The action was picked up on a board of 6♣8♥9♠5♥ with around 25,000 in the middle. Esper Sadek had checked from the small blind, as did the big blind, then Gerard Carbo Santamaria fired 17,500 in the cutoff. Sadek then raised to 36,500, which got the big blind to fold.
Santamaria then made it 75,000 to go, Sadek four-bet shoved the flop for over 200,000, and Santamaria snap-called.
Esper Sadek: A♥7♠
Gerard Carbo Santamaria: 10♦7♦
Sadek couldn't believe it and was drawing to a chop only, which didn't come as the K♥ filled out the board on the river. The stacks were counted down and Santamaria had more, which spelt the end for Sadek, at least for now.
If early numbers are any indication, the Merit Poker brand continues to go from strength to strength. At the halfway mark of Level 5 on Day 1a of the $2,200 IPO Master, the field has already reached 193 entries, surpassing the total of 169 entries recorded on Day 1a of last year's edition, which featured a lower $1,100 buy-in.
This year’s tournament comes with a $1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool, a clear statement of intent from a brand that has quickly become one of the most respected names in the region, if not the world. The steady growth highlights Merit Poker's rising reputation as the not-to-miss destination for international players.
Dolce Vita
With its luxury setting, professionally run events, and consistently strong turnouts, the brand has cultivated a loyal following and continues to attract a wider field of serious competitors with each passing series.
The increased buy-in hasn’t slowed interest. If anything, it has elevated it. Players are arriving earlier, registering faster, and treating the opening event of the 2025 Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series as more than just a warm-up. It’s clear that Merit’s tournaments aren’t just popular, they’re becoming essential stops on the poker calendar.
Hassan Nashar's stack had been going through an upswing, and he hit the 400,000-chip mark before encountering Denis Vladimirov.
Vladimirov had reraised to 30,000 preflop, which Nassar called to the J♣A♠9♥ flop. Nassar check-called a bet of 20,000 to the 8♠ turn, which checked through.
A 7♦ made the board a little scarier on the river and Nashar took some time before he threw out 80,000. Vladimirov went into the tank, but ultimately made the call.
As soon as Vladimirov's chips hit the pot, Nashar mucked his cards, and Vladimirov claimed the pot without showing.
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Ibrahim Senoussi had ran up a stack to over 400,000 in the opening three levels of play, but just lost a little portion of it to Yilu Yuan.
There were around 50,000 chips in the pot on a 6♦9♥9♦Q♣ board, where both checked to the 3♣ river. Yuan gathered chips and put out a chunky bet of 57,000, which was enough to get Senoussi to quickly fold.
In the hand prior, Hassan Nashar made it 15,000 to go without looking at his cards and got no customers. In the next hand, Huseyin Tekerek made it 2,000 from middle position and Nashar made it 10,000 to go, again blind, from the hijack. When it got back to Tekerek, he bumped it up to 25,000, which Nashar called.
Tekerek continued for 20,000 on the 9♣8♦3♠ flop, which Nassar called to see the Q♣ turn. Tekerek checked, Nashar bet 52,000, and Tekerek shoved just 500 more. Nashar called.
Huseyin Tekerek: Q♠Q♦
Hassan Nashar: Q♥10♦
Nashar did have outs to a jack, but couldn't find it as the 9♥ river improved Tekerek to a full house.
