$2,200 IPO Master
Day 1bc Started
2025 Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series
$2,200 IPO Master
Day: 1bc
Event Info
2025 Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1bc
Buy-in
$2,200
Prize Pool
$1,343,200
Entries
730
Level
38
Blinds
500,000 / 1,000,000
Ante
1,000,000
Entries
302
Players Left
149
Players Left 1 / 730
Filter
(1)
The 2025 Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series is in full swing at the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino, where players from around the world have gathered to chase big prizes in one of the most picturesque poker settings on the planet. With sun, sea, and high-stakes action on the menu, the series continues to deliver the perfect blend of competition and relaxation on the shores of North Cyprus.
After a strong turnout on Day 1a, where 228 entries were recorded, well ahead of last year’s opening flight of 169, the momentum shows no signs of slowing. Players are responding to the upgraded format and the $1,000,000 guaranteed prize pool, with each flight drawing a deep and diverse field of players.
Day 1a Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hassan Nashar | Guinea-Bissau | 699,500 | 280 |
| 2 | Afshin Afsharorumieh | Iran | 670,000 | 268 |
| 3 | Michael Iakovlev | Russia | 540,000 | 216 |
| 4 | Imad Saab | Lebanon | 527,000 | 211 |
| 5 | Samuel Dray | France | 521,000 | 208 |
| 6 | Gerard Carbo Santamaria | Spain | 506,000 | 202 |
| 7 | Uladzimir Zhyharau | Belarus | 505,000 | 202 |
| 8 | Maxime Chilaud | France | 480,000 | 192 |
| 9 | Soraya Estrada | Spain | 476,500 | 191 |
| 10 | Felipe Ketzer | Brazil | 470,000 | 188 |
The man to catch so far is Hassan Nashar, who bagged an event-leading 699,500 at the end of Day 1a, followed closely by Afshin Afsharorumieh and Michael Iakovlev. With three flights still to come and late registration open until Level 15 on Day 2, the field is expected to grow rapidly as the tournament heads toward its deeper stages.
Day 1b offers the same structure as 1a, ten levels of 40 minutes, a 100,000 starting stack (110,000 for early registrants), and one more shot for players to secure a bag before the pace picks up later tonight in the turbo-style Day 1c. It’s another opportunity to build toward Day 2 and get one step closer to the first major title of the series.
IPO Master Schedule
| Date | Day | Time | Blind Levels |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 29 | Day 1b | 12 p.m. | 40 minutes |
| July 29 | Day 1c | 9 p.m. | 25 minutes |
| July 30 | Day 1d | 10 a.m. | 13 minutes |
| July 30 | Day 2 | 12:30 p.m. | 40 minutes |
| July 31 | Day 3 | 12 p.m. | 60 minutes |
| August 1 | Day 4 | 12 p.m. | 60 minutes |
Stay locked in with PokerNews for live updates, chip counts, and exclusive coverage from the felt throughout the 2025 Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series.
There is a slightly delayed start to Day 1b to allow players to take their seats.
Level: 1
Blinds: 200/500
Ante: 500
Level 1
: Blinds 200/500, 500 ante
Cards are in the air for Day 1b of the IPO Master.
Level 1
: Blinds 200/500, 500 ante
Level 1
: Blinds 200/500, 500 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
110,000 | |
|
110,000 | |
|
110,000 | |
|
110,000
110,000
|
110,000 |
|
110,000
110,000
|
110,000 |
|
110,000 | |
|
110,000 | |
|
110,000 | |
|
110,000 |
Level 1
: Blinds 200/500, 500 ante
On a full board of 2♦Q♣10♦7♠8♥, there were around 13,000 chips in the middle when Fuat Seckin bet 6,800. Naji Abdo thought that was too cheap and bumped it up to 21,500, and within a few seconds, Seckin called.
Abdo then revealed A♣J♥ for just ace-high, and Seckin flipped A♦Q♠ for top pair to claim the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
130,000 | |
|
|
70,000 |
Level 1
: Blinds 200/500, 500 ante
Georgios Tsouloftas is in the field for Day 1b, but just took a small dent to his stack in the early goings.
The board read K♠5♣5♠ and with around 4,000 in the pot, Tsouloftas check-called a bet of 2,000 from the button. A third five, the 5♦, hit the turn and after Tsouloftas checked, the button fired out 8,000. That was enough to win the pot as Tsouloftas let it go.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
105,000
5,000
|
5,000 |
Level 1
: Blinds 200/500, 500 ante
With around 30,000 in the pot on a board of A♦5♠2♦5♦, a player in early position threw out a bet of 10,000, which Arsem Asikoglu called in the hijack.
A 3♥ hit the river and once it checked to Asikoglu, he shoved for 73,800. His opponent had a little more and only needed around 15 seconds before he called.
Asikoglu then showed that he rivered a full house with 3♠3♦, and that beat the A♥J♦ of his opponent.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
200,000 |
