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

01-15-2024 14:30 UTC+2

Sahin Picks Off Gromov

David Salituro

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

Dmitry Gromov and Can Sahin went heads-up to the turn with the board showing J♠3♣10♦4♥ and 36,000 in the pot. Gromov, in early position, then bet 25,000 and Sahin called in the small blind.

The river was the 6♣ and Gromov bet 50,000. Sahin called and Gromov instantly mucked his cards as Sahin showed K♥J♥ while taking down the pot.

Giorgiy Skhulukhiya and Benjamin Hamnett recently took their seats in the field.

Player	Chips	Progress
Can Sahin	280,000 280,000	280,000
Dmitry Gromov	140,000 40,000	40,000

Giorgiy Skhulukhiya	100,000 100,000	100,000
Benjamin Hamnett	100,000 100,000	100,000

Tags: Benjamin Hamnett Can Sahin Dmitry Gromov Giorgiy Skhulukhiya

01-15-2024 14:24 UTC+2

Tantillo Doubles With Kings

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David Salituro

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

Heads-up on a flop of 4♦10♦J♣, Frederico Senno bet enough from the button to put Fausto Tantillo all in. Tantillo, in the hijack, called for his last 37,000.

Fausto Tantillo: K♥K♦
Frederico Senno: J♥9♣

Senno had flopped top pair but found himself trailing Tantillo's kings as the board ran out 5♣3♥, earning Tantillo a double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Fausto Tantillo	90,000 30,000	30,000
Frederico Senno	50,000

Tags: Fausto Tantillo Frederico Senno

Level: 3

Blinds: 500/1,000

Ante: 1,000

01-15-2024 14:03 UTC+2

First Break

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David Salituro

Level 2 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Players are now on the first 15-minute break of the day.

01-15-2024 13:58 UTC+2

Player	Chips	Progress
Razvan Sabau	300,000 90,000	90,000
Eduard Norel	180,000
Ryan Plant	150,000 5,000	5,000
Stephane Gabarre	120,000 20,000	20,000
Ermanno Di Nicola	115,000 15,000	15,000

Erdem Akmert	110,000 20,000	20,000
Koray Korkmaz	100,000
Mustafa Sancak	90,000 20,000	20,000
Maksim Skripkin	85,000
Esper Sadek	85,000 30,000	30,000
Andrea Dato	50,000 50,000	50,000

Kaukua Stays Active, Takes Out Akbas

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David Salituro

Level 2 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Halil Akbas raised to 2,000, Toni Kaukua three-bet to 12,000 in the small blind, and Akbas called.

The flop came 10♦Q♥2♣ and Kaukua led out for 7,000. Akbas called to the 9♦ turn, where Kaukua bet another 15,000.

Akbas again called and the 6♥ fell on the river. Kaukua then bet 55,000 to put Akbas all in. Akbas tanked for a minute before calling as Kaukua showed K♠J♥ for a turned straight. Akbas' cards went into the muck as he headed off to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Toni Kaukua	240,000 80,000	80,000
Halil Akbas	Busted

Tags: Halil Akbas Toni Kaukua

01-15-2024 13:39 UTC+2

Tantillo Gives Up to Fal's Big River Bet

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David Salituro

Level 2 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

With around 17,500 in the middle on a flop of 6♥4♣K♣, Fausto Tantillo bet 6,500 from the small blind and Nikolay Fal called in the cutoff.

The turn came the J♦ and Tantillo led out for another 20,500. Fal again called and the 6♣ fell on the river. Tantillo then checked over to Fal.

Fal tossed in a bet of 60,000, sending Tantillo into the tank for around a minute before giving up his hand as Fal took the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nikolay Fal	170,000

Fausto Tantillo	60,000 40,000	40,000

Tags: Fausto Tantillo Nikolay Fal

01-15-2024 13:28 UTC+2

Sancak Makes Trips on Pamukcu

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David Salituro

Level 2 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Razvan Sabau raised to 1,700 in early position before Hakan Pamukcu three-bet to 5,200 in the cutoff. Mustafa Sancak called in the big blind, as did Sabau and they went three-handed to the 6♣K♦J♥ flop.

Pamukcu bet 6,000 and only Sancak called to see the K♠ turn. Pamukcu then bet another 15,000 and Sancak again called.

Both players checked the 5♦ river and Sancak turned over K♣3♣ for trip kings to win the pot.

"I'll tell you the story. Turkish idiot three-bets and his countryman calls and makes trips," a good-natured Pamukcu joked after the hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
Razvan Sabau	210,000 10,000	10,000
Hakan Pamukcu	80,000 80,000	80,000
Mustafa Sancak	70,000 5,000	5,000

Tags: Hakan Pamukcu Mustafa Sancak Razvan Sabau

01-15-2024 13:20 UTC+2

Budak Shows Down Jacks Against Kaukua

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David Salituro

Level 2 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Erkan Budak and Toni Kaukua built a pot of around 5,000 as they went heads-up to a flop of 8♦4♦4♣. Budak then bet 2,500 from the cutoff and Kaukua called in the big blind.

The turn was the 6♣ and Budak bet another 2,500. Kaukua again called to the A♥ river and checked over to Budak, who this time checked behind and turned over J♦J♠. Kaukua sent his cards into the muck as Budak took the pot.

Ermanno Di Nicola reentered after busting from this table earlier.

Player	Chips	Progress
Toni Kaukua	160,000 60,000	60,000
Erkan Budak	110,000
Ermanno Di Nicola	100,000 100,000	100,000

Tags: Erkan Budak Ermanno Di Nicola Toni Kaukua

01-15-2024 13:14 UTC+2

Gromov Hero-Calls Leantzis

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David Salituro

Level 2 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Dmitry Gromov three-bet to 6,000 in the big blind and received calls from an opponent in early position and Christos Leantzis in the hijack.

The flop came 4♠J♠7♥ and Gromov continued for 10,000. Only Leantzis called to see the Q♦ turn.

Gromov then bet another 26,000 and Leantzis again called. The river was the Q♣ and Gromov slowed down and checked.

Leantzis bet 35,200 and Gromov took around 30 seconds before calling. "Good call," Leantzis said as he quickly mucked his hand. Gromov showed 8♣7♣ as he took the pot.