$5,300 High Roller Day 1 | 2025 Merit Poker Western Series

Jan 18, 2025

Stanciu's Double Barrel Works Out

Tim Baker

Level 5 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Damir Gabdullin opened from early position to 2,200 with Aliaksei Boika calling from the hijack before Traian Stanciu squeezed to 9,000 from the cutoff. Gabdullin and Boika called.

The action checked to Stanciu on the A♠6♠9♦ flop, and he bet 11,000. Gabdullin called, but Boika folded.

Heads-up now to the 6♥ on the turn. Gabdullin checked, and Stanciu put out another bet, this time for around 32,000. Gabdullin thought it over briefly before, eventually, he tossed his cards into the muck.

Tags: Aliaksei Boika Damir Gabdullin Traian Stanciu

Jan 18, 2025

Joshi Wins Some Back From Wong

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Tim Baker

Level 5 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

When it folded to Sachin Joshi on the button, he raised to 2,100 and got called only by Daniel Wong in the big blind.

Wong checked it over to Joshi on the A♣J♥10♦ flop and he put out a continuation-bet of 3,500. Wong didn't take long to check-raise to 11,000, which Joshi called.

Wong slowed down and checked when the 5♦ came on the turn. Joshi took back the betting lead by firing out 7,500. Wong quickly folded and forfeited the pot to Joshi.

Tags: Daniel Wong Sachin Joshi

Jan 18, 2025

Petkov's Higher Two Pair Sends Uhara Home

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Tim Baker

Level 5 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Yiannis Liperis raised to 2,200 from the hijack with Motokatsu Uhara calling from the cutoff before Lachezar Petkov three-bet to 9,200 from the button. Liperis folded, but Uhara called.

The flop came down K♠4♥5♣ and Uhara check-called a bet of 4,500 from Petkov.

The A♠ fell on the turn and Uhara check-called another bet from Petkov, this time for 15,000.

When the J♦ hit the river, Uhara checked and Petkov bet 40,000, which was slightly more than what was remaining in Uhara's stack. Uhara reluctantly called and Petkov flipped over A♣K♥ for top two pair. It was good to win the pot and eliminate Uhara as he turned over A♥J♣ for a lower two pair.

Tags: Lachezar Petkov Motokatsu Uhara Yiannis Liperis

Level: 5

Blinds: 500/1,000

Ante: 1,000

Jan 18, 2025

Saracoglu Turns the Best Hand

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Tim Baker

Level 4 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Atilla Saracoglu opened from under the gun with only Joseph Sabe calling from the cutoff.

Heads-up to a flop of 6♠A♠3♥ which saw Saracoglu fire out a continuation-bet of 2,400 and Sabe call.

The J♥ turn checked through, as did the 7♣ river. Saracoglu confidently turned over Q♠J♠ for a flopped flush draw that turned a pair of jacks. It was good to take down the pot as Sabe mucked his cards

Jan 17, 2025

Varnaev Takes From Fouchardiere

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Tim Baker

Level 4 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

On a flop of J♣2♠10♠ Hugo De La Fouchardiere checked from middle position and faced a bet of 8,000 by Sergei Varnaev out of the hijack. Fouchardiere thought it over briefly before he tossed in the call.

Fouchardiere checked again on the Q♣ turn and Varnaev jammed for Fouchardiere's remaining 80,000. Fouchardiere didn't take long to let go of his cards and Varnaev dragged in the pot.

Tags: Hugo De La Fouchardiere Sergei Varnaev

Jan 17, 2025

Sey Picks Off Joyce's Bluff

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Tim Baker

Level 4 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

The action was picked up on the river with roughly 90,000 in the middle. The board showed 7♥4♠5♠7♠9♥ and Philip Joyce shoved from the small blind for Hassan Sey's remaining 54,800. Sey thought it over for a few moments before makingthe call.

Joyce turned over A♠J♦ for just ace-high with the nut flush blocker. Sey had that beat with Q♣Q♥ for a pair queens, and he doubled up, while Joyce was left with crumbs.