$10,500 High Roller | 2023 Merit Poker Retro Series

08-12-2023 17:35 UTC+2

Aleksandr Chernikov Eliminated In 10th Place ($26,300)

Maxime Taldir

Level 24 : Blinds 25,000/50,000, 50,000 ante

On the secondary table, Damir Zhugralin opened to 125,000 from the button, and Aleksandr Chernikov shoved for almost 1,300,000 chips. Zhugralin made the call.

Aleksandr Chernikov: Q♦8♦
Damir Zhugralin: J♠J♣

Already the 20th the $2,200 Warm-Up event, Chernikov signs another deeprun in the 2023 Merit Poker Retro Series. However, he didn't reach the final table because the board 3♥4♣A♥2♦K♦ kept Zhugralin in the lead. For his 10th place, Chernikov wins $26,300.

Player	Chips	Progress
Damir Zhugralin	2,815,000 1,225,000	1,225,000
Aleksandr Chernikov	Busted

Tags: Aleksandr Chernikov Damir Zhugralin

08-12-2023 17:30 UTC+2

Rustam Khamatgareev Eliminated In 11th Place ($26,300)

Maxime Taldir

Level 23 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

Hassan Barakat, in the cutoff, shoved 570,000 chips. Everybody folded to Rustam Khamatgareev in the big blind, who took a long moment before eventually calling with a very short stack of 170,000 chips.

Rustam Khamatgareev: K♠8♥
Hassan Barakat: A♣K♣

Khamatgareev seemed to know he was going to be eliminated. And that's exactly what happened on the board 5♥7♣Q♣A♥J♠. He left the tournament in 11th place for $26,300.

Player	Chips	Progress
Hassan Barakat	805,000 15,000	15,000
Rustam Khamatgareev	Busted

Tags: Hassan Barakat Rustam Khamatgareev

08-12-2023 17:15 UTC+2

Kemal Aslan Eliminated In 12th Place ($26,300)

Maxime Taldir

Level 23 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

After he doubled up after the break, Kemal Aslan shoved a second time for 125,000 chips from the small blind. Daniel Kyosev in the big blind called, and Rustam Khamatgareev, who had opened to 80,000 in the hijack, also called.

Kyosev and Khamatgareev checked on the flop 10♣5♦Q♥ and the turn 6♠. But when Kyosev bet on the river K♠, Khamatgareev immediately folded.

Kemal Aslan: 2♥2♦
Daniel Kyosev: J♦9♦

Aslan had no chance because Kyosev hit a straight on the river. Kemal Aslan was eliminated in 12th place, earning $26,300.

Player	Chips	Progress
Daniel Kyosev	1,200,000 470,000	470,000
Rustam Khamatgareev	315,000 -225,000	-225,000
Kemal Aslan	Busted

Tags: Daniel Kyosev Kemal Aslan Rustam Khamatgareev

08-12-2023 17:00 UTC+2

George Alahwal Eliminated In 13th Place ($21,800)

Maxime Taldir

Level 23 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

On the very first hand after the break, George Alahwal moved all in for 220,000 from early position. In the small blind, Milos Petakovic reshoved, and the big blind folded.

George Alahwal: K♥J♠
Milos Petakovic: A♠J♣

A king could save Alahwal. However, the only figure card on the board was a jack on 10♠3♠2♦J♦A♣, leading to Alahwal's elimination in 13th place for $21,800.

Player	Chips	Progress
Milos Petakovic	1,700,000 305,000	305,000
George Alahwal	Busted

Tags: George Alahwal Milos Petakovic

08-12-2023 16:08 UTC+2

Nikolay Ponomarev Eliminated In 14th Place ($21,800)

Maxime Taldir

Level 22 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

In the cutoff, Nikolay Ponomarev moved all in for 220,000 chips. Mustafa Biz on the button called, and the blinds folded.

Nikolay Ponomarev: J♠J♥
Mustafa Biz: 8♥8♠

Ponomarev was in a very good position to double up after the flop 5♥A♠6♦. But a terrible 8♣ came on the turn, giving Biz a set. The 7♠ landed on the river, leading to Ponomarev’s elimination.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mustafa Biz	1,800,000 340,000	340,000
Nikolay Ponomarev	Busted

Tags: Mustafa Biz Nikolay Ponomarev

08-12-2023 16:05 UTC+2

Oleg Ustinovich Eliminated In 15th Place ($21,800)

Maxime Taldir

Level 21 : Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

At the secondary table, Oleg Ustinovich and his stack of 250,000 chips were called by Damir Zhugralin.

Oleg Ustinovich: K♦K♥
Damir Zhugralin: A♠Q♣

Ustinovich’s kings held on the flop 4♦6♦3♦ and on the turn 2♣. But the A♥ came on the river to give a pair of aces to Zhugralin and send Ustinovich to the rail. Finishing 15th, Ustinovich wins.

Player	Chips	Progress
Damir Zhugralin	1,700,000 235,000	235,000
Oleg Ustinovich	Busted

Tags: Damir Zhugralin Oleg Ustinovich

08-12-2023 15:57 UTC+2

Naryman Yaghmaie Eliminated In 16th Place ($18,700)

Maxime Taldir

Level 21 : Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

While Franco was splitting, Naryman Yaghmaie found himself at risk on the featured table with 230,000 chips against Denis Kapustin.

Naryman Yaghmaie: K♦Q♦
Denis Kapustin: A♥Q♠

Yaghmaie didn't find any improvement on the board 3♣7♦J♣7♠2♣. Finishing 16th, he wins $18,700.

Player	Chips	Progress
Denis Kapustin	1,500,000 355,000	355,000
Naryman Yaghmaie	Busted

Tags: Denis Kapustin Naryman Yaghmaie

08-12-2023 15:32 UTC+2

Jovan Kenjic Eliminated In 17th Place ($18,700)

Maxime Taldir

Level 21 : Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

From under the gun, Jovan Kenjic shoved with a total of 85,000 chips. Everyone folded to Hassan Barakat, who called from the big blind.

Jovan Kenjic: 8♥8♣
Hassan Barakat: A♦K♦

On the board 2♥8♦9♥4♠5♥, Kenjic had a set and doubled up. However, a few hands later, there was another "all in and call" situation between the two players. Kenjic was at risk again for 155,000 chips.

Jovan Kenjic: A♠8♣
Hassan Barakat: K♦J♣

Kenjic's elimination was swift as Barakat hit a full house on the flop K♠J♦K♣. Nevertheless, an A♣ on the turn and the 8♦ on the river gave two pairs to Kenjic. But he was eliminated in 17th place, winning $18,700.

Following his elimination, a short break was granted to the players for the redraw.

Player	Chips	Progress
Hassan Barakat	660,000 -75,000	-75,000
Jovan Kenjic	Busted

Tags: Hassan Barakat Jovan Kenjic

08-12-2023 15:19 UTC+2

Oshri Lahmani Eliminated In 19th Place ($16,500)

Maxime Taldir

Level 21 : Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

On the feature table, Oshri Lahmani in the big blind found himself at risk for 40,000 chips against Kemal Aslan under the gun.

Oshri Lahmani: 9♥2♥
Kemal Aslan: 7♠7♦

Lahmani was almost drawing dead after the flop 7♥8♦3♦ that gave a set to Aslan. The 9♠ and the 6♠ completed the board, and Lahmani was eliminated in 19th position for $16,500.

Player	Chips	Progress
Kemal Aslan	750,000 295,000	295,000
Oshri Lahmani	Busted

Tags: Kemal Aslan Oshri Lahmani

08-12-2023 15:08 UTC+2

The Bubble For Rajkovic

Maxime Taldir

Level 21 : Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

Down to 75,000 chips, Adi Rajkovic moved all in from under the gun. Everybody folded to Damir Zhugralin in the big blind, who had no choice but to call.

Adi Rajkovic: 7♦7♠
Damir Zhugralin: K♥3♠

Zhugralin hit a king directly on the flop 6♠10♣K♦. And after the 10♥ on the turn and the Q♥ on the river, Rajkovic was eliminated, while all the other players are in the money.

Player	Chips	Progress
Damir Zhugralin	900,000 -200,000	-200,000
Adi Rajkovic	Busted

Tags: Adi Rajkovic Damir Zhugralin