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

01-16-2025 22:55 UTC+2

Varnaev Bubbles the $2,200 Warm Up Event

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

Level: 23

Blinds: 15,000/30,000

Ante: 30,000

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

01-16-2025 22:28 UTC+2

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 22:25 UTC+2

Selected Chip Counts

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Kai Cocklin

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

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

01-16-2025 22:23 UTC+2

Sapiano Holds On with Pocket Fives

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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 22:15 UTC+2

State Soft Bubbles After Clash With Estrada

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Kai Cocklin

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

Soraya Estrada recalled a hand where she managed to eliminate Adrian State.

The action had folded around to State in the small blind, who shoved for around 350,000. Estrada had a slightly covering stack in the big blind and after thinking it over, she elected to call.

Adrian State: Ax7x All in
Soraya Estrada: AxJx

Estrada's hand held up, and State was sent on his way just a few places from the money.

Player	Chips	Progress
Soraya Estrada	800,000 400,000	400,000
Adrian State	Busted

Tags: Adrian State Soraya Estrada

01-16-2025 22:11 UTC+2

Colavita Flops Broadway, Stacks Al-Barwani

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Kai Cocklin

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

Ghassan Al-Barwani shoved for 85,000 from under the gun and Andrei Roscan called from middle position. Mario Colavita then made it 200,000 from the hijack, and when the action got back to Roscan, he folded.

Ghassan Al-Barwani: A♠9♣ All in
Mario Colavita: K♠10♠

Al-Barwani was in a great spot to more than triple-up, but that dream took a huge step towards becoming a distant memory as the J♣Q♠A♦ flop gave Colavita Broadway. A 5♥ on the turn sealed the deal, with the meaningless 10♣ completing the board.

Player	Chips	Progress
Andrei Roscan	1,000,000
Mario Colavita	900,000 50,000	50,000
Ghassan Al-Barwani	Busted

Tags: Andrei Roscan Ghassan Al-Barwani Mario Colavita

01-16-2025 22:08 UTC+2

Rodin Sends Gromov to the Rail

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Tim Baker

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

There was a late position raise to 40,000 with Dmitry Gromov calling on the button before Grigorii Rodin squeezed all in with a stack that covered both players. The initial raiser folded, but Gromov called for his remaining 350,000.

Dmitry Gromov: K♦J♦ All in
Grigorii Rodin: 10♠10♦

Gromov needed to win this flip to have a chance of making the money. However, the board ran out 7♦4♣4♥2♥Q♣, which kept Rodin's pocket tens ahead the whole way, sending Gromov out of the tournament.

Player	Chips	Progress
Grigorii Rodin	1,700,000 650,000	650,000
Dmitry Gromov	Busted

Tags: Dmitry Gromov Grigorii Rodin

01-16-2025 21:55 UTC+2

Estrada's Flopped Flush Sends Arthur Out

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Kai Cocklin

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

Thiriart Arthur moved all in for his last 150,000 and was put at risk by Soraya Estrada.

Thiriart Arthur: J♠10♣ All in
Soraya Estrada: A♣Q♣

Arthur had live cards but was drawing extremely thin after the 4♣K♣J♣ flop gave Estrada a flush. The Royal Flush draw was dead as Arthur held the missing piece in his hand, but the Q♠9♥ runout locked up the pot for Estrada and sent Arthur packing.

Player	Chips	Progress
Soraya Estrada	400,000 200,000	200,000
Thiriart Arthur	Busted
Danut Chisu	Busted

Tags: Soraya Estrada Thiriart Arthur