2024 Merit Poker Carmen Series

$3,300 Main Event
Day: 3
Event Info

2024 Merit Poker Carmen Series

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
q5
Prize
$338,500
Event Info
Buy-in
$3,300
Prize Pool
$1,832,640
Entries
664
Level Info
Level
37
Blinds
300,000 / 600,000
Ante
600,000
Players Info - Day 3
Entries
172
Players Left
41

Fausto Tantillo Leads the Final 172 Players in Day 3 of $3,300 Main Event

Merit Poker Carmen Series
Merit Poker Carmen Series

The penultimate day is upon us in the 2024 Merit Poker Carmen Series Main Event here at the Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino. Italian pro Fausto Tantillo ended Day 2 with the largest stack in the room, bagging 1,158,000 chips at the end of the night. That stack will be worth 193 big blinds going into Day 3 today. Tantillo is most closely followed by Spain's Adria Diaz (1,102,000) and Poland's Kacper Pyzara (1,024,000).

Day 2 Top 10 Chip Counts

RankPlayerCountryChip CountBig Blinds
1Fausto TantilloItaly1,158,000193
2Adria DiazSpain1,102,000184
3Kacper PyzaraPoland1,024,000171
4Adrian StateRomania935,000156
5Alisa SibgatovaRussia898,000150
6Razvan SabauRomania845,000141
7Uladzimir ZhyharauBelarus839,000140
8Kemal AslanTurkey833,000139
9Rashad IskandarovAzerbaijan815,000136
10Giorgiy SkhulukhiyaGeorgia807,000135

Day 2 of the Main Event began with 242 survivors from the four Day 1 starting flights. Five more levels of late registration were available at the start of Day 2 which attracted a further 162 entrants, creating a total field size of 664 and prize pool of $1,832,640.

Some notable players to advance to Day 3 include Day 1b chip leader Alisa Sibgatova (898,000), Andrey Pateychuk (802,000), Dmitry Gromov (646,000), Milos Skrbic (627,000), Simone Andrian (533,000), Felipe Ketzer (462,000), Boris Kolev (462,000), Day 1c chip leader Rabih El-Hachem (439,000), Halil Tasyurek (392,000), Alexandru Papazian (320,000), Vladimir Bozinovic (318,000), Aylar Lie (193,000), Renan Bruschi (185,000), Andrea Dato (182,000), Benjamin Hamnett (112,000) and Fabio Peluso (81,000).

Day 3 of the Main Event will start at 12:00 p.m. local time. The money bubble will burst today with the top 80 finishers being guaranteed at least a min-cash of $4,580 but all eyes will be on the title and top prize of $338,500. The blinds will start at 3,000/6,000 with a 6,000 big blind ante.

As always, stay tuned to PokerNews as we bring you all the updates for this event from the moment cards are in the air until a winner is crowned tomorrow, March 26 on the final day.

Tags: Adria DiazAdrian StateAlexandru PapazianAlisa SibgatovaAndrea DatoAndrey PateychukAylar LieBenjamin HamnettBoris KolevDmitry GromovFabio PelusoFausto TantilloFelipe KetzerGiorgiy SkhulukhiyaHalil TasyurekKacper PyzaraKemal AslanMilos SkrbicRabih El-HachemRashad IskandarovRazvan SabauRenan BruschiSimone AndrianUladzimir ZhyharauVladimir Bozinovic

Gamble Pays Off For Pyzara

Level 17 : Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante
Kacper Pyzara
Kacper Pyzara

Kacper Pyzara opened to 12,000 from middle position before George Panagides moved all in for 55,000 from the hijack.

"Let's gamble" Pyzara said before flicking in the call with a covering stack to put Panagides at risk.

George Panagides: 22
Kacper Pyzara: Q10

"Good gamble" Pyzara joked upon seeing that he was flipping against Panagides' deuces.

Panagides was slightly ahead on the AKK flop but the A turn counterfeited his small pocket pair. The 4 river changed nothing and Panagides made a quick exit from the tournament area while Pyzara collected the last of his chips.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Kacper Pyzara pl
Kacper Pyzara
1,140,000
116,000
116,000
Profile photo of George Panagides cy
George Panagides
Busted

Tags: George PanagidesKacper Pyzara

Kenjic Gets Max Value

Level 19 : Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
Jovan Kenjic
Jovan Kenjic

Boris Kolev opened to 20,000 from under the gun and was called by Jovan Kenjic in the big blind.

The flop came 33A. Kenjic checked, Kolev fired a 15,000 continuation bet, Kenjic check-raised to 60,000 and Kolev called.

On the 7 turn Kenjic fired a nearly pot-sized bet of 180,000 and was once again called by Kolev.

Kenjic moved all in for 448,000 on the Q river, sending Kolev deep into the tank.

"I don't think I can fold" he commented after nearly five minutes of contemplation. Shortly afterwards, he flicked in the call.

Kolev had A9 for aces up but Kenjic tabled A3 for a flopped full house to take down a gargantuan pot.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Jovan Kenjic rs
Jovan Kenjic
1,390,000
853,000
853,000
Profile photo of Boris Kolev bg
Boris Kolev
385,000
-77,000
-77,000
WSOP 2X Winner

Tags: Boris KolevJovan Kenjic

Ojeil Approaching Two Million

Level 20 : 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante
Chady Ojeil
Chady Ojeil

Chady Ojeil recently took down a colossal pot and currently holds the biggest chip stack in the room.

According to the players at his table, Ojeil opened to 25,000 from the button and Mikhail Zavoloka three-bet to 75,000 from the small blind. Ojeil made the call.

Zavoloka then made a 55,000 continuation bet on the Ax6x2 flop that was called by Ojeil.

On the 9 turn Zavoloka fired a second barrel, this time sizing up to 235,000. Once again Ojeil made the call.

The river was the 8. Zavoloka bet 330,000, leaving approximately 300,000 behind. Ojeil then moved all in with a covering stack, putting Zavoloka deep into the tank.

Ultimately Zavoloka folded and Ojeil took down a massive pot without having to go to showdown.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Chady Ojeil lb
Chady Ojeil
1,960,000
1,256,000
1,256,000
Profile photo of Mikhail Zavoloka ru
Mikhail Zavoloka
385,000
-166,000
-166,000

Tags: Chady OjeilMikhail Zavoloka

Kenjic Calls Opponent's Hand and Takes Chip Lead

Level 20 : Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante
Jovan Kenjic
Jovan Kenjic

Jovan Kenjic opened to 26,000 from early position and received a call from Daniel Kyosev in middle position. Nan Zhu then three-bet to 104,000 from the button. Kenjic made the call only for Kyosev to move all in for approximately 850,000. Zhu folded and Kenjic went deep into the tank.

"Ace-King offsuit?" Kenjic asked his opponent after thinking for several minutes. Kyosev did not reply.

Some more time went by before the clock was called and shortly afterwards Kenjic made the call with a covering stack to put Kyosev at risk.

Daniel Kyosev: AK All in
Jovan Kenjic: QQ

Kenjic was a massive favorite when a queen came in the window on the Q43 flop. The J turn brought in some outs for Kyosev in the form of a Broadway straight draw but the 2 river was clean and Kenjic dragged in the biggest pot of the tournament so far.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Jovan Kenjic rs
Jovan Kenjic
2,350,000
960,000
960,000
Profile photo of Nan Zhu cn
Nan Zhu
530,000
-83,000
-83,000
Profile photo of Daniel Kyosev bg
Daniel Kyosev
Busted

Tags: Daniel KyosevJovan KenjicNan Zhu

Diaz Falls to Pateychuk

Level 21 : Blinds 10,000/15,000, 15,000 ante
Andrey Pateychuk
Andrey Pateychuk

With two players seeing a board of 287Q8 and roughly 500,000 already in the middle, Andrey Pateychuk checked from the big blind and Adria Diaz bet 225,000 from the button, leaving just 150,000 behind. Pateychuk moved all in with a covering stack and Diaz made the call.

Diaz had K8 for trips but Pateychuk turned over Q8 for a full house to take down a massive pot while Diaz, who started the day with the second-largest stack, was sent to the rail.

Elsewhere in the tournament area, Victor Yugay was recently eliminated.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Andrey Pateychuk ru
Andrey Pateychuk
1,900,000
EPT Main Event Champion
WPT 1X Winner
EPT 1X Winner
Profile photo of Adria Diaz es
Adria Diaz
Busted
Profile photo of Victor Yugay uz
Victor Yugay
Busted

Tags: Adria DiazAndrey PateychukVictor Yugay

Bubble Double for Tantillo

Level 22 : 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Fausto Tantillo
Fausto Tantillo

Fausto Tantillo opened to 50,000 from the button and Denis Vlasov defended from the big blind.

The flop came 86Q and Vlasov check-called a 75,000 continuation bet from Tantillo.

The 4 turn brought a possible flush in and Vlasov lead out with a bet of 60,000. Tantillo made the call.

On the 6 river Vlasov moved all in, covering Tantillo who had 170,000 behind. Tantillo, who started the day as chip leader but had recently become one of the shorter stacks, went into the tank.

After a couple minutes Tantillo flicked in the call and was at risk.

Vlasov could only show KJ for a bluff while Tantillo turned over AQ for top pair to secure a critical double up at Vlasov's expense.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Denis Vlasov ru
Denis Vlasov
850,000
-305,000
-305,000
Profile photo of Fausto Tantillo it
Fausto Tantillo
760,000
-895,000
-895,000
Day 2 Chip Leader

Tags: Denis VlasovFausto Tantillo

Sibgatova Finds the Right Call

Level 22 : 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante
Alisa Sibgatova
Alisa Sibgatova

With two players seeing a board of AJ56 and 350,000 already in the middle, Razvan Sabau checked from middle position and Alisa Sibgatova bet 125,000 from the cutoff. Sabau check-raised to 275,000 and Sibgatova made the call.

Both players then checked the 7 river. Sibgatova tabled A6 for aces up which was good enough to take down a sizable pot.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Razvan Sabau ro
Razvan Sabau
1,810,000
Profile photo of Alisa Sibgatova ru
Alisa Sibgatova
1,575,000
Day 1B Chip Leader

Tags: Alisa SibgatovaRazvan Sabau

Suvorov on Right Side of Massive Flip

Level 24 : 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
Yuri Suvorov
Yuri Suvorov

After a flurry of action from multiple players YuriSuvorov found himself all in preflop with a covering stack against another player for a pot worth approximately 2,500,000.

Opponent: AK All in
Iurii Suvorov: QQ

It was a classic preflop race that Suvorov got the better of on the 1055J4 runout to take down a pot worth nearly 90 big blinds.

Candido Cappiello had committed a significant percentage of his stack in this hand before folding preflop and would be eliminated shortly afterwards.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Yuri Suvorov ru
Yuri Suvorov
2,600,000
2,600,000
2,600,000
Profile photo of Candido Cappiello it
Candido Cappiello
Busted

Tags: Candido CappielloIurii Suvorov

Skhulukhiya Runs into Rockets

Level 25 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante
Giorgiy Skhulukhiya
Giorgiy Skhulukhiya

Giorgiy Skhulukhiya opened to 225,000 from under the gun, committing slightly under half his stack. Sardor Shagulyamov moved all in from the button with a covering stack and Skhulukhiya made the call to put himself at risk.

Giorgiy Skhulukhiya: 55 All in
Sardor Shagulyamov: AA

Skhulukhiya picked up a flush draw on the 238 flop but found no help on the K turn or 8 river and was sent to the rail in one of the final hands of the night while Shagulyamov collected a sizable pot.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Sardor Shagulyamov ch
Sardor Shagulyamov
1,295,000
795,000
795,000
Profile photo of Giorgiy Skhulukhiya ge
Giorgiy Skhulukhiya
Busted

Tags: Giorgiy SkhulukhiyaSardor Shagulyamov