$3,300 Main Event
Day 5 Started
2025 Merit Poker Western Series
$3,300 Main Event
Day: 5
Event Info
2025 Merit Poker Western Series
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 5
Buy-in
$3,300
Prize Pool
$2,183,160
Entries
791
Level
39
Blinds
500,000 / 1,000,000
Ante
1,000,000
Entries
9
Players Left
1
Players Left 1 / 791
Filter
(1)
| Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mihai Niste | Romania | 9,725,000 | 39 |
| 2 | Edward Quinn | Jersey | 6,550,000 | 26 |
| 3 | Alexander Sokolovsky | Serbia | 4,550,000 | 18 |
| 4 | Xiaosheng Zheng | China | 12,225,000 | 49 |
| 5 | Ryan Mandara | United Kingdom | 3,500,000 | 14 |
| 6 | Mario Colavita | Italy | 10,875,000 | 44 |
| 7 | Muhtar Taysi | Turkey | 6,050,000 | 24 |
| 8 | Umberto Ruggeri | Italy | 11,000,000 | 44 |
| 9 | Renars Skanis | Lativa | 14,600,000 | 58 |
The dust has settled at the Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino, and the final nine gunslingers are ready to duel for supremacy in the $3,300 Main Event at the 2025 Merit Poker Western Series. This year’s record-breaking 791-entry field has been whittled down to just a handful of contenders, each aiming to seize the coveted trophy and the $377,500 top prize.
Leading the pack is Latvia’s Renars Skanis, sitting atop a mountain of 14,600,000 chips as he rides into the final day with more than 50 big blinds — an enviable position in this high-stakes shootout. Skanis has already shattered his previous best tournament cash by tenfold and now has his sights set firmly on a career-defining victory.
Final Table Seat Draw
| Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mihai Niste | Romania | 9,725,000 | 39 |
| 2 | Edward Quinn | Jersey | 6,550,000 | 26 |
| 3 | Alexander Sokolovsky | Serbia | 4,550,000 | 18 |
| 4 | Xiaosheng Zheng | China | 12,225,000 | 49 |
| 5 | Ryan Mandara | United Kingdom | 3,500,000 | 14 |
| 6 | Mario Colavita | Italy | 10,875,000 | 44 |
| 7 | Muhtar Taysi | Turkey | 6,050,000 | 24 |
| 8 | Umberto Ruggeri | Italy | 11,000,000 | 44 |
| 9 | Renars Skanis | Lativa | 14,600,000 | 58 |
Chasing close behind are two sharpshooters — China’s Xiaosheng Zheng (12,225,000) and Italy’s Umberto Ruggeri (11,000,000). Both bring considerable firepower to this final showdown, and their sights are set on capturing the lion's share of the $2,183,160 prize pool.
Also still in contention are Mario Colavita (10,875,000) and Mihai Niste (9,725,000), who round out the top five after navigating the minefield of Day 4. Meanwhile, Ryan Mandara (3,500,000) will look to pull off an underdog story as the shortest stack entering the final table.
Final Table Payouts
Each of the final nine players are guaranteed a payout of $37,950, but their focus remains fixed on claiming the prestigious trophy and the $377,500 first-place prize. The cards go back in the air at 1:00 p.m. local time, with just under 12 minutes remaining in Level 33. Blinds will resume at 125,000/250,000 with a 250,000 big blind ante.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for every twist and turn of the final table, as we crown the champion of this unforgettable Western Series Main Event!
Shortly, the final nine players will be introduced to the stage and the show will begin.
Level: 33
Blinds: 125,000/250,000
Ante: 250,000
Level 33
: Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
The introductions have been made, the players are in their seats, and the final table is underway!
Level 33
: Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
Mario Colavita raised to 500,000 from middle position and Muhtar Taysi called in the hijack.
When the flop came 4♦3♥10♠, Colavita put a out a continuation-bet of 500,000, which Taysi called to the 5♥ turn, where both checked.
A J♠ landed on the river and Colavita again put out 500,000, and Taysi quickly called.
Colavita then showed a pair of tens with 10♦9♦, but Taysi rivered a pair of jacks wiht A♣J♣ to take the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
9,300,000
1,575,000
|
1,575,000 |
|
8,000,000
1,950,000
|
1,950,000 |
Level 33
: Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante
Umberto Ruggeri raised the hijack to 500,000 and Renars Skanis three-bet to 1,600,000 from the cutoff. When it got back to Ruggeri, he four-bet to 3,500,000, and Skanis quickly folded.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
13,000,000
1,600,000
|
1,600,000 |
|
||
|
12,000,000
1,000,000
|
1,000,000 |
Level: 34
Blinds: 150,000/300,000
Ante: 300,000
Level 34
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Xiaosheng Zheng raised the cutoff to 600,000 and Muhtar Taysi called from the big blind.
On the 2♦9♠10♦ flop, Taysi checked, Zheng bet 750,000, and Taysi called.
A 6♠ landed on the turning, putting a second flush draw on board, and again Taysi checked. Zheng then fired out 2,000,000, and after some time, Taysi shoved for 6,525,000. Zheng went deep into the tank and burned through three time banks before he eventually folded, claiming he had ace-ten.
"If you give me $50, I'll show," said Taysi. Mihai Niste took him up on the offer, and Taysi showed 10♣6♣ for two pair.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
11,500,000
3,500,000
|
3,500,000 |
|
9,000,000
3,225,000
|
3,225,000 |
