Main Event | 2019 Merit Poker Classic

05-12-2019 18:02 UTC+3

Mustafa Biz Eliminated in 9th Place ($56,515)

Shirley Ang

Level 29 : 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

Mustafa Biz shoved from mid-position for around 1,950,000 and so did Anton Morgenstern in the lojack with the bigger stack. The rest of the table quickly folded so the cards could go on their backs.

Mustafa Biz:
Anton Morgenstern:

The board ran out for Morgenstern to hold with the higher hole cards and eliminate Biz in 9th place for $56,515 and more space around the table.

Player	Chips	Progress
Anton Morgenstern	5,400,000 490,000	490,000

Mustafa Biz	Busted

Tags: Anton Morgenstern Mustafa Biz

05-12-2019 19:27 UTC+3

Braude Doubles Christoforou Up

Shirley Ang

Level 30 : 120,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Andreas Christoforou shoved from the early position and Daniel Braude in the small blind asked for a count. The dealer confirmed Christoforou had 2,580,000 behind and Braude called. Anton Morgenstern quickly folded his big blind.

Andreas Christoforou:
Daniel Braude:

The board ran out for Christoforou to play the two pair on the board with the ace-kicker to double up as Braude's pocket pair got counterfeited.

Player	Chips	Progress
Daniel Braude	12,300,000 -4,750,000	-4,750,000
Andreas Christoforou	5,660,000 2,830,000	2,830,000

Tags: Andreas Christoforou Anton Morgenstern Daniel Braude

05-12-2019 20:36 UTC+3

Yaiche Doubles Through Geilich

Shirley Ang

Level 31 : 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

Liran Twito raised to 600,000 from the hijack and Basil Yaiche shoved from the cutoff. Ludovic Geilich asked for a count from the button and the dealer confirmed Yaiche had 3,190,000 behind. Geilich made the call. Daniel Braude quickly folded his small blind but Anton Morgenstern looked to have a lot more difficulty in making a decision from the big blind. After about two minutes, Morgenstern reluctantly folded as did Twito.

Basil Yaiche:
Ludovic Geilich:

The flop came and Morgenstern held his head in his hands.

The turn was the while the rest of the table wondered what Morgenstern had.

The river completed the board with the for Yaiche to river a set of eights to stay alive.

"I had ace-king of spades'" Morgenstern said.

Player	Chips	Progress
Basil Yaiche	7,730,000 3,145,000	3,145,000
Liran Twito	6,600,000 -1,565,000	-1,565,000
Ludovic Geilich	6,160,000 125,000	125,000

Tags: Anton Morgenstern Basil Yaiche Daniel Braude Liran Twito Ludovic Geilich

05-12-2019 20:57 UTC+3

Anton Morgenstern Eliminated in 8th Place ($75,355)

Shirley Ang

Level 31 : 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

Liran Twito raised to 600,000 from the early position and Anton Morgenstern shoved from the button for 5,315,000. Action folded back to Twito who snap-called.

Anton Morgenstern:
Liran Twito:

The flop came for Morgenstern to flop top two pair but it also gave Twito the gutshot to the straight and a flush draw.

The turn was the to give Twito the flush indeed. Morgenstern needed another ace or king to stay alive but the was dealt on the river for Morgenstern to be eliminated in eighth place for $75,355 after almost 2.5 hours of eight-handed play.

Player	Chips	Progress
Liran Twito	14,950,000 5,450,000	5,450,000
Anton Morgenstern	Busted

Tags: Anton Morgenstern Liran Twito

05-12-2019 21:12 UTC+3

Selahaddin Bedir Eliminated in 7th Place ($94,490)

Shirley Ang

Level 31 : 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

Selahaddin Bedir raised to 600,000 from under the gun and Liran Twito three-bet to 1,700,000 from the cutoff. Action folded back to Bedir who four-bet shoved for 8,070,000 and Twito snap-called.

Selahaddin Bedir:
Liran Twito:

The board ran out for Twito to improve his better pair to a set of aces to eliminate Bedir in seventh place for $94,490.

Player	Chips	Progress
Liran Twito	24,500,000 9,550,000	9,550,000
Selahaddin Bedir	Busted

Tags: Liran Twito Selahaddin Bedir

05-12-2019 22:26 UTC+3

Ludovic Geilich Eliminated in 6th Place ($113,330)

Shirley Ang

Level 32 : 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Liran Twito raised to 800,000 from the cutoff and Ludovic Geilich shoved from the small blind. Daniel Braude quickly folded his big blind and Twito asked for a count. Geilich confirmed he had 6,625,000 behind in total. Twito flicked in a chip for the call.

Ludovic Geilich:
Liran Twito:

The board ran out for Twito to hold with the higher ace-kicker to eliminate the partypoker pro in sixth place. Geilich got up and hugged Kristen Bicknell before wishing the rest of the table good luck and making his way off the feature table stage.

Player	Chips	Progress
Liran Twito	30,200,000 7,550,000	7,550,000
Ludovic Geilich	Busted

Tags: Daniel Braude Kristen Bicknell Liran Twito Ludovic Geilich

05-12-2019 22:32 UTC+3

Basil Yaiche Eliminated in 5th Place ($141,440)

Shirley Ang

Level 32 : 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Basil Yaiche shoved from under the gun and action folded to Liran Twito in the big blind who asked for a count. The dealer confirmed Yaiche had 7,200,000 behind. Twito contemplated his options for a while and then decidedly put in a stack for the call so the cards could go on their backs.

Basil Yaiche:
Liran Twito:

The flop came to hand Twito a set of eights immediately.

The turn was the for Yaiche to be drawing dead and the was dealt on the river as a formality to complete the board.

Yaiche busted in sixth place for $141,440 and now Twito has more than half of the chips in play.

Player	Chips	Progress
Liran Twito	37,600,000 7,400,000	7,400,000
Basil Yaiche	Busted

Tags: Basil Yaiche Liran Twito

05-12-2019 23:12 UTC+3

Daniel Braude Eliminated in 4th Place ($188,685)

Shirley Ang

Level 32 : 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Daniel Braude completed his small blind and Andreas Christoforou shoved in the big blind. Braude called for his last 1,425,000.

Daniel Braude:
Andreas Christoforou:

The board ran out for Christoforou to hold with the pocket eights to eliminate Braude in fourth place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Liran Twito	48,000,000 3,000,000	3,000,000
Andreas Christoforou	10,250,000 -1,750,000	-1,750,000
Kristen Bicknell	5,500,000 -1,900,000	-1,900,000

Daniel Braude	Busted

Tags: Andreas Christoforou Daniel Braude

05-12-2019 23:17 UTC+3

Christoforou Doubles Through Twito

Shirley Ang

Level 32 : 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

The three remaining players discussed the option of looking at the numbers but decided to play the current hand first.

Andreas Christoforou raised to 1,000,000 from the button and Liran Twito shoved in the big blind. Christoforou made the call.

Andreas Christoforou:
Liran Twito:

The flop came for Christoforou to stay ahead.

The turn was the for Twito to pick up the open-ended straight draw.

The river completed the board with the for Christoforou to double up and the public to go crazy.

The clock has now been paused while the chips are being counted and numbers are being looked at.

Player	Chips	Progress
Liran Twito	37,450,000 -10,550,000	-10,550,000
Andreas Christoforou	21,050,000 10,800,000	10,800,000
Kristen Bicknell	6,400,000 900,000	900,000

Tags: Andreas Christoforou Liran Twito

05-12-2019 23:34 UTC+3

Kristen Bicknell Eliminated in 3rd Place ($254,770)

Shirley Ang

Level 32 : 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Kristen Bicknell shoved from the button for 6,400,000 in the first hand after the break and Andreas Christoforou snap-called.

Kristen Bicknell:
Andreas Christoforou:

The flop came for Christoforou to flop top pair immediately.

The turn was the which meant Bicknell was drawing dead and she got up from her chair.

The was dealt on the river to complete the board as a formality for the Cypriotic rail to go crazy.

The players paused the clock again to look at the numbers once more.

Player	Chips	Progress
Liran Twito	37,250,000 -200,000	-200,000
Andreas Christoforou	27,650,000 6,600,000	6,600,000
Kristen Bicknell	Busted

Tags: Andreas Christoforou Kristen Bicknell