$2,200 La Notte Degli Assi Day 2 | 2024 Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series

08-01-2024 14:20 UTC+2

Achour Gets Value from Tadic

Josh Noy

Level 12 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

Zvezdan Tadic opened to 6,000 in the hijack before Maher Achour three-bet to 21,000 in the cutoff. Action folded back around to Tadic, who called to the 7♣7♥8♦ flop.

Tadic check-called a bet of 14,000 before leading out on the 4♠ turn for 7,500. Achour called and the dealer completed the board with the 5♣ river.

Tadic checked to Achour, who took some time before betting 125,000. That sent Tadic into the tank for several minutes before the clock was called. The call was eventually made and Achour showed A♥A♦ for two pair.

That was good enough to take down a sizeable pot, as Tadic mucked.

Player	Chips	Progress
Zvezdan Tadic	804,000 54,000	54,000
Maher Achour	710,000 202,000	202,000

Tags: Maher Achour Zvezdan Tadic

08-01-2024 14:13 UTC+2

Zhao Wins a Flip to Bust Ghorayeb

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David Salituro

Level 12 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

Cheng Zhao reraised to 30,000 in the small blind before Charbel Ghorayeb moved all in for 97,500 in early position. Zhao considered the decision for more than a minute but eventually called to put Ghorayeb at risk.

Charbel Ghorayeb: A♦K♣ All in
Cheng Zhao: J♥J♣

Ghorayeb was racing for his tournament life but found no help on the 10♠5♠2♦8♣2♥ board as Zhao's two jacks remained in the lead to send Ghorayeb to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Cheng Zhao	450,000 96,000	96,000
Charbel Ghorayeb	Busted

Tags: Charbel Ghorayeb Cheng Zhao

08-01-2024 14:03 UTC+2

Brand Shoves as Clock Called on Ghadamghai

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David Salituro

Level 12 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

After two limps, Parham Ghadamghai raised to 21,500 in the small blind and only Yoav Brand called in middle position.

The flop came J♥8♠7♥ and Ghadamghai bet 26,000. Brand called.

The turn was the Q♣ and Ghadamghai bet another 55,000. Brand again called and the 10♥ fell on the river. Ghadamghai then bet 80,000.

Brand came back with an all-in shove and Ghadamghai, with around 175,000 remaining, tanked for nearly five minutes. The clock was eventually called and Ghadamghai allowed the countdown to reach zero before his hand was declared dead, allowing Brand to take the pot without a showdown.

This table also includes Bulent Kose, Mohamed Ameur Hammi, and Cristinel Dumitru.

Player	Chips	Progress
Yoav Brand	750,000 170,000	170,000
Cristinel Dumitru	530,000 166,000	166,000
Parham Ghadamgahi	175,000 197,000	197,000
Mohamed Ameur Hammi	90,000 95,000	95,000
Bulent Kose	80,000 50,000	50,000

Tags: Parham Ghadamghai Yoav Brand

08-01-2024 13:53 UTC+2

Danesh Zargaran Wins $1,100 IPO Master

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Josh Noy

Level 12 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

Danesh Zargaran took down the $1,100 IPO Master title, outlasting a field of 937 entries to earn the top prize of $146,600.

“Actually, I ran really good. It was hard, but I think I played it well,” Zargaran said following his victory. “Two, three movements I had that it helped me to be the chip leader. I was lucky. You have to be lucky when you win the tournament. For sure you have to be lucky, and I’m very happy.”

The Iranian native has only had one recorded cash in the last decade. His previous best result was a win in a $500 event here at the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino in 2010 for $65,550. But he’s already thinking about what this win can mean for his career going forward.

$1,100 IPO Master Final Table Results

Place	Player	Country	Prize (USD)
1	Danesh Zargaran	Iran	$146,600
2	Candido Cappiello	Italy	$108,000
3	Houman Sahafi	Iran	$66,600
4	Francesco Canzonieri	Italy	$49,200
5	Mohamed Ameur Hammi	Tunisia	$36,700
6	Harout Ghazarian	Lebanon	$29,750
7	Amir Saeid	Iran	$24,600
8	Svetoslav Nikolov	Bulgaria	$19,600

Read the Full Recap Here

08-01-2024 13:47 UTC+2

Biz Sees Aces Cracked

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Josh Noy

Level 12 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

Simone Pascucci and Mustafa Biz were heads up the to 9♥7♠Q♣ flop. Pascucci checked in middle position and Biz fired 16,000 from the hijack.

Pascucci then check-raised to 43,000 and Biz took some time before moving all in. Pascucci made the quick call and the hands were turned up.

Mustafa Biz: A♥A♦ All in
Simone Pascucci: J♥10♥

Pascucci flopped a straight flush draw, but the 3♠ turn kept Biz's pocket aces in the lead. The dealer then turned over the 5♥ river, completing a flush for Pascucci to take down the pot.

Biz was quickly at the reentry desk for a fresh stack of 100,000 chips.

Player	Chips	Progress
Simone Pascucci	545,000 355,000	355,000
Mustafa Biz	100,000 39,500	39,500

Tags: Mustafa Biz Simone Pascucci

08-01-2024 13:40 UTC+2

Ben Fkih Ali Puts Max Pressure on Marsh

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David Salituro

Level 12 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

Around 30,000 was in the pot as Hamza Ben Fkih Ali and Luke Marsh saw the turn on a board of 2♦9♥9♠3♠. Ben Fkih Ali then bet 12,000 from the small blind and Marsh called on the button.

The river was the K♥ and Ben Fkih Ali moved all in. Marsh had around 60,000 remaining and tanked for several minutes before giving up his hand as Ben Fkih Ali took the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Hamza Ben Fkih Ali	670,000 79,500	79,500
Luke Marsh	60,000 60,000	60,000

Tags: Hamza Ben Fkih Ali Luke Marsh

Level: 12

Blinds: 1,500/3,000

Ante: 3,000

08-01-2024 13:07 UTC+2

Break Time

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David Salituro

Level 11 : Blinds 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante

Players are going on the first 20-minute break of the day.

The tournament clock currently shows 1,008 total entries, with 370 players remaining.

08-01-2024 13:00 UTC+2

Eftekhari Gets Paid as Al-Khashab Left on Fumes

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David Salituro

Level 11 : Blinds 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante

Around 100,000 was already in the pot as Zaid Al-Khashab and Seyedamir Eftekhari saw the turn on a board of 4♦6♥5♥J♥. Al-Khashab then bet 75,000 from the cutoff and Eftekhari called under the gun.

The river was the 4♣ and Eftekhari moved all in for 151,000. Al-Khashab tanked for several minutes but eventually called as Eftekhari showed 6♠6♣ for a full house. Al-Khashab mucked 8♣8♠ as he handed over the double up, leaving himself with just a few chips remaining.