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

01-16-2025 22:23 UTC+2

Sapiano Holds On with Pocket Fives

Tim Baker

Level 22 : Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante

Albert Sapiano limped under the gun before Dan Borlan raised to 75,000 out of the small blind. Sapiano called.

Heads-up to a flop of 6♦9♥4♥ which both players checked for the A♣ to fall on the turn. Borlan bet 45,000, which Sapiano called.

The 6♣ river checked through and Sapinao flipped over 5♥5♠ for just a pair of fives to take down the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dan Borlan	1,500,000 100,000	100,000
Albert Sapiano	900,000 150,000	150,000

Tags: Dan Borlan Albert Sapiano

01-16-2025 22:25 UTC+2

Player	Chips	Progress
Kianoosh Matin	1,700,000
Danielle Noja	1,500,000 400,000	400,000
Grigorii Rodin	1,300,000 400,000	400,000
Zhen Chen	1,200,000 200,000	200,000
Philip Joyce	1,150,000 150,000	150,000
Lachezar Petkov	800,000 50,000	50,000

Joseph Choufani	500,000 350,000	350,000
Sofia Merkulova	500,000 115,000	115,000
Alisa Sibgatova	400,000 50,000	50,000
Xiaosheng Zheng	350,000 100,000	100,000
Nemo Koering	300,000 25,000	25,000

Hand-For-Hand Begins

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Kai Cocklin

Level 22 : Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante

There are currently 65 players remaining in the Warm Up and 63 players will be paid.

The dealers have been instructed by the floor to deal hand-for-hand until two more players have been eliminated.

01-16-2025 22:38 UTC+2

Lupuleac's Tens Send Koering's Big Slick Home

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Kai Cocklin

Level 22 : Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante

Nemo Koering made it 155,000 from middle position, leaving himself about the same behind. When the action got to Alexandru Lupuleac in the small blind, he shoved for about 330,000. After waiting for some time, Koering called.

Nemo Koering: A♠K♣ All in
Alexandru Lupuleac: 10♣10♥

It was a flip that both players desperately needed to win, but as Lupuleac pointed out, even if he lost he would be on the button and could potentially fold his way to the money.

The flop of 9♣8♣J♥ was all Lupuleac's as he improved to an open-ended straight draw. A J♦ turn made that draw insignificant, and the 6♥ river meant Koering was eliminated two from the money.

Player	Chips	Progress
Alexandru Lupuleac	650,000
Nemo Koering	Busted

Tags: Alexandru Lupuleac

Level: 23

Blinds: 15,000/30,000

Ante: 30,000

01-16-2025 22:55 UTC+2

Varnaev Bubbles the $2,200 Warm Up Event

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Tim Baker

Level 23 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

With Sergei Varnaev forced all-in in the big blind for his last 30,000, Sofia Merkulova opened the button with a raise to 60,000. The player in the small blind folded, and once the floor staff arrived at the table to announce the action the cards were revealed.

Sergei Varnaev: 4♦4♣ All in
Sofia Merkulova: Q♦6♥

Varnaev had found a pair and was in a flip which he had to win to keep the tournament on the direct bubble. However, the Q♥3♥5♣ flop propelled Merkulova firmly into the lead with top pair. The K♥ came on the turn, which meant only a river four would keep the tournament on the bubble. But when the 7♠ came, Varnaev was sent to the rail, and the remaining 63 players had all guaranteed themselves a payday.

Player	Chips	Progress
Sofia Merkulova	590,000 90,000	90,000
Sergei Varnaev	Busted

Tags: Sergei Varnaev Sofia Merkulova

01-16-2025 22:56 UTC+2

Reichenstein First to the Payout Desk

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Kai Cocklin

Level 23 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Just after the money bubble burst, Uri Reichenstein shoved for 80,000 from the hijack and was called by both Xin Yuan on the button & Zhen Chen in the big blind.

The action was checked to showdown on the 7♣7♠K♠10♣K♣ runout where Reichenstein showed J♠9♦, Chen showed 9♥8♥, but Yuan had the winner holding A♥3♥ for just ace-high.

It always pays to have an ace in the hole!

Player	Chips	Progress
Zhen Chen	1,250,000 50,000	50,000
Xin Yuan	1,200,000 300,000	300,000
Uri Reichenstein	Busted

Tags: Uri Reichenstein Xin Yuan Zhen Chen

01-16-2025 23:05 UTC+2

Sapiano Climbing the Counts

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Kai Cocklin

Level 23 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

On a board of 9♦5♦4♠6♦ with around 600,000 chips already in the pot, Albert Sapiano in the small blind and Kianoosh Matin in the big blind both tapped the table.

A 10♦ on the river put four diamonds on board and Sapiano put out a teasing bet of 100,000. Despite being all-fired unwilling to put another dime into the pot, Matin eventually stuck in a call.

Sapiano then calmly rolled over 9♥8♦ for a flush, and Matin shook his head as he mucked.

Player	Chips	Progress
Albert Sapiano	1,500,000 600,000	600,000
Kianoosh Matin	1,100,000 600,000	600,000

Tags: Albert Sapiano Kianoosh Matin

01-16-2025 23:08 UTC+2

Fata Takes From the Big Stack

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Tim Baker

Level 23 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Georgios Skarparis raised to 65,000 from the button with Mario Fata defending out of the big blind.

Fata check-called a bet of 40,000 from Skarparis on the Q♠Q♥9♣ flop to see the 6♣ drop on the turn. Both players checked and the 8♦ hit the river. Fata led out for 150,000 and Skarparis folded his cards.