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

07-29-2025 11:46 UTC+2

Shupa Picks Off a Bluff

Kai Cocklin

Level 1 : Blinds 200/500, 500 ante

Artur Shupa opened from middle position to 1,200 0and Hulya Seckin called in the hijack. The big blind also came along.

On the 2♣7♠4♥ flop, it checked to Shupa, who threw out 1,100. Seckin folded and the big blind called to see the 4♠ turn, where both checked.

An 8♣ landed on the river and the big blind decided to lead for 3,300. Shupa quickly called and claimed the pot when the big blind mucked.

Player	Chips	Progress
Hulya Seckin	90,000
Artur Shupa	85,000

Tags: Artur Shupa Hulya Seckin

Level: 2

Blinds: 300/600

Ante: 600

07-29-2025 11:53 UTC+2

Iarilov's River Bet Wins It

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Kai Cocklin

Level 2 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante

On a board of 2♥9♣Q♠7♥, Viktor Iarilov checked from the big blind and then called a bet of 3,500 from a player in middle position.

An 8♠ fell on the river and Iarilov led out with a small sizing of 2,500. After a brief pause, middle position elected to fold, forfeiting the pot to Iarilov.

Player	Chips	Progress
Viktor Iarilov	115,000

Tags: Viktor Iarilov

07-29-2025 12:00 UTC+2

Zheng Down Early; Zhugralin Up

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Kai Cocklin

Level 2 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante

Xiaosheng Zheng just took down a small pot, but is still down a lot of chips so far on the day.

The button had opened and Zheng defended his big blind to see a flop of 2♥2♣4♥, where Zheng checked, the button bet 1,100, Zheng raised to 5,000, and the button called.

A 9♠ fell on the turn and Zheng's bet of 11,000 went uncalled, allowing him to take the pot.

Damir Zhugralin is seated at the same table and has around 200,000 in front of him

Player	Chips	Progress
Damir Zhugralin	200,000
Xiaosheng Zheng	60,000

Tags: Damir Zhugralin Xiaosheng Zheng

07-29-2025 12:09 UTC+2

Nemutlu Calls Down With an Ace

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Kai Cocklin

Level 2 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante

On a board of K♦3♥A♠4♠, Omer Nemutlu check-called a bet of 5,500 from his opponent to ser the 3♦ on the river. Again Nemutlu checked, and again his opponent continued to fire, this time for 10,000.

Nemutlu wasted no time in making the call, and when his opponent revealed only the J♦, Nemutlu showed A♥7♦ for a pair of aces to claim the pot.

Nikolay Fal is on the same table with around 95,000.

Player	Chips	Progress
Omer Nemutlu	110,000
Nikolay Fal	95,000

Tags: Nikolay Fal Omer Nemutlu

07-29-2025 12:20 UTC+2

Become a Bigger Part of the Action With MyStack by PokerNews

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Kai Cocklin

Level 2 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante

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Level: 3

Blinds: 400/800

Ante: 800

07-29-2025 12:27 UTC+2

Nashar Back in Familiar Territory at the IPO Master

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Kai Cocklin

Level 3 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

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.

Tags: Hassan Nashar

07-29-2025 12:37 UTC+2

Ruijs and Asikoglu Play a Pot

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Kai Cocklin

Level 3 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Arsem Asikoglu raised from the cutoff to 1,600 and Joris Ruijs three-bet the small blind to 7,000. When it got back to Asikoglu, he called.

On the J♦9♣A♣ flop. Ruijs made a continuation-bet of 5,000 and was met with a raise to 12,00 by Asikoglu. Ruijs called.

A 7♠ on the turn saw Ruijs check it over, and then fold when Asikoglu bet 16,000.

Dmitry Gromov is seated at the same table and has around 140,000 in front of him.

Player	Chips	Progress
Arsem Asikoglu	210,000
Joris Ruijs	170,000
Dmitry Gromov	140,000

Tags: Arsem Asikoglu Dmitry Gromov Joris Ruijs

07-29-2025 12:49 UTC+2

Passet Rakes a Pot; Ruijs Chipping Up

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Kai Cocklin

Level 3 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Abraham Passet opened from early position to 2,000 and the cutoff called. Xiaosheng Zheng then squeezed it up to 9,000 from the small blind, which both Passet and the cutoff called.

All three checked the K♣6♦9♥ flop to the 9♠ turn, where Passet fired 13,000 when the action got to him. That was enough to get the job done as both of his opponents folded.

At the same time, Dmitry Gromov and Joris Ruijs had built a pot of around 100,000 on a 4♠8♣2♠Q♠ board. Ruijs bet 21,000 on the turn from middle position, and Gromov released his hand from the button.

Player	Chips	Progress
Joris Ruijs	220,000 50,000	50,000
Abraham Passet	130,000
Dmitry Gromov	80,000 60,000	60,000

Xiaosheng Zheng	80,000 20,000	20,000

Tags: Abraham Passet Dmitry Gromov Joris Ruijs Xiaosheng Zheng