$3,300 Main Event | 2024 Merit Poker Western Series

01-25-2024 19:44 UTC+2

Khorchidian Leverages his Stack

Ryan Lashmar

Level 32 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

Nichan Khorchidian opened to 400,000 with 4♣4♠ from the hijack and received calls from Christophe Panetti in the small blind holding 9♦9♠ and Mohamed Mokrani in the big blind who had 3♣3♠.

The flop came A♠10♠2♠ and action checked around to Khorchidian who bet 450,000, forcing a fold from both opponents.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nichan Khorchidian	23,300,000 3,650,000	3,650,000
Felipe Ketzer	21,875,000 125,000	125,000
Christophe Panetti	6,600,000 1,900,000	1,900,000
Mustafa Ercan	4,775,000 500,000	500,000
Damir Zhugralin	4,150,000 225,000	225,000
Mohamed Mokrani	3,400,000 150,000	150,000
Antoine Hasbani	2,975,000 1,500,000	1,500,000

Tags: Christophe Panetti Mohamed Mokrani Nichan Khorchidian

Level: 33

Blinds: 125,000/250,000

Ante: 250,000

01-25-2024 20:05 UTC+2

Khorchidian Plays it Safe

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 33 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Nichan Khorchidian opened to 500,000 with A♥K♣ from early position and Damir Zhugralin defended from the big blind with 9♣6♣.

Both players checked the 10♣9♦3♠ leading to the A♣ turn which gave Khorchidian top pair and Zhugralin a flush draw to go along with his pair of nines. Zhugralin checked again and Khorchidian bet 625,000. Zhugralin made the call.

Both players checked the J♦ river and Khorchidian's pair of aces were good enough to take the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nichan Khorchidian	24,800,000 1,500,000	1,500,000
Damir Zhugralin	2,800,000 1,350,000	1,350,000

Tags: Damir Zhugralin Nichan Khorchidian

01-25-2024 20:15 UTC+2

Mokrani Leaves Hasbani Short

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 33 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Antoine Hasbani moved all in from early position for 4,000,000 and Mohamed Mokrani called from the cutoff for his last 3,250,000.

Mohamed Mokrani: A♣K♠
Antoine Hasbani: 9♠9♣

Mokrani took the lead on the K♦Q♣2♦ flop and remained ahead on both the 10♠ turn and Q♦ river to earn a full double up while Hasbani was left with just three big blinds.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mohamed Mokrani	7,100,000 3,700,000	3,700,000
Antoine Hasbani	750,000 2,225,000	2,225,000

Tags: Antoine Hasbani Mohamed Mokrani

01-25-2024 20:30 UTC+2

Antoine Hasbani Eliminated in 7th Place ($57,300)

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 33 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Antoine Hasbani moved all in for 850,000 and Damir Zhugralin raised all in over the top to 2,650,000. Nichan Khorchidian called from the small blind to leave both players at risk.

Antoine Hasbani: K♦Q♥
Damir Zhugralin: A♥5♣
Nichan Khorchidian: A♦Q♦

Khorchidian had both opponents dominated and seemed poised to score a double knockout until Zhugralin made trips on the 5♥5♠6♥ flop leaving Khorchidian drawing dead and Hasbani drawing only to running kings. The 4♥ turn sealed the pot for Zhugralin and after the 4♣ river scored well over a full double up while Hasbani was sent to the rail in seventh place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nichan Khorchidian	21,600,000 3,200,000	3,200,000
Damir Zhugralin	6,700,000 3,900,000	3,900,000
Antoine Hasbani	Busted

Tags: Antoine Hasbani Damir Zhugralin Nichan Khorchidian

01-25-2024 20:33 UTC+2

Mustafa Ercan Eliminated in 6th Place ($69,100)

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 33 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Felipe Ketzer opened to 525,000 from under the gun and Damir Zhugralin moved all in for 5,525,000 from the button. Mustafa Ercan snap-called with his stack of 4,150,000. Ketzer thought for a few moments before folding A♣K♥, leaving Zhugralin at risk.

Mustafa Ercan: A♥J♥
Damir Zhugralin: A♦10♠

Zhugralin was dominated against a bigger ace but he took the lead on the K♦10♥K♠ flop. The 8♥ turn brought in a flush draw for Ercan but the 7♠ river was a brick. Zhugralin dragged in a pot worth over 10,000,000 while Ercan made his exit from the tournament area.

Player	Chips	Progress
Felipe Ketzer	21,600,000 275,000	275,000
Damir Zhugralin	10,700,000 4,000,000	4,000,000
Mustafa Ercan	Busted

Tags: Damir Zhugralin Felipe Ketzer Mustafa Ercan

01-25-2024 20:37 UTC+2

Damir Zhugralin Eliminated in 5th Place ($85,700)

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 33 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Damir Zhugralin opened to 500,000 and Nichan Khorchidian three-bet to 1,500,000 from the cutoff. Zhugralin four-bet to 2,900,000 and Khorchidian ripped in it, covering Zhugralin who had 7,800,000 behind. Zhugralin snap-called and was at risk.

Damir Zhugralin: A♥A♣
Nichan Khorchidian: A♦K♦

Zhugralin seemed to be in an excellent position to double up into the chip lead until the Q♦J♥10♠ flop gave Khorchidian the Broadway straight. The 5♣ turn left Zhugralin drawing dead and after the 6♣ river Khorchidian dragged in the biggest pot of the tournament so far while Zhugralin was sent to the rail in horrific fashion.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nichan Khorchidian	32,325,000 10,725,000	10,725,000
Felipe Ketzer	21,575,000 25,000	25,000
Mohamed Mokrani	6,625,000 475,000	475,000
Damir Zhugralin	Busted

Tags: Damir Zhugralin Nichan Khorchidian

01-25-2024 20:45 UTC+2

Ketzer Makes a Good Fold

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 33 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Nichan Khorchidian opened to 550,000 with K♦9♦ from the button and received a call from Felipe Ketzer holding A♦J♦ in the small blind. Christophe Panetti three-bet to 2,200,000 with Q♠Q♥. Khorchidian got out of the way and Ketzer went briefly into the tank.

After using a time extension to consider Ketzer opted to fold and Panetti took the pot without having to see a flop.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nichan Khorchidian	33,600,000 1,275,000	1,275,000
Felipe Ketzer	20,200,000 1,375,000	1,375,000
Christophe Panetti	7,500,000 900,000	900,000
Mohamed Mokrani	6,225,000 400,000	400,000