Aleksandr Kirichenko Holds Day 2 Chip Lead as Merit Millions Event Moves Toward Final Day
After ten intense 60-minute levels of play, Day 2 of the $10,400 Merit Millions Event at the 2025 Merit Poker Classic Millions has officially concluded. Just 30 players managed to secure a bag and will return tomorrow for Day 3, all vying for a shot at the coveted title inside the stunning Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino & Spa.
An additional 68 entries joined the 144 from the opening flights, bringing the total field to 212 players and creating a prize pool of $1,950,400. With late registration closing at the end of Level 12, the payouts were announced, and while the $1,000,000 first-place prize has been the event’s highlight, players now know that even a ninth-place finish will earn them $35,400—more than three times the buy-in.
After all the bags were collected, Russia’s Aleksandr Kirichenko finished Day 2 on top with a commanding stack of 17,535,000. His ascent to the chip lead was sparked just before the dinner break when he took full advantage of pocket aces against Aleksandr Chernikov’s pocket kings. On the last hand of the night, Kirichenko extended his lead further, extracting value from Boris Kolev after Kolev paid to see his queen-high flush. As the tournament moves into Day 3 tomorrow, Kirichenko will be focused on playing for the win, with his eyes set firmly on the $1,000,000 first-place prize.
Day 2 Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aleksandr Kirichenko | Russia | 17,535,000 | 110 |
| 2 | Natan Chauskin | Belarus | 13,985,000 | 87 |
| 3 | Ali Al-Kubasi | Iraq | 13,375,000 | 84 |
| 4 | Oleg Semionov | Lithuania | 12,160,000 | 76 |
| 5 | Boris Kolev | Bulgaria | 11,925,000 | 75 |
| 6 | Damir Zhugralin | Kazakhstan | 10,735,000 | 67 |
| 7 | Siarhei Chudapal | Belarus | 9,630,000 | 60 |
| 8 | Rafael Aslanli | Turkey | 9,325,000 | 58 |
| 9 | Tahsin Cankurtaranli | Turkey | 8,610,000 | 54 |
| 10 | Baltazar Five | Lebanon | 8,400,000 | 53 |
Trailing Kirichenko in second with 13,985,000 chips is Belarus' Natan Chauskin, while Ali Al-Kubasi finished third on the leaderboard with 13,375,000. Al-Kubasi was active throughout the day, consistently accumulating chips from the very first shuffle. A minor setback came against Kirichenko during the penultimate level when Al-Kubasi raised Kirichenko’s continuation-bet in a three-bet pot. However, he was forced to fold after Kirichenko made a small river bet. Despite this, Al-Kubasi has shown the field that he’s not afraid to take risks, demonstrating he’s ready to go all in for big pots at any time.
Other notables advancing to the final day include the start of Day 2 chip leader Oleg Semionov (12,160,000), two-time bracelet winner Boris Kolev (11,925,000), and Day 1 chip leader Andrey Pateychuk (7,785,000), who made a key move by picking off Alp Akin's bluff with just a pair of fives. Also joining the mix are Konstantin Voronin (6,500,000), Mehdi Chaoui (6,070,000), and Chady Ojeil (4,060,000). Meanwhile, Johan Guilbert (2,525,000) and Maksim Shornikau (1,625,000) will start near the bottom of the pack and will have their work cut out for them as they look to climb the ranks on the final day.
With the final day approaching, Day 3 will kick off tomorrow at noon local time, with blinds set at 80,000/160,000 and a 160,000 big blind ante. The remaining players will fight for a coveted spot at the final table, as they aim for a life-changing seven-figure payout. Only nine players will cash in this unique event, with $1,000,000 on the line for the winner.
Payouts
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1 | $1,000,000 |
| 2 | $300,000 |
| 3 | $200,000 |
| 4 | $140,000 |
| 5 | $100,000 |
| 6 | $75,000 |
| 7 | $55,000 |
| 8 | $45,000 |
| 9 | $35,400 |
As always, PokerNews will provide live updates from the tournament floor as players battle it out to secure a spot at the final table and beyond. Stay tuned for all the action!