Level: 10
Blinds: 1,000/2,000
Ante: 2,000
2025 Merit Poker Western Series
$2,200 Warm Up
Day: 1bc
Event Info
2025 Merit Poker Western Series
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1bc
Buy-in
$2,200
Prize Pool
$921,840
Entries
501
Level
35
Blinds
250,000 / 500,000
Ante
500,000
Entries
223
Players Left
150
Players Left 1 / 501
Filter
Level 9
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
On a board of 4♦5♥9♠Q♦, Huseyin Tekerek checked it over to the player on the button, who bet 11,500 into the pot of around 20,000. Tekerek then raised to 35,000, and the button called.
A K♥ landed on the river and Tekerek immediately shoved for around 80,000, which put the button to the test for his remaining 50,000. Around a minute passed before the button folded, and Tekerek took down the pot as play is about to enter the last level.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
150,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
Level 9
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
There were around 100,000 chips already in the middle on a board of 7♥3♠5♥9♣ when Recep Aydemir shoved for around 85,000 from the cutoff. Edward Quinn was the only other player in the hand and after thinking it over, he decided to give it up.
"Flush draw is good," said Quinn.
"You want to see?" responded Aydemir, who then moved both of his cards toward the muck.
"It's up to you," replied Quinn.
Aydemir then flipped over the 2♥ with a chuckle before he mucked.
"I knew it! Nice hand," said Quinn with a smile.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
380,000
80,000
|
80,000 |
|
180,000
40,000
|
40,000 |
Level 9
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
After a runner-up finish in last year’s Merit Poker Western Series $3,300 Main Event, Nichan Khorchidian claimed victory at the Merit Poker Gatsby Gala Series $3,300 Main Event to close out 2024. Battling through a competitive 614-entry field, Khorchidian emerged triumphant, earning a career-best score of $307,700.
Khorchidian’s path to victory was a mix of skill, intuition, and his unmistakable personality. Known for his chatty and friendly presence at the table, he played the tournament on his terms, blending bold moves with sharp reads and a genuine love for the game. From managing one of the largest stacks throughout the event to embracing the dynamics of every situation, Khorchidian’s triumph wasn’t just about the numbers - it was about staying true to himself and enjoying every moment of the journey.
2024 Merit Poker Gatsby Gala Series $3,300 Main Event Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nichan Khorchidian | Lebanon | $307,700 |
| 2 | Bogdan Jontulovic | Serbia | $211,400 |
| 3 | Dmitry Gromov | Russia | $142,470 |
| 4 | Anton Wigg | Sweden | $102,570 |
| 5 | Vedat Yilmaz | Turkey | $76,930 |
| 6 | Adrian State | Romania | $61,640 |
| 7 | Andrey Pateychuk | Russia | $51,300 |
| 8 | Naji Tannoury | Lebanon | $40,930 |
| 9 | Felipe Ketzer | Brazil | $30,770 |
Level 9
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
With around 40,000 chips already in the pot on a J♥10♦6♠2♣ board, Pouya Ranjehdel fired 12,000 from the small blind and Recep Aydemir made it 35,000 to go. Ranjehdel was thinking for some time, but eventually settled on a fold, and forfeited the post to Aydemir.
Aydemir finished second in the 2023 Western Series Warm Up and is back in action again trying to claim the title that he so narrowly missed out on two years ago. Right now, he has around 140,000 to work with as the day starts to wind down in this penultimate level.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
210,000
90,000
|
90,000 |
|
|
140,000 |
Level 9
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
625,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
620,000
120,000
|
120,000 |
|
440,000
70,000
|
70,000 |
|
425,000
295,000
|
295,000 |
|
400,000
190,000
|
190,000 |
|
400,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
|
||
|
380,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
|
||
|
320,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
|
300,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
|
300,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
280,000
180,000
|
180,000 |
|
250,000
250,000
|
250,000 |
|
245,000
25,000
|
25,000 |
Level: 9
Blinds: 1,000/2,000
Ante: 2,000
Level 8
: Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante
Players are heading on a final 10-minute break of the day.
When the return, two more 40-minute levels will be played before the survivors bag up for the evening.
Level 8
: Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante
Aibek Kozhomzharov raised to 3,500 from under the gun and Andrei Spataru called from middle position. The big blind also came along.
On the A♣Q♣7♦ flop, the big blind checked and Kozhomzharov fired 5,000. Spataru called, and the big blind folded.
When the K♠ dropped on the turn, Kozhomzharov continued to fire with a bet of 11,000, and Spataru once again stuck around.
A 6♣ landed on the river and Kozhomzharov eyed up his opponent's stack, then bet 60,000. Spataru had around 57,000 behind and went into the tank for some time before he elected to fold.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
600,000
230,000
|
230,000 |
|
220,000
95,000
|
95,000 |
|
57,000 |
Level 8
: Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante
There was a raise from early position to 3,000 and Ehsan Amiri three-bet to 11,000 from late position. Berzan Temiz then shoved for 33,000 from the button, which only Amiri called.
Berzan Temiz: A♥10♥ 
Ehsan Amiri: 7♣7♦
It was a fair flip that looked to be going the way of Temiz after the 5♠5♦A♦ flop gave him top pair. A Q♠ on the turn put Temiz one step closer to a double-up, and the 9♠ river earned him the check mark.
Despite that small setback, Amiri still has around 160,000 in his stack, while Temiz climbed to around 70,000.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
160,000
80,000
|
80,000 |
|
|
70,000
10,000
|
10,000 |
