$3,300 Main Event
Day 1cd Started
2023 Merit Poker Gangster Series
$3,300 Main Event
Day: 1cd
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1cd
2023 Merit Poker Gangster Series
Buy-in
$3,300
Prize Pool
$1,562,160
Entries
566
Level
36
Blinds
250,000 / 500,000
Ante
500,000
Entries
144
Players Left
62
Two Starting Flights Remain in 2023 Merit Poker Gangster Series $3,300 Main Event
The flagship event of the 2023 Merit Poker Gangster Series here at Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino is already well underway, with two starting flights complete and two more still to go in the $3,300 Main Event. The event has featured a total of 303 entrants so far across the first two days, of which 133 players survived to advance to Day 2.
Top Ten Chip Counts from Day 1a and Day 1b
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aleksei Petrov | Russian Federation | 766,000 | 306 |
| 2 | Shuang Luo | China | 670,500 | 268 |
| 3 | Dmitry Gromov | Russian Federation | 627,500 | 251 |
| 4 | Razvan Sabau | Romania | 585,000 | 234 |
| 5 | Adem Marjanovic | Austria | 525,000 | 210 |
| 6 | Bakhos Joumaa | Lebanon | 485,500 | 194 |
| 7 | Christos Leantzis | Cyprus | 470,000 | 188 |
| 8 | Sinead Priestley | United Kingdom | 432,000 | 173 |
| 9 | Selahaddin Bedir | Turkey | 430,500 | 172 |
| 10 | Maximilian Wieser | Austria | 428,500 | 171 |
Aleksei Petrov currently holds the biggest stack from the first two starting flights. The Russian player finished Day 1a with 766,000 and is the only player with a stack worth over 300 big blinds going into Day 2. Petrov is most closely followed by Day 1b chip leader Shuang Luo (670,500) and WPT champion Dmitry Gromov (627,500).
Other notables to make it to Day 2 so far include Selahaddin Bedir (430,500), Guoliang Wei (401,500), Ankit Ahuja (322,000), Victor Yugay (279,000), Halil Tasyurek (159,000), previous Merit Poker Main Event champion Maxime Chilaud (131,000), winner of the 2023 Gangster Series $2,200 Warm Up Ivan Govorov (129,500) and winner of the 2023 Gangster Series $5,300 High Roller Giorgiy Skhulukhiya (99,000).
Day 1c begins at noon local time and will feature a similar structure as the first two starting flights. Players will start with 100,000 chips and play nine 40-minute levels. There will be a break after every three levels. Unlimited reentries and late registration will be available until the end of Level 14 on Day 2. There will also be a turbo Day 1d starting flight featuring 25-minute levels beginning today at 7:00 p.m. local time.
As always, PokerNews will be on-site to cover all the action today from when cards are in the air until players bag and tag at the end of the night.
Level: 1
Blinds: 200/500
Ante: 500
Shuffle Up and Deal
Level 1
: 200/500, 500 ante
Cards are in the air for Day 1c of the $3,300 Main Event. There are currently 24 entrants registered to start the day.
Some Early Faces in the Field
Level 1
: 200/500, 500 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
Kirichenko Puts in an Early Squeeze
Level 1
: 200/500, 500 ante
There was cutoff open to 1,200 before the button called and the small blind folded. The action was then on the runner-up from the 2023 Merit Poker Gangster Series $5,300 High Roller, Aleksandr Kirichenko, in the big blind.
He took a moment and then put in a large three-bet to 5,600.
Both of his opponents sat in the tank for a moment before they eventually released their hand. Kirichenko dragged a small pot early to move in the right direction on Day 1.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
110,000
10,000
|
10,000 |
Small Pair Does the Job for Celik
Level 1
: 200/500, 500 ante
Nikolay Tyurin opened to 1,200 from middle position and received calls from Jihad Yehya in the small blind and Bulut Celik in the big blind.
The flop came 2♠2♦4♥ and action checked back around to Tyurin who fired a 2,000 continuation bet. Yehya got out of the way while Celik made the call.
Celik check-called another bet from Tyurin on the 7♦ turn, this time for 3,500.
Both players checked the 3♠ river. Celik tabled 5♦3♦ for a missed flush and straight draw that turned into two pair on the river to take down an early pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
108,000
8,000
|
8,000 |
|
|
105,000
5,000
|
5,000 |
|
|
98,000
-2,000
|
-2,000 |
Dashti Picks Off a Bluff
Level 1
: 200/500, 500 ante
Edgard Saliba opened to 1,000 from under the gun and received a call from Ghanim Dashti in the cutoff.
The flop came A♦3♥2♠ and Saliba fired a 1,500 continuation bet that was called by Dashti.
Both players checked the 8♦ turn leading to the 5♣ river. Saliba bet 2,500 and Dashti made the call.
Saliba could only show J♣9♣ for a bluff while Dashti tabled 10♦10♥ for a pair of tens to take the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
102,000
102,000
|
102,000 |
|
|
87,800
-12,200
|
-12,200 |
Level: 2
Blinds: 300/600
Ante: 600
Sonsino Gets Aggressive
Level 2
: Blinds 300/600, 600 ante
Action was opened under the gun to 1,500 before there was a call from Amir Sonsino on the button and the big blind defended.
The Q♥10♠4♦ flop landed and after the big blind checked the original raiser continued for 2,600. It was then on Sonsino who took only a moment before putting in a raise to 6,600. The big blind folded but the orignal raiser called.
The Q♣ rolled off on the turn and paired the board. It got checked over to Sonsino who put out 7,000 and after a tank his opponent folded.
The pot was pushed to Sonsino who has accumulated a big stack early on.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
175,000
175,000
|
175,000 |