$2,200 Warm Up Day 1a | 2025 Merit Poker Western Series

01-14-2025 15:48 UTC+2

Vikayev Busts Bekbayev

Kai Cocklin

Level 5 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Askar Bekbayev shoved for 15,000 from under the gun and Fredrico Senno called from the next seat. Adlan Vikayev also called from the small blind.

Both active players checked the 7♥8♥J♠ flop and Vikayev led out for 15,000 on the 4♥ turn. Senno folded.

Askar Bekbayev: K♦10♦ All in
Adlan Vikayev: 4♠4♦

Bekbayev did have outs to a nine, but couldn't find it as the 7♣ completed the runout, which meant he hit the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Fredrico Senno	190,000 25,000	25,000
Adlan Vikayev	140,000 10,000	10,000
Askar Bekbayev	Busted

Tags: Adlan Vikayev Askar Bekbayev Fredrico Senno

01-14-2025 15:54 UTC+2

Kashani Puts a Tiny Dent in Tulepbergenov's Stack

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Kai Cocklin

Level 5 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

With just over 20,000 chips in the middle on a flop of J♠10♣9♠, both Arian Kashani and Azamat Tulepbergenov checked from the blinds to see the 6♥ drop on the turn. Kashani checked, Tulepbergenov bet 7,700, and Kashani called.

A 3♠ landed on the river and both players knuckled the table, then Kashani announced that he had a nine. Tulepbergenov gave the nod of approval and mucked when he saw the 9♦7♦ of Kashani.

Despite that small setback, Tulepbergenov is still cruising with well over 300,000 in his stack.

Player	Chips	Progress
Azamat Tulepbergenov	330,000 120,000	120,000

Arian Kashani	135,000 25,000	25,000

Tags: Arian Kashani Azamat Tulepbergenov

01-14-2025 16:04 UTC+2

Noja Almost Folds

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Kai Cocklin

Level 5 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

With around 10,000 chips in the pot on a 8♦Q♣J♦6♦ board, Danielle Noja fired out 4,500 from the big blind and Atilla Saracoglu raised to 12,500. After thinking it over, Noja called.

A 10♦ put a fourth diamond on board, which was quickly checked by both players. Noja showed K♥Q♦ for a flush, and Saracoglu shook his head before he mucked.

"I almost folded," said Noja as he raked in the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Danielle Noja	200,000
Atilla Saracoglu	80,000 30,000	30,000

Tags: Atilla Saracoglu Danielle Noja

01-14-2025 16:14 UTC+2

Ban Takes it Down on the River

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Kai Cocklin

Level 5 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Alisa Sibgatova had raised from under the gun and got a call from Maksim Ban in middle position.

They saw a flop of 2♥2♠7♠ where Sibgatova continued for 4,500, and Ban called.

The 10♥ turn was checked through to the 7♥ river where Sibgatova thought for some time before she checked, then Ban pounced at the chance to bet and put out 12,500. Sibgatova quickly folded.

Player	Chips	Progress
Maksim Ban	100,000
Alisa Sibgatova	85,000 10,000	10,000

Tags: Alisa Sibgatova Maksim Ban

Level: 6

Blinds: 800/1,500

Ante: 1,500

01-14-2025 16:24 UTC+2

Selected Chip Counts

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Kai Cocklin

Level 6 : Blinds 800/1,500, 1,500 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Robbie Schiffbauer	300,000 15,000	15,000
Fredrico Senno	230,000 40,000	40,000
Fabio Peluso	200,000

Panayiotis Vassiliou	180,000 80,000	80,000
Arian Kashani	160,000 25,000	25,000
Nichan Khorchidian	150,000
Aylar Lie	130,000
Grigorii Rodin	110,000 15,000	15,000
Tom Verbruggen	100,000
Zoja Fleischer	80,000 40,000	40,000
Paul Newey	70,000 30,000	30,000
Abdullah Akbarpoor	25,000 80,000	80,000

01-14-2025 16:33 UTC+2

Brockmann Down to 20 Big Blinds

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Kai Cocklin

Level 6 : Blinds 800/1,500, 1,500 ante

There were around 20,000 chips already in the middle on a board of K♦7♦4♥J♣ when Henrik Brockmann checked from under the gun and Irina Zheleznyak fired out 10,500 in the hijack. Brockmann called.

When the 10♦ landed on the river, Zheleznyak shoved, and Brockmann instantly folded Q♦Q♠ face up. Zheleznyak didn't show, but scooped in the pot, which left her stack at around 85,000. Brockmann, however, only has around 30,000 to play with.

Player	Chips	Progress
Irina Zheleznyak	85,000
Henrik Brockmann	30,000 50,000	50,000

Tags: Irina Zheleznyak Henrik Brockmann

01-14-2025 16:40 UTC+2

Vikayev's Flop Raise Enough; Brockmann Keeps Dwindling

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Kai Cocklin

Level 6 : Blinds 800/1,500, 1,500 ante

Stanislaw Grodek opened to 3,500 from early position and both Adlan Vikayev & Henrik Brockmann called from the blinds.

On the 8♦8♥A♠ flop, it checked to Grodek, who fired out a small continuation-bet of 3,000. Vikayev then increased the price of poker to 13,000, which got two quick folds from Brockmann and Grodek.

Player	Chips	Progress
Adlan Vikayev	200,000 60,000	60,000
Stanislaw Grodek	95,000 95,000	95,000
Henrik Brockmann	25,000 5,000	5,000

Tags: Adlan Vikayev Henrik Brockmann Stanislaw Grodek

01-14-2025 16:50 UTC+2

Rodin Snap-Folds to Sarais' Turn Shove

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Kai Cocklin

Level 6 : Blinds 800/1,500, 1,500 ante

Grigorii Rodin opened from early position to 3,000 and Matteo Sarais three-bet from the big blind to 11,500. Rodin called.

They went to a flop of Q♠8♦5♥ where Sarais continued with a sizing of 8,400, which Rodin called after some time.

With around 28,000 left in his stack. Sarais pushed them all into the middle on the A♦ turn, and Rodin snap-folded.

Player	Chips	Progress
Grigorii Rodin	110,000
Matteo Sarais	70,000

Tags: Grigorii Rodin Matteo Sarais

01-14-2025 16:56 UTC+2

Final Break

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Kai Cocklin

Level 6 : Blinds 800/1,500, 1,500 ante

The remaining players are heading on their second and final 20-minute break of the day.

When the return, four more 40-minute levels will be played before the survivors bag up.