Level: 15
Blinds: 2,000/4,000
Ante: 4,000
Level: 15
Blinds: 2,000/4,000
Ante: 4,000
Azamat Tulepbergenov opened to 7,000 from under the gun and was called by a player in middle position and Dmitry Gromov out of the big blind.
All three checked the 4♥7♥2♦ flop to see the 4♠ land on the turn. Gromov and Tulepbergenov checked once more, but the middle position player bet 14,000. Only Tulepbergenov called.
Tulepbergenov checked for the last time upon seeing the flush completing 6♥ hit the river. The middle position player bet roughly 50,000, and Tulepbergenov snap-called. Tulepbergenov showed Q♥10♥ for a flush to win the pot as his opponent had K♦J♦ for just king-high.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
250,000
98,000
|
98,000 |
|
|
135,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
|
||
After an opening from the hijack player to 7,000, Bogdan Jontulovic three-bet shoved his last 80,000 into the middle from the cutoff. When it folded back to the player in hijack, he called to put Jontulovic at risk.
Bogdan Jontulovic: 10♠9♠
Hijack Player: 7♥7♣
Jontulovic found himself in a flip to survive. The 7♦ in the window was devastating for Jontulovic as his opponent improved to a set. The 10♥K♦ followed on the flop and Jontulovic needed running cards to survive. The rest of the board came Q♠10♦ and Jontulovic headed to the rail.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Busted |
German poker pro Samuel Ju took his seat in the Warm-Up during the first break, fresh off playing against the best poker minds in the world at a Triton Poker Series Event in Jeju, South Korea.
With over $3,500,000 in live tournament earnings and seven six-figure scores on his resume, Ju is no stranger to high-stakes competition. While he's accustomed to battling in $100,000 buy-in events against the best in the world, he’ll be bringing the same intensity to this $2,200 buy-in tournament, looking to add yet another big score to his growing list of accomplishments.
Zhen Chen, Damir Zhugralin, and Boris Angelov are also participating in the warm-up, perhaps arriving on the same flight as Ju, who took part in the Triton series in Jeju as well. Zhugralin and Angelov were also unable to walk away with any silverware from South Korea, so will be more determined than ever to get their hands on some here at the 2025 Merit Poker Carmen Series. However, although Chen didn't get his hands on a trophy, he did manage to finish 3rd in a $15,000 event for a career-best score of $497,000.
Chen has had a lot of success at Merit Poker events having come 4th in the Warm-Up Event at the 2025 Merit Poker Western Series just a few months ago. Chen also took down the 2024 Merit Poker Gatsby Gala Series High Roller for $132,300.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
Level: 14
Blinds: 1,500/3,500
Ante: 3,500
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On a flop of 5♥4♠A♦, Florian Guimond checked from early position and faced a bet of 10,000 from Nemanja Lukovic in the hijack. After a few moments, Guimond put in the call.
The Q♣ landed on the turn and Guimond opted to check again to Lukovic. Lukovic bet 20,000, which Guimond called.
The 9♦ dropped on the river and Guimond checked again. Lukovic reluctantly checked back and was shown A♥Q♠ by Guimond for a turned two pair. Lukovic couldn't beat that as he revealed just the A♣ while the pot was being pushed over to Guimond.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
300,000
217,000
|
217,000 |
|
|
45,000
129,500
|
129,500 |
Elena Yasyuchenya raised to 6,000 from early position before Akin Tuna shoved from the next seat for roughly 40,000. Giorgiy Skhulukhiya called and then snap-called when Yasyuchenya shoved all in for 220,000. The cards were flipped over with Skhulukhiya having the chance to bust two players.
Akin Tuna: J♥J♣
Elena Yasyuchenya: A♠Q♦
Giorgiy Skhulukhiya: K♦K♥
Skhulukhiya was ahead with his cowboys and that didn't change on the 9♦10♦2♠ flop. The Q♥ turn improved every player in some way, but the board-pairing 9♠ on the river meant Skhulukhiya scored the double knockout.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
820,000
190,000
|
190,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
Busted | |
|
|
Busted | |
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
910,000
297,000
|
297,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
900,000
300,000
|
300,000 |
|
|
750,000
504,000
|
504,000 |
|
|
680,000
33,000
|
33,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
640,000
640,000
|
640,000 |
|
|
630,000
3,000
|
3,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
620,000
1,500
|
1,500 |
|
|
580,000
105,000
|
105,000 |
|
|
575,000
575,000
|
575,000 |
|
|
550,000
179,000
|
179,000 |
|
|
520,000
378,500
|
378,500 |
|
|
480,000
193,500
|
193,500 |
Level: 13
Blinds: 1,500/3,000
Ante: 3,000