The $2,200 IPO Master at the 2025 Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series is entering its most pivotal stage yet. After four starting flights and ten levels on Day 2 at the Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino, only 123 players remain from the massive 730-entry field, each hoping to make a deep run at the $225,000 top prize and the coveted trophy.
Leading the way is Milos Miskovic, who bagged an impressive 1,885,000 at the end of Day 2. He is closely trailed by Roman Kolotiuk (1,820,000) and Alexey Savenkov (1,475,000), with a host of dangerous contenders not far behind.
Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milos Miskovic | Serbia | 1,885,000 | 126 |
| 2 | Roman Kolotiuk | Russia | 1,820,000 | 121 |
| 3 | Alexey Savenkov | Russia | 1,475,000 | 98 |
| 4 | Gerard Carbo Santamaria | Spain | 1,380,000 | 92 |
| 5 | Pedro Ingles | Spain | 1,355,000 | 90 |
| 6 | Ege Guven | Turkey | 1,335,000 | 89 |
| 7 | Renato Minicuci | France | 1,280,000 | 85 |
| 8 | Afshin Afsharorumieh | Iran | 1,150,000 | 77 |
| 9 | Hassan Nashar | Guinea-Bissau | 1,140,000 | 76 |
| 10 | Ali Moein | Iran | 1,100,000 | 73 |
Players such as Gerard Carbo Santamaria (1,380,000), Afshin Afsharorumieh (1,150,000), and Hassan Nashar (1,140,000) all return with above-average stacks and plenty of experience to push for the final table.
Day 3 begins at 12:00 p.m. local time, and the first order of business will be bursting the money bubble. The top 103 players are guaranteed at least $3,750, but for those who survive and climb the payouts, the stakes rise quickly.
Levels will are scheduled to be 60 minutes long, blinds will start at 10,000/15,000 with a big blind ante of 15,000, and the pressure will be at its peak as the tournament edges closer to crowning a champion on Saturday, August 1.
Payouts
Stay tuned to PokerNews throughout the day as we bring you live coverage from the first card to the final river.
