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

01-15-2025 12:57 UTC+2

Akeh Stacks Hasbani

Kai Cocklin

Level 2 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante

After a few limps, Ashraf Akeh made it 4,500 to go from the cutoff and Antoine Hasbani four-bet to 20,000 on the button. A player in the hijack called, and Akeh also called.

With over 60,000 chips in the middle going to the K♠J♠2♦ flop, the hijack checked and Akeh bet 20,000. Hasbani then shoved for around 40,000, the hijack folded, and Akeh called.

Antoine Hasbani: A♥Q♣ All in
Ashraf Akeh: A♠K♥

Hasbani was way behind, but would double up if he could find a ten on either the turn or the river. A Q♥ on the turn meant a ten would only be enough for a chop, but another queen would see Hasbani scoop the pot. However, an 8♠ on the river mean Akeh locked up the pot, which sent Hasbani to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ashraf Akeh	220,000 220,000	220,000
Antoine Hasbani	Busted

Tags: Antoine Hasbani Ashraf Akeh

01-15-2025 13:14 UTC+2

New Additions

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Kai Cocklin

Level 2 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Shankui Li	100,000 100,000	100,000
Paul Newey	100,000 100,000	100,000
Sandra Cotescu	100,000 100,000	100,000
Timur Margolin	100,000 100,000	100,000

Xiaosheng Zheng	100,000 100,000	100,000
Adrian State	100,000 100,000	100,000
Boris Kolev	100,000 100,000	100,000

Mark Helou	100,000
Paul Runcan	100,000

01-15-2025 13:22 UTC+2

State and Runcan Seated on the Same Table

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Kai Cocklin

Level 2 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante

Paul Runcan and Adrian State have not long been in their seats and they were drawn to the same table. After a few hands, it didn't take long for the duo to tangle.

State opened the cutoff to 1,500 and Runcan called from the small blind.

Both checked the 6♦10♦7♣ flop to see the 4♠ drop on the turn, where Runcan bet 2,800, and State called.

A K♠ dropped on the river and Runcan fired a big bet of 12,000 into the pot. After rechecking his cards, State made the fold, and Runcan took round one.

Player	Chips	Progress
Paul Runcan	105,000 5,000	5,000
Adrian State	85,000 15,000	15,000

Tags: Adrian State Paul Runcan

Level: 3

Blinds: 400/800

Ante: 800

01-15-2025 13:29 UTC+2

Akeh Adds to His Stack

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Kai Cocklin

Level 3 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

There were already around 20,000 chips in the pot on a board of J♦6♠4♦J♠ when Ashraf Akeh led out for 10,000 from the small blind, and Konstantin Kvashin called from under the gun.

A 3♥ landed on the river and without a moment's hesitation, Akeh slung out a bet of 25,000, which sent Kvashin into the tank. After around a minute, he decided to fold, and Akeh added to his big stack.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ashraf Akeh	250,000 30,000	30,000
Konstantin Kvashin	75,000

Tags: Ashraf Akeh Konstantin Kvashin

01-15-2025 13:39 UTC+2

Add PokerNews to Your Mobile Home Screen

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Kai Cocklin

Level 3 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

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01-15-2025 13:40 UTC+2

Yuan Rivers a Flush, Gets Amiri to Pay

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Kai Cocklin

Level 3 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

With around 30,000 chips already in the middle on a 4♦J♦A♥2♦10♥ board, Ehsan Amiri had fired 15,000 from the small blind, and Xin Yuan made it 50,000 to go out of the big blind.

Amiri was in the tank for some time and after around two minutes, he settled on a call.

Yuan then flipped Q♦10♦ for a flush, and Amiri flashed the A♦ before he mucked.

Player	Chips	Progress
Xin Yuan	150,000 150,000	150,000
Ehsan Amiri	110,000 110,000	110,000

Tags: Ehsan Amiri Xin Yuan

01-15-2025 13:49 UTC+2

Set Over Set Goes Ranjehdel's Way

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Kai Cocklin

Level 3 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Pouya Ranjehdel was seen raking in a big pot and sending Sachin Joshi to the rail at the same time.

It seemed all the chips got in the middle on a board of 6♣J♣10♣Q♠, in a spot where Joshi had one out.

Sachin Joshi: 6♥6♠ All in
Pouya Ranjehdel: Q♣Q♦

Joshi couldn't find his one-oputer as the K♠ completed the board, which meant Ranjehdel jumped up the leaderboard.

Player	Chips	Progress
Pouya Ranjehdel	240,000 140,000	140,000
Sachin Joshi	Busted

Tags: Pouya Ranjehdel Sachin Joshi

01-15-2025 14:01 UTC+2

Lie Lead-Shoves the River

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Kai Cocklin

Level 3 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Aylar Lie made it 1,800 to go from under the gun and Yaniv Shushan three-bet from the next seat to 4,000. The button called, and Lie also called.

On the 3♣10♠2♠ flop, Lie checked and Shushan bet 5,100. The button called, and Lie called.

When the 6♦ dropped on the turn, Lie checked for a second time and Shushan continued to fire, this time for 15,000. Again, both the button and Lie called.

The 4♣ landed on the river and after a few seconds, Lie stacked all of her chips into one pile and moved them into the middle. Shushan went deep into the tank and after around a minute, he folded, as did the button, which meant Lie took the pot.