$10,400 Merit Millions
Day 2 Completed
2025 Merit Millions
$10,400 Merit Millions
Day: 2
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
2025 Merit Millions
Buy-in
$10,400
Prize Pool
$1,950,400
Entries
212
Level
28
Blinds
600,000 / 1,200,000
Ante
1,200,000
Entries
90
Players Left
30
Level 18
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
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!
Level 18
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
17,535,000
3,035,000
|
3,035,000 |
|
||
|
13,985,000
8,485,000
|
8,485,000 |
|
13,375,000
5,875,000
|
5,875,000 |
|
12,160,000
2,360,000
|
2,360,000 |
|
||
|
11,925,000
2,075,000
|
2,075,000 |
|
||
|
10,735,000
2,165,000
|
2,165,000 |
|
9,630,000 | |
|
9,325,000
325,000
|
325,000 |
|
8,610,000
1,610,000
|
1,610,000 |
|
8,400,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
7,785,000
1,815,000
|
1,815,000 |
|
||
|
7,115,000
5,315,000
|
5,315,000 |
|
7,090,000
90,000
|
90,000 |
|
6,500,000
800,000
|
800,000 |
|
6,240,000
2,540,000
|
2,540,000 |
|
6,100,000 | |
|
6,070,000
3,170,000
|
3,170,000 |
|
6,025,000
2,625,000
|
2,625,000 |
|
6,025,000
725,000
|
725,000 |
|
5,855,000
2,955,000
|
2,955,000 |
|
5,185,000
1,015,000
|
1,015,000 |
|
5,125,000
225,000
|
225,000 |
|
4,600,000
4,600,000
|
4,600,000 |
|
4,060,000
2,340,000
|
2,340,000 |
|
3,100,000
3,600,000
|
3,600,000 |
Level 18
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
The surviving 30 players are now bagging up their chips and Day 2 has now finished.
Stay tuned for the full chip counts of the survivors and a recap of the day's action.
Level 18
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
The floor has announced that three more hands will be played before the players bag up for the day.
Level 18
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
Alexandr Lakhov opened preflop and Boris Kolev defended from the big blind.
The two players checked the 8♣K♠Q♠ flop to see the 8♠ hit the turn. Kolev led out for 400,000 and Lakhov instantly called.
The K♣ came on the river and Kolev bet 400,000 again. Lakhov quickly called and was shown 9♠3♠ by Kolev for a turned flush. Lakhov mucked and Kolev added more chips to his stack.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
14,000,000
500,000
|
500,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
5,300,000
1,700,000
|
1,700,000 |
Level 18
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
On a board that read 10♠2♥10♥6♣ and with around 650,000 in the pot. Oleg Semionov checked from the big blind, and Romans Lihacovs bet 450,000 from the button. After a few moments. Semionov called.
The board-pairing 2♦ landed on the river and Semionov opted to lead out for 650,000. Lihcovs called and then mucked his cards after Semionov revealed he had rivered trip deauces with J♠2♠.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
9,800,000
3,000,000
|
3,000,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
4,900,000
2,400,000
|
2,400,000 |
Level 18
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
Busted | |
|
|
||
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
Level 18
: Blinds 60,000/120,000, 120,000 ante
There were around 1,600,000 chips in the pot of a board that showed 5♠7♦9♣10♣K♠. Joseph Sabe was the first to act from the big blind and put out a bet of 250,000 with roughly 2,600,000 behind. Nicolae Toma raised to put Sabe all in and Sabe went into the tank.
The decision was for Sabe's tournament life so he tossed all of his time bank cards into the middle. After using just one of them, Sabe slammed in the call.
Toma turned over a bluff with J♣5♣ and lost the pot to Sabe's 10♥9♥ for two pair.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
7,000,000
5,040,000
|
5,040,000 |
|
|
2,900,000
800,000
|
800,000 |
Level: 18
Blinds: 60,000/120,000
Ante: 120,000
