$3,300 Main Event Day 2 | 2024 Merit Poker Western Series

Jan 23, 2024

Bleau Feeling Blue After Busting to Zebarjad

David Salituro

Level 13 : Blinds 1,500/3,500, 3,500 ante

Maroun Jazzar raised to 8,500 in the hijack and Iulian Andrei Bleau called in the cutoff. Ali Zebarjad then three-bet to 30,000 in the big blind and only Bleau called.

The flop came J♠8♥10♦ and Zebarjad checked. Bleau then bet 21,000 and Zebarjad called.

Zebarjad led out for 75,000 on the 7♠ turn and Bleau called to see the 6♣ river. Zebarjad then announced he was all in.

Bleau tanked for a minute before committing the rest of his 220,000. "Straight," Zebarjad said, turning over 9♣9♦. Bleau flashed Q♠Q♣ as he headed off for the exit.

"That's a good story," Zebarjad said with a smile as he raked in the massive pot.

This table also includes big stacks Nazar Buhaiov and Audere, as well as Xixiang Luo.

Tags: Ali Zebarjad Iulian Andrei Bleau

Jan 23, 2024

Mustafov Saved From a Cooler on the River

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

Level 13 : Blinds 1,500/3,500, 3,500 ante

Heads-up on a board of J♥8♠J♣7♥, Daniel Henriques bet 25,000 from the button before Fahredin Mustafov raised to 60,000 in the hijack.

Henriques called and the 7♣ fell on the river. Mustafov then bet 140,000 and Henriques snap-called.

Henriques showed K♦J♦ for a full house, while Mustafov had the same full house with J♠9♠ as he survived with a chop on the river.

Tags: Daniel Henriques Fahredin Mustafov

Jan 23, 2024

Updated Chip Counts

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

Level 13 : Blinds 1,500/3,500, 3,500 ante

Jan 23, 2024

Khordbin Fires Two Barrels

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Ryan Lashmar

Level 13 : Blinds 1,500/3,500, 3,500 ante

Hadi Khordbin opened to 7,000 from under the gun and received a call from Ihar Soika in the cutoff before a player in the small blind three-bet to 21,000. Khordbin made the call while Soika got out of the way.

The flop came 9♣7♠2♦. The small blind made a continuation bet of 21,000 that was called by Khordbin.

The small blind checked on the 3♠ turn and Khordbin bet 20,000. The small blind made the call.

Khordbin bet again for 70,000 when checked to on the 9♥ turn and this time it was enough to force a fold from his opponent.

Tags: Hadi Khordbin Ihar Soika

Jan 23, 2024

Lin Gets Paid on Massive River Bet

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

Level 13 : Blinds 1,500/3,500, 3,500 ante

Helmut Phung raised to 7,500 on the button before Jianwei Lin three-bet to 23,000 in the big blind. Phung called and they saw a flop of 9♣5♠8♠.

Lin continued for 16,500 and Phung called. The turn was the J♦ and Lin bet another 45,000. Phung again called and the 8♥ fell on the river.

Lin then bet 125,000 and Phung spent several minutes in the tank before tossing in a chip to signify a call. Lin turned over J♥J♠ for a set and Phung mucked.

This table, which also includes start-of-day chip leader Samy Barka, Monika Zukowicz, and Stanislav Tishkevich, had spent the early part of the day on the main feature stage before moving back into the main tournament area at the break.

Tags: Helmut Phung Jianwei Lin

Jan 23, 2024

Pankov Bests Gromov With Queen-High

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

Level 13 : Blinds 1,500/3,500, 3,500 ante

Heads-up on a flop of 3♣10♣4♥, Dmitry Gromov bet 10,000 from early position and Vitalii Pankov called on the button.

The turn was the 9♥ and Gromov checked. Pankov then bet 26,000 and Gromov called.

The 10♦ fell on the river and Gromov again checked. Pankov checked back and Gromov showed 6♠5♠ for a missed straight draw. Pankov had Q♦J♣ for his own busted straight but took the pot with his queen-high.

Tags: Dmitry Gromov Vitalii Pankov

Level: 13

Blinds: 1,500/3,500

Ante: 3,500

Jan 23, 2024

Second Break

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

Level 12 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

Level 12 has ended and players are now on the second 15-minute break of the day.

There are two more levels of late registration remaining as the field has moved past 600 total entries.

Jan 23, 2024

Smolka Flops Trips to Double

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

Level 12 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

John Doebs' massive towers of chips in front of him were just slightly reduced after he tangled in a pot with Dawid Smolka.

Doebs bet 15,000 from the cutoff on a flop of 5♠5♥6♣ and Seref Dursun Anar called in the small blind. Smolka then raised to 36,000 in the big blind.

Doebs moved all in and Anar quickly folded. Smolka, then, snap-called for 90,000. "You have a five, huh," Doebs said as they turned over their cards.

Dawid Smolka: 5♦3♥
John Doebs: 7♣6♠

Smolka had indeed flopped trip fives as the board ran out 9♣K♥ to earn him a double up.

"What a huge comeback. I had 80,000," Doebs later said as he still sat with around 650,000 following the hand.

Tags: Dawid Smolka John Doebs Seref Dursun Anar

Jan 23, 2024

Zhao Smacks the Flop to Double Off Kirichenko

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

Level 12 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

Gang Zhao was all in for his last 93,000 before the flop and up against Aleksandr Kirichenko.

Gang Zhao: 10♣9♣
Aleksandr Kirichenko: A♣10♦

Kirichenko had Zhao dominated as the A♠ fell in the window, but it was followed by 9♦9♠ and Zhao made trips while a collective "wow" arose from the table.

The board ran out Q♠10♠ and Zhao improved to a full house to double up.

Tags: Aleksandr Kirichenko Gang Zhao