2024 Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series
Murad Cakir raised to 40,000 in the hijack, Bakhos Joumaa three-bet to 80,000 in the big blind, and Cakir called.
The flop came 10♣9♥4♦ and Joumaa bet another 80,000. Cakir then moved all in for 300,000 and Joumaa snap-called.
Murad Cakir: J♥10♥
Bakhos Joumaa: K♥K♠
Cakir showed top pair, but Joumaa was ahead with his pocket kings as the rest of the board ran out 4♣5♠ to send Cakir to the rail.
At the same time on another table, a player in the big blind bet 300,000 on the river with the board showing K♦9♥7♦7♥J♠ and Rafael Aslanli moved all in from the hijack. The big blind quickly called for around another 300,000 and showed Q♠7♣ for trips, but Aslanli had 10♠8♥ for a straight to burst the bubble.
The remaining 125 players are now in the money.
Action folded to Azizjon Rakhimov who moved all in from the small blind. Artur Adelberg called for his last 300,000 in the big blind.
Artur Adelberg: 9♦9♠
Azizjon Rakhimov: 3♥2♥
Adelberg was far ahead with his nines as the flop came J♣7♣J♦. Rakhimov picked up some outs on the 2♦ turn, but the 4♦ river was safe for Adelberg and he doubled up.
Elie Farah just eliminated a player when his two sixes held up against his opponent's ace-four, building the Merit Poker Carmen Series champion's stack up to 1,400,000.
With 127 players remaining, play is going hand-for-hand until there are two more eliminations.
Szymon Bujok moved all in for 260,000 from the cutoff and Fabio Peluso put him at risk from under the gun.
Szymon Bujok: A♠J♦
Fabio Peluso: A♦A♣
Peluso had woken up with aces as Bujok was at significant risk of elimination. He picked up a straight draw heading to the river on a board of 2♦K♥3♥10♦, but the 7♣ river sealed the pot for Peluso and sent Bujok to the rail a few spots out of the money.
Bassel Moussa was on the button and got his stack of 605,000 in the middle against Abdelrahman Moursy in the small blind.
Bassel Moussa: K♠K♥
Abdelrahman Moursy: 10♣10♠
Moussa was far ahead with his kings as the flop came A♦3♣2♦. The A♥ turn was safe, while the K♦ river improved him to a full house and earned Moussa a double up.
Level: 21
Blinds: 10,000/20,000
Ante: 20,000
The remaining 130 players are taking a 20-minute break. There are five more eliminations to go before the money bubble bursts.
Omar Lakhdari raised to 33,000 under the gun and Eros Nastasi called in the hijack. Almas Umarov then moved all in for 115,000 in the small blind, Lakhdari folded, while Nastasi called.
Almas Umarov: J♦J♣
Eros Nastasi: K♦Q♥
The A♠10♣2♠ flop gave Nastasi a straight draw to go with his overcards, but he missed the 3♣ turn and 8♠ river as Umarov survived to double up.
Aleksandr Chernikov raised to 31,000 under the gun, John Doe K three-bet to 85,000 in the small blind, and Chernikov called.
The flop came K♣Q♣3♥ and Doe continued for 84,000. Chernikov called and the J♥ fell on the turn.
Doe then bet 160,000 and Chernikov called again. The 7♣ fell on the river and both players checked. Doe turned over A♣K♥ for top pair and Chernikov mucked.