2023 Merit Poker Western Series

$2,200 Warmup
Day: 4
Event Info

2023 Merit Poker Western Series

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
a5
Prize
$181,200
Event Info
Buy-in
$2,200
Prize Pool
$962,320
Entries
523
Level Info
Level
36
Blinds
400,000 / 800,000
Ante
800,000
Players Info - Day 4
Entries
19
Players Left
1

Phung Survives on the River

Level 32 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Helmut Phung
Helmut Phung

Helmut Phung moved all in from the button for 2,975,000 with {a-Clubs}{4-Hearts} and Recep Aydemir, in the big blind, asked for a count before calling with {7-Clubs}{7-Hearts}.

Aydemir stayed in front through the turn on a board of {k-Diamonds}{9-Spades}{q-Spades}{10-Spades}, but Phung caught the {j-Hearts} on the river to make a straight and double up.

Player Chips Progress
Helmut Phung de
Helmut Phung
6,400,000
2,880,000
2,880,000
WSOP 1X Winner
Recep Aydemir tr
Recep Aydemir
4,300,000
-4,200,000
-4,200,000

Tags: Recep AydemirHelmut Phung

Mandara Fades Everything to Double

Level 32 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Ryan Mandara
Ryan Mandara

Action folded to David Hu on the button who moved all in with {7-Spades}{6-Spades}. Ryan Mandara slammed in his last 3,775,000 from the small blind with {j-Hearts}{j-Diamonds}.

The {10-Spades}{4-Spades}{a-Diamonds} flop gave Hu a flush draw, while the {8-Diamonds} on the turn also gave him a possible straight. Hu missed both draws on the {8-Clubs} river and Mandara doubled up.

Player Chips Progress
Ryan Mandara gb
Ryan Mandara
8,200,000
3,080,000
3,080,000
David Hu nl
David Hu
8,000,000
-2,100,000
-2,100,000

Tags: Ryan MandaraDavid Hu

Eli Saad Eliminated in 7th Place ($30,300)

Level 32 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Eli Saad
Eli Saad

Eli Saad had shoved his short stack in the middle several times since returning from break without getting any callers. He then did it again with {a-Clubs}{6-Spades}, moving all in for 2,550,000 from the cutoff as John Doe called in the big blind with {2-Hearts}{2-Diamonds}.

The {9-Clubs}{q-Hearts}{4-Hearts}{10-Spades}{9-Diamonds} board was no help to Saad and he was eliminated in seventh place.

Player Chips Progress
John Doe
John Doe
15,800,000
2,700,000
2,700,000
Day 3 Chip Leader
Eli Saad lb
Eli Saad
Busted

Tags: Eli SaadJohn Doe

Michele Guerrini Eliminated in 8th Place ($24,150)

Level 31 : Blinds 100,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
Michele Guerrini
Michele Guerrini

Michele Guerrini moved all in for 1,510,000 with {a-Spades}{10-Clubs} as action folded around to David Hu in the small blind. Hu looked down at {a-Clubs}{a-Hearts} and called to put Guerrini all in and at risk.

The {q-Diamonds}{3-Diamonds}{k-Diamonds} flop gave Guerrini some hope with a straight draw, but he improved no further on the {k-Clubs}{9-Diamonds} turn and river to hit the rail in eighth place.

Player Chips Progress
David Hu nl
David Hu
7,100,000
1,650,000
1,650,000
Michele Guerrini it
Michele Guerrini
Busted

Tags: David HuMichele Guerrini

Phung Doubles Thru Browne

Level 31 : Blinds 100,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
Helmut Phung
Helmut Phung

Paul Browne raised to 500,000 from the hijack with {a-Spades}{6-Spades} as action folded around to Helmut Phung in the big blind. He used some of his time bank cards before he shoved all in for 1,885,000 with {a-Hearts}{8-Hearts}.

Browne now used his own time banks before he called, only to find he was dominated. Both players hit top pair on the {3-Spades}{a-Clubs}{4-Diamonds} flop, while Phung ended up with two pair as the board ran out {k-Diamonds}{8-Clubs} to double up.

Player Chips Progress
Paul Browne gb
Paul Browne
6,100,000
-1,965,000
-1,965,000
Helmut Phung de
Helmut Phung
4,100,000
1,965,000
1,965,000
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Paul BrowneHelmut Phung

Mandara Goes Deep in the Tank

Level 30 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Ryan Mandara
Ryan Mandara

Ryan Mandara raised from under the gun to 400,000 with {k-Diamonds}{j-Diamonds} and Recep Aydemir called in the cutoff with {a-Spades}{q-Spades}. Eli Saad also defended the big blind holding {7-Hearts}{5-Hearts} and they went three-handed to the {3-Clubs}{k-Clubs}{q-Hearts} flop.

Mandara bet 385,000 with his top pair and Aydemir called, while Saad got out of the way. The {a-Hearts} on the turn improved Aydemir to two pair as both players checked to the {5-Diamonds} river.

Mandara led out for 200,000 before Aydemir raised to 700,000. Mandara used five time bank cards as he tanked for several minutes before he called as Aydemir took down the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Recep Aydemir tr
Recep Aydemir
10,600,000
2,140,000
2,140,000
Ryan Mandara gb
Ryan Mandara
4,200,000
-1,520,000
-1,520,000
Eli Saad lb
Eli Saad
3,460,000
-100,000
-100,000

Tags: Eli SaadRecep AydemirRyan Mandara

Evgenii Katymaev Eliminated in 9th Place ($18,200)

Level 30 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Evgenii Katymaev
Evgenii Katymaev

Evgenii Katymaev raised to 400,000 from early position with {a-Spades}{10-Hearts} and John Doe called from the button holding {4-Diamonds}{4-Spades}.

The {10-Clubs}{4-Hearts}{9-Spades} flop gave Katymaev top pair, but Doe had hit a set of fours. Katymaev bet 550,000 and Doe just called to see the {6-Hearts} turn.

Katymaev moved all in for 2,075,000 and Doe snap-called. "Dead," Katymaev said after seeing Doe's set. The meaningless river was the {j-Clubs} and Katymaev was the first casualty of the final table.

Player Chips Progress
John Doe
John Doe
16,100,000
3,100,000
3,100,000
Day 3 Chip Leader
Evgenii Katymaev ru
Evgenii Katymaev
Busted

Tags: Evgenii KatymaevJohn Doe

Maxime Chilaud Eliminated in 10th Place ($13,335)

Level 29 : Blinds 80,000/160,000, 160,000 ante
Maxime Chilaud
Maxime Chilaud

Paul Browne raised to 350,000 from the hijack before Maxime Chilaud, next to act, moved all in for 2,540,000. David Hu in the hijack reshoved and Browne folded.

Maxime Chilaud: {a-Hearts}{q-Hearts}
David Hu: {a-Clubs}{a-Diamonds}

Chilaud had run into aces but picked up a flush draw on the {9-Spades}{4-Diamonds}{7-Hearts}{9-Hearts} board. The {3-Diamonds} on the river, though, was no help and Chilaud was eliminated on the final table bubble.

The remaining nine players are now drawing for seats at the final table.

Player Chips Progress
David Hu nl
David Hu
5,900,000
4,535,000
4,535,000
Maxime Chilaud fr
Maxime Chilaud
Busted

Tags: Maxime ChilaudDavid Hu

Saad Spikes a Two-Outer to Stay Alive

Level 29 : Blinds 80,000/160,000, 160,000 ante
Eli Saad
Eli Saad

Eli Saad shoved all in for around 1,800,000 from early position. Next to act, Michele Guerrini reshoved and the rest of the table got out of the way.

Eli Saad: {j-Diamonds}{j-Hearts}
Michele Guerrini: {q-Hearts}{q-Diamonds}

"Wow," Saad said when he saw Guerrini's queens. The board ran out {10-Diamonds}{5-Spades}{7-Hearts}{5-Clubs} and Saad was one card away from elimination before the {j-Clubs} fell on the river.

"Yes," he yelled as he shot out of his seat.

Player Chips Progress
Eli Saad lb
Eli Saad
3,600,000
2,000,000
2,000,000
Michele Guerrini it
Michele Guerrini
900,000
-2,300,000
-2,300,000

Tags: Eli SaadMichele Guerrini

Halil Baybars Eliminated in 11th Place ($13,335)

Level 29 : Blinds 80,000/160,000, 160,000 ante
Halil Baybars
Halil Baybars

Halil Baybars raised to 400,000 and John Doe defended his big blind.

The flop came {5-Clubs}{2-Clubs}{6-Clubs} and Doe checked over to Baybars, who bet 500,000. Doe raised to 2,000,000, Baybars announced he was all in for around 3,000,000, and Doe snap-called.

Doe turned over {2-Diamonds}{2-Hearts} and Baybars gave a loud sigh as he showed {j-Diamonds}{j-Hearts}. The board ran out {q-Clubs}{5-Hearts} and Baybars angrily pushed over his stack before heading for the exit.

Player Chips Progress
John Doe
John Doe
12,500,000
4,100,000
4,100,000
Day 3 Chip Leader
Halil Baybars tr
Halil Baybars
Busted

Tags: Halil BaybarsJohn Doe