Main Event
Day 1b Started
2019 Merit Poker Classic
Main Event
Day: 1b
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2019 Merit Poker Classic
Buy-in
$5,300
Prize Pool
$2,990,267
Entries
649
Level
35
Blinds
400,000 / 800,000
Ante
800,000
Day 1b of the Merit Poker Classic $5,300 Main Event Starts at Noon
Welcome back to the second starting flight out of five for the Merit Poker Classic $5,300 Main Event. The first Day attracted 93 entries and 43 players have already made it through with Maroun Jazzar ahead of the pack right now. Day 1b here at the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino promises to be a busier one with a lot of notable players confirming that they’d play today.
Another eight levels of 60 minutes each are scheduled today, players will start with 100,000 in chips and can reenter an unlimited number of times. A 10-minute break has been scheduled after every two levels. The tournament features a big blind ante throughout and level duration will increase to 75 minutes from Day 2 onwards. The late registration and reentry period will remain open until the end of the break after Level 12 which is at approximately 5:30 PM local time on May 9th.
Day 1 Structure
| Level | Duration | Small Blind | Big Blind | BB Ante |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 60 | 300 | 600 | 600 |
| 2 | 60 | 400 | 800 | 800 |
| Break | 10 | |||
| 3 | 60 | 500 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| 4 | 60 | 600 | 1,200 | 1,200 |
| Break | 10 | |||
| 5 | 60 | 700 | 1,400 | 1,400 |
| 6 | 60 | 800 | 1,600 | 1,600 |
| Break | 10 | |||
| 7 | 75 | 900 | 1,800 | 1,800 |
| 8 | 75 | 1,000 | 2,000 | 2,000 |
The festival is organized in cooperation with Poker Club Management and partypoker LIVE and features more than $5,000,000 in combined guarantees with a whopping $3,000,000 for the Main Event itself! And the PokerNews] live reporting team will be here to bring you all the Main Event updates from sunny Cyprus from noon local time onwards.
2019 Merit Poker Classic $5,300 Main Event Schedule
| Day | Date | Starting Time | Late Reg | Entries | Survivors | Further Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1a | Monday May 6th | 12:00 | Thursday May 9, ~17:30 | 93 | 43 | Play 8 Levels of 60 minutes |
| 1b | Tuesday May 7th | 12:00 | Thursday May 9, ~17:30 | - | - | Play 8 Levels of 60 minutes |
| 1c | Wednesday May 8th | 12:00 | Thursday May 9, ~17:30 | - | - | Play 8 Levels of 60 minutes |
| 1d | Wednesday May 8th | 21:30 | Thursday May 9, ~17:30 | - | - | Play 8 Levels of 30 minutes |
| 1e | Thursday May 9th | 10:00 | Thursday May 9, ~17:30 | - | - | Play 8 Levels of 20 minutes |
| 2 | Thursday May 9th | 13:30 | Thursday May 9, ~17:30 | - | - | Play 6 Levels of 75 minutes |
| 3 | Friday May 10th | 12:00 | Closed | - | - | TBD |
| 4 | Saturday May 11th | 12:00 | Closed | - | - | TBD |
| 5 | Sunday May 12th | 12:00 | Closed | - | - | Play down to a winner |
Level: 1
Blinds: 300/600
Ante: 600
Shuffle Up and Deal
Level 1
: 300/600, 600 ante
The tournament director has welcomed the players to the tables and instructed the dealers to shuffle up and deal. There are currently 26 entries showing on the tournament clock.
Familiar Faces in the First Level
Level 1
: 300/600, 600 ante
With 30 players showing on the clock, these familiar faces have taken their seat during the first ten minutes of the day:
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
100,000 | |
|
100,000 | |
|
100,000 |
Duta Gets a Fold
Level 1
: 300/600, 600 ante
Oliver Ruesing raised to 1,500 from the button and Florian Duta called in the big blind.
The flop came 
, Duta check-called the 1,500 continuation-bet of Ruesing.
The turn was the 
to pair the board up and Duta took over the initiative by leading out for 1,600. Ruesing took a few seconds before letting his hand go.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
103,500 | 3,500 |
|
97,000 |
More Faces in the Field
Level 1
: 300/600, 600 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
100,000 | |
|
100,000 | |
|
100,000 | |
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
Abdella Hits the Turn and River
Level 1
: 300/600, 600 ante
Beyazit Zorlu raised to 1,800 from the small blind and Ahmed Abdella called in the big blind.
They both checked through the 
on the flop to the on the turn. Zorlu bet 2,000 and Abdella called.
The river completed the board with the 
, Zorlu now checked and Abdella bet 6,500. Zorlu took a few seconds and then decided to make the call but mucked when Abdella tabled 
for the two pair of aces and fives.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
111,000 | 111,000 |
|
90,000 | 90,000 |
Up to Fifty Players
Level 1
: 300/600, 600 ante
The tournament clock is showing 50 entries right now and some of the players who just registered include:
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
100,000 | |
|
100,000 | |
|
100,000 | 100,000 |
|
100,000 |
Level: 2
Blinds: 400/800
Ante: 800