$2,200 Warm Up Day 1a | 2024 Merit Poker Western Series

01-15-2024 17:05 UTC+2

Miral Spikes an Ace on Kaukua

David Salituro

Level 5 : Blinds 700/1,500, 1,500 ante

Toni Kaukua, whose tournament got off to such a promising start when he doubled up in the first level, found himself down to just 21,400 as he moved all in from the cutoff. Can Miral called under the gun to put him at risk.

Toni Kaukua: K♥K♦
Can Miral: A♠K♠

Kaukua was ahead with his kings until the 4♣A♦J♣ flop gave Miral a pair of aces. The rest of the board came 7♥Q♦ and Kaukua made his way to the exit.

Player	Chips	Progress
Can Miral	140,000 140,000	140,000
Toni Kaukua	Busted

Tags: Can Miral Toni Kaukua

01-15-2024 17:35 UTC+2

Khordbin Fires At Korkmaz

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David Salituro

Level 5 : Blinds 700/1,500, 1,500 ante

Hadi Khordbin and Koray Korkmaz went heads-up to a flop of 3♦9♠Q♠ where Khordbin bet 3,000 from under the gun.

Korkmaz called in the big blind and the turn was the 9♦. Khordbin then bet 10,000 and Korkmaz again called. The 4♦ fell on the river and Khordbin bet another 10,000.

Korkmaz quickly called and Khordbin turned over A♦Q♣ for two pair to win the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Koray Korkmaz	220,000 20,000	20,000
Hadi Khordbin	120,000 120,000	120,000

Tags: Hadi Khordbin Koray Korkmaz

01-15-2024 17:54 UTC+2

Akmert Comes From Behind to Bust Saiapin

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David Salituro

Level 6 : Blinds 800/1,600, 1,600 ante

Erdem Akmert raised to 3,500 in the cutoff, then called when Iurii Saiapin put in his last 20,000 from the button.

Iurii Saiapin: A♣9♦
Erdem Akmert: A♠7♣

Saiapin had Akmert dominated and was poised for a double up until the flop brought 7♦Q♥4♦, giving Akmert a pair of sevens. The board ran out A♥5♠ and Akmert finished with two pair to send Saiapin to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Erdem Akmert	370,000 260,000	260,000
Iurii Saiapin	Busted

Tags: Erdem Akmert Iurii Saiapin

01-15-2024 18:38 UTC+2

Khordbin Wins a Monster Heading to Break

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David Salituro

Level 6 : Blinds 800/1,600, 1,600 ante

The rest of the field had already left on break while Hadi Khordbin and Jing Wang found themselves tangled in a massive pot.

According to tablemate Hakan Pamukcu, Khordbin had raised before the flop from under the gun and received three callers. He continuation bet the Q♦K♠8♠ flop and Wang called on the button.

The turn was the 2♦ and Wang bet 40,000. Khordbin then moved all in for 267,000 and Wang tanked for several minutes into the break before calling with Q♥8♣ for two pair.

Khordbin, though, had 8♥8♦ for a set and held on the 3♦ river to earn the double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Hadi Khordbin	550,000 430,000	430,000
Jing Wang	40,000 110,000	110,000

Tags: Hadi Khordbin Jing Wang

01-15-2024 18:56 UTC+2

"The Witch is Back" as Krasilnikova Busts Sun

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David Salituro

Level 7 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Nina Krasilnikova and Yunsheng Sun went heads-up to the turn on a board of 7♦A♠J♣8♣ when Krasilnikova bet 40,000 from the small blind. Sun moved all in for around 100,000 more in early position and Krasilnikova snap-called.

Sun showed A♣7♣ for two pair, but Krasilnikova had turned the nut straight with 10♣9♥. The river was the J♠ and Krasilnikova took the pot to send Sun to the rail.

"The witch is back. Get me away from this table," tablemate Christos Leantzis called out after the hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nina Krasilnikova	320,000 160,000	160,000
Yunsheng Sun	Busted

Tags: Nina Krasilnikova Yunsheng Sun

01-15-2024 19:03 UTC+2

Dato Runs Into Luo's Set

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David Salituro

Level 7 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Heads-up on a flop of 6♥9♣4♥, Andrea Dato bet 3,000 before Shuang Luo raised to 10,000. Dato called and the 8♦ fell on the turn.

Luo then put Dato all in and Dato called for his last 20,000 with A♠K♠. Luo, though, had 6♦6♠ for a set of sixes and Dato was already drawing dead heading to the K♦ river as he was sent to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Shuang Luo	320,000 200,000	200,000
Andrea Dato	Busted

Tags: Andrea Dato Shuang Luo

01-15-2024 19:15 UTC+2

Benderova Puts a Dent in Xu's Big Stack

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David Salituro

Level 7 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Damir Zhugralin raised to 4,000 under the gun and received three callers, including Qiang Xu in middle position and Viktoriia Benderova on the button.

The flop came 3♦6♠7♣ and action checked to Xu who bet 4,000. Benderova and Zhugralin both called and the 8♦ fell on the turn.

Zhugralin then led out for 8,500 and both opponents called. The river was the J♠ and Zhugralin checked to Xu who bet 15,000.

Benderova quickly called, while Zhugralin gave up his hand. Xu showed 8♥6♥ for two pair, but Benderova had 7♥7♠ for a set as she took the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Qiang Xu	480,000 120,000	120,000

Viktoriia Benderova	200,000 200,000	200,000
Damir Zhugralin	110,000 35,000	35,000

Tags: Damir Zhugralin Qiang Xu Viktoriia Benderova

01-15-2024 19:51 UTC+2

Khordbin Fills Up to Bust Zhao

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David Salituro

Level 7 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Cheng Zhao bet 15,000 from the hijack on a flop of K♣K♥6♠ before Hadi Khordbin raised to 50,000 in middle position.

Zhao called and the turn was the 5♥. Khordbin then bet 75,000 and Zhao again called.

Khordbin didn't even wait for the dealer to finish flipping over the 7♣ river before he slid in a stack of chips to put Zhao all in. Zhao tanked for a minute until calling for his last 70,000.

Zhao showed K♠Q♠ for trips, but Khordbin had 6♥6♦ for a flopped full house to win another massive pot and send Zhao to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Hadi Khordbin	650,000 100,000	100,000
Cheng Zhao	Busted

Tags: Hadi Khordbin Cheng Zhao

01-15-2024 19:54 UTC+2

Senno Triples, Luo Doubles Off Gromov

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David Salituro

Level 8 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Frederico Senno moved all in for 30,000 from the button and Xixiang Luo called in the small blind. Dmitry Gromov then reshoved from the big blind and Luo quickly called for 235,000.

Frederico Senno: 6♠5♠
Xixiang Luo: 8♥8♦
Dmitry Gromov: A♠Q♠

"Give me a straight or a flush. Okay, not a flush," Senno said before seeing that Gromov had his suit dominated. The flop came 7♣K♦6♦ and Luo remained in front with his pair of eights.

The turn was the J♥, while the 6♣ river gave Senno trips to earn the main pot while Luo took the massive side pot as Gromov, who was up above 600,000 at one point earlier in the day, fell down to around 150,000.

Player	Chips	Progress
Xixiang Luo	470,000 470,000	470,000

Dmitry Gromov	150,000 400,000	400,000

Frederico Senno	90,000 40,000	40,000

Tags: Dmitry Gromov Frederico Senno Xixiang Luo

01-15-2024 20:04 UTC+2

Pamukcu Hits the River to Double

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David Salituro

Level 8 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Three players went to the turn on a board of 3♥4♣6♣7♦ when Bartlomiej Swieboda bet 16,000 from the big blind.

Hakan Pamukcu called in middle position, as did Koray Korkmaz in the hijack. The river was the 8♦ and Swieboda checked to Pamukcu who moved all in for 15,500.

Korkmaz called while Swieboda got out of the way. Pamukcu then showed 10♣9♣ for a rivered straight and Korkmaz mucked A♣8♣ as he handed over the double up. Swieboda admitted after the hand he also had a flush draw.

Player	Chips	Progress
Koray Korkmaz	180,000 70,000	70,000
Hakan Pamukcu	120,000 40,000	40,000
Bartlomiej Swieboda	105,000 45,000	45,000

Tags: Bartlomiej Swieboda Hakan Pamukcu Koray Korkmaz