$3,300 Main Event | 2025 Merit Poker Western Series

01-26-2025 15:18 UTC+2

Skanis Tries to Trap With Cowboys

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Kai Cocklin

Level 35 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Mario Colavita raised to 800,000 from early position and Renars Skanis called in the hijack.

Both checked the A♦J♥3♥ flop to the 4♣ turn, where Colavita check-called a bet of 600,000.

The 7♣ river also went check-check and Skanis took the pot with K♠K♣.

Player	Chips	Progress
Renars Skanis	11,500,000

Mario Colavita	6,800,000 1,700,000	1,700,000

Tags: Mario Colavita Renars Skanis

01-26-2025 15:26 UTC+2

Ruggeri's Ace Good at Showdown

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Kai Cocklin

Level 35 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Mario Colavita raised the button to 900,000 and Umberto Ruggeri called from the big blind.

On the A♦2♠6♣ flop, Ruggeri check-called a bet of 400,000 from Colavita to the 3♥ turn, where Ruggeri again check-called when Colavita bet 800,000.

A Q♦ on the river went check-check, and Ruggeri's A♣9♠ was good for the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Umberto Ruggeri	9,300,000 1,900,000	1,900,000
Mario Colavita	6,300,000 500,000	500,000

Tags: Mario Colavita Umberto Ruggeri

01-26-2025 15:39 UTC+2

Break Time

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Kai Cocklin

Level 35 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Players are on a 15-minute break.

01-26-2025 15:41 UTC+2

Updated Chip Counts

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Kai Cocklin

Level 35 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Muhtar Taysi	15,000,000 5,500,000	5,500,000
Xiaosheng Zheng	11,100,000 2,900,000	2,900,000
Renars Skanis	11,000,000 500,000	500,000

Mario Colavita	9,400,000 3,100,000	3,100,000
Umberto Ruggeri	9,200,000 100,000	100,000
Mihai Niste	7,900,000
Ryan Mandara	6,100,000 1,900,000	1,900,000

Alexander Sokolovsky	6,000,000 1,000,000	1,000,000
Edward Quinn	3,200,000 1,300,000	1,300,000

Level: 36

Blinds: 250,000/500,000

Ante: 500,000

01-26-2025 16:04 UTC+2

Sokolovsky Gets Out of Jail

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Kai Cocklin

Level 36 : Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante

Alexander Sokolovsky made it 3,500,000 from under the gun and Xiaosheng Zheng shoved for over 11,000,000 from the next seat. The action folded back to Sokolovsky, who immediately called for his remaining 2,500,000.

Alexander Sokolovsky: A♥K♠ All in
Xiaosheng Zheng: A♠A♦

Sokolovsky was in a deep, dark hole and didn't get much help on the 8♠5♦4♣ flop. However, an opportunity to escape elimination came on the 3♠ turn as both players picked up a gutshot.

"Deuce!" shouted Muhtar Taysi.

Taysi must be able to see the future as the 2♣ rolled off on the river, which meant the pot was chopped and Sokolovsky escaped elimination.

Player	Chips	Progress
Xiaosheng Zheng	11,600,000 500,000	500,000
Alexander Sokolovsky	6,500,000 500,000	500,000

Tags: Alexander Sokolovsky Muhtar Taysi Xiaosheng Zheng

01-26-2025 16:17 UTC+2

Colavita Stuns Skanis to Take the Chip Lead

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Kai Cocklin

Level 36 : Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante

Renars Skanis raised to 1,000,000 from middle position and Mario Colavita called from the big blind.

They went to a flop of Q♦7♠2♦ where Colavita check-called a bet of 1,000,000 from Skanis to see the 9♦ drop on the turn. Again Colavita checked, Skanis fired 2,000,000, and Colavita slid forward a stack of calling chips.

A board-pairing 9♥ fell on the river and Colavita checked for a third time, then Skanis shoved. Colavita had 4,700,000 behind and was burning through his time banks. Eventually, after using three, Colavita tossed in a chip to signify a call.

"Good call," said Skanis as he rolled over A♣6♣. Colavita flipped K♠Q♣ for a pair of queens, and took the chip lead with that huge call!

Player	Chips	Progress
Mario Colavita	17,200,000 7,800,000	7,800,000
Renars Skanis	3,400,000 7,600,000	7,600,000

Tags: Renars Skanis Mario Colavita

01-26-2025 16:29 UTC+2

Skanis Claws Some Back

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Kai Cocklin

Level 36 : Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante

Mario Colavita opened the hijack and Renars Skanis shoves 2,375,000 from the small blind. Colavita called.

Renars Skanis: 9♦9♥ All in
Mario Colavita: 7♠7♥

Skanis' pocket nines were in the lead and they stayed there throughout the hand as the dealer ran a board of 5♣K♣8♥4♥4♠.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mario Colavita	15,000,000 2,200,000	2,200,000
Renars Skanis	5,750,000 2,350,000	2,350,000

Tags: Mario Colavita Renars Skanis

01-26-2025 16:33 UTC+2

Edward Quinn Eliminated in 9th Place ($37,950)

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Kai Cocklin

Level 36 : Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante

Mario Colavita opened from middle position to 1,100,000 and Muhtar Taysi called in the hijack. Edward Quinn then moved all in for 1,474,000 in the big blind, which both Colavita and Taysi called.

With action on the side, the two active players saw a flop of 4♦3♠8♥, where Colavita fired out 2,000,000. Taysi called.

Both checked the 4♣ turn to the 8♦ river, where Colavita checked and Taysi fired out a big bet of 4,500,000. After thinking it over, Colavita released his cards.

Quinn then flipped J♦9♠ for just jack-high, and Taysi took both the main and side pots with a full house holding A♠8♠.

Player	Chips	Progress
Muhtar Taysi	18,000,000 3,000,000	3,000,000
Mario Colavita	11,500,000 3,500,000	3,500,000
Edward Quinn	Busted

Tags: Edward Quinn Mario Colavita Muhtar Taysi

01-26-2025 16:42 UTC+2

Ruggeri Doubles, Skanis Down to Four Bigs

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Kai Cocklin

Level 36 : Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante

The action folded around to Umberto Ruggeri in the small blind, who shoved for 4,125,000. Renars Skanis was in the big blind and had a decision to make.

"It's close," remarked Skanis. Eventually Skanis did flick in the call.

Umberto Ruggeri: K♥4♠ All in
Renars Skanis: J♣9♣

Ruggeri was ahead with his king-high, and maintained his lead through the K♣J♠6♥ flop, where both players made a pair.

Neither the A♥ turn nor 7♥ river could help Skanis, which meant Ruggeri doubled up. Skanis down to around four big blinds!