$2,200 Warm Up Day 3 | 2024 Merit Poker Western Series

01-18-2024 19:27 UTC+3

Dato Snaps Off Doe

David Salituro

Level 22 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Xiang Lian raised to 60,000 under the gun as action folded to Andrea Dato on the button. "One hundred and thirty-five thousand," he said as he put in a reraise. Lian quickly folded.

The next hand, Yasen Dichev raised to 60,000 in the hijack. "One hundred and sixty-five," Dato said this time as he three-bet in the cutoff. John Doe four-bet to 300,000 on the button and Dichev folded, but Dato called.

The flop came 10♥J♠4♣ and Doe moved all in for 200,000. Dato snap-called.

John Doe: K♥J♦
Andrea Dato: A♥J♥

Both players had hit top pair, but Dato was ahead with his ace and remained in front through the 3♦ turn and 2♦ river to send Doe to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Andrea Dato	1,450,000 750,000	750,000

Yasen Dichev	1,000,000 -100,000	-100,000
Xiang Lian	400,000 -80,000	-80,000
John Doe	Busted

Tags: Andrea Dato John Doe Xiang Lian Yasen Dichev

01-18-2024 19:18 UTC+3

Dichev Outflops Mavrikioy For a Knockout

David Salituro

Level 22 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Andreas Mavrikioy moved all in for his last 200,000 from middle position and Yasen Dichev called in the big blind.

Andreas Mavrikioy: A♣4♣
Yasen Dichev: K♣10♠

Mavrikioy was ahead until the 10♦7♠J♦ flop gave Dichev a pair. The rest of the board came 4♠2♣ and Mavrikioy handed over the rest of his chips before making his way to the payout desk.

Player	Chips	Progress
Yasen Dichev	1,100,000 400,000	400,000
Andreas Mavrikioy	Busted

Tags: Andreas Mavrikioy Yasen Dichev

01-18-2024 19:06 UTC+3

Tulepbergenov Finishes Off Dray

David Salituro

Level 22 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Samuel Dray was already all in for his last chip as Ildar Tashliyev and Azamat Tulepbergenov went to the turn on a board of 8♠2♠7♣8♣. Tashliyev then bet 75,000 from early position and Tulepbergenov called in middle position.

The river was the 7♠ and Dray was already standing up from his seat and putting on his backpack as Tashliyev spent a minute shuffling his chips. He eventually checked and Tulepbergenov checked back.

Dray could only show queen-high, Tashliyev mucked, while Tulepbergenov turned over A♥K♣ for ace-high to win the pot and send Dray to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Azamat Tulepbergenov	1,700,000 200,000	200,000
Ildar Tashliyev	1,300,000 -310,000	-310,000
Samuel Dray	Busted

Tags: Azamat Tulepbergenov Ildar Tashliyev Samuel Dray

01-18-2024 18:16 UTC+3

Hasbani Takes Out Saeid, With a Donation From Held

David Salituro

Level 21 : Blinds 15,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

Antoine Hasbani raised to 60,000 on the button before Amir Saeid moved all in for 165,000 in the small blind. Justus Held reraised to 300,000 in the big blind, Hasbani reshoved for around 800,000, and Held quickly folded.

Amir Saeid: K♠Q♠
Antoine Hasbani: A♥A♣

Saeid picked up a flush draw on the J♣3♠5♠ flop, but he improved no further on the 7♥ turn or 2♣ river as Hasbani's aces sent him to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Simone Andrian	5,200,000 700,000	700,000

Adrian State	3,500,000 -200,000	-200,000
Antoine Hasbani	1,600,000 700,000	700,000
Abdullah Alajmi	1,300,000 -100,000	-100,000

Justus Held	1,150,000 -350,000	-350,000
Amir Saeid	Busted

Tags: Amir Saeid Antoine Hasbani Justus Held

01-18-2024 17:30 UTC+3

Melkisetian Shoves Into Dray's Aces

David Salituro

Level 20 : Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante

Ara Melkisetian was on the button and got his last 420,000 in the middle against Samuel Dray in the big blind.

Ara Melkisetian: K♣Q♦
Samuel Dray: A♦A♠

The board ran out 9♣5♠8♦3♦A♥ and Dray improved to top set on the river as Melkisetian made a hasty exit from the tournament exit.

Player	Chips	Progress
Samuel Dray	950,000 370,000	370,000
Ara Melkisetian	Busted

Tags: Ara Melkisetian Samuel Dray

01-18-2024 17:27 UTC+3

State Picks Off Tomazou's Big Bluff

David Salituro

Level 20 : Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante

Heads-up on a flop of 4♦K♦2♣, Andreas Tomazou bet 125,000 from early position and Adrian State called in the big blind.

The turn was the K♥ and Tomazou bet another 155,000. State again called and the 6♠ fell on the river.

Tomazou then moved all in for 200,000 and State snap-called. Tomazou tapped the felt and turned over Q♠10♦ for a bluff as State showed A♦A♥ to win the pot and send Tomazou to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Adrian State	3,700,000 1,150,000	1,150,000
Andreas Tomazou	Busted

Tags: Adrian State Andreas Tomazou

01-18-2024 16:46 UTC+3

Melkisetian Leaves Demirkol Dead on the Turn

David Salituro

Level 20 : Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante

Mehmet Demirkol and Ara Melkisetian went heads-up to a flop of 7♠6♠7♣ when Melkisetian bet from early position and Demirkol quickly called for his last 100,000.

Mehmet Demirkol: 9♥8♦
Ara Melkisetian: J♦J♣

Melkisetian was ahead with his jacks, while Demirkol had a straight draw. The turn, though, was the J♠ and Melkisetian improved to a full house to leave Demirkol drawing dead. The inconsequential river was the A♠ and Demirkol was eliminated.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ara Melkisetian	500,000 140,000	140,000
Mehmet Demirkol	Busted

Tags: Ara Melkisetian Mehmet Demirkol

01-18-2024 16:32 UTC+3

Panagides Busts Kirichenko

David Salituro

Level 19 : Blinds 10,000/15,000, 15,000 ante

In a blind versus blind battle, Alexander Kirichenko got his last 300,000 in the middle against George Panagides.

Alexander Kirichenko: 9♥9♣
George Panagides: J♠J♣

Kirichenko had run into Panagides' dominating pair and found no help on the K♦Q♥7♠2♠K♠ board as he was sent to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
George Panagides	1,300,000 550,000	550,000
Alexander Kirichenko	Busted

Tags: Alexander Kirichenko George Panagides

01-18-2024 16:25 UTC+3

Hasbani Spikes a Queen to Bust Nigbolu

David Salituro

Level 19 : Blinds 10,000/15,000, 15,000 ante

Cenk Nigbolu raised to 30,000 under the gun before Antoine Hasbani three-bet to 90,000 in the cutoff. Nigbolu then moved all in for 370,000 and Hasbani called.

Cenk Nigbolu: A♠K♠
Antoine Hasbani: A♣Q♥

Nigbolu remained ahead on the 8♣A♥6♦ flop as both players hit top pair, but Hasbani hit the Q♣ on the turn to improve to two pair. The river was the 6♣ and Nigbolu buried his face in his hands before heading off to the payout desk.

Hadi Khordbin was also eliminated at the same time on another table.

Player	Chips	Progress
John Doe	1,500,000 1,499,999	1,499,999
Abdullah Alajmi	1,400,000 -150,000	-150,000

Andreas Tomazou	1,400,000 700,000	700,000
Antoine Hasbani	900,000 262,000	262,000
Yury Bochkarev	300,000 -260,000	-260,000
Andrey Pateychuk	30,000 -137,000	-137,000

Hadi Khordbin	Busted
Cenk Nigbolu	Busted

Tags: Antoine Hasbani Cenk Nigbolu Hadi Khordbin

01-18-2024 16:19 UTC+3

Petleshkov Shoves Into Kings

David Salituro

Level 19 : Blinds 10,000/15,000, 15,000 ante

Viliyan Petleshkov moved all in for 320,000 under the gun and Emrah Daban put him at risk from the hijack.

Viliyan Petleshkov: A♦Q♥
Emrah Daban: K♣K♦

The 5♠4♣2♥ flop gave Petleshkov some hope with a straight draw, but the 5♦ turn and 5♣ river improved Daban to a full house and sent Petleshkov off to collect his payout.

Player	Chips	Progress
Emrah Daban	950,000 170,000	170,000
Viliyan Petleshkov	Busted

Tags: Emrah Daban Viliyan Petleshkov