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

Jan 25, 2024

Ara Melkisetian Eliminated in 18th Place ($17,600)

Ryan Lashmar

Level 29 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

With two players seeing a board of 9♠7♣5♠, Ara Melkisetian found himself all in and at risk from the big blind versus Mustafa Ercan who was under the gun.

Ara Melkisetian: 8♣6♦
Mustafa Ercan: 7♠7♥

Both players had smashed the flop but Ercan was behind with middle set against Melkisetian's flopped straight. The K♥ turn changed nothing but the K♣ river improved Ercan to a full house to send Melkisetian to the rail and collect a sizable pot.

Tags: Ara Melkisetian Mustafa Ercan

Jan 25, 2024

Michel Habib Eliminated in 19th Place ($15,390)

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 29 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Michel Habib moved all in from the button for 970,000. Nichan Khorchidian reshoved over the top from the small blind with a covering stack to put Habib at risk.

Michel Habib: A♥9♣
Nichan Khorchidian: K♣J♦

The board ran out 10♥9♥7♠2♣8♥. Khorchidian had made a straight on the river to take the pot and send Habib to the rail in 19th place.

Tags: Michel Habib Nichan Khorchidian

Jan 25, 2024

Ketzer Battles Di Nicola

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 29 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Ermanno Di Nicola was on the button facing a raise of 885,000 from Felipe Ketzer in the hijack. Di Nicola made the call.

The flop came K♠6♦6♥ and Di Nicola called a 225,00 continuation bet from Ketzer.

Ketzer fired a second barrel on the 9♦ turn for 425,00 and was once again called by Di Nicola.

On the 5♦ river Ketzer moved all in for 1,665,000 and this time it was enough to force a fold from his opponent.

Tags: Ermanno Di Nicola Felipe Ketzer

Jan 25, 2024

Wael Sarkis Eliminated in 20th Place ($15,390)

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 29 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Three players saw a board of J♣10♦9♦ with Wael Sarkis having already gone all in after being left very short-stacked earlier. Samy Barka checked in the big blind and called an 85,000 bet from Giuliano Boellis on the button.

Barka check-called another bet from Boellis on the Q♣ turn, this time for 175,000.

The river was the 2♥. Barka checked, Boellis bet 340,000 and Barka folded. Sarkis held 9♣3♥ for a pair of nines while Boellis showed down K♦4♦ for a king-high straight to score the knockout.

Tags: Giuliano Boellis Samy Barka Wael Sarkis

Level: 29

Blinds: 50,000/100,000

Ante: 100,000

Jan 25, 2024

Victor Fryda Eliminated in 21st Place ($15,390)

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 28 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

Having recently been with under three big blinds, Victor Fryda was all in from the small blind and called by Mohamed Mokrani in the big blind.

Victor Fryda: K♥J♥
Mohamed Mokrani: 7♣2♣

Mokrani made a pair of sevens while Fryda failed to connect with the board, resulting in his elimination in 21st place while Mokrani collected the last of his chips.

Tags: Mohamed Mokrani Victor Fryda

Jan 25, 2024

Azamat Tulepbergenov Eliminated in 22nd Place ($13,730)

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 28 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

Nichan Khorchidian opened to 180,000 from early position and received a call from Christophe Panetti in the cutoff. Azamat Tulepbergenov then moved all in for 1,400,000. Khorchidian raised all in with a covering stack and Panetti got out of the way.

Azamat Tulepbergenov: J♥J♠
Nichan Khorchidian: Q♥Q♣

Tulepbergenov was in bad shape against the bigger pocket pair and failed to improve on the A♠10♥3♦7♦8♠ runout resulting in his elimination while Khorchidian continued to add chips to his stack.

Tags: Azamat Tulepbergenov Christophe Panetti Nichan Khorchidian

Jan 25, 2024

Khordbin Leaves Fryda on Fumes

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 28 : 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

In a preflop blind on blind confrontation, Hadi Khordbin was all in for roughly 1,500,000 and up against Victor Fryda who covered.

Hadi Khordbin: A♠4♥
Victor Fryda: A♣10♥

Fryda was in a great position to score the knockout but the 4♠6♥9♣ flop left him drawing to three outs. He couldn't catch a ten on the 7♣ turn or K♦ river and was left with under three big blinds while Khordbin scored a critical double up.

Tags: Hadi Khordbin Victor Fryda

Jan 25, 2024

Amir Touma Eliminated in 23rd Place ($13,730)

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 28 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

Amir Touma was recently eliminated from the tournament.

Touma held K♠Q♥ for top pair on a board reading 4♣Q♠5♥J♣2♣ but Ihar Soika had K♦K♣ for an overpair to take down a nice pot while Touma was sent to the rail in 23rd place.