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

Ryan Mandara Eliminated in 6th Place ($36,400)

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

Paul Browne raised to 1,000,000 from the button with {10-Clubs}{10-Diamonds}, then quickly called when big blind Ryan Mandara shoved for 4,850,000 holding {k-Spades}{q-Clubs}.

Both players stood up from their seats to await the flop, which came {4-Diamonds}{2-Hearts}{6-Diamonds}. Mandara got no help, and the board ran out {j-Hearts}{2-Diamonds} to keep Browne's tens in front.

The two Brits exchanged a quick hug before Mandara made his way to the payout desk, while Browne assumed the tournament chip lead.

Player Chips Progress
Paul Browne gb
Paul Browne
18,400,000 5,500,000
Ryan Mandara gb
Ryan Mandara
Busted

Tags: Paul BrowneRyan Mandara

Hu Goes For The Over Bet

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

Paul Browne limped in with {8-Spades}{6-Spades} and David Hu checked his option with {5-Diamonds}{2-Diamonds}.

The flop came {8-Diamonds}{q-Diamonds}{7-Hearts} and Browne bet 400,000 with a pair of eights. Hu called with his flush draw, which he completed on the {k-Diamonds} turn.

Both players checked as the river came the {4-Spades}. Browne checked again before Hu over-bet the pot for 2,500,000. Browne used a time bank, leaving himself with just one remaining, before folding.

Player Chips Progress
Paul Browne gb
Paul Browne
12,900,000 500,000
David Hu nl
David Hu
10,000,000 2,000,000

Tags: Paul BrowneDavid Hu

Level: 33

Blinds: 200,000/400,000

Ante: 400,000

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
WSOP 1X Winner
6,400,000 2,880,000
Recep Aydemir tr
Recep Aydemir
4,300,000 -4,200,000

Tags: Recep AydemirHelmut Phung

Browne Traps Doe

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

John Doe raised to 750,000 with {k-Spades}{7-Spades} and Paul Browne defended his big blind with {a-Hearts}{j-Diamonds}.

The {a-Spades}{a-Diamonds}{9-Spades} flop gave Browne trips and he check-called a bet of 425,000. Both players checked the {9-Diamonds} turn as Browne improved to a full house.

The {2-Spades} river gave Doe a useless flush and he bet 600,000. Browne used a time bank before announcing a raise to 1,700,000. Doe quickly called but had to muck his flush.

Player Chips Progress
John Doe
John Doe
Day 3 Chip Leader
13,500,000 -1,700,000
Paul Browne gb
Paul Browne
12,400,000 845,000

Tags: John DoePaul Browne

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
David Hu nl
David Hu
8,000,000 -2,100,000

Tags: Ryan MandaraDavid Hu

Hu Cracks 10 Million

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

David Hu raised to 600,000 from the hijack with {q-Spades}{10-Spades} as John Doe and Recep Aydemir came along from the blinds, Doe with {9-Clubs}{7-Clubs} and Aydemir with {2-Clubs}{2-Spades}.

The flop came {j-Diamonds}{k-Hearts}{3-Spades} and action checked to Hu, who bet 700,000. Both opponents quickly folded as Hu crossed the 10,000,000 chip milestone.

Player Chips Progress
John Doe
John Doe
Day 3 Chip Leader
15,200,000 -600,000
David Hu nl
David Hu
10,100,000 2,200,000
Recep Aydemir tr
Recep Aydemir
8,500,000 -1,595,000

Tags: David HuJohn DoeRecep Aydemir

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
Day 3 Chip Leader
15,800,000 2,700,000
Eli Saad lb
Eli Saad
Busted

Tags: Eli SaadJohn Doe

Hu Gets Tricky With Aces

Level 32 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
David Hu
David Hu

John Doe raised to 900,000 from the hijack with {a-Diamonds}{j-Spades} as action folded to David Hu in the small blind who looked down at {a-Hearts}{a-Spades}. Hu just called the raise to see the {3-Hearts}{k-Clubs}{8-Hearts} flop.

Doe continued for 800,000 and Hu again just called. The turn came the {q-Spades} and Doe bet another 1,200,000. Hu used a time bank before announcing he was all in for 2,650,000.

Now it was Doe's turn to use a time card before he decided to fold.

Player Chips Progress
John Doe
John Doe
Day 3 Chip Leader
13,100,000 -2,905,000
David Hu nl
David Hu
7,900,000 2,940,000

Tags: David HuJohn Doe