€1,650 Main Event | 2026 Merit Poker Montenegro Championship

01-25-2026 20:06 UTC+1

Fal Back in the Game

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Kai Cocklin

Level 36 : Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante

Nikolay Fal raised the button and Timur Margolin called from the big blind.

On the 10♣J♣4♦ flop, the chips piled in, with Fal's stack of 6,625,000 at risk.

Nikolay Fal: K♦Q♦ All in
Timur Margolin: Q♠9♠

Both players had draws, but it was Fal who was ahead with king-high.

That wouldn't change after the 5♣7♥ runout, which meant Fal doubled up to around 16,000,000,

Player	Chips	Progress
Timur Margolin	25,000,000

Nikolay Fal	16,000,000

Tags: Nikolay Fal Timur Margolin

01-25-2026 20:01 UTC+1

Fal Pays Off Margolin's River Bet

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Kai Cocklin

Level 36 : Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante

A huge pot just went to the way of Timur Margolin.

Margolin opened the button to 1,200,000 and Nikolay Fal called in the big blind.

The flop came 10♠J♦5♥ and after Fal checked, Margolin continued for 1,200,000. Fal then raised to 3,500,000, which Margolin called.

A K♣ on the turn saw Fal bet 3,100,000, which Margolin called to the 5♦ river. After a while, Fal decided to check after it looked like he was about to bet, then Margolin bet 4,200,000. Not long after, Fal called.

Margolin then showed a pair of kings with K♥Q♦, and Fal mucked.

Player	Chips	Progress
Timur Margolin	33,000,000 16,000,000	16,000,000

Nikolay Fal	8,000,000 16,500,000	16,500,000

Tags: Nikolay Fal Timur Margolin

Level: 36

Blinds: 300,000/600,000

Ante: 600,000

01-25-2026 19:45 UTC+1

First Blood to Fal

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Kai Cocklin

Level 35 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Nikolay Fal raised the button to 1,100,000 and Timur Margolin called out of the big blind.

After the flop came 4♦3♥2♣, Margolin led for 650,00, which Fal called.

The J♣ turn was checked to the J♠ river, where Margolin bet 2,300,000. Fal called.

Margolin tabled A♦9♦ for ace-high, but that was no good as Fal had a bigger ace-high with A♥K♠.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nikolay Fal	24,500,000 4,100,000	4,100,000

Timur Margolin	17,000,000 4,000,000	4,000,000

Tags: Nikolay Fal Timur Margolin

01-25-2026 19:39 UTC+1

Play Resumes

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Kai Cocklin

Level 35 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Cards are back in the air.

01-25-2026 19:29 UTC+1

Short Break

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Kai Cocklin

Level 35 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

After a few hands of heads-up play, the two finalists are heading for an unscheduled break.

Player	Chips	Progress
Timur Margolin	21,000,000 2,000,000	2,000,000

Nikolay Fal	20,400,000 2,400,000	2,400,000

01-25-2026 19:26 UTC+1

Paul Esau Eliminated in 3rd Place (€51,500)

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Kai Cocklin

Level 35 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Nikolay Fal shoved from the small blind and Paul Esau called off his stack of around 2,500,000 in the big blind.

Paul Esau: A♣10♥ All in
Nikolay Fal: Q♦7♥

Esau was in the lead, but not for long as Fal hit a seven on the 3♠7♦2♦ flop. A Q♠ on the turn sealed the deal as Fal made an unbeatable two pair, with the inconsequential 8♠ falling on the river.

Player	Chips	Progress
Timur Margolin	23,000,000 1,000,000	1,000,000

Nikolay Fal	18,000,000

Paul Esau	Busted

Tags: Nikolay Fal Paul Esau

01-25-2026 19:24 UTC+1

Margolin Wins at Showdown Without Showing Cards

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Kai Cocklin

Level 35 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Paul Esau limped in from the small blind and Timur Margolin checked his option in the big blind.

On the 5♠2♦Q♣ flop, Esau bet 400,000, which Margolin called to the 6♠ turn. Esau fired again for 1,300,000, and Margolin called.

When the 9♠ hit the river, Esau fired a third bet of 2,300,000, and Margolin quickly called.

Esau didn't even bother to show his hand and just mucked, which meant Margolin took the pot,

Player	Chips	Progress
Timur Margolin	24,000,000 5,000,000	5,000,000

Paul Esau	3,000,000 1,500,000	1,500,000

Tags: Paul Esau Timur Margolin

01-25-2026 19:16 UTC+1

Margolin Jumps to the Chip Lead

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Kai Cocklin

Level 35 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Timur Margolin opened to 800,000 on the button and Nikolay Fal called from the small blind.

The flop came 5♠5♣2♠ and Fal check-called a bet of 750,000 from Margolin to the 4♠ turn, where both checked.

Both also checked the K♥ river, and Fal showed ace-high with A♥10♥. That was no good, though, as Margolin rolled over a better ace-high with A♣J♦.

Player	Chips	Progress
Timur Margolin	19,000,000 5,000,000	5,000,000

Nikolay Fal	18,000,000 2,000,000	2,000,000

Paul Esau	4,500,000 2,500,000	2,500,000

Tags: Nikolay Fal Timur Margolin

01-25-2026 19:05 UTC+1

Esau Won't Back Down

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Kai Cocklin

Level 35 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Timur Margolin raised to 800,000 on the button and Paul Esau called in the big blind.

On the A♥2♣5♠ flop, Esau check-called a bet of 400,000 from Margolin to the 6♥ turn, where again Esau checked.

Margolin bet 800,000, and after some thinking, Esau shoved 2,425,000. Margolin folded.

Despite that setback, Margolin still sits with a good stack of 14,000,000 after taking down a few small pots against Nikolay Fal.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nikolay Fal	20,000,000 4,000,000	4,000,000

Timur Margolin	14,000,000 1,000,000	1,000,000

Paul Esau	7,000,000 2,900,000	2,900,000

Tags: Paul Esau Timur Margolin