$3,300 Main Event
Day 3 Completed
2023 Merit Poker Western Series
$3,300 Main Event
Day: 3
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 3
2023 Merit Poker Western Series
Buy-in
$3,300
Prize Pool
$2,089,320
Entries
757
Level
38
Blinds
500,000 / 1,000,000
Ante
1,000,000
Entries
114
Players Left
16
Aleksandr Chernikov, Dominik Panka Lead 16 Players Into the Main Event's Final Day
Level 29
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
Aleksandr Chernikov and Dominik Panka played the role of sheriffs in the wild west town that is the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino on Day 3 of the Merit Poker Western Series $3,300 Main Event.
Chernikov, a smile continuously on his face, eliminated one player after another as he built up a massive stack. His latest victim was Gabi Livshitz, when he busted the Israeli pro after flopping top set with nines. Chernikov finished with 13,600,000 and is in pole position to capture the title tomorrow.
Panka, the most accomplished pro left in the field with more than $3 million in live earnings, ended the day right behind Chernikov in second place with 11,575,000. Panka won a massive all in against Maxime Chilaud when he flopped a set of nines against Chilaud’s two pair. Later, he knocked out Viktor Ustimov by winning a 10,000,000-chip race with jacks to ace-king.
The rest of the 16 remaining players are looking up at Chernikov and Panka on the leaderboard. They include Eduard Barsegian (9,450,000), Luc Bindel (4,200,000), Justus Held (2,825,000), and Day 2 chip leader Ara Melkisetian (2,300,000).
Day 3 Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aleksandr Chernikov | 13,600,000 | 91 |
| 2 | Dominik Panka | 11,575,000 | 77 |
| 3 | Eduard Barsegian | 9,450,000 | 63 |
| 4 | Amarbayasgalan Sainjargal | 6,175,000 | 41 |
| 5 | Ernestas Degtiariovas | 4,850,000 | 32 |
| 6 | Luc Bindel | 4,200,000 | 28 |
| 7 | Vladislav Doroshkov | 3,975,000 | 27 |
| 8 | Maroun Jazzar | 3,725,000 | 25 |
| 9 | Serge Matta | 3,175,000 | 21 |
| 10 | Justus Held | 2,825,000 | 19 |
| 11 | Maciej Komorowski | 2,425,000 | 16 |
| 12 | Ara Melkisetian | 2,300,000 | 15 |
| 13 | Sergei Efimov | 2,000,000 | 13 |
| 14 | Edgard Raffoul | 2,000,000 | 13 |
| 15 | Bakhos Joumaa | 1,850,000 | 12 |
| 16 | Orthodoxos Orthodoxou | 1,375,000 | 9 |
Day 3 began with 114 players remaining out of the starting field of 757. With only 89 making the money, 25 made it this far but left with nothing. It took more than an hour of hand-for-hand play before Toni Kaukua burst the bubble.
From there, Michael Lech (82nd), Uri Reichenstein (79th), Arie Kliper (77th), and Nuri Hadioglu (69th) were all sent to the payout desk in a flurry of eliminations that accompanied the bursting of the money bubble. Chilaud, who won a high roller here in North Cyprus in November, was sent out in 28th place, while Koray Korkmaz (27th), Nikolay Fal (26th), and Day 1c chip leader Matan Krakow (25th) made it to the final three tables.
The 16 who survived the day will return at 1 p.m. local time tomorrow to play down to a champion. They’ve already guaranteed themselves $19,155, but they’ll all have an eye on the $372,800 top prize. The final table will be streamed on a 30-minute delay on Merit Poker’s YouTube channel.
PokerNews will be back tomorrow to follow all the action until a new Main Event champion is crowned in this paradise along the Mediterranean coast.
End of Day 3 Chip Counts
Level 29
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
13,600,000 | 400,000 |
|
11,575,000 | -410,000 |
|
9,450,000 | -230,000 |
|
6,175,000 | 2,175,000 |
|
4,850,000 | 185,000 |
|
4,200,000 | 2,385,000 |
|
3,975,000 | -310,000 |
|
3,725,000 | -1,975,000 |
|
3,175,000 | 175,000 |
|
2,825,000 | -730,000 |
|
2,425,000 | 625,000 |
|
2,300,000 | 250,000 |
|
2,000,000 | 1,135,000 |
|
2,000,000 | -1,000,000 |
|
1,850,000 | -965,000 |
|
1,375,000 | 175,000 |
Play Has Ended
Level 29
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
Day 3 has come to an end with 16 players remaining in contention for the title.
Stay tuned for a full recap of the day's action including the chip counts heading into the final day.
Gabi Livshitz Eliminated in 17th Place ($19,155)
Level 29
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
Aleksandr Chernikov has been Gabi Livshitz's nemesis on the outer table, and it just resulted in the Israeli pro hitting the rail.
Livshitz shoved for 960,000 from the cutoff and Chernikov quickly flicked in a chip to call.
Gabi Livshitz: 
Aleksandr Chernikov: 
"Two times," Livshitz asked the dealer.
"One time," Ara Melkisetian replied.
"Okay, one time," Livshitz said as the 
flop gave Chernikov a set and Livshitz the flush draw. Livshitz missed the 
turn, while the 
on the river sealed his elimination.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
13,200,000 | 900,000 |
|
Busted |
Chernikov Collects On Advantageous Board
Level 29
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
Gabi Livshitz opened under the gun, he was three-bet by Aleksandr Chernikov on his direct left, Livshitz called when it was back on him.
The flop came down 
. Chernikov continued for 300,000 and Livshitz called. The turn was the 
to wet the board. Chernikov bet 300,000 again and Livshitz came along for the ride.
The river was the 
to bring in the backdoor flush. Chernikov fired 550,000. Livshitz used up two time banks before he called.
Chernikov tabled the 
for the turned straight that became a flush and Livshitz mucked as he was left with about 10 big blinds.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
12,300,000 | 2,100,000 |
|
|
1,150,000 | -1,250,000 |
Sainjargal Takes on the Chip Leader
Level 29
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
Aleksandr Chernikov raised to 250,000 from the cutoff and Amarbayasgalan Sainjargal defended the big blind.
Both players checked the 
flop as the 
fell on the turn. Chernikov this time bet another 250,000 and Sainjargal called.
The river came the 
and Sainjargal again checked. Chernikov quickly checked behind and Sainjargal took the pot with 
for a pair of nines.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
10,200,000 | -300,000 |
|
|
4,000,000 | 1,300,000 |
Melkisetian Takes a Small One
Level 29
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
After some fairly tepid play after the two-table redraw, Ara Melkisetian raised to 200,000 from the cutoff. Gabi Livshitz defended his big blind.
The flop came 
. Livshitz bet 230,000 and was called.
The turn was the 
. Both players checked to the river which was the 
. Mekisetian bet 350,000 which got a fold.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,400,000 | -400,000 |
|
|
2,050,000 | 400,000 |
Level: 29
Blinds: 60,000/120,000
Ante: 120,000
Final Two Tables
Level 28
: Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante
| Table | Seat | Player | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Ernestas Degtiariovas | 4,665,000 | 47 |
| 1 | 2 | Vladislav Doroshkov | 4,285,000 | 43 |
| 1 | 3 | Bakhos Joumaa | 2,815,000 | 28 |
| 1 | 4 | Dominik Panka | 11,985,000 | 120 |
| 1 | 5 | Sergei Efimov | 865,000 | 9 |
| 1 | 6 | Justus Held | 3,555,000 | 36 |
| 1 | 7 | Eduard Barsegian | 9,680,000 | 97 |
| 1 | 9 | Luc Bindel | 1,815,000 | 18 |
| 2 | 1 | Gabi Livshitz | 2,800,000 | 28 |
| 2 | 2 | Aleksandr Chernikov | 10,500,000 | 105 |
| 2 | 3 | Maroun Jazzar | 5,700,000 | 57 |
| 2 | 4 | Orthodoxos Orthodoxou | 1,200,000 | 12 |
| 2 | 5 | Serge Matta | 3,000,000 | 30 |
| 2 | 6 | Amarbayasgalan Sainjargal | 2,700,000 | 27 |
| 2 | 7 | Ara Melkisetian | 1,650,000 | 17 |
| 2 | 8 | Maciej Komorowski | 1,950,000 | 20 |
| 2 | 9 | Edgard Raffoul | 3,000,000 | 30 |
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
11,985,000 | -15,000 |
|
|
10,500,000 | |
|
|
9,680,000 | 2,265,000 |
|
|
5,700,000 | |
|
|
4,665,000 | 465,000 |
|
|
4,285,000 | 655,000 |
|
|
3,555,000 | -3,175,000 |
|
|
3,000,000 | -200,000 |
|
|
3,000,000 | -300,000 |
|
|
2,815,000 | -485,000 |
|
|
2,800,000 | -400,000 |
|
|
2,700,000 | 540,000 |
|
|
1,815,000 | -240,000 |
|
|
1,650,000 | -500,000 |
|
|
1,200,000 | -1,400,000 |
|
|
865,000 | 155,000 |