Main Event
Day 1a Completed
2012 World Poker Tour Merit Cyprus Classic
Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2012 World Poker Tour Merit Cyprus Classic
Buy-in
$4,000
Prize Pool
$1,212,694
Entries
329
Level
31
Blinds
60,000 / 120,000
Ante
20,000
Maxim Panyak Leads Day 1a
![[user76023]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
Level 10
: 500/1,000, 100 ante
The 11th Season of the World Poker Tour opened post-World Series of Poker with a return to Kyrenia for the WPT Merit Cyprus Classic. A field of 169 players deposited their cash here at the all-inclusive resort, but by the end of the first day, over half of the field was lost with Maxim Panyak finishing as the Day 1a chip leader. The Russian won several big pots throughout the day, including knocking out Andreas Krause with 
versus 
. He finished the day with 255,800 – a healthy target for everyone playing Day 1b. Atzlan Gil was the only other player over the 200,000 mark, and he's in second place with 207,100.
Among those who played today was Gaelle Baumann, the somewhat unlucky 10th-place finisher from this year's WSOP Main Event. The Frenchwoman made it is as far as Level 5 before she held on a 
board against two-time WPT champion Tommy Vedes' 
in a three-bet pot.
Vedes himself didn't last too much longer, but we suspect he'll be re-entering tomorrow. Other big names who took a shot today and failed, but will probably be back tomorrow include Chris Moorman (got short stacked and lost with eights to queens), Dominik Nitsche (busted with top two pair against a set), Nicolas Chouity (made a big bluff and got called) and Zimnan Ziyard (top pair versus two pair).
However some big names remained as Toni Judet (101,000) Marco Neuman (63,300) and Stuart Fox (86,200) have all made it through to Day 2.
Tomorrow, an even bigger field is expected including all four of the Mizrachi brothers. We've also heard that both Daniel Cates and Chino Rheem may be in attendance. Day 1b will be starting from 1:00 PM local time once again, so you'd better tune in to get all the info from the PokerNews Live Reporting Team!
In the meantime, check out a beautiful tour of this WPT location from our very own Lynn Gilmartin.
Three More Hands
Level 10
: 500/1,000, 100 ante
Matt Savage has told the dealers to deal three more hands. Once those have been completed Day 1a of the WPT Merit Cyprus Classic Main Event will be over!
Ara Melkisetian Takes On The Chip Leaders
Level 10
: 500/1,000, 100 ante
Atzlan Gil and Maksim Panyak have both been seated on the same table as the night draws to a close but that has not put off Ara Melkisetian in the slightest.
Panyak opened to 2,200 from early position, one player folded and Gil three-bet to 5,200. Two players got out of the way and Melkisetian cold four-bet to 11,000 straight. Panyak quickly folfed but Gil made the call.
The flop fell 
and Gil checked. Melkisetian kept up his story with a bet of 12,000 and Gil bought it because his hand went back to the dealer.
Atzlan Gil Soars Into The Lead
Level 10
: 500/1,000, 100 ante
We have discovered how Atzlan Gil managed to go from zero to hero and lead this fantastic tournament.
He found himself heads up on a flop reading 
, a flop that Gil bet 2,400 into. Sakia Nicolau then raised to 10,000 only to see Gil move all-in! Nicolau made the call and the hands were flipped onto their backs.
Gil: 
for middle set
Nicolau: 
for top pair
The turn and river were the 
and 
respectively and with that Gil found himself in possession of more than 150,000 chips and has since added to that enormous stack.
Maxim Panyak Eliminates Andreas Krause
Level 10
: 500/1,000, 100 ante
Maxim Panyak has just eliminated one of the more dangerous players in the tournament in the shape of Andreas Krause.
The pair got their chips in preflop, Panyak holding 
and Krause holding 
. The board ran out 
and Panyak made an unlikely but hand winning straight. He now has around 165,000 chips.
Going Postel
Level 10
: 500/1,000, 100 ante
Najı Abdo is out, his 
failing against Iwan Postel's 
when the board ran out 
.
Level: 10
Blinds: 500/1,000
Ante: 100
At What Point Would You Not Re-enter Tomorrow?
Here's an interesting question for you. What sort of stack would you need before you decided not to re-enter on Day 1B? Stuart Fox has about 70,000 at the moment, which is fairly healthy and yet he is seriously considering coming back tomorrow to have another crack at the whip.
What point do you decide to save your extra $4k?
Meanwhile Marvin Rettenmaier is up to 90,000 (will he be back tomorrow?) and has just been paid off almost 15,000 on the river of a 
board. The German's 
being good.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
90,000 | 62,000 |
Bayracki Makes The Nuts
Level 9
: 400/800, 100 ante
A short while ago we saw Victor Olarav find kings when down to less than 10 big blinds, now we have Kursat Bayrakci making the nuts!
Stevan Gvozdenovic raised to 1,600 from early position and when the action passed to Bayrakci on the button he moved all-in for a shade under 6,000. Gvodenovic made the call and the cards were revealed.
Gvozdenovic: 
Bayrakci:
Bayrakci flew into the lead on a 
flop, extended that lead on a 
turn and won then hand on the 
river.