Level: 8
Blinds: 1,000/2,000
Ante: 2,000
2024 Merit Poker Gatsby Gala Series
$3,300 Main Event
Day: 1b
Event Info
2024 Merit Poker Gatsby Gala Series
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1b
Buy-in
$3,300
Prize Pool
$1,694,640
Entries
614
Level
38
Blinds
400,000 / 800,000
Ante
800,000
Entries
148
Players Left
70
Players Left 1 / 614
Filter
(1)
Level 8
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
In the 866th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, sponsored by the free-to-play WSOP App, Chad Holloway, and Mike Holtz are joined by 2006 WSOP Player of the Year Jeff Madsen at Level 9 Studio.
Fresh off a third-place finish in the 2024 NAPT, Madsen fills in for Kyna England, who is actually in England right now.
Like the rest of the poker world, the trio is mesmerized by poker wizard 'Gambledore,' who is Estonia's Vladimir Korzinin. The 69-year-old bearded amateur took Triton Montenegro by storm and, within a month, has vaulted to the top of the Estonia all-time money list and etched his name in poker lore. This is his tale.
They then update you on the winner of High Stakes Duel 5 Round 2 between Jared Bleznick and Patrik Antonius. Chad goes behind the scenes of the Global Poker Table Talk event during Formula 1 featuring Antonio Esfandiari, Michael Phelps, Carlos Sainz, and Charles Leclerc. See video footage from inside the PokerGO Studio.
Similarly, Chad and Connor Richards attended theCelebrity Poker Tour (CPT) 2024 Championship and talked with Maria Ho, Sketch, Vegas Matt, and rapper Maxo Cream. You get to see what they had to say in this episode!
Check out the recent ClubWPT Gold $5M Freeroll Invitational winners and how you can enter our current contest where we'll give away another seat!
Speaking of the WPT, Nick Yunis was victorious in the WPT bestbet Scramble for $310K while Eric Afriat came up just two spots short of winning a record-tying fourth title. Finally, hear about Preston McEwen continuing his winning ways with a victory in the RGPS Tunica for $57,206 and a sixth ring.
The podcast is sponsored by the #1 free-to-play WSOP app, and as part of it, we run another "WSOP Replay" segment in which Chad reviews a famous poker hand through the lens of the WSOP App.
A new PokerNews Podcast will drop weekly every Friday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode!
Level 8
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Nikolay Fal opened to 4,000 from the hijack and Baris Caliskan three-bet to 22,000 from the big blind. Fal four-bet to 57,000, Caliskan five-bet shoved for 177,500 and Fal called with a covering stack to put Caliskan at risk.
Baris Caliskan: A♠K♠ 
Nikolay Fal: Q♣Q♠
The board ran out A♣K♣4♥2♠2♦ giving Caliskan two pair to score a massive double up at Fal's expense.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
358,000
358,000
|
358,000 |
|
|
105,000
160,000
|
160,000 |
Level 8
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
With four players seeing a board of Q♠4♠10♦ and around 20,000 in the middle, Mehmet Muratli checked from the small blind, Fabio Peluso checked in the big blind. Giorgiy Skhulukhiya checked from under the gun and a player on the button checked.
Action checked around to Skhulukhiya who bet 17,000 on the 7♦ turn. Only Muratli called.
Muratli checked the A♣ river and Skhulukhiya sized up with a 77,000 bet. Muratli opted to fold and Skhulukhiya took the pot without showdown.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
410,000
160,000
|
160,000 |
|
308,000
13,000
|
13,000 |
|
||
|
|
135,000 | |
Level 8
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Players are on a ten-minute break. One more level will be played after the break at which point the remaining players will bag their chips and advance to Day 2.
Level: 9
Blinds: 1,000/2,500
Ante: 2,500
Level 9
: 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
565,000
369,000
|
369,000 |
|
||
|
455,000
84,500
|
84,500 |
|
||
|
452,000
237,000
|
237,000 |
|
430,000 | |
|
|
365,000
45,000
|
45,000 |
|
355,000
313,000
|
313,000 |
|
|
328,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
|
|
||
Level 9
: 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante
Hadi Khordbin shoved for around 20,000 from early position and was called by Bassel Moussa who had him covered from late position.
Hadi Khordbin: 2♣2♥
Bassel Moussa: A♥J♠
The board ran out A♠4♦8♠6♥J♣ giving Moussa two pair to score the knockout.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
70,000 | |
|
Busted |
Level 9
: 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante
Life Outside Poker is a new podcast for PokerNews hosted by Connor Richards that seeks to pull back the curtain on poker players and allow viewers and listeners to get to know them on a personal level.
In the 21st episode, Connor speaks with Survivor legend Boston Rob, aka Rob Mariano, about growing up near Fenway Park, learning poker at the age of 6, studying psychology at Boston University, applying for Survivor and winning Season 22, his recent appearance on Deal or No Deal Island and filming an upcoming season of The Traitors.
Boston Rob also revealed a story about Costa Rican authorities raiding a mansion known to host high-stakes poker games during a 2006 filming that included Daniel Negreanu, Josh Arieh, David Williams, Michael Mizrachi and actress Cheryl Hines.
"(Gambling mogul) Calvin (Ayre) had a big party at the house, and they came in guns drawn," he said. "And we were fine, but we all had to stay at the party until they checked our passports and everything. I think it was a little bit of a shakedown. But we had a good weekend."
The Life Outside Poker podcast is available on major streaming platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud and iHeartRadio. You can also watch the interview with Boston Rob by heading to the PokerNews YouTube channel.
Level 9
: 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante
Naryman Yaghmaie opened to 5,500 from the hijack and Aleksandar Tot defended from the big blind.
Both players checked the 6♣2♣5♦ flop leading to the 3♣ turn. Tot bet 4,500 and Yaghmaie called.
On the 6♦ river Tot fired a 9,000 bet and once again Yaghmaie called. Tot immediately mucked and Yaghmaie was able to take the pot without revealing his hand.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
270,000 | |
|
90,000
10,000
|
10,000 |
