There were already around 20,000 chips in the middle on a board of 8♠K♥5♠6♥7♣ when Nerses Sargsian put out an overbet of 26,000 from the hijack. Ege Guven was in the cutoff and was deciding how best to proceed for some time before he eventually announced a call.
Sargsian then showed a straight with 9♠9♦, and Guven's cards went into the muck.
Miroslav Forman just took down a decent-sized pot to get his tournament underway.
In a pot with around 2,000 in the middle on a 3♥J♣8♦ board, it checked around to Mario Menicanin on the button, who fired out 500. The small blind called, then Miroslav Forman made it 5,300 from the big blind. A player in early position called, and the other two players folded.
A 9♠ on the turn saw Forman continue his aggression with a bet of 16,500, which once again his opponent called to the 4♥ river. Forman didn't need to think for too long before he shoved for around 75,000, and his opponent quickly folded.
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The story of Carmen is one of passion, fate, and relentless pursuit—fitting themes as the 2025 Merit Poker Carmen Series gets underway. Back on the shores of North Cyprus in the Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino, a new chapter begins, bringing together some of the game’s fiercest competitors in pursuit of poker glory.
Just as Don José was drawn into Carmen’s fiery world, players from across the globe have been lured to this high-stakes arena, where ambition burns as fiercely as the Mediterranean sun. Here, fortunes can change in a heartbeat, and every decision—like a fateful twist in Bizet’s opera—can lead to triumph or heartbreak. As the cards hit the felt and the battle begins, only the most fearless will seize their moment and etch their names into Merit Poker history.
The 2024 series saw standout performances across its biggest events. In the Main Event, Elie Farah emerged victorious after navigating a stacked field of 664 entries, walking away with a career-best $338,500 and the prestigious Merit Poker trophy. Jakub Michalak showcased his high-stakes expertise in the $5,300 High Roller, overcoming 145 entrants to secure $174,500. Meanwhile, Simeon Spasov dominated the Merit Poker Cup, topping a field of 459 to claim $167,100. With last year’s champions setting the standard, the stage is set for a new wave of players to make their mark.
2024 Carmen Series Main Event Final Table Results
Place
Player
Country
Prize (USD)
1
Elie Farah
Lebanon
$338,500
2
Felipe Ketzer
Brazil
$249,200
3
Dinesh Alt
Switzerland
$153,000
4
Bart Lybaert
Belgium
$113,100
5
Dmitry Gromov
Russian Federation
$84,700
6
Tahsin Cankurtaranli
Turkey
$68,400
7
Andrey Litvinov
Russian Federation
$56,600
8
Maher Achour
Tunisia
$45,100
9
Danut Chisu
Romania
$33,900
Today, the festival kicks off with the $2,200 Warm Up, a tournament that promises intense action with its $1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool. Players will start with 100,000 chips, looking to navigate their way through the early stages and build momentum for the deeper rounds of the event.
Merit Poker
This year's Warm Up features the usual four opening flights, giving players multiple opportunities to secure a seat for Day 2. The action begins with Day 1a on March 13 at 12:00 p.m., where players will compete in 40-minute blind levels. Day 1b follows on March 14 at 12:00 p.m., also featuring 40-minute levels, while Day 1c offers a faster-paced alternative later that evening at 9:00 p.m., with 25-minute levels. The final turbo flight, Day 1d, kicks off on March 15 at 10:00 a.m., where blind levels will last just 15 minutes.
Warm Up Schedule
Date
Day
Time
Blind Levels
March 13
Day 1a
12:00 p.m.
40 minutes
March 14
Day 1b
12:00 p.m.
40 minutes
March 14
Day 1c
9:00 p.m.
25 minutes
March 15
Day 1d
10:00 a.m.
15 minutes
March 15
Day 2
12:30 p.m.
40 minutes
March 16
Day 3
12:00 p.m.
40 minutes
March 17
Day 4
12:00 p.m.
40 minutes
Surviving players will advance to Day 2 on March 15 at 12:30 p.m., where 40-minute levels resume. Late registration remains open until the end of Level 15 on Day 2, allowing players a final chance to enter the field before the tournament moves into its later stages. The event will then play down to a champion over the following days, with Day 3 on March 16 and the final Day 4 on March 17, both beginning at 12:00 p.m. and maintaining the 40-minute blind level structure.
With the Mediterranean breeze in the air and poker’s elite ready to take their seats, the battle for the first title of the series begins. Will a new name rise to the occasion, or will past champions return to steal the spotlight? Stay tuned as PokerNews provides live updates from the first shuffle to the final river.
