$3,300 Main Event Day 3 | 2023 Merit Poker Western Series

01-24-2023 19:22 UTC+3

Pankov Gets a Shove Through

Jeff McMillan

Level 24 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

Action went check-check on a flop of between Vitaliy Pankov and Ara Melkisetian, to go to the turn which was the .

From the big blind, Pankov jammed all in and Melkisetian folded swiftly to send Pankov a few more chips to work with.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ara Melkisetian	1,975,000 475,000	475,000

Vitaliy Pankov	615,000 585,000	585,000

Tags: Ara Melkisetian Vitaliy Pankov

01-24-2023 19:19 UTC+3

Unstoppable Chernikov Busts Another

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David Salituro

Level 24 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

Aleksei Istomin three-bet to 400,000 from the hijack, leaving himself just two blue 5,000 chips behind, and Aleksandr Chernikov called in early position. The flop came and they got the rest of Istomin's chips in the middle.

Aleksei Istomin:
Aleksandr Chernikov:

Istomin stood up from his seat and began vlogging the action with his camera as the board ran out , sending him to the rail as another pot was pushed in the direction of the chip leader.

Player	Chips	Progress
Aleksandr Chernikov	5,800,000 150,000	150,000

Aleksei Istomin	Busted

Tags: Aleksandr Chernikov Aleksei Istomin

01-24-2023 19:15 UTC+3

Panka Snaps Off Chilaud

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David Salituro

Level 24 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

Dominik Panka bet 75,000 from the button on a flop of before small blind Maxime Chilaud raised to 290,000.

Panka called as the fell on the turn. Chilaud bet another 410,000 and Panka, sitting motionless behind a pair of sunglasses, eventually called after a brief tank.

The river came the and Chilaud moved all in. Panka snap-called for his last 950,000 as Chilaud showed for two pair. Panka, though, turned over for the set to earn the massive double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dominik Panka	2,800,000 800,000	800,000

Maxime Chilaud	2,300,000 1,800,000	1,800,000

Tags: Dominik Panka Maxime Chilaud

01-24-2023 19:13 UTC+3

Chernikov In Charge

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Jeff McMillan

Level 24 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

There was a big preflop flip in progress.

Makram Bou Habib:
Aleksandr Chernikov:

Bou Habib was at risk as the flop sent him behind when it came . The turn was the and the river the to end the day for Bou Habib and give Chernikov a huge chip lead.

Player	Chips	Progress
Aleksandr Chernikov	5,650,000 850,000	850,000

Makram Bou Habib	Busted

Tags: Aleksandr Chernikov Makram Bou Habib

01-24-2023 19:06 UTC+3

Sainjargal Eliminates Anar With Aces

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Jeff McMillan

Level 24 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

The aftermath of a hand was being sorted out as the of Seref Dursun Anar had come up empty against the of Amarbayasgalan Sainjargal as the board showed . The dealer sent the chips over to the Mongolian player while Anar headed to payouts.

Player	Chips	Progress
Amarbayasgalan Sainjargal	2,290,000 1,430,000	1,430,000
Seref Dursun Anar	Busted

Tags: Amarbayasgalan Sainjargal Seref Dursun Anar

01-24-2023 19:03 UTC+3

Fal Saves Himself

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David Salituro

Level 24 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

Katherina Aristotelos raised to 85,000 from early position before Nikolay Fal, next to act, three-bet to 240,000.

Action folded back around to Aristotelos, who announced a four-bet to 800,000. Fal took off his sunglasses to take a closer look at Aristotelos as he began tanking.

"Queens," Aristotelos asked him. Fal nodded as he rechecked his hand before mucking after about a minute.

"Good pass," Aristotelos said, showing the followed by the as Fal pretended to wipe his brow after realizing he had made a tournament-saving fold.

Player	Chips	Progress
Katherina Aristotelos	2,100,000 310,000	310,000
Nikolay Fal	1,200,000 200,000	200,000

Tags: Katherina Aristotelos Nikolay Fal

01-24-2023 18:58 UTC+3

Aristotelos Wins Back and Forth Hand

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Jeff McMillan

Level 24 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

The flop read . Katherina Aristotelos get 100,000 from the hijack. Bakhos Joumaa called on the button.

The turn was the . This time Joumaa bet 250,000 and Aristotelos called.

The river came the and the flow of action changed once again as Aristotelos led out for 150,000. Joumaa folded.

Aristotelos flashed the as she took in the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Katherina Aristotelos	1,790,000 590,000	590,000
Bakhos Joumaa	1,550,000 240,000	240,000

Tags: Katherina Aristotelos

01-24-2023 18:53 UTC+3

Gabriel Gets Value From Panka

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David Salituro

Level 24 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

Dominik Panka bet 60,000 from under the gun on a flop of and was called by El Khoury Gabriel in the big blind.

Both players checked the turn to see the fall on the river. Gabriel this time led out for 150,000.

Panka paused for a moment before tossing in the chips. Gabriel turned over for the straight as he took in the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
El Khoury Gabriel	2,350,000 300,000	300,000
Dominik Panka	2,000,000 300,000	300,000

Tags: El Khoury Gabriel Dominik Panka

01-24-2023 18:47 UTC+3

Held Keeps Firing

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David Salituro

Level 24 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

Ara Melkisetian raised to 80,000 before Justus Held, in the cutoff, three-bet to 210,000. Action folded back to Melkisetian, who called to see the flop.

Melkisetian checked and Held bet another 110,000. Melkisetian called as the fell on the turn.

He checked again, and this time Held fired out 190,000. "That saved me," Melkisetian said as he folded.