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

08-12-2023 14:55 UTC+2

Alahwal Goes All In

Maxime Taldir

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

Milos Petakovic raised from the cutoff to 40,000. Then in the small blind, George Alahwal three-bet to 180,000. Petakovic eventually called to see the flop J♥Q♣8♥.

On this first street, Alahwal moved all in for 450,000 chips, and Petakovic quickly folded.

Player	Chips	Progress
George Alahwal	850,000 350,000	350,000
Milos Petakovic	620,000 -465,000	-465,000

Tags: George Alahwal Milos Petakovic

08-12-2023 14:59 UTC+2

Lucky Double Up For Lahmani

Maxime Taldir

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

On TV Table, Aleksandr Chernikov in the hijack shoved for 2,310,000 chips to put pressure on his opponents, and Oshri Lahmani in the small blind called with his last 25,000 chips.

Oshri Lahmani: A♣10♣
Aleksandr Chernikov: A♠7♦

The dealer fanned a board of 10♥3♠5♠K♠3♣, giving Lahmani a pair and securing his double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Aleksandr Chernikov	2,300,000 745,000	745,000
Oshri Lahmani	90,000 -75,000	-75,000

Tags: Oshri Lahmani Aleksandr Chernikov

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

08-12-2023 15:13 UTC+2

Nichan Khorchidian Eliminated In 20th Place ($16,500)

Maxime Taldir

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

Maxime Chilaud opened from under the gun, and Nichan Khorchidian, in the small blind, moved all in for 200,000 chips. Chilaud made the call.

Nichan Khorchidian: A♦7♦
Maxime Chilaud: 3♥3♣

Unfortunately for Khorchidian, the board 9♣J♦6♥2♠6♦ provided no help, making him the first player to be eliminated in the money. He finished in 20th place, winning $16,500.

Player	Chips	Progress
Maxime Chilaud	2,100,000 205,000	205,000
Nichan Khorchidian	Busted

Tags: Maxime Chilaud Nichan Khorchidian

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 15:25 UTC+2

Amarbayasgalan Sainjargal Eliminated In 18th Place ($18,700)

Maxime Taldir

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

With approximatly 220,000 chips, Amarbayasgalan Sainjargal went all in from middle position. Uri Reichenstein on the button reshoved, and both players flipped their cards.

Amarbayasgalan Sainjargal: Ax7x
Uri Reichenstein: Q♣J♣

A jack on J♥6♥7♣3♥9♠ gave the winning hand to Reichenstein. 17th, Sainjargal wins $18,700.

Player	Chips	Progress
Uri Reichenstein	1,900,000 330,000	330,000
Amarbayasgalan Sainjargal	Busted

Tags: Amarbayasgalan Sainjargal Uri Reichenstein

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 15:35 UTC+2

Redraw On Two Tables

Maxime Taldir

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

TABLE	SEAT	PLAYER	COUNTRY	CHIP COUNT	BLINDS
1	1	Daniel Kyosev	Bulgaria	805,000	32
1	2	Milos Petakovic	Serbia	795,000	32
1	3	Naryman Yaghmaie	Iran	230,000	9
1	4	Rustam Khamatgareev	Russia	345,000	14
1	5	Denis Kapustin	Russia	1,145,000	46
1	6	George Alahwal	Jordan	900,000	36
1	7	Hassan Barakat	Lebanon	660,000	26
1	8	Kemal Aslan	Turkey	440,000	18

2	1	Damir Zhugralin	Kazakhstan	1,465,000	59
2	2	Nikolay Ponomarev	Russia	280,000	11
2	3	Mustafa Biz	Turkey	1,460,000	58
2	4	Aleksandr Chernikov	Russia	2,235,000	89
2	5	Oleg Ustinovich	Russia	285,000	11
2	6	Sonny Franco	France	365,000	15
2	7	Maxime Chilaud	France	1,840,000	74
2	8	Uri Reichenstein	Israel	2,160,000	86

Player	Chips	Progress
Aleksandr Chernikov	2,235,000 -65,000	-65,000
Uri Reichenstein	2,160,000 260,000	260,000
Maxime Chilaud	1,840,000 -260,000	-260,000
Damir Zhugralin	1,465,000 565,000	565,000
Mustafa Biz	1,460,000 460,000	460,000
Denis Kapustin	1,145,000 245,000	245,000
George Alahwal	900,000 50,000	50,000
Daniel Kyosev	805,000 -90,000	-90,000
Milos Petakovic	795,000 175,000	175,000
Hassan Barakat	660,000
Kemal Aslan	440,000 -310,000	-310,000
Sonny Franco	365,000 20,000	20,000
Rustam Khamatgareev	345,000 -170,000	-170,000
Oleg Ustinovich	285,000 -115,000	-115,000
Nikolay Ponomarev	280,000 -10,000	-10,000
Naryman Yaghmaie	230,000 -50,000	-50,000

08-12-2023 15:53 UTC+2

Franco Finds A Split

Maxime Taldir

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

In the cutoff, Aleksandr Chernikov opened. But in the small blind, Sonny Franco counted his stack before going all in for 450,000 chips. Chernikov called.

Sonny Franco: A♥9♥
Aleksandr Chernikov: A♣Q♦

Far behind, Franco had very few outs after the flop K♦7♠K♣. But the 8♠ came on the turn and the 8♣ on the river to complete two pairs on the board, splitting the pot between the two players.