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

03-29-2024 20:47 UTC+3

Shornikau Wins a Classic Flip on Secilmis

David Salituro

Level 15 : Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante

Ozgur Secilmis was in the big blind and got his last 110,000 in the middle against Maksim Shornikau in middle position.

Ozgur Secilmis: A♠K♥ All in
Maksim Shornikau: Q♣Q♠

It was a classic flip with Secilmis' tournament life on the line, but he couldn't connect with the 7♥8♠10♥7♦3♥ board and was sent to the rail on the last level of the day.

Player	Chips	Progress
Maksim Shornikau	600,000 250,000	250,000
Ozgur Secilmis	Busted

Tags: Maksim Shornikau Ozgur Secilmis

03-29-2024 20:37 UTC+3

Kaukua Busts Astratov in Cruel Fashion

David Salituro

Level 15 : Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante

Dmitrii Astratov three-bet to 38,000 in the small blind before Toni Kaukua moved all in from early position. Astratov quickly called for around 140,000.

Dmitrii Astratov: A♣K♠ All in
Toni Kaukua: A♥K♣

Both players showed the same hand and were poised for a chop as the flop came Q♥J♥6♣. The turn was the 5♥ and Kaukua picked up a flush draw as a collective gasp arose from the table, while the river was the 10♥ to give Kaukua his flush and send Astratov to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Toni Kaukua	450,000 180,000	180,000

Dmitrii Astratov	Busted

Tags: Dmitrii Astratov Toni Kaukua

03-29-2024 20:33 UTC+3

Kuzin Saved on the River

David Salituro

Level 15 : Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante

Returning from break after losing the big pot to Parham Ghadamgahi, Dmitrii Kuzin moved all in for 79,000 from the cutoff after Alain Hajj had opened to 12,000 in middle position and Ghadamgahi called in the hijack. Hajj folded, but Ghadamgahi called to try to finish off Kuzin.

Dmitrii Kuzin: K♥Q♠ All in
Parham Ghadamgahi: 7♦7♥

The flop came 10♠10♥9♠, while the 5♠ turn gave Kuzin a flush draw. He began shaking his queen as he pleaded for another spade, and he got his wish as the A♠ fell on the river to give up a double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Parham Ghadamgahi	520,000 -80,000	-80,000
Alain Hajj	300,000 166,000	166,000
Dmitrii Kuzin	180,000 100,000	100,000

Tags: Parham Ghadamgahi Dmitrii Kuzin Alain Hajj

Level: 15

Blinds: 3,000/6,000

Ante: 6,000

03-29-2024 20:15 UTC+3

Break Time

David Salituro

Level 14 : Blinds 2,000/5,000, 5,000 ante

Players are on the last 15-minute break of the day.

There is one more 60-minute level left to play before players bag up for the night.

03-29-2024 20:14 UTC+3

Ghadamgahi Picks Off Kuzin in Massive Pot

David Salituro

Level 14 : Blinds 2,000/5,000, 5,000 ante

Two players limped in as action went to Parham Ghadamgahi in the small blind who raised to 27,000. Dmitrii Kuzin called in the big blind, while the rest of the table folded.

The flop came Q♦9♠2♦ and Ghadamgahi bet 18,000. Kuzin called and the 3♥ fell on the turn.

Ghadamgahi checked and Kuzin bet 28,000. Ghadamgahi came back with a raise to 96,000 and Kuzin tanked for nearly two minutes before calling.

The river was the J♦ and Ghadamgahi checked again. Kuzin then bet 120,000 and Ghadamgahi gave it some thought before calling.

Kuzin instantly mucked his hand and Ghadamgahi showed him Q♥Q♠ for top set as he took the massive pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Parham Ghadamgahi	600,000 389,000	389,000
Dmitrii Kuzin	80,000 -170,000	-170,000

Tags: Dmitrii Kuzin Parham Ghadamgahi

03-29-2024 20:00 UTC+3

Prize Pool Confirmed

David Salituro

Level 14 : Blinds 2,000/5,000, 5,000 ante

Tournament officials have announced the prize pool for this event.

There were a total of 459 entries, generating a prize pool of $844,560. The top 55 players will finish in the money, with the champion earning $167,100.

Place	Prize
1	$167,100
2	$122,500
3	$74,100
4	$56,600
5	$42,500
6	$34,000
7	$28,300
8	$22,600
9	$16,900
10-12	$12,415
13-15	$10,135
16-18	$8,700
19-21	$7,600
22-24	$6,840
25-26	$6,000
27-35	$5,235
36-44	$4,560
45-55	$3,885

03-29-2024 19:49 UTC+3

Akgul Goes Runner-Runner to Cross a Million

David Salituro

Level 14 : Blinds 2,000/5,000, 5,000 ante

Huseyin Akgul and Ali Zebarjad were involved in a blind versus blind battle with already 120,000 in the pot as they saw the turn on a board of 8♦6♣Q♠J♦.

Zebarjad then led out for 50,000 and Akgul called. The river was the A♥ and Zebarjad slowed down and checked.

Akgul then bet 75,000 and Zebarjad quickly called. Akgul showed A♣J♥ for running two pair and Zebarjad mucked as the start-of-day chip leader crossed 1,000,000 and in contention for the chip lead once again.

Player	Chips	Progress
Huseyin Akgul	1,040,000 290,000	290,000

Ali Zebarjad	300,000 6,000	6,000

Tags: Ali Zebarjad Huseyin Akgul

03-29-2024 19:41 UTC+3

Updated Chip Counts

David Salituro

Level 14 : Blinds 2,000/5,000, 5,000 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Ivan Zabiiakin	1,000,000 670,000	670,000

Edgard Raffoul	740,000 -80,000	-80,000
Jenya Gavrilovich	550,000 100,000	100,000
Nikolay Fal	540,000 540,000	540,000
Giorgiy Skhulukhiya	520,000 320,000	320,000
Kacper Pyzara	450,000 -190,000	-190,000
Damir Gabdullin	440,000 -90,000	-90,000
Uladzimir Zhyharau	440,000 114,000	114,000
Iurii Saiapin	420,000 20,000	20,000
Gabriel Akiki	370,000 30,000	30,000
Boris Smuskevicius	350,000 -52,000	-52,000
Maksim Shornikau	350,000 -30,500	-30,500
Murat Ozyurt	350,000 -76,000	-76,000
Milad Oghabian	340,000 107,000	107,000
Florian Guimond	330,000 20,000	20,000
Jovan Kenjic	330,000 135,000	135,000
Dmitrii Astratov	300,000 60,000	60,000
Kemal Aslan	260,000 118,500	118,500
Fabian Rolli	180,000 -110,000	-110,000
Yiannakis Papapetrou	140,000 -61,000	-61,000
Ceyhan Tezcan	140,000 -152,000	-152,000
Ozgur Secilmis	110,000 25,000	25,000
Aylar Lie	90,000 -48,500	-48,500

03-29-2024 19:31 UTC+3

Nigbolu Shoves on Hasanli; Tantillo Picks Off Zhugralin

David Salituro

Level 14 : Blinds 2,000/5,000, 5,000 ante

Cenk Nigbolu bet 45,000 from middle position on a flop of 10♦10♠8♦ and Elvin Hasanli called in the hijack.

The turn was the 7♦ and Nigbolu moved all in, having Hasanli's last 175,000 covered. Hasanli tanked for nearly two minutes before folding.

At the same time at an adjacent table, Damir Zhugralin and Fausto Tantillo saw a flop of 7♣6♣3♦. Zhugralin then bet 11,000 from under the gun, Tantillo raised to 51,000 in the big blind, and Zhugralin called.

The turn was the A♣ and Tantillo slowed down and checked. Zhugralin then bet 20,000 and Tantillo called.

The 3♠ fell on the river and Tantillo checked again. Zhugralin moved all in for 145,000 and Tantillo gave the decision some thought before calling.

Zhugralin turned over 9♥9♦, but Tantillo had 10♥10♠ to win the pot and send Zhugralin to the rail.