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

07-29-2025 17:29 UTC+3

Because One Chip Lead Isn't Enough

Kai Cocklin

Level 8 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Some players bag once and rest. Hassan Nashar is not one of those players.

After topping the Day 1a counts with 699,500, Nashar is back in the field for Day 1b of the IPO Master. He’s not chasing a payout or trying to survive, he just felt like playing again. And with around 450,000 in front of him already, it’s going pretty well.

Last year, Nashar finished Day 1b as the chip leader. This year, he’s already done that on Day 1a and might just be trying to outdo himself. If he ends the night with an even bigger stack, don’t be surprised. This is a man who clearly enjoys having options.

Tags: Hassan Nashar

Level: 8

Blinds: 1,000/1,500

Ante: 1,500

07-29-2025 17:22 UTC+3

Flashback: Boris Kolev Dominates 2025 Merit Millions Final Table

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Kai Cocklin

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

07-29-2025 17:12 UTC+3

Luo Greeted By Balaev

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Kai Cocklin

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

Jianming Luo hadn't been in the tournament for long and got a not-so-warm welcome from Viacheslav Balaev.

Luo opened to 3,000 from early position and got a call from the cutoff before Balaev squeezed to 11,000 on the button. Luo then four-bet to 28,000, the cutoff folded, and Balaev called.

On the 4♦J♥8♦ flop, Luo tapped the table over to Balaev, who shoved around 50,000. Luo took a bit of time before he folded, allowing Balaev to scoop the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Viacheslav Balaev	110,000 110,000	110,000
Jianming Luo	72,000 72,000	72,000

Tags: Jianming Luo Viacheslav Balaev

07-29-2025 17:00 UTC+3

Flush For Fal

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Kai Cocklin

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

The pot had ballooned to around 30,000 on a 2♣3♦A♦8♠ board when Adem Agoudjil checked from the big blind and Nikolay Fal also tapped the table from under the gun. Konstantin Voronin was on the button and fired out 7,500, which both of his opponents called.

A 10♦ fell on the river and after Agoudjil checked, Fal bet 18,500. Voronin took some time before he folded, and Agoudjil quickly called.

Fal then flipped over a flush with Q♦9♦, and Agoudjil mucked his hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nikolay Fal	260,000 220,000	220,000

Adem Agoudjil	160,000
Konstantin Voronin	120,000

Tags: Adem Agoudjil Konstantin Voronin Nikolay Fal

07-29-2025 16:49 UTC+3

Selected Chip Counts

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Kai Cocklin

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

Player	Chips	Progress
Atilla Saracoglu	460,000 460,000	460,000
Joris Ruijs	450,000 120,000	120,000
Kirill Burtin	400,000 230,000	230,000
Berc Sindiroglu	370,000 160,000	160,000
Ivan Banovic	320,000 320,000	320,000
Roman Kolotiuk	300,000 300,000	300,000

Fadi Nakhoul	290,000 290,000	290,000
Jingxuan Zhu	275,000 45,000	45,000
Vadzim Lipauka	240,000 130,000	130,000
Mazen Halabi	230,000 35,000	35,000
Dmitry Vitkind	210,000 210,000	210,000
Benjamin LeBlond	170,000 40,000	40,000

Level: 7

Blinds: 1,000/1,500

Ante: 1,500

07-29-2025 16:28 UTC+3

Break Time

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Kai Cocklin

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

Players are heading on a 20-minute break.

07-29-2025 16:22 UTC+3

Ruijs Gets the Better of Gromov

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Kai Cocklin

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

Joris Ruijs made it 3,500 to go from the cutoff and Dmitry Gromov three-bet the big blind to 10,000. Ruijs called.

They saw a flop of 6♥6♦7♣, where Gromov continued for 15,000 and Ruijs caleld to see the 10♠ drop on the turn. Gromov checked it over and then called a bet of 22,000 from Ruijs.

An A♠ landed on the river and after Gromov checked again, Ruijs shoved. Gromov had around 80,000 behind, and didn't want to play for it all as he mucked his cards.

Shortly after, Gromov busted and was seen at the cash desk reentering, and has a fresh stack of 100,000 to play with.

Player	Chips	Progress
Joris Ruijs	330,000 20,000	20,000
Dmitry Gromov	100,000 20,000	20,000

Tags: Dmitry Gromov Joris Ruijs

07-29-2025 16:11 UTC+3

Welcome to Club PokerNews

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Kai Cocklin

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

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