$5,300 High Roller Day 2 | 2025 Merit Poker Western Series

01-19-2025 01:06 UTC+2

Soika Stays in the Tournament

Tim Baker

Level 15 : Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante

Mihai Niste raised to 12,000 from middle positon and Ihar Soika three-bet shoved from the hijack for 62,000. When it folded back to Niste, he called to put Soika at risk.

Ihar Soika: K♦J♦ All in
Mihai Niste: 10♥10♦

It was a flip that Soika needed to win to have a chance of making it to Day 3 tomorrow. The board ran out K♠4♠2♥8♣6♠ to give Soika the winner with a pair of kings, and he doubled up through Niste.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mihai Niste	285,000 115,000	115,000
Ihar Soika	140,000 45,000	45,000

Tags: Ihar Soika Mihai Niste

01-19-2025 01:16 UTC+2

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

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Tim Baker

Level 15 : Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 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

01-19-2025 01:17 UTC+2

Big Slick Sends Hasbani Home

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Tim Baker

Level 15 : Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante

Edward Quinn raised to 12,000 from middle position and Antoine Hasbani shoved out of the small blind for roughly 80,000. Quinns called to try and bust Hasbani.

Antoine Hasbani: A♠6♥ All in
Edward Quinn: A♦K♥

Hasbani was dominated by Quinn's Big Slick and needed a six to stay alive. However, the runout of 2♦K♠5♣5♥J♥ didn't help Hasbani as Quinn improved to a pair of kings. Hasbani was out and the pot was pushed over to Quinn.

Player	Chips	Progress
Edward Quinn	290,000 160,000	160,000
Antoine Hasbani	Busted

Tags: Antoine Hasbani Edward Quinn

Level: 16

Blinds: 4,000/8,000

Ante: 8,000

01-19-2025 01:29 UTC+2

Final Level

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Tim Baker

Level 16 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

Level 16 has just begun, which is the final level the players will play tonight.

When this level is over, the survivors will bag up their chips ready for Day 3 tomorrow.

01-19-2025 01:30 UTC+2

Achour Takes From Marsh

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Tim Baker

Level 16 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

Luke Marsh opened from middle position before Maher Achour three-bet him from the hijack. When it folded back to Marsh he four-bet to roughly 100,000, which Achour called.

WIth around 220,000 in the middle, Marsh continued with a bet of 75,000 on the 10♥5♥4♣ flop. Achour shoved for Marsh's remaining 250,000 and deliberating over the decision for quite some time, Marsh reluctantly tossed his cards into the muck.

Player	Chips	Progress
Maher Achour	715,000 195,000	195,000
Luke Marsh	250,000 40,000	40,000

Tags: Luke Marsh Maher Achour

01-19-2025 01:39 UTC+2

Ruggeri Doubles With Pocket Aces

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Tim Baker

Level 16 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

Umberto Ruggeri raised to 16,000 under the gun and was called by the player in the next seat before Tom Verbruggen squeezed to 40,000 from the cutoff. Ozgur Arda then cold four-bet to 90,000 and the action was back on Ruggeri. Ruggeri did a bit of inventory before he five-bet shoved for 226,000. Everyone folded, apart from Arda, who made the call to put Ruggeri at risk.

Umberto Ruggeri: A♠A♦ All in
Ozgur Arda: Q♣Q♠

Ruggeri was a dream spot to more than double up if he could fade a queen. A safe runout of 4♠6♠5♦4♣10♥ gave Ruggeri the winner, and a large portion of Arda's chips were sent over to him.

Player	Chips	Progress
Umberto Ruggeri	520,000 520,000	520,000
Ozgur Arda	390,000 125,000	125,000
Tom Verbruggen	185,000 15,000	15,000

Tags: Ozgur Arda Tom Verbruggen Umberto Ruggeri

01-19-2025 01:47 UTC+2

Flutur Continues to Dominate

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Tim Baker

Level 16 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

Heads-up on a flop of 9♥3♦7♥ with Mircea Flutur betting 15,000 from under the gun. Xin Tang was seated in the next position and made the call to see a turn.

The turn came the 7♦ and Flutur continued with a bet of 41,000. Tang thought about it briefly but chose to fold his cards and the pot went over to Flutur.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mircea Flutur	900,000 190,000	190,000

Xin Tang	340,000 455,000	455,000

Tags: Xin Tang Mircea Flutur

01-19-2025 01:58 UTC+2

Final Three Hands

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Tim Baker

Level 16 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

The floor have announced that three more hands will be played before the survivors bag up for the evening.

01-19-2025 01:58 UTC+2

Runcan Flops the Wheel and Busts Michalak

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Tim Baker

Level 16 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

On a flop of 5♥2♣4♠, Jakub Michalak checked from under the gun and Paul Runcan bet 18,000 from the hijack. Michalak check-raised to 60,000 and Runcan carved out the call.

The two players checked the 4♦ turn to see the J♠ come on the river. Michalak bet 140,000 with just 30,000 behind. Runcan shoved and Michalak begrudgingly called for the last of his chips.

Jakub Michalak: KxJx All in
Paul Runcan: A♠3♠

Michalak had just a pair of jacks and was second best to flopped wheel for Runcan, meaning Michalak busted just before the end of the day.