Adrian State & Dawid Smolka Among 50 Returning For Day 4
After three wild days of action at the Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino, the 2025 Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series continues today with Day 4 of the $3,300 La Notte Degli Assi. Just 50 players remain from the record-setting 1,023-entry field, and by the end of play, the final table will be set.
They’re now deep in the money, with all survivors guaranteed at least $9,400, but eyes are fixed on the top-heavy prize pool. A total of $2,823,480 is up for grabs, including $460,000 up top for the eventual champion, plus six-figure scores for each of the top five finishers.
Russia’s Aleksandr Chernikov leads the charge after a dominant Day 3 that saw him bag an imposing 6,560,000, giving him a wide lead heading into today's play. Adrian State (4,415,000) and Maksim Shornikau (4,045,000) round out the top three, while Dawid Smolka (3,780,000) continues his pursuit of the elusive Merit Poker triple crown.
Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aleksandr Chernikov | Russia | 6,560,000 | 131 |
| 2 | Adrian State | Romania | 4,415,000 | 88 |
| 3 | Maksim Shornikau | Belarus | 4,045,000 | 81 |
| 4 | Dawid Smolka | Poland | 3,780,000 | 76 |
| 5 | Uri Reichenstein | Israel | 3,770,000 | 75 |
| 6 | Krasimir Yankov | Bulgaria | 3,445,000 | 69 |
| 7 | Milos Miskovic | Serbia | 3,355,000 | 67 |
| 8 | Haydar Issa | Lebanon | 3,295,000 | 66 |
| 9 | Tommy G | San Marino | 3,245,000 | 65 |
| 10 | Changyang Liu | China | 3,195,000 | 64 |
Other big stacks include Uri Reichenstein, Krasimir Yankov, Nicolas Chouity, and Milos Miskovic, all within striking distance. Also still in the hunt is Xiaosheng Zheng, winner of the IPO Master earlier this series, and Alessio Isaia, the decorated Italian pro, both of whom will need to spin up shorter stacks if they want a seat at tomorrow’s final table.
Play resumes at Level 26 with blinds at 25,000/50,000 and a 50,000 big blind ante. Levels remain 60 minutes in duration, and tournament staff will pause the clock when the unofficial final table of nine is reached.
Remaining Payouts
With dream paydays on the horizon, the spotlight heats up here in North Cyprus. Follow along with PokerNews throughout the day for chip counts, key hands, and all the drama as we get closer to crowning the next La Notte Degli Assi champion.