$10,400 Merit Millions | 2025 Merit Millions

04-13-2025 20:25 UTC+2

Lihacovs Avoids Elimination

Tim Baker

Level 25 : Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante

Boris Kolev raised to 1,200,000 from middle position and Aleksandr Kirichenko called on the button. Romans Lihacovs squeezed all in for 6,325,000 from the big blind, forcing Kolev to fold. Kirichenko made the call.

Romans Lihacovs; 5♦5♣ All in
Aleksandr Kirichenko: K♣9♣

Lihacovs found himself in a race for his tournament life with pocket fives. The J♣3♣6♥ flop gave Kirichenko a flush draw to go with his overcards. But, he couldn't hit any of them as the rest of the board ran out 7♦2♦, and Lihacovs doubled.

Player	Chips	Progress
Boris Kolev	72,000,000 2,000,000	2,000,000

Aleksandr Kirichenko	44,000,000 6,000,000	6,000,000

Romans Lihacovs	14,000,000 8,825,000	8,825,000

04-13-2025 20:18 UTC+2

Ali Al-Kubasi Eliminated in 8th Place ($45,000)

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Tim Baker

Level 25 : Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante

When it folded to Aleksandr Kirichenko in the small blind, he shoved for Ali Al-Kubasi's 4.000,000 chips in the big blind. Al-Kubasi looked at his cards, then made the call for his tournament life.

Ali Al-Kubasi: Q♠J♣ All in
Aleksandr Kirichenko: Q♦4♥

Al-Kubasi found himself in a great spot to get the much-needed double-up, as he had Kirichenko dominated. However, the runout of 8♥4♣6♠3♥2♦ gave Kirichenko the winner with a pair of fours, and Al-Kubasi was the second elimination at the final table.

Player	Chips	Progress
Aleksandr Kirichenko	50,000,000 1,000,000	1,000,000

Ali Al-Kubasi	Busted

Tags: Aleksandr Kirichenko Ali Al-Kubasi

04-13-2025 20:08 UTC+2

Alexandr Lakhov Eliminated in 9th Place ($35,400)

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Tim Baker

Level 25 : Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante

Aleksandr Kirichenko made it 1,200,000 under the gun before Alexandr Lakhov jammed for 6,125,000 from the cutoff. Andrey Pateychuk was in the big blind with 7,200,000 total and moved all in himself. Kirichenko folded and the cards were revealed.

Alexandr Lakhov: A♠Q♣ All in
Andrey Pateychuk: K♥K♦

Pateychuk found the Cowboys at the perfect time and looked likely to virtually double-up, while sending Lakhov out of the tournament. The board ran out 4♦J♦Q♥6♥5♠, which may have improved Lakhov to top pair, but Pateychuk's Cowboys still won the hand. The pot was pushed to Pateychuk, and Lakhov was the first to be eliminated at the final table.

Player	Chips	Progress
Aleksandr Kirichenko	49,000,000 2,025,000	2,025,000

Andrey Pateychuk	15,000,000 7,500,000	7,500,000

Alexandr Lakhov	Busted

Tags: Aleksandr Kirichenko Alexandr Lakhov

04-13-2025 20:01 UTC+2

Kolev Finally Loses a Pot

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Tim Baker

Level 25 : Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante

Boris Kolev made it 1,200,000 from under the gun and only Mehdi Chaoui called from the button.

The dealer spread out a flop of 8♦K♦4♣ and Kolev bet 1,000,000, which Chaoui called.

The 10♦ turn and K♥ checked through and Kolev flipped over 7♥5♥ for nothing. Chaoui could beat that, as he showed 9♥9♣ for a pair of nines to win the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Boris Kolev	70,000,000 4,000,000	4,000,000

Mehdi Chaoui	28,000,000 2,725,000	2,725,000

Tags: Boris Kolev Mehdi Chaoui

Level: 25

Blinds: 300,000/600,000

Ante: 600,000

04-13-2025 19:46 UTC+2

Kolev Hits Quads to Become the New Chip Leader

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Tim Baker

Level 24 : Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante

When it folded to Boris Kolev in the small blind, he raised to 2,000,000 with just the chip leader, Rafael Aslanli, to get through in the big blind. Aslanli called to see a flop.

Kolev bet 3,000,000 on the A♥K♣Q♣ flop and Aslanli quickly called.

The turn came the Q♦ and Kolev fired again for 3,000,000. Aslanli called once more.

Upon seeing the 10♣ land on the river, Kolev bet another 3,000,000. Aslanli leaned back in his chair before he raised to 7,000,000. Kolev did some inventory and then three-bet to 20,000,000. Aslanli quickly called and Kolev turned over Q♠Q♥ for quad queens. Aslanli mucked and Kolev became the new chip leader.

Player	Chips	Progress
Boris Kolev	74,000,000 30,000,000	30,000,000

Rafael Aslanli	21,000,000 31,000,000	31,000,000

Tags: Boris Kolev Rafael Aslanli

04-13-2025 19:38 UTC+2

Kolev Gaining Momentum

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Tim Baker

Level 24 : Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante

Boris Kolev made it 1,000,000 to go from under the gun and only Alexandr Lakhov defended out of the big blind.

After Lakhov checked the 7♣10♥J♣ flop, Kolev fired a continuation-bet of 1,300,000. Lakhov quickly called to see the 5♣ hit the turn. Lakhov checked and Kolev fired a second barrel, this time for 2,200,000. Lakhov folded, and Kolev won another pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Boris Kolev	44,000,000 2,000,000	2,000,000

Alexandr Lakhov	8,300,000 2,375,000	2,375,000

Tags: Alexandr Lakhov Boris Kolev

04-13-2025 19:25 UTC+2

Kolev Takes the First Pot

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Tim Baker

Level 24 : Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante

Boris Kolev raised to 1,000,000 from early position and Rafael Aslanli three-bet to 3,000,000 from the next seat. When it got back to Kolev, he called to see a flop.

The flop came down the J♦4♦K♠, and Kolev check-called a bet of 2,700,000 from Aslanli.

The two players checked the 10♣ turn and the 2♥ dropped on the river. Kolev led out for 6,000,000 and Aslanli quickly folded.

Player	Chips	Progress
Rafael Aslanli	52,000,000 5,500,000	5,500,000
Boris Kolev	42,000,000 5,850,000	5,850,000

04-13-2025 19:17 UTC+2

Plays Begins

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Tim Baker

Level 24 : Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante

Cards are in the air! Play has officially begun at the final table of the $10,400 Merit Millions Event. With just 35 minutes left in the current level, all remaining players are guaranteed at least $34,900, while the champion will walk away with a massive $1,000,000.