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$3,500 Merit Poker Cup
Day 1a Completed
2026 Mediterranean Poker Party
$3,500 Merit Poker Cup
Day: 1a
Players Left 3 / 418
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Chip Counts
Chip Counts
Level 15
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Alexander Sokolovsky has taken a commanding chip lead on Day 1a at the $3,500 Merit Poker Cup with 2,165,000 chips at the beautiful Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino. The Serbian will be looking to convert his colossal advantage into his first-ever major trophy in a poker competition.
Sokolovsky's biggest ever cash was at the same venue, when he came sixth at the Merit Poker Western Series in January 2025. Hot on his heels is one of Uzbekistan's leading players Timur Mukhamedaminov with 1,595,000, and in third place is China's Da Zhuo, who has secured his first cash on European soil.
Also in the mix are two-time WSOP Bracelet winner and KFC bucket hat wearer Yuliyan Kolev (1,200,000), fellow bracelet winners Espen Sandvik (555,000) and Guo Liang Wei (325,000).
The only woman to bag was China's Chenzu Zhang with 620,000, who will be looking to emulate her compatriot Congya Zhang, who won the $2,200 Global Poker Championship earlier today.
And finally, 2007 EPT London winner Joseph Mouawad of Lebanon bagged 190,000 and will be wanting to get a quick spin-up on Tuesday to put himself in contention for the guaranteed prize pool of $1,000,000.
Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alexander Sokolovsky | Serbia | 2,165,000 | 108 |
| 2 | Timur Mukhamedaminov | Uzbekistan | 1,595,000 | 80 |
| 3 | Da Zhou | China | 1,320,000 | 66 |
| 4 | Mekan Yusupov | Turkey | 1,245,000 | 62 |
| 5 | Yuliyan Kolev | Bulgaria | 1,200,000 | 60 |
| 6 | Boris Smuskevicius | Lithuania | 1,075,000 | 54 |
| 7 | Mihail Ketlerov | Russian Federation | 915,000 | 46 |
| 8 | George Tomescu | Romania | 825,000 | 41 |
| 9 | Bora Kurtulus | Turkey | 750,000 | 38 |
| 10 | Maximilian Wieser | Austria | 700,000 | 35 |
Plenty of big names failed to advance to Day 2, including the Ukrainian powerhouses of Eugene Katchalov and Olga Iremolcheva, who will have to come back on Day 1b for the chance to lift the Merit Poker Cup.
Merit regular Yiannis Liperis, and the highly decorated German Manig Loeser were also bagless on Day 1a.
Day 1b will get underway on Monday at midday, and it will be the last chance for players to advance to Day 2. Each participant will receive 100,000 chips and will play down to 15% of the field.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for updates on the $3,500 Merit Poker Cup live from the tournament floor.
Level 15
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Level 15
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
All the chips went into the middle on the turn, with Q♦6♠3♠9♦ on the board. Ilhan Alibeyoglu was at risk for 180,000 and was called by Justin Steinbrenner.
Ilhan Alibeyoglu: A♦A♠
Justin Steinbrenner: 6♣6♦
It was heartbreak for Alibeyoglu who discovered his bullets were cracked by Steinbrenner's set of sixes. The two-outer didn't come on the river as the 5♣ completed the board to send Alibeyoglu to the exit, while the remaining 26 players bagged up for the night.
Level 15
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Day 1a of the Merit Poker Cup is now down to 27 players and hand for hand action has been announced.
Who will be the unlucky person on the bubble?
Level 15
: Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Yuliyan Kolev bet 40,000 from early position and was called by Anatoly Korochenskiy in middle position. Aleksanras Rusinovas raised to 170,000 from the hijack.
Kolev raised to 340,000 and Korochenskiy used a time bank card before folding. Rusinovas also folded, giving the two-time WSOP Bracelet winner the pot.
Level: 15
Blinds: 10,000/20,000
Ante: 20,000
Level 14
: Blinds 5,000/15,000, 15,000 ante
Hanif Shafeghat moved all in for 175,000 from middle position and was called by Ilhan Alibeyoglu in the high jack.
Hanif Shafeghat: A♠K♣ 
Ilhan Alibeyoglu: 10♣10♠
Alibeyoglu's tens held after the board of Q♥9♥7♠3♥2♣ to send Shafeghat to the exit in 31st place, which is five places short of a bag.
Level 14
: Blinds 5,000/15,000, 15,000 ante
Vadzim Godzdanker bet 30,000 from under the gun, Kenar made it 85,000 from middle position. Ali Bagci moved all in for 205,000. Godzanker got out of the way, but Kenar snap-called.
Ali Bagci: A♥K♠
Kenar: A♣A♠
Bagci was dominated, but nothing helped on the runout of 9♠6♠4♥6♦K♥ to send the Turk to the rail.
Level: 14
Blinds: 5,000/15,000
Ante: 15,000
