$3,300 Main Event Day 1a | 2024 Merit Poker Western Series

Jan 20, 2024

Krasilnikova Finds the Ladies to Double

David Salituro

Level 6 : Blinds 700/1,500, 1,500 ante

Maxime Chilaud bet 4,000 from early position on a flop of 5♦8♣4♦ before Eduard Norel raised to 13,000 in middle position.

Chilaud called and the 5♣ fell on the turn. Norel then bet 18,000 and Chilaud quickly folded.

The next hand at this table, Norel raised to 3,500 and Arif Yildirim called. Nina Krasilnikova then moved all in for 53,000 in the cutoff and Yildirim called, while Norel got out of the way.

Nina Krasilnikova: Q♦Q♥
Arif Yildirim: K♦J♣

Yildirim picked up a flush draw heading to the river on a board of A♦9♣3♦2♦, but Krasilnikova dodged the J♠ as she doubled up with her pocket queens.

"Good Nina. I win" she yelled out, pointing at her queens as she took the pot.

Tags: Arif Yildirim Eduard Norel Maxime Chilaud Nina Krasilnikova

Jan 20, 2024

Queen is Good For Lian

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David Salituro

Level 6 : Blinds 700/1,500, 1,500 ante

Around 45,000 was in the middle as Roman Hrabec, Xiang Lian, and Qiang Xu saw a flop of A♦Q♠6♣. Hrabec then led out for 11,000 from the small blind.

Lian called in early position, but Xu put in a raise to 36,500 in the cutoff. Hrabec folded, while Lian tanked for a minute before calling.

The 10♣ turn was checked through and the A♥ fell on the river. Lian checked again and Xu checked back as Lian showed Q♥J♥ for two pair. Xu mucked and Lian took the pot, adding to his chip-lead contending stack.

Tags: Qiang Xu Roman Hrabec Xiang Lian

Jan 20, 2024

Tishkevich Hangs On in Three-Way All In

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David Salituro

Level 6 : Blinds 700/1,500, 1,500 ante

Four players went to the 7♥5♣2♥ flop where Rawand Chaychi bet 8,000 from the hijack. Naji Tannoury called in the small blind, while Stanislav Tishkevich moved all in for 55,000 in the big blind.

Chaychi reshoved for his last 60,000 and Tannoury called, having both players covered.

Stanislav Tishkevich: Q♦7♦
Rawand Chaychi: A♣J♦
Naji Tannoury: 6♥5♥

Tishkevich was ahead with his pair of sevens, while Tannouri had a pair and flush draw. The 2♠ turn kept Tishkevich in the lead, while he secured a triple up following the 3♦ river. Tannoury took the side pot to send Chaychi to the rail.

Tags: Naji Tannouri Rawand Chaychi Stanislav Tishkevich

Jan 20, 2024

Wozniak Picks Up Aces to Take Out Zhao

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David Salituro

Level 6 : Blinds 700/1,500, 1,500 ante

Andreas Tomazou raised to 3,500 in early position before Gang Zhao moved all in for his last 9,400 in middle position. Mateusz Wozniak reraised to 20,000 on the button and Tomazou called.

The flop came J♥5♦4♦ and Wozniak bet 14,000, forcing Tomazou out of the pot.

Gang Zhao: A♠7♦
Mateusz Wozniak: A♥A♦

Zhao needed a miracle against Wozniak's aces but none arrived on the J♠ turn or 8♥ river as he headed for the exit.

Warm Up runner-up Abdullah Alajmi has also been eliminated, while Andrea Dato busted his second bullet of the day.

Tags: Andreas Tomazou Gang Zhao Mateusz Wozniak

Jan 20, 2024

Davenport Runs Into Ace Twice in the Same Hand

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David Salituro

Level 6 : Blinds 700/1,500, 1,500 ante

Matthew Davenport was all in for around 90,000 on the button, Yury Bochkarev stuck in his last 45,000 in the small blind, while Vasil Giliazetdinov had both players covered and at risk.

Yury Bochkarev: A♠A♥
Matthew Davenport: K♥K♣
Vasil Giliazetdinov: A♦A♠

Bochkarev and Giliazetdinov had both woken up with aces to leave Davenport needed to hit a king. The board ran out 10♦2♥4♣8♠5♠ and Bochkarev and Giliazetdinov split the side pot, while Giliazetdinov sent Davenport to the rail in the main pot.

Tags: Matthew Davenport Vasil Giliazetdinov Yury Bochkarev

Jan 20, 2024

Updated Chip Counts

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David Salituro

Level 6 : Blinds 700/1,500, 1,500 ante

Jan 20, 2024

Break Time

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David Salituro

Level 6 : Blinds 700/1,500, 1,500 ante

Players are headed off on another 15-minute break.

Level: 7

Blinds: 1,000/1,500

Ante: 1,500

Jan 20, 2024

Habib Building Big Stack After Taking Out Doe

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David Salituro

Level 7 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Heads-up on a flop of K♠2♣10♥, John Doe F put in his last 40,000 from the cutoff and Michel Habib snap-called in the hijack.

John Doe F: K♣9♣
Michel Habib: 2♥2♠

Doe turned over top pair, but Habib showed him the bad news when he flipped over a set of deuces. The board ran out J♥3♥ and Habib scored the knockout to climb up to 400,000.

Tags: John Doe F Michel Habib

Jan 20, 2024

Chilaud Rivers the Nuts on Aydemir

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David Salituro

Level 7 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Recep Aydemir bet 15,000 from middle position on a board of 2♦3♠6♠9♥ and Maxime Chilaud called under the gun.

The river was the 2♠ and Chilaud checked to Aydemir who moved all in. Chilaud couldn't call fast enough, sticking in his last 77,500 and turning over A♠K♠ for the nut flush.

"No," Aydemir groaned as he handed over the double up.

Tags: Maxime Chilaud Recep Aydemir