$3,300 La Notte Degli Assi
Day 5 Completed
2025 Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series
$3,300 La Notte Degli Assi
Day: 5
Event Info
2025 Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 5
Buy-in
$3,300
Prize Pool
$2,823,480
Entries
1,023
Level
40
Blinds
600,000 / 1,200,000
Ante
1,200,000
Entries
9
Players Left
1
Players Left 1 / 1023
Filter
Level 40
: Blinds 600,000/1,200,000, 1,200,000 ante
After thirteen days of poker under the Mediterranean sun, the 2025 Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series has crowned its final champion. Nicolas Chouity of Lebanon conquered a record-setting 1,023-entry field in the $3,300 La Notte Degli Assi, claiming the title, the trophy, and a career-boosting $460,000 payday inside the luxurious Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino.
The event generated a massive $2,823,480 prize pool, making it the largest Merit Poker tournament of 2025 in terms of both field size and prize pool.
The final chapter of La Notte Degli Assi (Night of the Aces) delivered all the drama and glamour expected from one of Merit Poker’s crown jewel events. Chouity began the final table as chip leader and never looked back, navigating a stacked lineup with experience, composure, and a little bit of luck. In the end, he overcame Hungary’s Richard Broda in a tough and tactical heads-up battle, marking a powerful return to the spotlight for one of Lebanon’s most accomplished players.
$3,300 La Notte Degli Assi Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nicolas Chouity | Lebanon | $460,000 |
| 2 | Richard Broda | Hungary | $307,000 |
| 3 | "Ma" | France | $215,000 |
| 4 | Mehmet Deniz | Turkey | $156,000 |
| 5 | Aleksandr Razinkov | Russia | $115,000 |
| 6 | Tommy G | San Marino | $95,000 |
| 7 | Nebi Baysal | Turkey | $77,500 |
| 8 | Viacheslav Balaev | Russia | $61,500 |
| 9 | Adil Tlimisov | Russia | $46,280 |
Winner’s Reaction
Reflecting on the win, Chouity shared that tournament poker had taken a backseat in recent years. He noted that he mostly played EPT stops and occasionally travelled abroad, but this result reminded him of how special the thrill of victory can be. “I’m really excited and happy to be back and to beat a field of 1,000 players,” he said. “For me it’s something really nice; I’m truly satisfied.”
Starting the final table as chip leader added both opportunity and pressure, but Chouity handled it one step at a time. “My goal was to finish top three, but being out in front also let me apply pressure on the other players,” he explained. “That helped a lot.”
As for his final opponent, Chouity gave credit where it was due. “The heads-up was tough. I don’t play much heads-up, maybe he has more experience than me, I don’t know, but it was fun, it was challenging, and I really enjoyed it.”
When told that a top-three finish would elevate him to second on Lebanon’s all-time money list, according to TheHendonMob, Chouity shrugged it off with a smile. “Honestly, I’m not looking at that. I’m just happy to win the tournament. I don’t care about moving up in Lebanon’s all-time rankings. I hope [Albert Daher] he wins 3 or 4 tournaments, I’m even happier because he’s my friend.”
He also had high praise for the host venue and the Merit Poker series itself. “This venue provides a very good service, very convenient for players. They have a nice room, great fields, friendly people, and excellent staff. Merit is now one of the best poker destinations. I think they’re doing a fantastic job and I hope they keep it up.”
As for what’s next, Chouity confirmed that he’ll be sticking around a little longer for the inaugural Onyx High Roller Series. “Yes, I will definitely play more. I’m not yet sure which events I’ll enter, it depends, but I’m staying for a couple more days. I might have to head back to Dubai, but I’ll be in the $10,000 and the $25,000 for sure.”
From Chip Lead to Champion
Chouity started the day as chip leader and played his part in thinning down the field early, as within an hour, four of the finalists had already hit the rail. His contribution came when his king-queen flopped a king against the pocket jacks of Viacheslav Balaev, ending the Russian player's run in eighth.
When play was four-handed, Chouity and Broda engaged in an on-felt war with each other, despite two shorter stacks still being in. Broda briefly took the chip lead, but a fortunate river for Chouity gave him around 75% of the chips in play with three remaining.
Mehmet Deniz three-bet with pocket aces and quickly called off the shove from Chouity, who held pocket jacks. A brutal jack on the river spelled the end for Deniz, who had to settle for fourth, just shy of the podium.
Broda then flopped a set of nines to dispatch "Ma" in third, setting up the heads-up finale. Chouity took a better than two-to-one advantage into the duel, but Broda clawed his way back and even regained the chip lead after scooping several small pots.
But that momentum didn’t last. In the final hand, the chips went in on every street, culminating in a shove from Broda and a call from Chouity. Both had diamond flushes, Broda with seven-five and Chouity with eight-three, but it was the Lebanese pro who held the better one, bringing the curtain down on a hard-fought final day.
The 2025 Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series has come to a close, but the action in North Cyprus is far from over. Don’t miss the inaugural 2025 Onyx High Roller Series, kicking off on August 9 at the luxurious Merit Royal Diamond Hotel and Casino. Running through August 21, the series promises elite fields, massive prize pools, and world-class competition. Stay tuned to PokerNews for coverage of the high roller action.
Level 40
: Blinds 600,000/1,200,000, 1,200,000 ante
Richard Broda limped in from the button and Nicolas Chouity checked his option from the big blind.
The flop came 6♦Q♦K♥ and Chouity check-called a bet from Broda to see the 2♦ hit the turn. Chouity then decided to lead for 4,700,000. and Broda raised to 13,000,000. After burning through two time banks, Chouity called.
An 8♠ filled out the board on the river and after Chouity checked, Broda shoved. While the dealer was counting out the stack, which was 29,700,000, Chouity called.
Broda then flipped a flush with 7♦5♦, but Chouity had a higher flush with 8♦3♦ to take the pot and the title.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
103,700,000
45,000,000
|
45,000,000 |
|
||
|
Busted | |
Level 40
: Blinds 600,000/1,200,000, 1,200,000 ante
Nicolas Chouity limped in from the button and Richard Broda checked his option in the big blind.
On the J♦3♠9♣ flop, Broda check-called a bet of 1,000,000 to see the 5♣ turn, where again he went into check-call mode when Chouity bet 3,200,000.
A third check came from Broda on the 4♥ river, and when Chouity bet 7,400,000, Broda snap-called.
Chouity showed J♣8♦ for a pair of jacks, and Broda flashed the J♥ and then mucked.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
58,700,000
8,000,000
|
8,000,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
45,000,000
8,000,000
|
8,000,000 |
Level: 40
Blinds: 600,000/1,200,000
Ante: 1,200,000
Level 39
: Blinds 500,000/1,000,000, 1,000,000 ante
With around 6,000,000 in the pot on a 4♠K♥3♦ flop, Nicolas Chouity bet 2,300,000 from the big blind and Richard Broda called on the button.
The 3♥ hit the turn and Chouity fired again, this time for 5,300,000, and Broda stuck around with a call. When the 8♣ hit the river, both checked it down and Broda's pair of eights with 8♥6♥ was good for the pot and the chip lead!
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
53,000,000
12,000,000
|
12,000,000 |
|
|
50,700,000
12,000,000
|
12,000,000 |
|
|
||
Level 39
: Blinds 500,000/1,000,000, 1,000,000 ante
Richard Broda is chipping away at Nicolas Chouity and has reduced to deficit after taking down the last four pots.
In the latest hand, Choutiy limped in from the button and Broda checked to the K♦5♠9♣ flop. Both checked and Broda fired 3,500,000 on the 10♦ turn, which made Choutiy fold.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
62,700,000
8,300,000
|
8,300,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
41,000,000
8,300,000
|
8,300,000 |
Level 39
: Blinds 500,000/1,000,000, 1,000,000 ante
Richard Broda limped in from the button and Nicolas Chouity made it 3,000,000 to go. Broda called.
They saw a flop of Q♣A♥7♠, where Chouity's bet of 2,100,000 got Broda to fold.
Chouity then gave a walk before Broda limp-called agaiin after Chouity made it 3,500,000.
On the 6♥6♠5♣ flop, Chouity check-called a bet of 3,000,000 from Broda to the J♥ turn, then check-folded when Broda bet 4,500,000.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
71,000,000
6,200,000
|
6,200,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
32,700,000
6,200,000
|
6,200,000 |
Level: 39
Blinds: 500,000/1,000,000
Ante: 1,000,000
Level 38
: Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
Nicolas Chouity raised the button to 2,100,000 and Richard Broda called from the big blind.
They saw a flop of 10♣8♦5♣, where Broda check-called a bet of 2,700,000 from Chouity to the 5♦ turn. Broda then decided to lead out for 4,200,000, which Chouity called.
A K♦ hit the river and Broda checked, then Chouity moved all in. Broda had around 17,000,000 behind and after thinking it over for some time, he called.
Chouity showed Q♥10♥ for a pair of tens, and Broda showed 10♠9♥ for the same hand, meaning they chopped it up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
77,200,000
1,500,000
|
1,500,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
26,500,000
1,500,000
|
1,500,000 |
