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$3,300 La Notte Degli Assi
Day 1a Completed
2025 Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series
$3,300 La Notte Degli Assi
Day: 1a
Event Info
2025 Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1a
Buy-in
$3,300
Prize Pool
$2,823,480
Total Entries
1,023
Level
40
Blinds
600,000 / 1,200,000
Ante
1,200,000
Entries
262
Players Left
119
Players Left 1 / 1,023
Filter
Level 8
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Day 1a of the $3,300 La Notte Degli Assi Main Event is in the books, and it got the 2025 edition of the Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series off to a flying start. A total of 262 entries were recorded across the eight 60-minute levels inside the Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino, surpassing last year's Day 1a turnout of 237 despite the increased buy-in.
By the time chips were bagged for the night, 119 players had made it through to Day 2. Leading the charge is Andrei Spataru, who soared past the one-million mark to finish with 1,041,500. He is followed by Aleksandr Chernikov (721,000), Maxime Chilaud (677,500), and Denis Vladimirov (533,000), all of whom will return in strong position when play resumes on Monday.
Day 1a Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andrei Spataru | Romania | 1,041,500 | 521 |
| 2 | Aleksandr Chernikov | Russia | 721,000 | 361 |
| 3 | Maxime Chilaud | France | 677,500 | 339 |
| 4 | Ivan Zabiiakin | Russia | 587,500 | 294 |
| 5 | Denis Vladimirov | Russia | 533,000 | 267 |
| 6 | Xiaosheng Zheng | China | 494,000 | 247 |
| 7 | Grzegorz Kozieja | Poland | 469,000 | 235 |
| 8 | Yilu Yuan | China | 464,000 | 232 |
| 9 | Nina Krasilnikova | Russia | 435,000 | 218 |
| 10 | Darius Neagoe | Romania | 429,500 | 215 |
Other players to finish above average include Grzegorz Kozieja (469,000), Robert Burlacu (263,500), and Nichan Khorchidian (164,500). Khorchidian may have ended the day with a smaller stack, but he’s no stranger to deep runs at Merit.
He won the $3,300 Gatsby Gala Main Event here last year and seemed optimistic once again. During the final level, he pointed out that he was seated at Table 1, Seat 1, and joked that it had to be a sign he was going to win.
For those who didn’t make it through Day 1a, there will be more opportunities to rejoin the action. The tournament allows unlimited reentries across all flights, and late registration remains open until the end of Level 14 on Day 2.
Day 1b kicks off tomorrow at 12 p.m. local time with the same structure as today. Players will start with 100,000 chips and play eight one-hour levels, with 15-minute breaks after every two levels. The $2,000,000 guaranteed prize pool remains the target, and with three more starting flights to come, the tournament is well on its way to another massive field.
Remaining Schedule
| Date | Day | Time | Blind Levels |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 3 | Day 1b | 12 p.m. | 60 minutes |
| August 4 | Day 1c | 12 p.m. | 40 minutes |
| August 4 | Day 1d | 7 p.m. | 25 minutes |
| August 5 | Day 2 | 12 p.m. | 60 minutes |
| August 6 | Day 3 | 12 p.m. | 60 minutes |
| August 7 | Day 4 | 12 p.m. | 60 minutes |
| August 8 | Day 5 | 1 p.m. | 60 minutes |
Stay tuned to PokerNews for continued coverage from the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino as the $3,300 Main Event continues.
Level 8
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Level 8
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Play has been completed at all tables and the 121 survivors are bagging up their chips.
Stay tuned for a recap of the day's action.
Level 8
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
The floor have stopped the clock and announced that four more hands will be played before the survivors bag up.
Level 8
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
On a board of 3♣A♣Q♣4♦, there were around 30,000 in the pot when Soraya Estrada checked from the cutoff and the button bet 10,000. Estrada then raised to 35,000, which was swiftly called by the button.
An 8♠ fell on the river and both quickly knuckled it down, where Estrada showed Q♥10♥ for a pair of queens. The button had that beat with A♠J♠, and Estrada watched the pot head in opponent's direction.
Level 8
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Andrei Spataru, Maxime Chilaud, and Aleksandr Chernikov are among the big stacks late on, with Spataru hitting seven figures not too long ago.
There isn't too much longer left in the day for anybody to knock him off the top spot, but stay tuned to see if he can remain at the top of the counts.
Level 8
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Georgios Tsouloftas with a stack is something that is heard often in Merit Poker events, and today is no exception as the local player has around 450,000 after just stacking Sergey Fedyaev.
The full board of Q♦7♠6♥8♠5♠ was showing and with around 25,000 in the pot, Tsouloftas shoved. Fedyaev had around 20,000 behind and after thinking it over, he called.
Tsouloftas showed a straight with J♦9♦, and Fedyaev made his way to the exit.
Level 8
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
In the 909th episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Kyna England, and Mike Holtz wrap up coverage of the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) by highlighting Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi, who not only won the 2025 WSOP Main Event for $10 million but was also snap-inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame. It was a historic summer for The Grinder, and the crew gave him his just deserts.
They then talk about Shaun Deeb winning the WSOP Player of the Year for a second time, numbers from the summer, and late bracelet winners, including Andrew Ostapchenko, Daniel Zack, and Chad Eveslage. They also share final results from this year's 25K Fantasy Draft as well as the PokerNews Podcast draft involving Christina Gollins and Joey Ingram.
Meanwhile, news out of Las Vegas indicates poker chips can no longer be redeemed across competing properties, and there's a great high hand promotion at the Planet Hollywood Poker Room that players should know about. From there, it's over to the Venetian, including a big hand with Patrick Leonard from Venetian Poker Live, as well as Nico Betbese winning the WPT Venetian for $706K.
Finally, an update of all things PokerStars, including them parting ways with Barny Boatman, Silver Passes, Women's Summer Festival, and a look ahead to the EPT Barcelona.
A new PokerNews Podcast drops every week on Thursdays at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode!
Level 8
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
On a board of J♥8♣5♣3♦, Ivan Zabiiakin fired 8,000 from the small blind into a pot of around 15,000, which Pedro Ingles called from the cutoff.
When the 5♦ fell on the river, Zabiiakin checked it over and Ingles fired 25,500. Without much hesitation, Zabiiakin folded, and Ingles picked up the pot.
