bet that was called by Lungu.

On the 10♠ turn Milani bet again for 15,000 and Lungu moved all in for 43,200. Milani made the call with a covering stack to put Lungu at risk.

Radu Lungu: 5♠3♠
Mohammad Milani: Q♠Q♣

Milani had an overpair but was drawing dead on the turn to Lungu who held the third-nut straight and a flush draw. Lungu improved to a flush on the inconsequential 8♠ river and secured a full double up. Milani was left with roughly 38,000 and would bust the following hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
Radu Lungu	129,000 29,000	29,000
Mohammad Milani	Busted

Tags: Mohammad Milani Radu Lungu

Level: 4

Blinds: 600/1,200

Ante: 1,200

11-23-2023 15:01 UTC+2

Ossip Gets There on the River

Ryan Lashmar

Level 3 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Kayhan Sardan opened to 2,000 from the hijack and received calls from Parahat Nurmuhammedov, now on his second bullet, on the button and Kevin Ossip in the small blind.

The flop came Q♥9♣8♥ and action checked around to Nurmuhammedov, who bet 6,000. Ossip made the call while Sardan got out of the way.

Both remaining players checked the 4♠ turn and 9♠ river. Ossip tabled 10♥9♥ for rivered trips and Nurmuhammedov's hand hit the muck.