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

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

Level: 22

Blinds: 15,000/30,000

Ante: 30,000

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 15:53 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.

Player	Chips	Progress
Aleksandr Chernikov	2,250,000 15,000	15,000
Sonny Franco	470,000 105,000	105,000

Tags: Aleksandr Chernikov Sonny Franco

08-12-2023 15:35 UTC+2

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

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 15:25 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 15:19 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 15:13 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

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