Andrei Spataru Tops the Counts as La Notte Degli Assi Field Unites for Day 2

After four opening flights spread across three days, all surviving players in the 2025 Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series $3,300 La Notte Degli Assi Main Event return today for Day 2 at the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino.

A total of 728 entries were recorded by the end of Day 1d, with 344 players advancing. For the first time, the entire field will come together as the battle for the $2,000,000 guaranteed prize pool heats up. Late registration remains open until the end of Level 14, allowing for final entries and reentries before the prize pool is finalized.

Day 2 Top Ten Chip Counts

Rank	Player	Country	Chip Count	Big Blinds
1	Andrei Spataru	Romania	1,041,500	521
2	Claudiu-Mihai Burlacu	Romania	763,500	382
3	Fahredin Mustafov	Bulgaria	747,000	374
4	Paris Dedes	France	731,000	366
5	Aleksandr Chernikov	Russia	721,000	361
6	Bakhos Alalam	Lebanon	709,500	355
7	Maxime Chilaud	France	677,500	339
8	Jordan Westmorland	United States	600,000	300
9	Ivan Zabiiakin	Russia	587,500	294
10	Iurii Okolovich	Russia	586,500	293

At the top of the leaderboard is Andrei Spataru, who bagged 1,041,500 on Day 1a and remains the only player to cross the seven-figure mark so far. Right behind him is fellow countryman Claudiu-Mihai Burlacu with 763,500, giving Romania the top two spots heading into Day 2. Other big stacks include Fahredin Mustafov (747,000), Paris Dedes (731,000), and Aleksandr Chernikov (721,000), all sitting comfortably above the average.

Play resumes at 12 p.m. local time with blinds at 1,000/2,000 and a 2,000 big blind ante. Levels will go back to 60 minutes for the remainder of the tournament. With big stacks applying pressure and short stacks looking to double, Day 2 promises to be a pivotal stage in the road to the final table.