$5,300 Main Event Day 1a | 2025 Mediterranean Poker Party

05-08-2025 19:43 UTC+2

Pavlov With a Huge Stack

Tim Baker

Level 11 : Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante

Elvijs Kergalvis called from the small blind and Atanas Pavlov raised to 125,000 out of the big blind. Kergalvis limp-shoved for around 400,000 and Pavlov instantly called.

Elvijs Kergalvis: A♦6♥ All in
Atanas Pavlov: A♥Q♦

Kergalvis needed some help from the dealer as Pavlov dominated him with a better ace. The board of 5♥10♦10♥9♥Q♠ was clean for Pavlov, and Kergalvis was sent to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Atanas Pavlov	1,900,000 1,100,000	1,100,000
Elvijs Kergalvis	Busted

Tags: Atanas Pavlov Elvijs Kergalvis

05-08-2025 19:25 UTC+2

Zavoloka Loses Some Chips

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Tim Baker

Level 11 : Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante

When it folded to Mikhail Zavoloka in middle position, he came in with a raise to 40,000. Only the big blind player called.

The flop came down A♣K♠7♠ and the action checked to Zavoloka. He fired a continuation bet of 35,000, which the big blind player called.

The J♦ turn checked through and so did the 3♠ river. Zavoloka's opponent showed K♥9♣ for a pair of kings, prompting Zavoloka to muck.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mikhail Zavoloka	600,000 200,000	200,000

Tags: Mikhail Zavoloka

Level: 11

Blinds: 10,000/20,000

Ante: 20,000

05-08-2025 18:52 UTC+2

Break Time

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Tim Baker

Level 10 : Blinds 10,000/15,000, 15,000 ante

Players are now going on their last break of the day. After the break, registration will close for Day 1a of the Main Event.

05-08-2025 18:45 UTC+2

Denise Pratt Confronts Poker Debtor Maurice Hawkins at Payout Desk | PokerNews Podcast #889

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Tim Baker

Level 10 : Blinds 10,000/15,000, 15,000 ante

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!

Click here to listen to the new PN Podcast!

05-08-2025 18:40 UTC+2

Amiri Puts Sadeghisisan in the Blender

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Tim Baker

Level 10 : Blinds 10,000/15,000, 15,000 ante

From the big blind, Negin Sadeghisisan fired out a bet of 125,000 on the turn, with the board showing A♣J♠4♦10♣. Ehsan Amiri was her opponent in the hand, and after a brief pause, Amiri tossed in the call.

The board-pairing J♦ river caused Sadeghisisan to slow down and check. Amiri carved out a bet of 375,000 and the action was back on Sadeghisisan.

Sadeghisisan did some inventory, used up around four of her time bank cards, before ultimately sliding her cards into the muck and surrendering the pot to Amiri.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ehsan Amiri	1,500,000 500,000	500,000
Negin Sadeghisisan	900,000 300,000	300,000

Tags: Ehsan Amiri Negin Sadeghisisan

05-08-2025 18:30 UTC+2

Lasouski Pays to See Vinayagamoorthy's Boat

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Tim Baker

Level 10 : Blinds 10,000/15,000, 15,000 ante

From the button, Artsiom Lasouski bet 35,000 into a pot of roughly 130,000 on a flop of 4♠7♣8♥. David Vinayagamoorthy check-raised to 130,000 from the big blind, and Lasouski called.

The turn came the 8♦ and Vinayagamoorthy fired out a bet of 115,000. Lasouki thought for a while and then made the call again.

When the A♦ landed on the river, Vinayagamoorthy used a few time bank cards before betting 260,000 with just a few chips behind. Lasouki quickly called.

Vinayagamoorthy turned over 8♣7♦ for a full house, and all Lasouski could do was muck his cards.

Player	Chips	Progress
David Vinayagamoorthy	1,100,000 850,000	850,000
Artsiom Lasouski	400,000 500,000	500,000

Tags: Artsiom Lasouski David Vinayagamoorthy

Level: 10

Blinds: 10,000/15,000

Ante: 15,000

05-08-2025 18:13 UTC+2

Chilaud Builds Momentum

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Tim Baker

Level 9 : Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante

Maxime Chilaud made it 25,000 to go from under the gun with Yuhang Chen calling from the next seat, and Rehman Kassam defending his big blind.

Kassam checked the K♠J♥4♦ flop and Chilaud bet 28,000. Chen called, but Kassam folded.

The 3♣ fell on the turn and Chilaud continued with a bet of 105,000. Chen quickly folded, and Chilaud won the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Maxime Chilaud	900,000 50,000	50,000
Yuhang Chen	600,000 150,000	150,000
Rehman Kassam	120,000 120,000	120,000

Tags: Maxime Chilaud Rehman Kassam Yuhang Chen

05-08-2025 18:00 UTC+2

Ercan Raises the River

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Tim Baker

Level 9 : Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante

The big blind and Ivan Govorov checked a flop of 4♠9♦7♣ over to Mustafa Ercan in the hijack. Ercan bet 27,000, which only the big blind player called.

The 2♣ turn got checked through and the K♠ fell on the river. The big blind fired out a bet of 80,000 and Ercan raised to 180,000. The big blind player snap-folded, and Ercan added more chips to his stack.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mustafa Ercan	1,450,000 450,000	450,000
Ivan Govorov	1,300,000 100,000	100,000

Tags: Ivan Govorov Mustafa Ercan