$2,200 Merit Poker Cup | 2024 Merit Poker Carmen Series

03-31-2024 23:55 UTC+3

Giorgiy Skhulukhiya Eliminated in 2nd Place ($140,000)

David Salituro

Level 36 : Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante

Simeon Spasov moved all in from the button and Giorgiy Skhulukhiya called for around 10,000,000.

Giorgiy Skhulukhiya: K♣Q♣ All in
Simeon Spasov: 5♠5♦

The two players were racing for the trophy as the board ran out 7♥8♥9♣3♦6♠, keeping Spasov's fives in the lead and securing him the title as Skhulukhiya had to settle for a runner-up finish after a lengthy heads-up battle.

Player	Chips	Progress
Simeon Spasov	45,900,000 7,500,000	7,500,000

Giorgiy Skhulukhiya	Busted

Tags: Giorgiy Skhulukhiya Simeon Spasov

03-31-2024 21:24 UTC+3

Maher Achour Eliminated in 3rd Place ($74,100)

David Salituro

Level 31 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Simeon Spasov folded his button and Maher Achour moved all in for around 4,000,000 from the small blind. Giorgiy Skhulukhiya tanked for a moment before calling.

Maher Achour: 10♣10♥ All in
Giorgiy Skhulukhiya: A♠5♠

"This is a bluff hand, not a calling hand," Achour said as he and Skhulukhiya exchanged a fist bump heading to the 9♥7♠6♣ flop. The turn was the A♥ and Skhulukhiya took the lead with a pair of aces.

The river came the 9♦ and Achour was sent to the rail in third place. Skhulukhiya and Spasov are taking a short break before the start of heads-up play.

Player	Chips	Progress
Giorgiy Skhulukhiya	37,100,000 7,100,000	7,100,000
Simeon Spasov	8,800,000 100,000	100,000

Maher Achour	Busted

Tags: Giorgiy Skhulukhiya Maher Achour

03-31-2024 20:36 UTC+3

Ivan Zabiiakin Eliminated in 4th Place ($56,600)

David Salituro

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

Action folded to Ivan Zabiiakin who raised to 625,000 in the small blind. Simeon Spasov then three-bet to 1,550,000, Zabiiakin moved all in, and Spasov called.

Ivan Zabiiakin: 10♣7♣ All in
Simeon Spasov: A♣Q♣

Zabiiakin had been caught making a move as the J♠K♣8♣ flop gave Spasov the nut flush draw. The turn was the 6♥, while the 6♦ river completed the board and secured the pot for Spasov.

The stacks were counted down and Spasov had 6,200,000 remaining. Zabiiakin only had 5,500,000 and was sent to the rail in fourth place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Simeon Spasov	12,000,000 5,500,000	5,500,000

Ivan Zabiiakin	Busted

Tags: Ivan Zabiiakin Simeon Spasov

03-31-2024 20:15 UTC+3

Mikhail Zavoloka Eliminated in 5th Place ($42,500)

David Salituro

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

Action folded to Mikhail Zavoloka in the small blind who moved all in for 750,000. Maher Achour called in the big blind to put him at risk.

Mikhail Zavoloka: K♣Q♥ All in
Maher Achour: 10♥7♠

Achour hit two pair on the 7♣10♣3♥ flop, while Zavoloka picked up a straight draw on the 9♦ turn. The river was the Q♠ and Zavoloka missed his draw as he headed for the rail in fifth place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Maher Achour	8,000,000 100,000	100,000
Mikhail Zavoloka	Busted

Tags: Maher Achour Mikhail Zavoloka

03-31-2024 19:20 UTC+3

Aleksandr Ivanov Eliminated in 6th Place ($34,000)

David Salituro

Level 29 : Blinds 75,000/150,000, 150,000 ante

Three-handed on a flop of J♣4♦K♥, Giorgiy Skhulukhiya bet 375,000 from the cutoff and Simeon Spasov called in the small blind. Aleksandr Ivanov then moved all in for 2,075,000 and both opponents called.

The turn was the 8♥ and Spasov checked to Skhulukhiya who bet 3,000,000. Spasov snap-folded.

Ivanov showed K♦Q♦ for top pair, but Skhulukhiya had J♥J♦ for a set. The river was the 5♠ and Ivanov was eliminated in sixth place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Giorgiy Skhulukhiya	19,500,000 5,200,000	5,200,000
Simeon Spasov	10,000,000 -1,900,000	-1,900,000

Aleksandr Ivanov Jr	Busted

Tags: Aleksandr Ivanov Giorgiy Skhulukhiya Simeon Spasov

03-31-2024 18:54 UTC+3

Simone Andrian Eliminated in 7th Place ($28,300)

David Salituro

Level 29 : Blinds 75,000/150,000, 150,000 ante

Giorgiy Skhulukhiya raised to 300,000 in early position and Simeon Spasov called in the hijack. Simone Andrian then moved all in for 4,100,000 in the big blind and Skhulukhiya folded, but Spasov snap-called.

Simone Andrian: A♠Q♦ All in
Simeon Spasov: A♦K♣

Spasov had Andrian dominated and made top two pair on the A♥K♦3♠ flop. The rest of the board came 5♥7♠ and Andrian, who won this tournament at the last Merit Poker series, had to settle for seventh place this time.

Player	Chips	Progress
Giorgiy Skhulukhiya	12,800,000 -300,000	-300,000
Simeon Spasov	12,500,000 4,200,000	4,200,000

Simone Andrian	Busted

Tags: Giorgiy Skhulukhiya Simeon Spasov Simone Andrian

03-31-2024 18:27 UTC+3

Nenad Dukic Eliminated in 8th Place ($22,600)

David Salituro

Level 28 : Blinds 50,000/125,000, 125,000 ante

Simone Andrian raised to 250,000 in middle position before Nenad Dukic three-bet to 725,000 in the cutoff. Andrian called and went to turn over his cards thinking Dukic was all in before it was pointed out Dukic still had 375,000 back.

The flop came A♣K♠9♣ and Dukic bet 125,000. Andrian then put him all in and Dukic called off his last chips.

Nenad Dukic: A♥Q♦ All in
Simone Andrian: J♣J♦

Dukic was ahead with his pair of aces as the turn came the K♣. The river was the 7♣ and Andrian spiked a flush to send Dukic to the rail in eighth place.

"Maybe you should fold the flop," Dukic told Andrian.

"I thought about it, but with the club I don't think so," Andrian replied.

Player	Chips	Progress
Simone Andrian	4,700,000 1,150,000	1,150,000

Nenad Dukic	Busted

Tags: Nenad Dukic Simone Andrian

03-31-2024 18:20 UTC+3

Boris Smuskevicius Eliminated in 9th Place ($16,900)

David Salituro

Level 28 : Blinds 50,000/125,000, 125,000 ante

Giorgiy Skhulukhiya raised to 250,000 in middle position, Boris Smuskevicius three-bet to 800,000 in the small blind, and Skhulukhiya called.

The flop came 9♥5♣K♣ and Smuskevicius continued for 650,000. Skhulukhiya called.

The turn was the 4♣ and Smuskevicius checked to Skhulukiya, who bet 1,100,000. Smuskevicius called and they saw a river of K♠.

Skhulukhiya then moved all in and Smuskevicius snap-called for 1,700,000 with A♠K♦ for trip kings. Skhulukhiya, though, had 9♦9♣ for a full house to win the massive pot.

Smuskevicius went around the table exchanging fist bumps with his tablemates before heading off to the payout desk in ninth place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Giorgiy Skhulukhiya	11,300,000 6,100,000	6,100,000
Boris Smuskevicius	Busted

Tags: Boris Smuskevicius Giorgiy Skhulukhiya

03-31-2024 16:34 UTC+3

Toni Kaukua Eliminated in 10th Place ($12,415)

David Salituro

Level 28 : Blinds 50,000/125,000, 125,000 ante

Simone Andrian raised to 250,000 in the cutoff and Toni Kaukua looked around at the other stacks before putting in his last 175,000 from the small blind. Boris Smuskevicius also called in the big blind.

The flop came Q♦8♥10♠ and Andrian bet 400,000, drawing an immediate fold from Smuskevicius.

Toni Kaukua: Q♠6♥ All in
Simone Andrian: 10♣10♥

Kaukua had flopped top pair, but Andrian showed down a set as Kaukua was already drawing dead after the 5♠ turn. The river was the 5♣ and Andrian improved to a full house, sending Kaukua to the rail in 10th place.

The remaining nine players are now drawing for seats at the final table, after which they will take an hour break. Action should resume around 5:30 p.m. local time.

Player	Chips	Progress
Boris Smuskevicius	5,000,000 -200,000	-200,000
Simone Andrian	3,500,000 700,000	700,000

Toni Kaukua	Busted

Tags: Boris Smuskevicius Simone Andrian Toni Kaukua

03-31-2024 15:51 UTC+3

Natan Chauskin Eliminated in 11th Place ($12,415)

David Salituro

Level 27 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Action folded to Simeon Spasov in the small blind who raised enough to put Natan Chauskin all in from the big blind. Chauskin snap-called for his last 1,700,000.

Natan Chauskin: K♣J♣ All in
Simeon Spasov: A♥4♠

Chauskin picked up a straight draw on the Q♣10♦2♦ flop but improved no further on the Q♥ turn or 6♣ river as he was eliminated in 11th place.