$3,300 Main Event | 2023 Merit Poker Retro Series

Aug 17, 2023

Mousa Barakat Eliminated In 11st Place ($42,900)

Maxime Taldir

Level 35 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

After an open by Nenad Dukic in early position, Thomas Eychenne on the button three-bet to 1,800,000. In the small blind, Mousa Barakat four-bet all in for 5,350,000. Dukic folded, but Eychenne seemed to face a tough decision. And after some time, he eventually called.

Mousa Barakat: A♣K♥
Thomas Eychenne: A♠5♠

Eychenne didn’t look happy. But a small smile appeared on his face on the flop 7♠3♦4♦ that gave him a straight draw. And he didn’t have to sweat as the straight was completed directly on the turn 2♥.

After the river 9♣, Eychenne claimed the pot and eliminated Barakat in 11th place for $42,900.

The next player eliminated will be the bubble boy of the final table.

Tags: Mousa Barakat Nenad Dukic Thomas Eychenne

Level: 35

Blinds: 200,000/400,000

Ante: 400,000

Aug 17, 2023

Rudolf Domin Eliminated In 12th Place ($42,900)

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Maxime Taldir

Level 34 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

A few hands after Panka’s elimination, David Hu opened from the hijack to 600,000. In the cutoff, Rudolf Domin raised all in for 3,350,000 chips. Then in the big blind, Dominik Panka reshoved for 7,325,000 chips. A move that made Hu fold.

Rudolf Domin: A♠5♠
Dominik Panka: Q♠Q♦

Domin hit a pair on the flop 10♠5♦6♥ and a flush draw with the turn 2♠. But the 8♦ didn’t give him what he wanted, and he was eliminated in 12th place for $42,900.

Tags: David Hu Dominik Panka Rudolf Domin

Aug 17, 2023

Ran Ilani Eliminated In 13th Place ($34,430)

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Maxime Taldir

Level 34 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

Down to 475,000 chips, Ran Ilani decided to go all in from under the gun. Dominik Panka reshoved for 5,350,000 chips from the hijack, and the other players folded.

Ran Ilani: 9♣4♣
Dominik Panka: A♦Q♣

There was no surprise on the board 9♦A♣2♦J♦2♥, with Panka who stayed in the lead with two pairs. After a long moment without any eliminations, Ran Ilani is out of the tournament and wins $34,430 for his 13th place.

Tags: Ran Ilani Dominik Panka

Aug 17, 2023

Quads For Eluz

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Maxime Taldir

Level 34 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

In the hijack, Yossi Eluz opened to 600,000. Then in the cutoff, Ran Ilani three-bet to 4,800,000, keeping only 175,000 chips with him. Action back to him, Eluz called with 4,500,000 chips.

Yossi Eluz: Q♦Q♠
Ran Ilani: 6♣6♦

Eluz hit a set of queens on the flop 9♣2♣Q♣. The turn was the 7♠, and the river the Q♥, that gave quads to Eluz who doubled up.

Tags: Ran Ilani Yossi Eluz

Aug 17, 2023

Double Up For Panka

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Maxime Taldir

Level 34 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

After an open to 650,000 by Rudolf Domin in early position, Dominik Panka raised all in for 2,375,000 chips from the small blind. Domin hesitated a few seconds and called.

Dominik Panka: K♦Q♦
Rudolf Domin: Q♣J♣

On 8♦4♦5♦J♠6♠, Panka hit a flush directly on the flop to double up.

Tags: Dominik Panka Rudolf Domin

Aug 17, 2023

The Chiplead Pot For Hu

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Maxime Taldir

Level 34 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

After the break, Ruslan Volkov opened to 600,000 from early position. David Hu called in the hijack, and Oleg Netaliev defended from the big blind.

The dealer fanned a flop of 2♠K♥6♣, where Volkov made a continuation bet of 700,000. Hu called, but not Netaliev.

On the turn 5♠, Volkov fired a second barrel of 900,000. Hu called once again to find the 6♥ on the river.

At this point, Volkov slowed down and checked. Hu, sitting in front of him, bet 4,000,000 chips. In the tank, Volkov eventually folded the best hand, 7♠7♥, as Hu only had 4♠4♦.