$3,300 Main Event
Day 1b Started
2024 Merit Poker Carmen Series
$3,300 Main Event
Day: 1b
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1b
2024 Merit Poker Carmen Series
Buy-in
$3,300
Prize Pool
$1,832,640
Entries
664
Level
37
Blinds
300,000 / 600,000
Ante
600,000
Entries
166
Players Left
74
Welcome to Day 1b of Merit Poker Carmen Series Main Event
Day 1b of the 2024 Merit Poker Carmen Series $3,300 Main Event here at the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino is set to kick off today at noon local time. Russia's Dmitrii Kuzin leads the way from the first starting flight, finishing Day 1a with an impressive 647,500 chips. A new group of contenders will try to replicate that success in today's Day 1b flight.
Day 1a Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dmitrii Kuzin | Russian Federation | 647,500 | 259 |
| 2 | Fausto Tantillo | Italy | 602,000 | 241 |
| 3 | Jovan Kenjic | Serbia | 547,500 | 219 |
| 4 | George Tomescu | Romania | 514,000 | 206 |
| 5 | Uladzimir Zhyharau | Belarus | 507,500 | 203 |
| 6 | Florian Guimond | France | 448,500 | 179 |
| 7 | Kacper Pyzara | Poland | 444,000 | 178 |
| 8 | Simone Andrian | Italy | 436,500 | 175 |
| 9 | Daniel Kyosev | Bulgaria | 417,000 | 167 |
| 10 | Maximilian Silz | Germany | 405,500 | 162 |
Other notables who survived yesterday's Day 1a flight include Simone Andrian (436,500), Milos Skrbic (404,000), Vladimir Bozinovic (388,000), Andrea Dato (276,000), Felipe Ketzer (164,500) and Victor Yugay (125,000).
Day 1b will feature the same structure as yesterday's Day 1a. Players will start with 100,000 chips and play nine 60-minute levels. There will be a break after every two levels. Unlimited reentries and late registration will be available until the end of Level 14 on Day 2.
Those who bag and tag at the end of the night will join the survivors from yesterday's flight in advancing to Day 2 on March 24. Before that, there will be two more starting flights, with Day 1c beginning at noon local time on March 23 and a turbo Day 1d set to begin at 7:00 p.m. the same day.
Day 1a attracted a total of 186 entrants vying to take home the title and lion's share of the $1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool. That number is expected to grow substantially starting today, with three more starting flights left to go. As always, stay tuned to PokerNews as we bring you all the updates for this event from the moment cards are in the air until a winner is crowned on March 26.
Shuffle Up and Deal
With the tournament clock showing 31 entrants to start the day, cards are in the air for Day 1b of the Main Event.
Level: 1
Blinds: 200/500
Ante: 500
Early Faces in the Field
Level 1
: 200/500, 500 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
Sancak Calls Down Graf
Level 1
: 200/500, 500 ante
With two players seeing a board of 7♠9♣A♥6♣ and roughly 3,500 in the middle, Viktor Graf bet 1,000 from the small blind and Mustafa Sancak called from the button.
On the 5♣ river Graf bet again, this time for 2,400 and once again Sancak made the call.
Graf could only show K♠3♠ for a bluff while Sancak turned over 10♣10♦ for a pair of tens to take the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
102,000
2,000
|
2,000 |
|
|
94,500
-5,500
|
-5,500 |
Hot Start for Tot after Brutal Cooler
Level 1
: 200/500, 500 ante
Darius Samual had raised from the hijack versus an early position limper and received a call from a late position player before Aleksandar Tot three-bet from the small blind. Samuel made the call while the other two players got out of the way.
Samual called a small continuation bet from Tot on the Q♦10♣7♦ flop creating a pot of 47,000 heading into the Q♥ turn. Tot checked, Samual bet 20,000 and Tot called.
On the 2♠ river Tot checked again and Samual bet 27,200, leaving a single white T-25,000 chip behind. Tot moved all in with a covering stack and Samual made the call.
Samuel showed A♥A♦ for aces up but Tot turned over Q♠Q♣ for quad queens to score the early knockout and a full double up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
201,000
101,000
|
101,000 |
|
Busted |
Bortsov Makes the Right Call
Level 1
: 200/500, 500 ante
Anatoly Nikitin opened to 1,200 from under the gun and received calls from a player in the small blind and Sergey Bortsov in the big blind.
The flop came Q♣10♠9♠ and action checked around to Nikitin who fired a 2,200 continuation bet. The player in the small blind got out of the way while Bortsov made the call.
Both remaining players checked the 9♦ turn leading to the 8♦ river. Bortsov checked, Nikitin bet 8,000 and Bortsov called.
Nikitin tabled 8♣7♣ for Eights and Nines after missing his straight draw. Bortsov showed down Q♥5♠ for a better two pair to take the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
114,000
14,000
|
14,000 |
|
|
85,000
-15,000
|
-15,000 |
Level: 2
Blinds: 300/600
Ante: 600
Shakiba Shows Down Queens
Level 2
: 300/600, 600 ante
Christos Leantzis opened to 1,200 from under the gun and Miad Shakiba three-bet to 4,300 from the next seat over. A player in middle position then four-bet to 9,500, forcing Leantzis out of the pot while Shakiba made the call.
The flop came 8♦7♣2♥. The early position player checked and called a 6,500 bet from Shakiba.
Both players checked the 4♦ turn leading to the 6♣ river, Shakiba bet 7,800 and was called by his opponent.
Shakiba turned over Q♦Q♠ for an overpair which was good enough to take down the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
123,000
123,000
|
123,000 |
|
105,000
105,000
|
105,000 |