Nashar Back in Familiar Territory at the IPO Master
Some players just seem to feel at home at Merit, and Hassan Nashar might be one of them. Last year, he topped the Day 1b chip counts in the $1,100 IPO Master. This year? He’s already back in the spotlight, leading the way after Day 1a of the newly-upgraded $2,200 edition.
A lot has changed since then. The buy-in has doubled, the guarantee has jumped to a cool $1,000,000, and the overall pace of entries is unfolding differently. Day 1b brought in 404 entries last year. This year, just 121 so far, but that’s only part of the picture.
The IPO Master is no longer just a value-packed opener, it's positioning itself as a serious flagship event in its own right. It’s attracting players who know how to adjust, survive, and thrive no matter what version of the tournament they’re facing.
With three starting flights still to go, there’s a long way to go before we see the full picture. But for now, Nashar’s familiar spot at the top feels like the perfect way to open the next chapter of this ever-evolving event.