$2,200 IPO Master
Day 4 Completed
2025 Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series
$2,200 IPO Master
Day: 4
Event Info
2025 Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 4
Buy-in
$2,200
Prize Pool
$1,343,200
Entries
730
Level
38
Blinds
500,000 / 1,000,000
Ante
1,000,000
Entries
15
Players Left
1
Players Left 1 / 730
Filter
Level 38
: Blinds 500,000/1,000,000, 1,000,000 ante
The 2025 $2,200 IPO Master has crowned a new champion at the Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series, and it’s Xiaosheng Zheng who walks away with the title and $225,000 top prize. The Chinese player navigated a massive 730-entry field and a stacked final table to claim the biggest victory of his career inside the Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino.
Zheng came into the final day fifth in chips but steadily climbed the ranks as the field thinned. He remained calm and composed throughout the marathon session, ultimately defeating Gerard Carbo Santamaria heads-up to lock up the trophy. Santamaria earned $150,000 for his runner-up finish, while Day 3 chip leader Mahmut Sanli rounded out the podium in third for $100,600.
Although Zheng wasn’t able to offer many words in English following the win, his game spoke volumes. Quietly consistent from start to finish, he let his chips do the talking on a final table loaded with international talent to walk away with the biggest share of the $1,343,200 prize pool.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Xiaosheng Zheng | China | $225,000 |
| 2 | Gerard Carbo Santamaria | Spain | $150,000 |
| 3 | Mahmut Sanli | Turkey | $100,600 |
| 4 | Damir Zhugralin | Kazahkstan | $74,000 |
| 5 | Joan Crespi | Spain | $58,000 |
| 6 | Khalil Jabra | Lebanon | $45,500 |
| 7 | Benjamin LeBlond | Canada | $36,500 |
| 8 | Adem Agoudjil | France | $29,500 |
| 9 | David Boyaciyan | Netherlands | $23,500 |
Santamaria Rises From the Ashes
Santamaria’s path to second place was anything but smooth. Early on Day 4, he found himself on the wrong end of a massive pot against Sanli after triple-barreling with king-queen for two pair, only to be called down by ace-queen. The hand left Santamaria with just 400,000 chips, just two big blinds, and seemingly on his way out.
But what followed was one of the most impressive comebacks of the tournament. He doubled up twice in rapid succession to get back to a workable stack, then shoved ace-ten from the big blind over a hijack open from Adem Agoudjil. Agoudjil eventually called with ace-seven, but couldn’t improve as Santamaria paired his ten to complete the comeback.
From there, Santamaria chipped up steadily, outlasting several tough opponents and even making it to heads-up play with a legitimate shot at the title. Though he ultimately fell just short, his resilience and refusal to give up made for one of the most memorable storylines of the final day.
Zheng Cool, Calm, and Collected
Zheng’s patient and composed approach paid dividends as he picked his spots with precision at the final table. While others tangled in big pots, Zheng quietly stayed out of trouble before springing into action at the right moments. He scored a crucial knockout in fifth place when he called off Joan Crespi’s small blind shove and held with ace-king against nine-six.
Later, he picked up another key elimination by calling Sanli’s shove with ace-three suited and holding firm to send the Day 3 chip leader out in third, setting up his eventual heads-up win.
In the final hand of the night, after gradually wearing down Santamaria in heads-up play, Zheng put the finishing touch on his impressive run. Santamaria shoved from the button for around 14 big blinds and Zheng quickly called with ace-jack suited. The flop delivered both an ace and a jack for Zheng, leaving Santamaria in need of a miracle. A gutshot appeared on the turn, but the river bricked out, and with that, Zheng was crowned the IPO Master champion.
Keep following PokerNews for more highlights, winner recaps, and behind-the-scenes coverage from the 2025 Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series as the action in North Cyprus continues to heat up.
Level 38
: Blinds 500,000/1,000,000, 1,000,000 ante
Gerard Carbo Santamaria shoved the button for around 14,000,000 and Xiaosheng Zheng quickly called.
Gerard Carbo Santamaria: K♣5♥ 
Xiaosheng Zheng: A♦J♦
Zheng had a chance to clinch the title, and took a huge leap towards doing so when the flop came 2♥J♣A♥. Santamaria did pick up a gutshot on the 3♦ turn, but the K♦ river was no good, which meant he had to settle for second.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
74,000,000
17,000,000
|
17,000,000 |
|
Busted |
Level: 38
Blinds: 500,000/1,000,000
Ante: 1,000,000
Level 37
: Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
Gerard Carbo Santamaria made it 2,000,000 to go on the button and Xiaosheng Zheng called from the big blind.
They saw a flop of A♥Q♠8♥, where Zheng check-called a bet of 1,200,000 from Santamaria to the 3♦ turn. Zheng checked again, then Santamaria fired 4,500,000. Zheng took some time before he raised to 10,000,000, and Santamaria quickly folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
57,000,000
6,000,000
|
6,000,000 |
|
|
17,000,000
6,000,000
|
6,000,000 |
Level 37
: Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
Xiaosheng Zheng raised to 2,000,000 on the button and Gerard Carbo Santamaria called in the big blind.
The flop came 7♣2♣3♠, where Santamaria checked and Zheng bet 1,500,000. Santamaria then raised to 4,600,000, which Zheng quickly called.
Both the 7♠ turn and 9♣ river were checked through, and Santamaria showed K♣4♠ for king-high. Zheng then rolled over 9♦3♣ for a pair of nines, and that was good for the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
51,000,000
14,000,000
|
14,000,000 |
|
|
23,000,000
14,000,000
|
14,000,000 |
Level 37
: Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
Gerard Carbo Santamaria made it 2,000,000 to go on the button and Xiaosheng Zheng called in the big blind.
On the 3♣5♣K♠ flop, both checked to the 9♥ turn, where Zheng checked and Santamaria bet 1,500,000. Zheng then raised to 5,500,000, and Santamaria called.
An A♦ fell on the river and after some time, Zheng checked it over. Santamaria then shoved, and Zheng quickly folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
37,000,000
10,500,000
|
10,500,000 |
|
|
37,000,000
10,500,000
|
10,500,000 |
Level 37
: Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
Two pots just went Gerard Carbo Santamaria's way, which helped him climb to a more comfortable stack.
First, Xiaosheng Zheng limped the button and then called a raise of 3,000,000 from Santamaria.
On the Q♥K♦5♣ flop, Santamaria bet 2,000,000 and Zheng called to the 3♦ turn, where Santamaria fired again for 4,100,000. Zheng folded.
In the next hand, Santamaria raised to 2,000,000 on the button and Zheng called.
They checked to the river on the 2♥10♠6♣J♣6♥ board, where Zheng check-folded to a bet of 3,400,000 from Santamaria.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
47,500,000
9,000,000
|
9,000,000 |
|
|
26,500,000
9,000,000
|
9,000,000 |
Level: 37
Blinds: 400,000/800,000
Ante: 800,000
Level 36
: Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante
Gerard Carbo Santamaria made it 1,500,000 to go on the button and Xiaosheng Zheng called in the big blind.
On the 4♣3♠Q♣ flop, Zheng check-called a bet of 1,100,000 from Santamaria to the 5♥ turn, where both checked.
A J♠ hit the river and Zheng fired out 4,000,000, which got Santamaria to fold.
In the next hand, Zheng limped in from the button and Santamaria checked to the 5♠8♣5♥ flop, where they both checked.
On the K♥ turn, Santamaria checked. Zheng bet 700,000. Santamaria raised to 2,500,000. and Zheng folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
56,500,000
2,000,000
|
2,000,000 |
|
|
17,500,000
1,500,000
|
1,500,000 |
