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

Jan 15, 2024

Senno Triples, Luo Doubles Off Gromov

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.

Tags: Dmitry Gromov Frederico Senno Xixiang Luo

Level: 8

Blinds: 1,000/2,500

Ante: 2,500

Jan 15, 2024

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.

Tags: Hadi Khordbin Cheng Zhao

Jan 15, 2024

Dato Flourishing on Second Bullet

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David Salituro

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

Andrea Dato and Vladimir Troyanovskiy went heads-up to a flop of Q♥8♣6♠ where Dato bet 16,000 on the button. Troyanovskiy called in early position and the 9♣ fell on the turn.

Both players checked and the 8♦ came on the river. Troyanovskiy again checked and Dato bet 74,000. Troyanovskiy again called and Dato opened up A♣A♥ to take down the pot and move above 400,000.

Tags: Andrea Dato Vladimir Troyanovskiy

Jan 15, 2024

Sabau Four-Bets Tot

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David Salituro

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

Shuang Luo raised to 4,000 in early position before Aleksandar Tot three-bet to 14,000 on the button. Razvan Sabau then four-bet to 36,000 in the big blind and only Tot called.

Both players checked the 9♥8♥K♥ flop and the 4♥ fell on the turn. Sabau then led out for 18,000 and Tot instantly folded.

Andrea Dato reentered after busting earlier at this table.

Tags: Aleksandar Tot Andrea Dato Razvan Sabau Shuang Luo

Jan 15, 2024

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.

Tags: Damir Zhugralin Qiang Xu Viktoriia Benderova

Jan 15, 2024

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.

Tags: Andrea Dato Shuang Luo

Jan 15, 2024

"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.

Tags: Nina Krasilnikova Yunsheng Sun

Level: 7

Blinds: 1,000/2,000

Ante: 2,000

Jan 15, 2024