Carmen Zainescu is continuing to grow her stack and has around 1,500,000 after just stacking an opponent.
Zainescu held A♠10♠ and backdoored the nut flush to send her opponent packing just before the final break of the night.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
1,500,000
200,000
|
200,000 |
Players are being sent on their final break of the night.
When they return, two more levels will be played before the survivors bag up.
Last May, Azamat Lamkov became the newest $5,300 Mediterranean Poker Party Main Event champion as he defeated a massive field of 1,260 entries at the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel.
Fifth in chips at the beginning of the final table, Lamkov made his way to first place, surpassing players like Mihai Niste (6th, $170,000) and Leon Sturm (3rd, $440,000). Ultimately, Lamkov claimed victory over Kirill Shcherbakov, who finished in second for $680,000. Thanks to this win, Lamkov is not only the proud owner of a trophy, but he's also a millionaire with the $1,000,000 first-place prize.
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Azamat Lamkov | Russian Federation | $1,000,000 |
| 2 | Kirill Shcherbakov | Russian Federation | $680,000 |
| 3 | Leon Sturm | Germany | $440,000 |
| 4 | Iurii Suvorov | Russian Federation | $320,000 |
| 5 | Birger Larsen | Norway | $225,000 |
| 6 | Mihai Niste | Romania | $170,000 |
| 7 | Gamir Gabdullin | Russian Federation | $125,000 |
| 8 | Assyl Tleuzhanov | Kazakhstan | $100,000 |
Level: 14
Blinds: 15,000/25,000
Ante: 25,000
In the 889th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Kyna England talk about the recent drama involving, you guessed it, Maurice Hawkins and Denise Pratt. The latter claims to be owed $11,200 after backing the former, and things boiled over when she confronted him at the payout desk at the WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Tunica stop.
What's more, the crew reacts to an interview Hawkins gave on his own podcast, him agreeing to come on the PokerNews Podcast before not responding, and then goes one-on-one with Denise Pratt to hear her side of the story.
Mike then shares his experience as the last guest on the final episode of the Only Friends Podcast (they were kind enough to gift a piece of their set to the PokerNews Podcast set), Kyna joins Team Hotdog at the LIPS Spring Festival, and Chad headed up to the NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Oh, and Connor was busy at PokerGO Studio interviewing Jennifer Tilly, Mike Matusow, and comedian Ray Romano during the One Step Closer Foundation's "All in for CP" charity event.
Other stories include Pennsylvania online poker joining the MSIGA merged player pool, Mori Eskandani interviewing PA Governor Josh Shapiro, and Robbie Strazynski & others voicing concern over YouTube's algorithm crackdown on poker content. Check out all those stories and more on the latest episode of the PokerNews Podcast!
A new PokerNews Podcast will drop weekly every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode!
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
3,500,000
2,750,000
|
2,750,000 |
|
||
|
2,000,000
1,200,000
|
1,200,000 |
|
1,300,000
1,300,000
|
1,300,000 |
|
1,250,000
1,000,000
|
1,000,000 |
|
1,200,000
400,000
|
400,000 |
|
350,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
||
|
350,000
300,000
|
300,000 |
|
300,000
800,000
|
800,000 |
|
300,000
300,000
|
300,000 |
|
200,000
500,000
|
500,000 |
Mazalahedwa Bako opened to 50,000 from under the gun and was three-bet by a player in middle position to 125,000. Vladimir Troyanovsky then shoved his stack of around 650,000 in from the hijack, and when it got back to Bako, he called off his stack of 415,000. The other player folded.
Mazalahedwa Bako: K♣K♦ 
Vladimir Troyanovsky: A♣K♠
Bako was in the lead with his Cowboys and remained ahead after the 3♦3♥9♠ flop. A 9♥ on the turn put him one step closer to scooping the pot, which was confirmed when Bako improved to a boat on the K♥ river.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
1,000,000
1,000,000
|
1,000,000 |
|
230,000
230,000
|
230,000 |
Level: 15
Blinds: 15,000/30,000
Ante: 30,000
It’s crunch time in the $2,200 Luxon Pay Grand Final as Level 15—the final level of the night—has just kicked off. Of the 345 entries that started the day, only 64 players remain in contention for a Day 2 seat.
After this 40-minute level, survivors will bag their chips and return in three days’ time to continue the race toward the $2,000,000 guaranteed prize pool. With stacks deep and blinds climbing, expect fireworks as players make their final moves of the night.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
Busted | |
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Busted | |
|
Busted | |
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Busted | |
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Busted | |
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Busted | |
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Busted | |
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Busted | |
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Busted | |
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Busted | |
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Busted | |
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Busted | |
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Busted | |
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Busted | |
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Busted | |
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Busted | |
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Busted | |
