$2,200 IPO Master Day 1a | 2025 Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series

07-28-2025 15:04 UTC+2

Santamaria Scoops and Stacks Sadek

Kai Cocklin

Level 5 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

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♠ All in
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.

Player	Chips	Progress
Gerard Carbo Santamaria	500,000 390,000	390,000
Esper Sadek	Busted

Tags: Esper Sadek Gerard Carbo Santamaria

Level: 6

Blinds: 800/1,500

Ante: 1,500

07-28-2025 15:12 UTC+2

Nashar Runs Into Aces

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Kai Cocklin

Level 6 : Blinds 800/1,500, 1,500 ante

Hassan Nashar's stack continued to fluctuate after he just ran into pocket aces.

The action was picked up on the turn with the board reading 8♥10♥10♠4♥, where the big blind check-called a bet of 30,000 from Nashar.

When the 7♥ put a fourth heart on board, both opponents checked and the big blind took it down with A♠A♥ for the nut flush.

"I had the ten," said Nashar as the saw the pot get pushed away from him.

Player	Chips	Progress
Hassan Nashar	260,000 15,000	15,000

Tags: Hassan Nashar

07-28-2025 15:22 UTC+2

Flashback: Boris Kolev Dominates 2025 Merit Millions Final Table

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Kai Cocklin

Level 6 : Blinds 800/1,500, 1,500 ante

Back in April, the inaugural $10,400 Merit Millions Event saw Boris Kolev rising above a talented field of 212 entries to become the first-ever champion. Held inside the stunning Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino & Spa, the unique event ended with Kolev capturing the coveted title and the massive $1,000,000 guaranteed top prize.

Kolev, who began the final table third in chips, put on a clinical display to systematically dismantle his opponents on the way to victory. In doing so, he became the first player in Merit Poker history to walk away with a seven-figure payday. The Bulgarian pro made quick work of Mehdi Chaoui in a brief heads-up battle to seal the title and etch his name in the record books.

2025 Merit Million Final Table Results

Place	Player	Country	Prize
1	Boris Kolev	Bulgaria	$1,000,000
2	Mehdi Chaoui	Morocco	$300,000
3	Romans Lihacovs	Latvia	$200,000
4	Aleksandr Kirichenko	Russian Federation	$140,000
5	Rafael Aslanli	Turkey	$100,000
6	Maksim Shornikau	Belarus	$75,000
7	Andrey Pateychuk	Russian Federation	$55,000
8	Ali Al-Kubasi	Iraq	$45,000
9	Alexandr Lakhov	Russia	$35,400

Read the Full Recap Here

07-28-2025 15:31 UTC+2

Dalkilic Punishes Senoussi's Lead

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Kai Cocklin

Level 6 : Blinds 800/1,500, 1,500 ante

The action was picked up preflop with Ibrahim Senoussi having around 17,000 laid out in front of him from the small blind and Mehmet Dalkilic having made it 38,000 from middle position. Senoussi called.

On the Q♠8♦Q♥ flop, Senoussi opted to lead for 15,000 and was swiftly met with a raise to 40,000 by Dalkilic. After thinking for a short time, Senoussi folded.

"Show the bluff," said Senoussi.

"You show me, I show you," replied Dalkilic.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mehmet Dalkilic	320,000 320,000	320,000
Ibrahim Senoussi	310,000 70,000	70,000

Tags: Ibrahim Senoussi Mehmet Dalkilic

07-28-2025 15:40 UTC+2

Duta Takes It On the Turn

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Kai Cocklin

Level 6 : Blinds 800/1,500, 1,500 ante

With around 15,000 in the pot on a 4♠2♦A♣ flop, Florian Duta fired out 5,000 from middle position and Mehmet Dalkilic was the only caller in the cutoff.

When the J♥ landed on the turn, Duta fired again for 17,000, which was enough to win the pot as Dalkilic folded.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mehmet Dalkilic	310,000 10,000	10,000
Florian Duta	85,000 45,000	45,000

Tags: Florian Duta Mehmet Dalkilic

07-28-2025 15:45 UTC+2

Break Time

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Kai Cocklin

Level 6 : Blinds 800/1,500, 1,500 ante

Players have been sent on another 20-minute break.

A reminder that a total of ten levels will be played across all day 1 flights in the IPO Master.

Level: 7

Blinds: 1,000/1,500

Ante: 1,500

07-28-2025 16:05 UTC+2

Selected Chip Counts at Second Break

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Kai Cocklin

Level 7 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Afshin Afsharorumieh	540,000 165,000	165,000
Gerard Carbo Santamaria	500,000
Denis Vladimirov	450,000 50,000	50,000
Iliyas Mukhamedzhanov	400,000 150,000	150,000
Maxime Chilaud	400,000 283,500	283,500
Imad Saab	370,000 260,000	260,000
Uladzimir Zhyharau	360,000 360,000	360,000
Maher Achour	300,000 300,000	300,000
Muzaffar Khusanov	300,000 300,000	300,000
Seref Anar	290,000 140,000	140,000
Haydar Issa	270,000 235,000	235,000
Florian Guimond	250,000 140,000	140,000
Gor Musinyan	240,000 240,000	240,000
Ahmet Urhan	230,000 230,000	230,000
Andrey Pateychuk	180,000 50,000	50,000

07-28-2025 16:16 UTC+2

Basol Gets Value From Banksy

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Kai Cocklin

Level 7 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

With around 25,000 in the pot on a Q♣6♥8♣10♠3♥ board, Banksy fired out 16,000 on the river and was met with a raise to 50,000 from Hasan Basol.

Banksy was getting a massage while he pondered the decision, and eventually tossed in a chip to make the call. Basol then showed J♣9♠ for a straight, which prompted Banksy to muck and get back to his massage.

Player	Chips	Progress
Hasan Basol	170,000
Banksy	70,000

Tags: Hasan Basol