$3,300 Main Event Day 1cd | 2023 Merit Poker Gangster Series

11-30-2023 17:38 UTC+2

Hamnett Bets for Thin Value on Turn

Jeremy Geist

Level 8 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Huseyin Akgul opened in late position to 3,000 before Benjamin Hamnett three-bet from the cutoff to 7,500. Akgul called and they were heads up to a flop.

The 7♠8♣3♥ flop landed and the action checked to Hamnett who continued for 8,500. Akgul called.

The J♣ landed on the turn and it checked to Hamnett again who sat in the tank for a moment before sizing up to 18,500.

After about a minute in the tank Akgul called and the 8♠ hit the river. The action checked through and Akgul tabled 6♣7♣ for bottom pair before Hamnett tabled 9♥9♠ for middle pair and a great turn value bet.

Player	Chips	Progress
Benjamin Hamnett	180,000 -1,000	-1,000

Huseyin Akgul	125,000 -45,000	-45,000

Tags: Benjamin Hamnett Huseyin Akgul

11-30-2023 17:21 UTC+2

Updated Round of Chip Counts

Ryan Lashmar

Level 8 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
George Ibrahim	355,000 255,000	255,000
Simas Karaliunas	347,000 12,000	12,000
Damir Gabdullin	330,000 330,000	330,000
Kostiantyn Nikulin	200,500 85,500	85,500
Benjamin Hamnett	181,000 50,000	50,000

Nikolay Tyurin	162,000 84,000	84,000
Dmitry Yurasov	156,500 35,500	35,500

Aleksandr Pak	117,000 -26,000	-26,000
Agharazi Babayev	112,000 -17,000	-17,000
Tugce Hursoz	105,500 -14,500	-14,500
Oleg Netaliev	89,000 12,000	12,000

Level: 8

Blinds: 1,000/2,000

Ante: 2,000

11-30-2023 17:05 UTC+2

Prakesh Forces a Fold

Ryan Lashmar

Level 7 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Mohamad El-Sayed opened to 4,000 from middle position and received calls from Austin Prakesh in the hijack and Alper Kerim on the button.

the flop came 10♣7♦2♣ and action checked around to Kerim who bet 11,000. El-Sayed folded while Prakesh made the call.

Both remaining players checked the 7♥ turn leading to the K♦ river. Prakesh bet 25,000 and after about 30 seconds Kerim decided to fold.

Player	Chips	Progress
Alper Kerim	217,500 217,500	217,500
Austin Prakesh	175,500 37,500	37,500
Mohamad El-Sayed	119,000 30,400	30,400

Tags: Alper Kerim Austin Prakesh Mohamad El-Sayed

11-30-2023 16:52 UTC+2

Bicik Goes Runner Runner

Jeremy Geist

Level 7 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

There was an under the gun limp followed by an open by Ahmet Bicik to 3,000. The next player to act in middle position three-bet to 8,000 before the action folded back to Bicik who called.

The 6♥4♣8♣ flop landed and the action moved to the three-bettor who continued for 7,000 before Bicik check-raised all in for about 60,000. His opponent snap called.

Ahmet Bicik: 5♣3♦
Middle Position: K♠K♥

Bicik was open ended but the 9♣ turn would not complete the straight. However, the 6♣ would bring in a runner-runner backdoor flush to secure the win for Bicik in a pretty gross way.

He scooped and was seen putting in another flop check-raise just a few hands later.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ahmet Bicik	165,000 -25,000	-25,000

11-30-2023 16:45 UTC+2

Two Streets of Value for Hursoz

Ryan Lashmar

Level 7 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Tugce Hursoz opened to 3,500 from the hijack and Benjamin Hamnett defended from the big blind.

Both players checked the K♠10♣3♥ flop leading to the 7♦ turn. Hamnett check-called a 6,500 bet from Hursoz.

Hursoz bet again for 15,000 when checked to on the 5♦ river. Once again Hamnett made the call.

Hursoz tabled 7♠7♣ for a turned set and Hamnett's hand hit the muck.

Player	Chips	Progress
Benjamin Hamnett	131,000 -58,000	-58,000

Tugce Hursoz	120,000 -34,000	-34,000

Tags: Benjamin Hamnett Tugce Hursoz

Level: 7

Blinds: 1,000/1,500

Ante: 1,500

11-30-2023 16:20 UTC+2

Break Time

Ryan Lashmar

Level 6 : Blinds 700/1,500, 1,500 ante

Players are now on their second 15-minute break of the day. The field has grown to 98 total entrants of which 77 players remain.

11-30-2023 16:01 UTC+2

Akgul Coolers Diwan

Ryan Lashmar

Level 6 : 700/1,500, 1,500 ante

With two players seeing a board of K♣8♦4♠, Albert Diwan was all in from the big blind for his last 30,400 and called by Huseyin Akgul in middle position who covered.

Albert Diwan: K♠4♦
Huseyin Akgul: K♥8♥

Both players had flopped two pair but Akgul was very far ahead with kings and eights. the A♠ turn gave Diwan some chop outs but the 6♥ river was a brick and Diwan was sent to the rail while Akgul collected the last of his chips.

Player	Chips	Progress
Huseyin Akgul	170,000
Albert Diwan	Busted

Tags: Albert Diwan Huseyin Akgul

11-30-2023 15:52 UTC+2

"John One" Wins Massive Three-Way All In

Jeremy Geist

Level 6 : Blinds 700/1,500, 1,500 ante

"John One" opened under the gun to 3,000. He got called in middle position and late position before the action moved to the small blind who moved all in for about 40,000.

"John One" called the jam and then action was on the middle position player who rejammed over the top for 90,000. The late position player folded and action moved back to "John Doe" who went into the tank but eventually called and the cards hit their backs.

Small Blind: A♦5♣
Middle Position: A♠Q♠
"John One": K♣Q♦

Things were looking good for middle position on the 3♥9♣3♦ flop and even better on the 2♠ turn. However, the K♥ river would dash those hopes and "John One" would drag a massive chip-lead pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
John One	440,000

Tags: John One