$2,200 IPO Master Day 3 | 2025 Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series

07-31-2025 17:10 UTC+2

Zheng Dents Crespi's Stack

Kai Cocklin

Level 26 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

On a board of 9♠4♠3♥5♦, there were around 450,000 chips in the pot when Xiaosheng Zheng fired 225,000 from the big blind and Joan Crespi called from under the gun.

A 9♥ paired the board on the river and Zheng didn't show any signs of slowing down as he made it 650,000. Crespi needed a minute to think it over and took a long stare at his opponent before flicking in a call.

Zheng then rolled over a wheel with A♣2♥, and Crespi tapped the table as he mucked.

Player	Chips	Progress
Joan Crespi	6,100,000 1,100,000	1,100,000
Xiaosheng Zheng	5,000,000 1,200,000	1,200,000

Tags: Xiaosheng Zheng Joan Crespi

07-31-2025 17:14 UTC+2

The Departed

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Kai Cocklin

Level 26 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Zorlu Er	Busted
Basel Khabbazeh	Busted
Fang Zhang	Busted
Aren Bezhanyan	Busted
Maxime Chilaud	Busted

07-31-2025 17:18 UTC+2

Hayek Doubles With Aces

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Kai Cocklin

Level 26 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

The action was picked up on a 7♦Q♣5♣2♦ board, with Samir Hayek having his stack in the middle against Jalal Jafari, for a pot worth around 2,800,000.

Samir Hayek: A♣A♥ All in
Jalal Jafari: K♠7♠

Jafari needed a king or a seven, but couldnt find it as the A♦ on the river improved Hayek to a set.

Player	Chips	Progress
Samir Hayek	2,800,000 1,000,000	1,000,000
Jalal Jafari	400,000 450,000	450,000

Tags: Jalal Jafari Samir Hayek

07-31-2025 17:30 UTC+2

Nurmuhammedov Stays Alive in Three-Way All-In

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Kai Cocklin

Level 26 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

Samir Hayek raised from under the gun and Renato Minicuci shoved around 600,000 from the next seat. Parahat Nurmuhammedov had his last 80,000 in from the big blind, and Hayek called to put bot players at risk.

Parahat Nurmuhammedov: 10♠7♥ All in
Renato Minicuci: A♣Q♣ All in
Samir Hayek: 9♦9♥

The board ran out 4♣7♠5♥Q♥10♦, which earned Minicuci the side pot, and Nurmuhammedov spiked two pair on the river to claim the main pot and stay alive.

Player	Chips	Progress
Samir Hayek	2,100,000 700,000	700,000
Renato Minicuci	1,150,000 300,000	300,000
Parahat Nurmuhammedov	330,000 870,000	870,000

Tags: Parahat Nurmuhammedov Renato Minicuci Samir Hayek

07-31-2025 17:37 UTC+2

Selected Chip Counts

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Kai Cocklin

Level 26 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Joan Crespi	7,100,000 1,000,000	1,000,000
Mohamed El-Wely	4,300,000 1,900,000	1,900,000
Afshin Afsharorumieh	3,700,000 1,000,000	1,000,000
Dragos-Florin Anton	2,800,000 500,000	500,000
Alexey Savenkov	2,100,000 200,000	200,000
Gerard Carbo Santamaria	1,900,000 700,000	700,000
Cedric Schwaederle	1,000,000 600,000	600,000
Dmitry Vitkind	950,000 400,000	400,000
Danielle Noja	600,000 600,000	600,000

07-31-2025 17:41 UTC+2

Flashback: 2024 Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series Winners

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Kai Cocklin

Level 26 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

With the return of the Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series, here is a look back at the champions from last summer at Merit Crystal Cove Hotel & Casino.

2024 Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series

Event	Entries	Winner	Prize
$1,100 IPO Master	937	Danesh Zargaran	$146,600
$3,300 OPE Classic Cup	193	Walid Bou Habib	$132,000
$2,200 La Notte Degli Assi	1,133	Dashinka	$355,000

Look Back at the 2024 Series Here

07-31-2025 17:45 UTC+2

Tlimisov Sends Minicuci Out Via the River

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Kai Cocklin

Level 26 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

Renato Minicuci had his stack of 1,000,000 in from the cutoff and was put at risk by Adil Tlimisov in the small blind, who had just a few chips more.

Renato Minicuci: 4♠4♥ All in
Adil Tlimisov: A♠Q♣

It was a fair fight, and one that saw Minicuci keep his lead through the 8♠K♦6♣ flop. A 2♦ on the turn left him one card away from a crucial double-up, but the A♥ on the river ended his ran as Tlimisov paired his ace.