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

05-09-2025 19:18 UTC+2

Zebarjad Still Going Strong

Kai Cocklin

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

Ali Zebarjad is going along nicely and has around 750,000 to his name, but did just lose a pot.

On a flop of 8♠5♦J♦, Zebarjad was in the big blind and check-called a bet of 50,000 from middle position to see a K♦ on the turn. Another check came in from Zebarjad, and another bet came in from his opponent, this time for 140,000. That was enough to push Zebarjad out, but still left with a stack of around 750,000 to play with.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ali Zebarjad	750,000 550,000	550,000

Tags: Ali Zebarjad

Level: 11

Blinds: 10,000/20,000

Ante: 20,000

05-09-2025 18:54 UTC+2

Break Time

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Kai Cocklin

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

Players are on a short break. When the break ends, late registration will be closed.

Once play resumes, the remaining players will grind out two more levels before the survivors bag up for the evening.

05-09-2025 18:45 UTC+2

Poker Cheat DQ’ed, Dwan Update & Hawk Tuah Returns | PokerNews Podcast #890

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Kai Cocklin

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

In the 890th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Kyna England talk about admitted poker cheat Ali Imsirovic being DQ'ed mid-tournament from an event in Florida. Was it the right thing to do?

It was a highly debated development, and the crew dove headfirst into the drama by discussing a poker black list, what bestbet Jacksonville could've done differently, and if poker pariahs could even be welcomed back to the game.

They then give an update on Tom Dwan, whose recent social media posts really concerned the poker community, and then Connor Richards headed to PokerGO Studio to chat with the controversial Haliey “Hawk Tuah Girl” Welch and others at the Celebrity Poker Tour (CPT) Game Night VI.

From there, it's highlights from the Hustler Casino Live (HCL) Million Dollar Game III, such as old-school player Erick Lindgren satelliting his way in, Texas Mike's wild ride, and an interview with Steve! Oh, and we'd be remiss if we didn't talk about that epic hand between Alan Keating and Peter.

Mike then talks about making a final table at the Venetian and playing with Batman at a recent Charity Series of Poker (CSOP) event, Brad Gafford and John Juanda both win tournaments, and poker media veteran Paul Oresteen talks about his new Substack, which you can subscribe to here.

Finally, PokerStars North America has introduced a dozen new "Throwables" and the PokerNews Podcast crew not only shares their favorites, but they also offer fans of the show an opportunity to win some just by either listening to or watching the podcast.

Listen to the New PokerNews Podcast Here!

05-09-2025 18:42 UTC+2

Molenaar Loses to Third Pair

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Tim Baker

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

The action was picked up with the flop showing 5♠2♥A♣. The cutoff checked and Michel Molenaar bet 65,000 from the button. The cutoff made the call.

After it checked to Molenaar on the Q♥ turn, he fired out a second barrel of 115,000. The cutoff thought for a while and then tossed in the call.

The 8♦ river checked through and the cutoff turned over 7♥5♥, for just a pair of fives. Molenaar couldn't beat it as he slid his cards face down to the dealer.

Player	Chips	Progress
Michel Molenaar	240,000 290,000	290,000

Tags: Michel Molenaar

05-09-2025 18:32 UTC+2

Oye Talks Himself Into a Call, Busts Yuan

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Kai Cocklin

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

Espen Oye was deliberating for some time over whether he should call the shove of Yilu Yuan, who had three-bet shoved from the button for 232,000.

"This guy is crazy," said Oye to Espen Jorstad. "He could have anything,".

"I have the worst hand but I think I beat you," he added. Yuan kept laughing and he awaited the decision from Oye, who was burning through time banks.

"If you see my hand, you will laugh at how bad it is. At least if I call and lose, I will still have....7,000!"

"I have king-deuce of spades, but I think I beat you," he repeated. Eventually, Oye did call to leave Yuan at risk.

Yilu Yuan: A♠10♥ All in
Espen Oye: K♠2♠

Oye was live and found a king when the flop came 5♠4♦K♥, giving him the lead. A 3♠ on the turn added a flush draw for Oye, removing some of Yuan's outs, who did pick up a gutshot to a wheel.

The Q♥ river was anti-climatic as Oye's pair of kings stayed in the lead, and Yuan was sent to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Espen Oye	500,000 500,000	500,000
Yilu Yuan	Busted

Tags: Espen Jorstad Espen Oye Yilu Yuan

05-09-2025 18:27 UTC+2

Stoika Hits an Ace to Double

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Tim Baker

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

Arriving at the table to see Roman Stoika had four-bet jammed for 287,000 after his open raise from early position had been three-bet by the hijack. The hijack called, and the cards were tabled.

Roman Stoika: A♥5♥ All in
Hijack: Q♥Q♠

Stoika had shoved into a premium pocket pair, but still had an ace and some hearts that he could hit to stay alive. The dealer spread out a flop of K♣A♠3♠, propelling Stoika into the lead with top pair. The rest of the board came 6♥5♠ and Stoika earned himself the double-up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Roman Stoika	600,000 600,000	600,000

Tags: Roman Stoika

Level: 10

Blinds: 10,000/15,000

Ante: 15,000

05-09-2025 18:08 UTC+2

Selected Chip Counts

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Kai Cocklin

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

Player	Chips	Progress
Chris Dowling	1,400,000 250,000	250,000
Daniel Smiljkovic	1,100,000

Nenad Dukic	1,100,000 500,000	500,000
Niall Farrell	800,000 250,000	250,000

Mihai Niste	550,000 150,000	150,000
Michel Molenaar	530,000 230,000	230,000
Espen Jorstad	450,000 350,000	350,000

Mikhail Zavoloka	425,000 425,000	425,000
Kirill Shcherbakov	200,000 100,000	100,000
Viktor Iarilov	120,000

05-09-2025 18:03 UTC+2

Corral Rivers a Straight to End Levin's Run

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Tim Baker

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

Heads-up to a flop of 8♣4♥Q♦, where Dmitriy Levin fired out a bet of roughly 125,000 from the big blind. Juan Corral called from the button.

Levin checked the 8♥ turn and Corral decided to bet 80,000. Levin thought for quite some time before making the call.

The J♥ landed on the river and Levin checked with around 330,000 remaining in his stack. Corral bet enough to put Levin all in, and Levin went into the tank. Levin burned through a few of his time bank cards and then slammed in the call.

Corral turned over 10♣9♣ for a straight, which won him the pot and eliminated Levin, who had K♠Q♣ for top pair on the flop.