$3,300 Main Event Day 4 | 2025 Merit Poker Western Series

01-25-2025 18:27 UTC+2

Moldovan's Bleed Continues

Kai Cocklin

Level 31 : Blinds 75,000/150,000, 150,000 ante

Ionut-Alexandru Moldovan made it 300,000 to go from middle position and Edward Quinn called on the button.

The flop came 2♥3♣8♥ and Moldovan checked, then Quinn fired 475,000. Moldovan check-raised to 1,025,000, and Quinn quickly moved all in. Just as quickly, Moldovan threw his cards away with around 2,000,000 behind.

Player	Chips	Progress
Edward Quinn	7,700,000 2,700,000	2,700,000

Ionut-Alexandru Moldovan	2,000,000 1,400,000	1,400,000

Tags: Edward Quinn Ionut-Alexandru Moldovan

01-25-2025 18:23 UTC+2

Skarparis Chips Up With Nines

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Tim Baker

Level 31 : Blinds 75,000/150,000, 150,000 ante

Xiaosheng Zheng raised under the gun to 300,000 with Renars Skanis calling in the hijack and Georgios Skarparis defending out of the big blind.

The three players checked a flop of 7♣3♠10♦ to see the 7♠ hit the turn. Skarparis bet 375,000, which only Skanis called.

The 6♠ river checked through and Skarparis took down the pot with 9♦9♥ for a pair of nines.

Player	Chips	Progress
Xiaosheng Zheng	10,100,000
Renars Skanis	7,000,000 500,000	500,000

Georgios Skarparis	5,500,000 2,000,000	2,000,000

Tags: Georgios Skarparis Renars Skanis Xiaosheng Zheng

01-25-2025 18:19 UTC+2

Updated Chip Counts

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Kai Cocklin

Level 31 : Blinds 75,000/150,000, 150,000 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Xiaosheng Zheng	10,100,000 700,000	700,000
Muhtar Taysi	8,400,000 100,000	100,000
Mihai Niste	8,000,000 100,000	100,000
Renars Skanis	7,500,000 5,600,000	5,600,000

Alexander Sokolovsky	6,100,000 500,000	500,000
Ryan Mandara	5,300,000 1,400,000	1,400,000

Edward Quinn	5,000,000 2,300,000	2,300,000

Umberto Ruggeri	4,200,000 2,300,000	2,300,000
Mario Colavita	4,000,000 700,000	700,000
Cagdas Ersoy	3,900,000 600,000	600,000
Georgios Skarparis	3,500,000 400,000	400,000

Ionut-Alexandru Moldovan	3,400,000 800,000	800,000
Tamer Kamel	3,000,000 900,000	900,000
Dmitry Gromov	2,100,000 575,000	575,000

Pedro Munitis	2,000,000 600,000	600,000

01-25-2025 18:05 UTC+2

Ersoy Hits the Turn to Beat Gromov

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Tim Baker

Level 31 : Blinds 75,000/150,000, 150,000 ante

Dmitry Gromov raised from the hijack to 300,000 and Cagdas Ersoy called from the big blind.

The flop came down 3♥3♦2♠ and Ersoy check-called a bet of roughly 200,000 from Gromov.

When the 5♣ landed on the turn, Ersoy led out for 250,000 and was met by a raise to 550,000 from Gromov. Ersoy called.

The 7♣ river checked through and Ersoy turned over 8♦5♦ for a turned pair of fives. Gromov mucked his cards and the pot was pushed to Ersoy.

Player	Chips	Progress
Cagdas Ersoy	4,500,000
Dmitry Gromov	2,675,000 1,625,000	1,625,000

Tags: Cagdas Ersoy Dmitry Gromov

01-25-2025 17:56 UTC+2

Kamel Pays to See Niste's Straight

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Tim Baker

Level 31 : Blinds 75,000/150,000, 150,000 ante

Ryan Mandara raised under the gun to 300,000 with Tamer Kamel and Mihai Niste calling out of the blinds.

The three players checked a flop of 5♠8♠9♣ to see the 10♦ roll off on the turn. Kamel checked from the small blind, and Niste bet 425,000. Only Kamel stuck around with a call.

Kamel checked again when the 2♦ hit the the river. Niste meticulously carved out a bet of 1,400,000 and Kamel went into the tank. After burning through some of his time bank cards, Kamel put in the call.

Niste turned over a straight with J♣7♣ and Kamel tossed his cards into the muck.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mihai Niste	8,100,000 3,300,000	3,300,000
Ryan Mandara	3,900,000 500,000	500,000

Tamer Kamel	2,100,000 2,100,000	2,100,000

Tags: Mihai Niste Ryan Mandara Tamer Kamel

01-25-2025 17:51 UTC+2

Skarparis Wins a Flip

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Kai Cocklin

Level 31 : Blinds 75,000/150,000, 150,000 ante

Georgios Skarparis shoved from the hijack for 1,850,000 and Umberto Ruggeri called from the big blind.

Georgios Skarparis: A♦8♣ All in
Umberto Ruggeri: 5♠5♥

It was another flip that Skarparis needed to win, and he got off to a great start when the J♣K♥A♥ flop paired his ace. The 10♠ turn did bring around some chop possibilities, but the 4♠ river was safe, and Skarparis doubled up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Umberto Ruggeri	6,500,000 2,700,000	2,700,000
Georgios Skarparis	3,900,000 1,400,000	1,400,000

Tags: Georgios Skarparis Umberto Ruggeri

Level: 31

Blinds: 75,000/150,000

Ante: 150,000

01-25-2025 17:44 UTC+2

Colavita Boats Up to Double Through Moldovan's Flopped Flush

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Kai Cocklin

Level 30 : 50,000/125,000, 125,000 ante

Ionut-Alexandru Moldovan raised middle position to 250,000 and Mario Colavita shoved the cutoff for around 2,300,000. When it got back to Moldovan, he flicked in the call.

Mario Colavita: J♦J♠ All in
Ionut-Alexandru Moldovan: K♥Q♥

Colavita found himself flipping for his tournament life, and fell behind on the 10♥J♥5♥ flop as Moldovan flopped a flush with a Royal Flush draw.

A 6♣ on the turn was a brick, but Colavita found a full house on the 5♠ river to secure the double-up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mario Colavita	4,700,000 3,275,000	3,275,000
Ionut-Alexandru Moldovan	4,200,000 4,900,000	4,900,000

Tags: Ionut-Alexandru Moldovan Mario Colavita

01-25-2025 17:42 UTC+2

Sokolovsky's Wins a Small Pot From Kamel

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Tim Baker

Level 30 : Blinds 50,000/125,000, 125,000 ante

Tamer Kamel opened under the gun to 250,000 with only Alexander Sokolovsky defending from the big blind.

The two players checked the 4♥8♠10♥ flop to see the 2♦ land on the turn. Sokolovsky fired out a big bet of 700,000 and Kamel was quick to release his cards.

Player	Chips	Progress
Alexander Sokolovsky	5,600,000 2,600,000	2,600,000
Tamer Kamel	4,200,000 1,100,000	1,100,000

Tags: Alexander Sokolovsky Tamer Kamel

01-25-2025 17:31 UTC+2

Mandara Doubles Through Niste

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Kai Cocklin

Level 30 : Blinds 50,000/125,000, 125,000 ante

The action folded around to Mihai Niste in the small blind, who shoved all in. Ryan Mandara was in the big blind and had a decision for his stack of 2,150,000.

"I can make a Royal Flush," joked Mandara about the strength of his hand. After counting out his stack, Mandara picked up some chips and dropped them into the pot.

Ryan Mandara: Q♥10♥ All in
Mihai Niste: A♥4♦

Mandara needed a little help from the dealer, and got some on the Q♦7♣8♦ flop as he made top pair.

"That's not a good board for me," said Niste.

A 6♠ on the turn did give Niste a gutshot straight draw, but the J♥ river was a brick, and Mandara doubled up.