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

01-15-2025 18:13 UTC+2

Chip Counts at the Final Break

Kai Cocklin

Level 9 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Paul Runcan	625,000 25,000	25,000
Ashraf Akeh	620,000 120,000	120,000
Soraya Estrada	440,000 70,000	70,000
Xin Yuan	425,000 295,000	295,000
Konstantin Kvashin	400,000 190,000	190,000
Luke Marsh	400,000 20,000	20,000

Dmitry Gromov	380,000 30,000	30,000

Gaspare Sposato	320,000 100,000	100,000
Pouya Ranjehdel	300,000 25,000	25,000
Evagoras Evagorou	300,000 100,000	100,000
Navid Samavati	280,000 180,000	180,000
Esper Sadek	250,000 250,000	250,000
Sachin Joshi	245,000 25,000	25,000

01-15-2025 18:25 UTC+2

Aydemir Forces Out Ranjehdel

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Kai Cocklin

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
Pouya Ranjehdel	210,000 90,000	90,000
Recep Aydemir	140,000

Tags: Recep Aydemir Pouya Ranjehdel

01-15-2025 18:34 UTC+2

Flashback: Nichan Khorchidian Claims $307,700 and Merit Gatsby Gala Series Main Event Title

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Kai Cocklin

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

Read the Full Recap Here

01-15-2025 18:42 UTC+2

Quinn Doesn't Go With His Gut, Aydemir Benefits

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Kai Cocklin

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
Edward Quinn	380,000 80,000	80,000
Recep Aydemir	180,000 40,000	40,000

Tags: Edward Quinn Recep Aydemir

01-15-2025 18:49 UTC+2

Tekerek Gets a River Shove Through

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Kai Cocklin

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
Huseyin Tekerek	150,000 30,000	30,000

Level: 10

Blinds: 1,000/2,000

Ante: 2,000

01-15-2025 18:54 UTC+2

Last Level of the Day

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Kai Cocklin

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

With the clock just ticking into Level 10, it means just 40 minutes of play remains in the day.

Once this level is over, the surviving players will bag up their chips and come back for Day 2 tomorrow.

01-15-2025 19:02 UTC+2

Yuan Jumps Up the Counts By Stacking Chehade

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Kai Cocklin

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

On a board of 9♠5♣Q♣, Georges Chehade bet 15,000 into a pot of around 20,000, and Xin Yuan made it 45,00 to go. Chehade then shoved for around 100,000, and Yuan quickly called.

Georges Chehade: Q♠10♦ All in
Xin Yuan: Q♥J♦

Chehade was out-kicked and needed to find some help from the board in order to escape elimination. An A♠ on the turn did open up some chop possibilities, but the 4♣ river was no good, which meant Chehade was out.

Yuan now sitting with around 550,000!

Player	Chips	Progress
Xin Yuan	550,000 125,000	125,000
Georges Chehade	Busted

Tags: Georges Chehade Xin Yuan

01-15-2025 19:09 UTC+2

Selected Chip Counts

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Kai Cocklin

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Ashraf Akeh	770,000 150,000	150,000
Paul Runcan	475,000 150,000	150,000
Edward Quinn	450,000 70,000	70,000
Luke Marsh	450,000 50,000	50,000

Soraya Estrada	425,000 15,000	15,000
Dmitry Gromov	400,000 20,000	20,000

Traian Stanciu	250,000 25,000	25,000
Ruslan Bakhtiev	150,000 20,000	20,000
Adrian State	150,000
Nichan Khorchidian	150,000 50,000	50,000
Aylar Lie	130,000 40,000	40,000
Shankui Li	75,000 45,000	45,000

01-15-2025 19:28 UTC+2

Marsh and Yuan Play a Huge Pot at the Buzzer

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Kai Cocklin

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Drama at the bell!

There was an open before Luke Marsh three-bet to 16,000 from the hijack. Xin Yuan then four-bet to 45,000 out of the big blind before Marsh clickec it to 110,000. A rare six-bet from Yuan to 175,000 then followed, which Marsh called.

The flop came 10♠8♣9♥ and Yuan continued for 35,000. Marsh mulled it over for a while before he stuck in the call to see the 8♠ turn, which went check-check.

When the 2♦ dropped on the river, Yuan went into the tank and then moved all in, only to met with a snap-call from Marsh.

Yuan flipped over A♦K♣ for just ace-high, and Marsh showed A♣A♠ for pocket aces to take the huge pot right at the death!