Final Table Beckons as Day 3 of the $2,200 Warm Up Kicks Off at Noon
The $2,200 Warm Up at the 2025 Merit Poker Western Series charges into Day 3 today at 12:00 p.m. local time, with just 38 players remaining from the original 501-strong field. After a grueling Day 2 that saw players battle through 14 levels, the stakes are higher than ever as the tournament closes in on its final table inside the Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino.
Leading the charge is Georgios Skarparis, who bagged an impressive 3,400,000 chips to sit at the summit of the counts. Hot on his heels is Mario Fata, with 3,135,000, while Gaspare Sposato rounds out the top three with 2,555,000. These players will look to cement their positions as the field narrows toward the final nine.
Day 3 Top Ten Chip Counts
| Place | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgios Skarparis | Cyprus | 3,400,000 | 68 |
| 2 | Mario Fata | France | 3,135,000 | 63 |
| 3 | Gaspare Sposato | Italy | 2,555,000 | 51 |
| 4 | Danielle Noja | Lebanon | 2,190,000 | 44 |
| 5 | Xin Yuan | China | 2,160,000 | 43 |
| 6 | Andrei Roscan | Romania | 2,095,000 | 42 |
| 7 | Albert Sapiano | United Kingdom | 2,000,000 | 40 |
| 8 | Dan Borlan | Romania | 1,905,000 | 38 |
| 9 | Ali Zebarjad | Iran | 1,860,000 | 37 |
| 10 | Konstantin Kvashin | Russia | 1,860,000 | 37 |
Among the notables returning for Day 3 are Danielle Noja (2,190,000), Dan Borlan (1,905,000), and Kianoosh Matin (1,810,000), all poised for deep runs.
Bracelet winners Darius Neagoe, Boris Kolev and the chip leader Skarparis remain in contention, while Alisa Sibgatova will return as the tournament's short stack with 110,000.
Remaining Payouts
| Place | Prize | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $180,200 | 10-12 | $13,180 |
| 2 | $121,100 | 13-15 | $10,695 |
| 3 | $86,040 | 16-18 | $9,220 |
| 4 | $60,070 | 19-21 | $8,020 |
| 5 | $45,050 | 22-24 | $7,190 |
| 6 | $36,140 | 25-26 | $6,360 |
| 7 | $30,035 | 27-35 | $5,530 |
| 8 | $24,025 | 36-38 | $4,790 |
| 9 | $18,020 |
Play will resume with blinds at 25,000/50,000 with a big blind ante of 50,000, and the plan is to battle down to the final table of nine players. Each hand carries immense weight as players edge closer to the $180,200 top prize.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for all the live updates as the tournament reaches its penultimate stage and the race to the final table heats up!