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

01-24-2024 18:28 UTC+2

Ercan Smacks the Flop Harder Than Boellis

David Salituro

Level 23 : Blinds 15,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

Three-handed on a flop of 9♠10♥7♠, Victor Fryda bet 170,000 from the big blind, Giuliano Boellis raised to 475,000 in the hijack, and Mustafa Ercan called all in for 380,000 in the small blind. Fryda got out of the way.

Mustafa Ercan: 8♦6♦
Giuliano Boellis: 10♠10♦

Boellis had flopped top set, but Ercan had a flopped straight and avoided the board pairing on the 3♥ turn and J♣ river to double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Giuliano Boellis	2,200,000 775,000	775,000

Victor Fryda	1,400,000 200,000	200,000
Youssef El Khazen	1,350,000 400,000	400,000
Dmitry Yurasov	1,200,000 100,000	100,000

Mustafa Ercan	1,100,000 575,000	575,000

Tags: Giuliano Boellis Mustafa Ercan Victor Fryda

01-24-2024 18:38 UTC+2

Hedley Pressures Di Nicola

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 23 : Blinds 15,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

Nariman Yaghmai opened to 55,000 from middle position and Ermanno Di Nicola three-bet to 175,000 from the button. Andrew Hedley pushed forward a stack of white T-25,000 chips, raising it to 475,000. Yaghmai got out of the way and after about one minute of consideration Di Nicola folded as well allowing Hedley to take the pot without having to see a flop.

Player	Chips	Progress
Andrew Hedley	2,475,000 245,000	245,000
Nariman Yaghmai	1,370,000 420,000	420,000
Ermanno Di Nicola	1,300,000 200,000	200,000

Tags: Andrew Hedley Ermanno Di Nicola Nariman Yaghmai

01-24-2024 18:47 UTC+2

Urbanovich Goes Out in Style to Christoforou

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David Salituro

Level 23 : Blinds 15,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

Before the hand, Ali Nejad came by the table to talk with fellow commentator Andrew Hedley.

"How's he playing," Nejad asked the table.

"I'm the worst here," tablemate Wael Sarkis replied as they began discussing a hand Sarkis had played earlier against Aleksandr Kirichenko on the live stream.

Andreas Christoforou then raised to 60,000 in the cutoff and Dzmitry Urbanovich moved all in for 235,000 on the button. "It's a flip," Christoforou said as he called.

Dzmitry Urbanovich: 6♦6♠
Andreas Christoforou: 9♠9♣

Christoforou unexpectedly found himself well ahead of Urbanovich's sixes as the flop brought 8♦K♥9♥ to give him a set. The board ran out 3♦9♦ and Christoforou hit quads on the river to make Urbanovich's elimination official.

"He shows up on Day 2 and is the chip leader," Sarkis said about Christoforou.

Nazar Buhaiov and Ilia Korliakov were also recently eliminated.

Player	Chips	Progress
Andreas Christoforou	2,100,000 1,230,000	1,230,000
Wael Sarkis	1,600,000 604,000	604,000
Dzmitry Urbanovich	Busted

Nazar Buhaiov	Busted
Ilia Korliakov	Busted

Tags: Andreas Christoforou Dzmitry Urbanovich Wael Sarkis

01-24-2024 18:49 UTC+2

Yurasov and Brown Collide in Four-Bet Pot

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 23 : Blinds 15,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

Dmitry Yurasov opened to 50,000 from middle position and Michael Brown raised it to 160,000 from the cutoff. Yurasov put in a four-bet to 325,000 and Brown made the call.

Both players checked the A♣Q♣3♥ flop leading to the 2♣ turn. Yurasov bet 225,000 which was enough to force a fold from Brown.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dmitry Yurasov	1,450,000 250,000	250,000

Michael Brown	700,000

Tags: Dmitry Yurasov Michael Brown

01-24-2024 18:58 UTC+2

Brown Left on Fumes After Running Into Aces

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David Salituro

Level 23 : Blinds 15,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

Michael Brown and Damir Zhugralin got into a pre-flop raising war that ended with Zhugralin all in for his last 1,125,000 from middle position as Brown had him at risk from early position.

Damir Zhugralin: A♠A♦
Michael Brown: A♣Q♦

Brown had run right into Zhugralin's aces as the board came out 5♥4♥3♠10♠7♣, earning Zhugralin a double up and leaving Brown riding an extreme short stack.

Player	Chips	Progress
Damir Zhugralin	2,300,000 900,000	900,000
Fabio Peluso	1,700,000 620,000	620,000

Matthew Davenport	1,550,000 350,000	350,000

Michel Habib	1,000,000 115,000	115,000
Jean Mikhael	300,000 313,000	313,000
Michael Brown	100,000 600,000	600,000

Tags: Damir Zhugralin Michael Brown

01-24-2024 19:05 UTC+2

Di Nicola Fires Two Barrels

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 23 : Blinds 15,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

Ermanno Di Nicola opened to 60,000 from the hijack and was called by Andreas Christoforou in the big blind.

The flop came A♠5♣4♣ and Christoforou check-called a 65,000 continuation bet from Di Nicola.

Christoforou checked again on the K♦ turn and Di Nicola bet 95,000. This time it was enough to force a fold from Christoforou and Di Nicola took the pot without showdown.

Player	Chips	Progress
Andreas Christoforou	1,975,000 125,000	125,000
Ermanno Di Nicola	1,860,000 560,000	560,000

Tags: Andreas Christoforou Ermanno Di Nicola

01-24-2024 19:06 UTC+2

Yilmaz Picks Off Arakelian With Sixes

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David Salituro

Level 23 : Blinds 15,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

Candido Cappiello raised to 50,000 in early position before Artem Arakelian moved all in for 680,000 in the small blind. Vedat Yilmaz in the big blind asked for a count and tanked for a minute before calling, while Cappiello got out of the way.

Artem Arakelian: A♥J♦
Vedat Yilmaz: 6♠6♦

Arakelian was racing for his tournament life but couldn't catch up on the 7♠K♠2♣3♥7♣ board to hit the rail.

"He saved you. I win," Cappiello said, saying he folded ace-queen.

Player	Chips	Progress
Vedat Yilmaz	2,700,000 2,240,000	2,240,000

Candido Cappiello	1,200,000 650,000	650,000
Artem Arakelian	Busted

Tags: Artem Arakelian Candido Cappiello Vedat Yilmaz

01-24-2024 19:12 UTC+2

Break Time

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David Salituro

Level 23 : Blinds 15,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

The remaining 46 players are now on a 15-minute break.

Level: 24

Blinds: 15,000/30,000

Ante: 30,000

01-24-2024 19:33 UTC+2

Touma's Patience Gets Rewarded

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David Salituro

Level 24 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Yingrui Ge raised in early position and received two callers before Amir Touma moved all in for 250,000 in the big blind. Ge called and the rest of the table got out of the way.

Yingrui Ge: 7♥7♣
Amir Touma: K♦K♠

Touma had woken up with kings and held up on the Q♥3♦10♣Q♦9♥ board to earn a double up.

"Patience is rewarded," Touma said as he took in the pot.