The Road to $1,000,000 Continues with Day 1b of the $10,400 Merit Millions Event
Day 1b of the $10,400 Merit Millions Event, part of the 2025 Merit Poker Classic Millions, kicks off today at 1 p.m. here inside the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino & Spa. Following an exciting Day 1a, the tournament is set to welcome even more players looking to secure a spot on Day 2 and give themselves the best shot at claiming the $1,000,000 guaranteed first-place prize.
With Day 1a attracting a talented field of 67 entries and only 34 surviving the day, today’s flight promises to bring out more top-tier players. With only the final tablists being paid in this unique event, each move and decision is crucial in the pursuit of poker glory.
Day 1b will mirror the structure of Day 1a, featuring eight 40-minute levels of action. Players will begin with the same 1,000,000 starting stack, and late registration will remain open throughout the day and end after Level 12 on Day 2. Will today’s players challenge the chip lead set by Oleg Semionov, who bagged a monstrous stack of 7,380,000, or will a new leader emerge?
Current Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oleg Semionov | Lithuania | 7,380,000 | 369 |
| 2 | Kirill Shcherbakov | Russia | 4,710,000 | 236 |
| 3 | Tobias Duthweiler | Germany | 4,095,000 | 205 |
| 4 | Ali Al-Kubasi | Iraq | 4,000,000 | 200 |
| 5 | Tahsin Cankurtaranli | Turkey | 3,230,000 | 162 |
| 6 | Fahredin Mustafov | Bulgaria | 3,100,000 | 155 |
| 7 | Alexandr Lakhov | Russia | 2,660,000 | 133 |
| 8 | Danesh Zargaran | Iran | 2,645,000 | 132 |
| 9 | Luck Luck | 2,545,000 | 127 | |
| 10 | Nikola Minkov | Bulgaria | 2,305,000 | 115 |
Kirill Shcherbakov ended yesterday in third place with 4,710,000 chips. The Russian player steadily built his stack throughout the day, showcasing a solid mix of aggression and control. Shcherbakov will be a player to watch as the tournament moves forward.
Bulgaria's Fahredin Mustafov also finished in the top ten with 3,100,000, and with just shy of $7,000,000 in live tournament earnings, Mustafov is one of the most decorated players to advance from the opening flight. Already boasting a seven-figure score, he’ll be looking to add another big payday to his impressive resume.
Remaining Merit Millions Event Schedule
| Date | Day | Time | Blind Levels |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 10 | Day 1b | 1 p.m. | 40 minutes |
| April 11 | Day 1c | 1 p.m. | 40 minutes |
| April 11 | Day 1d | 8 p.m. | 30 minutes |
| April 12 | Day 2 | 12 p.m. | 40 minutes |
| April 13 | Day 3 | 12 p.m. | 60 minutes |
Stay locked in with PokerNews for all the latest action as the Merit Millions Event continues, with updates, chip counts, and key hands on the road to crowning a new champion.