2025 Merit Poker Western Series

$2,200 Warm Up
Day: 3
Event Info
2025 Merit Poker Western Series
Final Results
Winner
Prize
$180,200
Event Info
Buy-in
$2,200
Prize Pool
$921,840
Total Entries
501
Places Paid
63
Level Info
Level
35
Blinds
250,000 / 500,000
Ante
500,000
Players Info - Day 3
Entries
38
Players Left
9
Players Left 1 / 501

Chen Finds a Miracle to Crack Paunescu's Aces

Level 29 : Blinds 50,000/125,000, 125,000 ante

Nicolae Paunescu raised to 250,000 from the hijack and Zhen Chen shoved for 1,905,000 out of the small blind. After the big blind folded Paunescu snap-called.

Zhen Chen: A♣10♦ All in
Nicolae Paunescu: A♥A♠

Chen was in the worst possible shape he could be against the aces of Paunescu and would need to use his 'one-time' to survive this one.

The 10♣5♥3♣ flop gave Chen some hope with a pair of tens. The dealer dropped the miracle 10♥ on the turn to put Chen firmly in the lead with trips. There was no one outer on the river for Paunescu as the Q♣ fell, and Chen stayed alive in the tournament.

Tags: Nicolae PaunescuZhen Chen