$2,200 Warm Up
Day 3 Completed
2024 Merit Poker Western Series
$2,200 Warm Up
Day: 3
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 3
2024 Merit Poker Western Series
Buy-in
$2,200
Prize Pool
$830,640
Entries
446
Level
33
Blinds
200,000 / 400,000
Ante
400,000
Entries
81
Players Left
17
Simone Andrian Storms to the Top on Day 3 of the $2,200 Warm Up
Level 24
: Blinds 20,000/50,000, 50,000 ante
A late flurry of eliminations ensured that Simone Andrian would be the man to beat following Day 3 of the $2,200 Warm Up at the Merit Poker Western Series.
The Italian pro and WSOP bracelet winner ended the event’s penultimate day as chip leader over the remaining 17 players with a massive stack of 8,410,000 as he chases another prestigious title. Andrian already has nearly $1,000,000 in live career earnings, including his bracelet from 2021 and a WPT title in June. Just last month, he made a deep run in the WPT World Championship in Las Vegas, finishing in 29th place for $159,200.
Andrian began the day second in chips but didn’t wait long before he built an even more massive stack. He won with aces against the pocket kings of Day 1 chip leader Peng Yang when, incredibly, they were found to have the exact same 1,340,000 remaining in their stack. He later picked off a massive bluff in a 4,000,000-chip pot against Justus Held.
He saved his best for last, however. Andrian flopped top pair to beat Ramez Haddad’s pocket tens and send him out in 23rd place. He then busted Gang Zhao in 21st with aces against queens, and Xiang Lian in 19th when they both showed ace-king but Andrian rivered a flush.
The 16 opponents who will try to track down Andrian when the final day begins at noon local time are led by Abdullah Alajmi. The start-of-day chip leader adopted an unconventional limping strategy late on Day 3 and used it to bust Held in 26th place, flopping a full house against trip kings. He bagged up 6,010,000 as, together, he and Andrian control nearly a third of the chips in play between them.
Day 3 Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Simone Andrian | Italy | 8,410,000 | 140 |
| 2 | Abdullah Alajmi | Kuwait | 6,010,000 | 100 |
| 3 | Adrian State | Romania | 3,900,000 | 65 |
| 4 | Guoliang Wei | China | 2,810,000 | 47 |
| 5 | Andrea Dato | Italy | 2,750,000 | 46 |
| 6 | George Panagides | Cyprus | 2,750,000 | 46 |
| 7 | Baurzhan Akimov | Kazakhstan | 2,450,000 | 41 |
| 8 | Yuefan Gu | China | 2,230,000 | 37 |
| 9 | Sari Haddad | Lebanon | 2,170,000 | 36 |
| 10 | Qusai Albakeer | Jordan | 2,025,000 | 34 |
| 11 | Fahredin Mustafov | Bulgaria | 1,940,000 | 32 |
| 12 | Azamat Tulepbergenov | Kazakhstan | 1,930,000 | 32 |
| 13 | Antoine Hasbani | Lebanon | 1,320,000 | 22 |
| 14 | Andrei Daniliuk | Russia | 1,190,000 | 20 |
| 15 | Ermanno Di Nicola | Italy | 975,000 | 16 |
| 16 | Nina Krasilnikova | Russia | 925,000 | 15 |
| 17 | John Basta | Egypt | 790,000 | 13 |
The top five on the leaderboard are rounded out by Adrian State (3,900,000), Guoliang Wei (2,810,000), and veteran Italian pro Andrea Dato (2,750,000). Baurzhan Akimov (2,450,000), Yuefan Gu (2,230,000), Fahredin Mustafov (1,940,000), Antoine Hasbani (1,320,000), Andrei Daniliuk (1,190,000), Ermanno Di Nicola (975,000), and Nina Krasilnikova are also still alive in the hunt for the title.
Day 3 began with 81 players remaining out of a total field of 446 entries. With only the top 53 guaranteeing themselves a payday, the likes of Vladimir Troyanovskiy, Dzmitry Urbanovich, Dmitry Gromov, and Cheng Zhao busted before the money. Qiang Xu was eliminated right before the start of hand-for-hand play and proved to be the bubble boy as tournament officials determined there were already 53 players remaining.
Andrey Pateychuk (49th), Ara Melkisetian (41st), and Koray Korkmaz (34th) were among those to make their way to the payout desk. Matthew Davenport was eliminated in 27th place after the redraw for the final three tables. Emrah Daban and Eren Eroglu were then knocked out in the same hand against Qusai Albakeer’s kings, Daban taking 25th and Eroglu 24th as the larger stack.
The action on Day 4 picks up on Level 25 with blinds of 30,000-60,000 and a 60,000 big blind ante. Everyone has already locked up $8,450, with a spot at the final table worth at least $16,500. The champion will walk away with $165,000 and the title of Merit Poker champion.
Stay tuned as PokerNews returns tomorrow to bring you all the action as the field plays down to the final table and onward to the crowning of a champion.
End-of-Day Chip Counts
Level 24
: Blinds 20,000/50,000, 50,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
8,410,000
-290,000
|
-290,000 |
|
||
|
6,010,000
180,000
|
180,000 |
|
||
|
3,900,000
400,000
|
400,000 |
|
2,810,000
-220,000
|
-220,000 |
|
|
||
|
2,750,000
-50,000
|
-50,000 |
|
||
|
2,750,000
-150,000
|
-150,000 |
|
2,450,000
1,150,000
|
1,150,000 |
|
2,230,000
500,000
|
500,000 |
|
2,170,000
270,000
|
270,000 |
|
2,025,000
180,000
|
180,000 |
|
1,940,000
340,000
|
340,000 |
|
1,930,000
-70,000
|
-70,000 |
|
1,320,000
120,000
|
120,000 |
|
1,190,000
-110,000
|
-110,000 |
|
975,000
-325,000
|
-325,000 |
|
||
|
925,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
790,000
220,000
|
220,000 |
Play Concludes
Level 24
: Blinds 20,000/50,000, 50,000 ante
Day 3 has ended with 17 players remaining.
Stay tuned for full chip counts and a recap of the day's action.
Mateusz Wozniak Eliminated in 18th Place ($8,450)
Level 24
: Blinds 20,000/50,000, 50,000 ante
Azamat Tulepbergenov raised to 100,000 in the hijack and Mateusz Wozniak defended his big blind, leaving just 55,000 behind.
The flop was Q♣9♣Q♥ and Wozniak got his last chips in the middle as Tulepbergenov called to put him at risk.
Mateusz Wozniak: J♠3♥
Azamat Tulepbergenov: A♠8♣
Tulepbergenov was ahead with ace-high as the board ran out 9♦A♦, giving. him two pair and sending Wozniak to the rail right before the end of the night.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,000,000
-155,000
|
-155,000 |
|
Busted |
Panagides Leaves Wozniak on Fumes
Level 24
: Blinds 20,000/50,000, 50,000 ante
Mateusz Wozniak raised to 100,000 in early position before George Panagides three-bet to 320,000 in the big blind. Wozniak moved all in and Panagides called for 1,415,000.
George Panagides: K♦K♣
Mateusz Wozniak: J♣J♦
Wozniak was crushed by Panagides' kings as the board ran out 7♣8♠Q♠6♥A♣, earning Panagides a double up and leaving Wozniak with just four big blinds.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,900,000
1,400,000
|
1,400,000 |
|
|
205,000
-1,415,000
|
-1,415,000 |
Five More Hands
Level 24
: Blinds 20,000/50,000, 50,000 ante
Tournament officials announced that players will see five more hands before bagging up for the final day.
Wozniak Survives on the River
Level 24
: Blinds 20,000/50,000, 50,000 ante
George Panagides raised to 110,000 in early position before Mateusz Wozniak moved all in for 695,000 in middle position. Simone Andrian called in the cutoff, while Panagides let his hand go.
Mateusz Wozniak: A♣J♠
Simone Andrian: A♥Q♦
Andrian had Wozniak dominated and at risk as the flop came 4♥10♥3♠. The 10♣ turn left Wozniak one card away from elimination, but he spiked the J♥ on the river to make two pair and double up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
8,700,000
-825,000
|
-825,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
1,620,000
925,000
|
925,000 |
|
|
1,500,000
-75,000
|
-75,000 |
Dato Bombs the River on Mustafov
Level 24
: Blinds 20,000/50,000, 50,000 ante
Andrea Dato raised to 100,000 in early position and Fahredin Mustafov called in the small blind, as did big blind Sari Haddad.
The flop came Q♦3♥6♦ and Dato continued for 115,000. Only Mustafov called to see the Q♥ turn.
Dato then bet 400,000 and Mustafov called once more. The river was the A♥. "One million, one hundred thousand," Dato said, sliding forward two towers of chips. Mustafov quickly folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,800,000
500,000
|
500,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
1,900,000
-500,000
|
-500,000 |
|
|
1,600,000
-500,000
|
-500,000 |
Final Two Tables
Level 24
: Blinds 20,000/50,000, 50,000 ante
| Table | Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Mateusz Wozniak | Poland | 695,000 | 14 |
| 1 | 2 | Guoliang Wei | China | 3,030,000 | 61 |
| 1 | 3 | Simone Andrian | Italy | 9,525,000 | 191 |
| 1 | 4 | Abdullah Alajmi | Kuwait | 5,830,000 | 117 |
| 1 | 5 | John Basta | Egypt | 570,000 | 11 |
| 1 | 6 | Azamat Tulepbergenov | Kazakhstan | 2,155,000 | 43 |
| 1 | 7 | Qusai Albakeer | Iraq | 1,845,000 | 37 |
| 1 | 8 | George Panagides | Cyprus | 1,575,000 | 32 |
| 1 | 9 | Yuefan Gu | China | 1,730,000 | 35 |
| 2 | 1 | Sari Haddad | Lebanon | 2,300,000 | 46 |
| 2 | 2 | Andrea Dato | Italy | 2,500,000 | 50 |
| 2 | 3 | Adrian State | Romania | 3,500,000 | 70 |
| 2 | 4 | Andrei Daniliuk | Russia | 1,300,000 | 26 |
| 2 | 5 | Antoine Hasbani | Lebanon | 1,200,000 | 24 |
| 2 | 6 | Ermanno Di Nicola | Italy | 1,300,000 | 26 |
| 2 | 7 | Baurzhan Akimov | Kazakhstan | 1,300,000 | 26 |
| 2 | 8 | Nina Krasilnikova | Russia | 900,000 | 18 |
| 2 | 9 | Fahredin Mustafov | Bulgaria | 2,300,000 | 46 |
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
9,525,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
5,830,000
-370,000
|
-370,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
3,500,000
500,000
|
500,000 |
|
|
3,030,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
2,500,000
200,000
|
200,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
2,300,000
-100,000
|
-100,000 |
|
|
2,300,000
200,000
|
200,000 |
|
|
2,155,000
655,000
|
655,000 |
|
|
1,845,000
45,000
|
45,000 |
|
|
1,730,000
-70,000
|
-70,000 |
|
|
1,575,000
175,000
|
175,000 |
|
|
1,300,000 | |
|
|
1,300,000
-400,000
|
-400,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
1,300,000
-400,000
|
-400,000 |
|
|
1,200,000
300,000
|
300,000 |
|
|
900,000
-200,000
|
-200,000 |
|
|
695,000
-140,000
|
-140,000 |
|
|
570,000
-630,000
|
-630,000 |