| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted | |
|
Busted |
With around 900,000 already in the pot on a board of 6♦6♣7♦10♠, Gabriel Akiki jammed from the big blind, and Ahmad Abdelhadi went into the tank from under the gun. The jam was for Abdelhadi's remaining 1,000,000, and after thinking it over for quite some time, Abdelhadi slammed in the call.
Ahmad Abdelhadi: 8♣8♠ 
Gabriel Akiki: K♦J♣
Akiki had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar by Abdelhadi, but he could hit a king or jack on the river to win the pot and bust Abdelhadi. The dealer delivered the K♠ on the river to give Akiki the best hand with a pair of kings.
Akiki shouted, "Yes, yes baby!" , while Abdelhadi quietly headed to collect his payout.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
4,800,000
2,835,000
|
2,835,000 |
|
Busted |
Tim Gerwig had his stack of around 1,200,000 in from the button, and Cheng Zhao had put in the chips from the cutoff to try and thin down the field.
Tim Gerwig: K♦Q♣
Cheng Zhao: A♠K♠
Gerwig was way behind, and couldn't find a way out as the K♥4♣6♦9♣9♠ runout meant he was out-kicked.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
3,700,000
725,000
|
725,000 |
|
Busted |
Aleksandr Razinkov limped in from the small blind and Milos Miskovic checked his option out of the big blind to see the 5♣10♠A♠ flop, where Razinkov fired 50,000.
Miskovic came along with a call to see the 3♣ on the turn, and was faced with another bet as Razinkov put in 150,000. Miskovic took some time and then put in a raise to 650,000, which put the action back on Razinkov. After around 30 seconds, Razinkov folded and showed the 10♣ as he did so.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
3,500,000
145,000
|
145,000 |
|
||
|
2,200,000
50,000
|
50,000 |
Vadim Kazykhanov jammed under the gun for 400,000, and when it folded to Viacheslav Goryachev in the hijack, he moved all in himself for 925,000. The remainder of the table folded, and the cards were tabled.
Vadim Kazykhanov: 10♥9♥
Viacheslav Goryachev: A♦K♦
Kazykhanov started the day second from the bottom in the chip counts, so he was bound to try and double up early. Although Kazykhanov was behind Goryachev's Big Slick, he did have live cards working for him.
The 10♠5♠2♦ flop put Kazykhanov in the lead with a pair of tens. The rest of the board ran out 2♠8♥ and Kazykhanov doubled up through Goryachev.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
925,000
375,000
|
375,000 |
|
500,000
500,000
|
500,000 |
Nebi Baysal limped in from under the gun and Elena Yasyuchenya made it 185,000 from the hijack. Nicolas Chouity called on the button, as did Fadi Nakhoul in the big blind, before Baysal bumped it up to 750,000. Yasyuchenya then shoved for around 2,450,000, Chouity and Nakhoul folded, and Baysal quickly called with a slightly covering stack.
Elena Yasyuchenya: Q♥Q♣
Nebi Baysal: A♥K♣
It was a huge flip early on Day 4, and the winner would join the ranks of the chip leaders. It was Baysal who took the lead on the 6♦10♥K♠ flop as he paired his king, leaving Yasyuchenya with just two outs.
Some more outs arrived for Yasyuchenya on the 9♦ turn in the form of a gutshot, but the 8♣ river was of no use, ending her run.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
5,500,000
3,070,000
|
3,070,000 |
|
2,200,000
200,000
|
200,000 |
|
||
|
1,900,000
225,000
|
225,000 |
|
Busted | |
Adrian State raised to 100,000 under the gun before Aleksandr Razinkov three-bet to 260,000 from the button. Xiaosheng Zheng four-bet to 1,000,000 from the big blind, which forced State to fold. Razinkov called with just 10,000 behind.
The last of Razinkov's chips got into the middle on the 10♣9♣2♣ flop, with Zheng making the call.
Aleksandr Razinkov: K♣K♥
Xiaosheng Zheng: Q♥Q♦
Razinkov was way out in front with the higher pair and the flush draw. Zheng needed a one-outer queen to send Razinkov to the rail. The 6♣ turn left Zheng drawing dead, as the 5♠ on the river cemented Razinkov's double-up.
Zheng was left with just two big blinds after the hand and was eliminated very soon after.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
4,400,000
15,000
|
15,000 |
|
|
2,250,000
1,060,000
|
1,060,000 |
|
Busted |
Cards are in the air and play has started on Day 4 of the $3,300 La Notte Degli Assi.
Level: 26
Blinds: 25,000/50,000
Ante: 50,000
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.
| 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.
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.
