$2,200 Warmup | 2023 Merit Poker Retro Series

08-11-2023 21:49 UTC+2

Giorgiy Skhulukhiya Eliminated in 6th Place ($53,600)

Josh Noy

Level 34 : Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante

Giorgiy Skhulukhiya - Photo : Merit Poker

Giorgiy Skhulukhiya raised to 3,000,000 from under the gun, representing almost all of his remaining stack. The action folded around to Murat Cakir in the big blind, who three-bet and was called before the hands were turned up.

Giorgiy Skhulukhiya: K♣Q♦
Murat Cakir: A♠10♥

Skhulukhiya picked up some additional outs on the 10♣J♥3♦ flop as he gathered his belongings. The 3♥ turn and 5♥ river were no help, ending his run in sixth place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Murat Cakir	24,700,000 5,975,000	5,975,000
Giorgiy Skhulukhiya	Busted

Tags: Giorgiy Skhulukhiya Murat Cakir

08-11-2023 21:43 UTC+2

Kanakopoulos Doubles Through Skhulukhiya

Josh Noy

Level 34 : Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante

Giorgiy Skhulukhiya moved all in on the button, with Orestis Kanakopoulos making quick call from the big blind and at risk.

Orestis Kanakopoulos: A♠K♠
Giorgiy Skhulukhiya: J♠2♠

Kanakopoulos was never in danger on the 8♠6♠Q♣K♦5♥ runout to double up shortly after the break.

Player	Chips	Progress
Orestis Kanakopoulos	17,300,000 8,550,000	8,550,000
Giorgiy Skhulukhiya	4,200,000 -12,200,000	-12,200,000

Tags: Giorgiy Skhulukhiya Orestis Kanakopoulos

Level: 34

Blinds: 250,000/500,000

Ante: 500,000

08-11-2023 21:10 UTC+2

Time For a Break

Josh Noy

Level 33 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Six players still remain as the final table hits another break.

Player	Chips	Progress
Hadi Khadra	24,750,000 -1,050,000	-1,050,000
Murat Cakir	18,725,000 -1,675,000	-1,675,000
Giorgiy Skhulukhiya	16,400,000 1,900,000	1,900,000
Orestis Kanakopoulos	8,750,000 -650,000	-650,000
Nicolas Chouity	7,500,000

Huseyin Kaba	4,775,000 375,000	375,000

08-11-2023 21:07 UTC+2

Skhulukhiya Asks for It All

Josh Noy

Level 33 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Giorgiy Skhulukhiya opened to 800,000 from middle position with K♥K♦ before Nicolas Chouity three-bet to 2,200,000 in the small blind holding A♦J♥.

Skhulukhiya elected just to call and see the 10♣9♦2♦ flop. Both players used a time bank before acting, with Chouity leading out for 1,600,000.

Skhulukhiya then moved all in for all of Chouity's remaining stack, producing a fold before showing his pocket kings.

Player	Chips	Progress
Giorgiy Skhulukhiya	14,500,000 3,600,000	3,600,000
Nicolas Chouity	7,500,000 -4,400,000	-4,400,000

Tags: Giorgiy Skhulukhiya Nicolas Chouity

08-11-2023 20:59 UTC+2

Cakir Takes From Khadra

Josh Noy

Level 33 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Hadi Khadra opened to 800,000 with Q♥10♥ on the button, with Murat Cakir sliding in a three-bet to 2,700,000 holding A♥4♥ in the small blind. Khadra made the call before the dealer fanned out the 4♠8♦J♥ flop.

Both players checked to the 8♣ turn, where Cakir checked again. Khadra fired 1,500,000 and was called to the K♠ river.

Cakir used a time bank before leading out for 4,700,000, with Khadra counting out some chips before laying his hand down.

Player	Chips	Progress
Hadi Khadra	25,800,000 -1,800,000	-1,800,000
Murat Cakir	20,400,000 5,000,000	5,000,000

Tags: Hadi Khadra Murat Cakir

08-11-2023 20:51 UTC+2

Cakir Turns Up the Heat

Josh Noy

Level 33 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Giorgiy Skhulukhiya raised to 800,000 from under the gun with A♣2♦ and the action folded around to Murat Cakir in the big blind. Cakir made the call with Q♣8♦ to the 8♠Q♥4♥ flop.

Cakir checked and called a continuation bet of 650,000 from Skhulukhiya, then taking some time before checking again on the 3♠ turn.

Skhulukhiya fired again for 2,275,00, with Cakir using a time bank before announcing a raise to 5,000,000. Skhulukhiya took some time of his own and studied his opponent before mucking his hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
Murat Cakir	15,400,000 3,900,000	3,900,000
Giorgiy Skhulukhiya	10,900,000 -4,500,000	-4,500,000

Tags: Giorgiy Skhulukhiya Murat Cakir

08-11-2023 20:42 UTC+2

Skhulukhiya Moves In

Josh Noy

Level 33 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Hadi Khadra opened to 800,000 with 2♣2♥ in the cutoff before Murat Cakir three-bet to 2,000,000 holding 10♥8♥ on the button.

Giorgiy Skhulukhiya used a time bank in the small blind before moving all in with K♠K♦ for 11,825,000.

Khadra got out of the way, as did Cakir with Skhulukhiya adding some valuable chips to his stack.

Player	Chips	Progress
Hadi Khadra	27,600,000 -1,200,000	-1,200,000
Giorgiy Skhulukhiya	15,400,000 3,600,000	3,600,000
Murat Cakir	11,500,000 -1,600,000	-1,600,000

Tags: Giorgiy Skhulukhiya Hadi Khadra Murat Cakir

08-11-2023 20:36 UTC+2

Skhulukhiya Turns a Ten

Josh Noy

Level 33 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Nicolas Chouity opened to 800,000 holding K♥9♥ in the cutoff, with Giorgiy Skhulukhiya defending his big blind with 10♠5♠.

Skhulukhiya checked the 7♦4♣8♠ flop and called a bet of 1,050,000 from Chouity to the 10♥ turn.

Skhulukhiya checked again, with Chouity firing 1,900,000 into the middle. Skhulukhiya called to the Q♣ river, checking one last time.

Chouity checked back, seeing the bad news as Skhulukhiya's pair of tens took down the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nicolas Chouity	11,900,000 -5,400,000	-5,400,000

Giorgiy Skhulukhiya	11,800,000 2,000,000	2,000,000

Tags: Giorgiy Skhulukhiya Nicolas Chouity

08-11-2023 20:31 UTC+2

Khadra Applies the Pressure

Josh Noy

Level 33 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Orestis Kanakopoulos raised to 800,000 with A♣8♦ on the button, finding call from Hadi Khadra with 10♠5♥ in the big blind.

Both players checked the 3♣8♣9♥ flop, with Khadra leading out for 1,500,000 on the Q♥ turn. Kanakopoulos made the quick fold, as Khadra added to his chip lead.

Player	Chips	Progress
Hadi Khadra	28,800,000 6,300,000	6,300,000
Orestis Kanakopoulos	9,400,000 -3,600,000	-3,600,000

Tags: Hadi Khadra Orestis Kanakopoulos