Can Day 1b Keep the Momentum Going After Record-Breaking Start?
After a record-breaking Day 1a, the $3,300 Main Event at the 2025 Merit Poker Carmen Series rolls on with Day 1b, as another wave of hopefuls take their shot at poker glory. With 235 entries in the opening flight—setting a new all-time high for Day 1a—there’s every reason to believe this could be the biggest Main Event in Merit history. With deep stacks, a world-class structure, and a field full of top-tier talent, today’s session promises plenty of action as players look to secure a stack for Day 2.
Like yesterday, Day 1b will feature eight 60-minute levels, giving players ample time to maneuver and build their stacks. Some of the biggest names in the game are expected to take their seats, and with late registration open until the end of Level 14 on Day 2, there’s still plenty of time for the field to swell. Will today’s flight produce a new chip leader, or will Konstantin Voronin’s 601,000 from Day 1a remain the number to beat?
Current Top Ten Chip Counts
| Place | Player | Country | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Konstantin Voronin | Russia | 601,000 |
| 2 | Hassan Nashar | Gambia | 585,000 |
| 3 | Amir Mohammadi | Iran | 569,000 |
| 4 | Andrii Novak | Ukraine | 527,500 |
| 5 | Qiang Xu | China | 510,000 |
| 6 | Boris Kolev | Bulgaria | 508,000 |
| 7 | Mario Menicanin | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 504,500 |
| 8 | Alexandru Papazian | Romania | 459,500 |
| 9 | Benjamin Hamnett | United States | 451,500 |
| 10 | Kuljinder Sidhu | India | 416,000 |
Among those who navigated Day 1a successfully were several notable names, including Hassan Nashar, who ran up one of the biggest stacks of the night with 585,000, and Andrii Novak, the accomplished online crusher who bagged 527,500.
Bulgarian pro Boris Kolev also locked up a strong position with 508,000, while Alexandru Papazian—one of Romania’s most decorated players—finished in the top ten as well. With 113 players already through to Day 2, today’s field will look to join them and make their own mark on the tournament.
Main Event Schedule
| Date | Day | Time | Blind Levels |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 19 | Day 1b | 12:00 p.m. | 60 minutes |
| March 20 | Day 1c | 12:00 p.m. | 40 minutes |
| March 20 | Day 1d | 7:00 p.m. | 25 minutes |
| March 21 | Day 2 | 12:00 p.m. | 60 minutes |
| March 22 | Day 3 | 12:00 p.m. | 60 minutes |
| March 23 | Day 4 | 12:00 p.m. | 60 minutes |
| March 24 | Day 5 | 1:00 p.m. | 60 minutes |
Stay tuned as PokerNews brings you full coverage of every key hand, big pot, and dramatic elimination!