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

01-17-2025 23:40 UTC+2

Runcan Holds On With a Pair of Nines

Tim Baker

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

Heads-up to the turn on a board of 4♥Q♠K♦4♣ where Yiannis Liperis fired out a big bet of 31,000 from the small blind. Paul Runcan was his opponent, seated in the cutoff, and after thinking it over Runcan made the call.

The K♥ on the river caused Liperis to check and Runcan happily checked behind. Liperis turned over A♠J♠ for just ace-high, which Runcan had beat with 9♥9♦ for a pair of nines.

Player	Chips	Progress
Paul Runcan	290,000 180,000	180,000
Yiannis Liperis	60,000 40,000	40,000

Tags: Paul Runcan Yiannis Liperis

01-17-2025 23:43 UTC+2

Break TIme

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Tim Baker

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

The remaining players are now on their last 15-minute break of the day. After this break, there will be three more levels before players bag up for the evening and return tomorrow at 8 p.m. for Day 2.

Level: 6

Blinds: 600/1,200

Ante: 1,200

01-17-2025 23:58 UTC+2

Some Updated Chip Counts

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Tim Baker

Level 6 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Jianfeng Sun	255,000 5,000	5,000
Paul Runcan	250,000 40,000	40,000
Atilla Saracoglu	230,000
Andrey Pateychuk	230,000 230,000	230,000

Hassan Sey	210,000 10,000	10,000
Krasimir Neychev	200,000 200,000	200,000
Ludovic Uzan	200,000 200,000	200,000
Giorgiy Skhulukhiya	200,000 200,000	200,000
Jakub Michalak	195,000 195,000	195,000
Uri Reichenstein	185,000 40,000	40,000
Daniel Wong	125,000 35,000	35,000

01-18-2025 00:06 UTC+2

Flashback: Nichan Khorchidian Claims $307,700 and Merit Gatsby Gala Series Main Event Title

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Tim Baker

Level 6 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

After a runner-up finish in last year’s Merit Poker Western Series $3,300 Main Event, Nichan Khorchidian claimed victory at the Merit Poker Gatsby Gala Series $3,300 Main Event to close out 2024. Battling through a competitive 614-entry field, Khorchidian emerged triumphant, earning a career-best score of $307,700.

Khorchidian’s path to victory was a mix of skill, intuition, and his unmistakable personality. Known for his chatty and friendly presence at the table, he played the tournament on his terms, blending bold moves with sharp reads and a genuine love for the game. From managing one of the largest stacks throughout the event to embracing the dynamics of every situation, Khorchidian’s triumph wasn’t just about the numbers - it was about staying true to himself and enjoying every moment of the journey.

2024 Merit Poker Gatsby Gala Series $3,300 Main Event Final Table Results

Place	Player	Country	Prize
1	Nichan Khorchidian	Lebanon	$307,700
2	Bogdan Jontulovic	Serbia	$211,400
3	Dmitry Gromov	Russia	$142,470
4	Anton Wigg	Sweden	$102,570
5	Vedat Yilmaz	Turkey	$76,930
6	Adrian State	Romania	$61,640
7	Andrey Pateychuk	Russia	$51,300
8	Naji Tannoury	Lebanon	$40,930
9	Felipe Ketzer	Brazil	$30,770

Read the Full Recap Here

01-18-2025 00:13 UTC+2

Sibgatavo Sends Kolev the the Rail

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Tim Baker

Level 6 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

The action was missed, but with the board showing J♠Q♥6♠2♣5♥ Boris Kolev was all-in and had A♦K♥ for just ace-high high, and was second best to the flopped set of jacks for Alisa Sibgatova holding J♦J♣.

Kolev was sent to the rail as the pot was pushed to Sibgatova.

Player	Chips	Progress
Alisa Sibgatova	225,000 125,000	125,000
Boris Kolev	Busted

Tags: Alisa Sibgatova Boris Kolev

01-18-2025 00:28 UTC+2

Gromov Starts to Chip Up

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Tim Baker

Level 6 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

There was a raise to 2,400 from a player in the cutoff and Dmitry Gromov defended out of the big blind.

The flop came down 10♣5♥K♣ and Gromov check-called to a bet of 1,500 from the cutoff player.

Gromov checked again when the 8♦ appeared on the turn and his opponent fired a second barrel, this time for 6,000. Gromov carved out the call.

The 4♥ river checked through and Gromov flipped over a pair of kings with K♥Q♥ to take down the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dmitry Gromov	200,000 10,000	10,000

Tags: Dmitry Gromov

01-18-2025 00:43 UTC+2

Skhulukhiya Takes Out Quinn

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Tim Baker

Level 6 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Edward Quinn opened under the gun to 2,500 and Giorgiy Skhulukhiya defended from the big blind.

The dealer fanned out a flop of 2♣3♥7♦ and Skhulukhiya check-called a bet of 3,500 from Quinn.

The 4♥ came on the turn and Skhulukhiya once again checked. Quinn shoved for 11,800 total and after thinking it over for a while, Skhulukhiya reluctantly called.

Edward Quinn: A♥10♥ All in
Giorgiy Skhulukhiya: 9♥7♠

Skhulukhiya was ahead with his pair of sevens, but Quinn had a lot of outs he could hit to stay alive. However, a clean 8♠ came on the river for Skhulukhiya, and Quinn headed straight to the cashier's desk to get a fresh stack.

Player	Chips	Progress
Giorgiy Skhulukhiya	225,000 25,000	25,000
Edward Quinn	100,000

Tags: Edward Quinn Giorgiy Skhulukhiya

Level: 7

Blinds: 800/1,500

Ante: 1,500

01-18-2025 00:54 UTC+2

Sey Starts to Gain Momentum

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Tim Baker

Level 7 : Blinds 800/1,500, 1,500 ante

When it folded to Hassan Sey in the cutoff he came in with a raise to 3,000. He was called by the player in the small blind and Hugo De La Fouchardiere out of the big blind.

The action checked to Sey on the 8♣5♥J♠ flop and he fired a continuation-bet of 3,000. The small blind called, but Fouchardiere folded.

It checked to Sey again when the 10♠ came on the turn and he bet again, this time for 13,500. His opponent quickly folded and Sey took down another pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Hassan Sey	240,000 30,000	30,000
Hugo De La Fouchardiere	90,000 10,000	10,000

Tags: Hassan Sey Hugo De La Fouchardiere