The $2,200 IPO Master at the 2025 Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series has reached its climax, with only 15 players returning today to battle for the $225,000 top prize and the prestigious title inside the Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino. From a field of 730 entries, four days of action have narrowed the field to a mix of international contenders and Merit regulars, each looking to etch their name into series history.
Mahmut Sanli leads the way with 9,025,000, followed by Mohamed El-Wely with 7,675,000 and Adem Agoudjil with 7,575,000, while Joan Crespi (7,200,000) and Gerard Carbo Santamaria (6,525,000) complete a stacked top five in pursuit of the lion's share of the $1,343,200 prize pool.
Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mahmut Sanli | Turkey | 9,025,000 | 75 |
| 2 | Mohamed El-Wely | Mauritania | 7,675,000 | 64 |
| 3 | Adem Agoudjil | France | 7,575,000 | 63 |
| 4 | Joan Crespi | Spain | 7,200,000 | 60 |
| 5 | Gerard Carbo Santamaria | Spain | 6,525,000 | 54 |
| 6 | Xiaosheng Zheng | China | 6,425,000 | 54 |
| 7 | Khalil Jabra | Lebanon | 6,225,000 | 52 |
| 8 | David Boyaciyan | Netherlands | 4,275,000 | 36 |
| 9 | Bahattin Eser | France | 3,925,000 | 33 |
| 10 | Damir Zhugralin | Kazakhstan | 3,850,000 | 32 |
Close behind are Xiaosheng Zheng and Khalil Jabra, both well-positioned to make a push toward the final table. Dutch pro David Boyaciyan also returns, while Soraya Estrada will begin as the short stack, hoping for an early double to get back in contention.
All remaining players are guaranteed $14,500, but the payouts climb quickly. A final table seat is worth $23,500, a top-three finish secures six figures, and the eventual champion will walk away with $225,000 and the IPO Master trophy.
Day 4 begins at 12:30 p.m. local time with blinds at 60,000/120,000 and a 120,000 big blind ante. The average stack sits just under 4,900,000, giving the leaders plenty of room to pressure the table while the short stacks face immediate all-in decisions.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for chip counts, key hands, and full coverage until the next IPO Master champion is crowned.
