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

01-25-2026 14:51 UTC+1

Margolin Continues the Charge

Kai Cocklin

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

Timur Margolin is charging towards the chip lead!

On a board reading 5♦8♥J♥10♦, there were around 1,500,000 in the pot when Margolin checked the big blind and called a bet of 1,600,000 from Jon Kyte, who was under the gun.

Both checked the 4♠ river and Margolin's 10♠9♣ was good with a pair of tens.

Shortly after, Margolin raised the button to 300,000 and Eric Sands called in the big blind.

On the J♠9♦10♦ flop, Sands check-called a bet of 275,000 from Margolin to the 7♣ turn, where he check-folded after Margolin bet 900,000.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jon Kyte	12,000,000 2,250,000	2,250,000

Timur Margolin	11,300,000 1,800,000	1,800,000

Eric Sands	2,300,000 700,000	700,000

Tags: Eric Sands Jon Kyte Timur Margolin

01-25-2026 14:45 UTC+1

Daniliuk Doubles With Kings

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Kai Cocklin

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

Andrei Daniliuk has been all-in twice so far on the final table, and survived both times.

Jon Kyte opened from early position and Andrei Daniliuk had his 1,200,000 at risk from the big blind.

Andrei Daniliuk: K♣K♦ All in
Jon Kyte: Q♣10♠

Daniliuk was in a great position, but was made to sweat as the 10♣2♥4♣ flop paired Kyte's ten. However, the 4♠9♠ turn and river were clean, earning Daniliuk the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jon Kyte	14,250,000 450,000	450,000

Andrei Daniliuk	2,500,000 1,150,000	1,150,000

Tags: Andrei Daniliuk Jon Kyte

01-25-2026 14:38 UTC+1

Sakarya Survives With a Chop

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Kai Cocklin

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

Yaser Sakarya shoved the button for 775,000 and Oleksii Shchukin reshoved for around 1,700,000 from the small blind.

Yaser Sakarya: K♥Q♥ All in
Oleksii Shchukin: A♥7♥

Sakarya was behind, but the pot ended in a chop as the dealer put a full house on the 5♦9♥9♣9♦5♣ runout, keeping Sakarya alive.

Player	Chips	Progress
Oleksii Shchukin	1,800,000 75,000	75,000
Yaser Sakarya	925,000 1,025,000	1,025,000

Tags: Oleksii Shchukin Yaser Sakarya

01-25-2026 14:28 UTC+1

Daniliuk Survives in Three-Way Pot

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Kai Cocklin

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

Andrei Daniliuk shoved the button for 850,000 and got a call from Timur Margolin in the small blind and Jon Kyte in the big blind.

On the 3♥3♠J♦ flop, both active players checked to the A♥ turn, where Margolin checked again. Kyte then bet 700,000 into the dry side pot, and Margolin called.

An 8♣ on the river checked through, where Daniliuk showed A♣4♣ for a pair of aces. Margolin tabled A♠10♥ for the same pair of aces, and Kyte mucked.

Thanks to the pair and jack on the board, Daniliuk survived and lives to fight another day.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jon Kyte	14,700,000

Timur Margolin	9,500,000 1,500,000	1,500,000

Andrei Daniliuk	1,350,000 150,000	150,000

Tags: Andrei Daniliuk Jon Kyte Timur Margolin

01-25-2026 14:17 UTC+1

Shchukin Drills a King to Survive

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Kai Cocklin

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

Nikolay Fal raised the cutoff to 300,000 and then called the shove of Oleksii Shchukin, who moved all in from the big blind for 750,000.

Oleksii Shchukin: K♣J♠ All in
Nikolay Fal: A♦10♠

Fal was ahead, but it was Shchukin who took the lead as he paired his king on the Q♣4♣K♥ flop. Nothing changed on the 7♦2♥ runout, which kept Shchukin in contention.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nikolay Fal	2,600,000 1,100,000	1,100,000

Oleksii Shchukin	1,725,000 825,000	825,000

Tags: Nikolay Fal Oleksii Shchukin

Level: 31

Blinds: 75,000/150,000

Ante: 150,000

01-25-2026 14:07 UTC+1

Margolin's Ascent Up the Counts Continues

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Kai Cocklin

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

Nikolay Fal made it 250,000 to go in early position and Timur Margolin defended his big blind.

After the 3♥8♣J♦ flop hit the table, Margolin checked and Fal continued for 250,000. Margolin then raised to 700,000, which Fal called.

Both tapped the table on the A♣ turn to the Q♠ river, where Margolin took some time before he slid in a bet of 1,875,000. Fal folded.

Player	Chips	Progress
Timur Margolin	8,000,000 1,000,000	1,000,000

Nikolay Fal	3,700,000 625,000	625,000

Eric Sands	3,000,000 100,000	100,000
Andrei Daniliuk	1,200,000 625,000	625,000
Oleksii Shchukin	900,000 225,000	225,000

Tags: Nikolay Fal Timur Margolin

01-25-2026 13:57 UTC+1

Margolin Keeps the Pressure on Esau

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Kai Cocklin

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

Timur Margolin opened to 250,000 from early position and Paul Esau called from the big blind.

The flop came A♠3♠Q♥ and Esau check-called a bet of 250,000 from Margolin to the 6♣ turn. Esau checked again, but then folded when Margolin bet 675,000.

Player	Chips	Progress
Timur Margolin	7,000,000 1,000,000	1,000,000

Paul Esau	4,800,000 700,000	700,000

Tags: Paul Esau Timur Margolin

01-25-2026 13:47 UTC+1

Big Pot Poker Early On

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Kai Cocklin

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

Paul Esau opened the cutoff to 250,000 and Jon Kyte three-bet to 950,000 from the big blind. Esau then came back with a four-bet to 2,250,000, which Kyte called.

The flop came 5♠6♥6♠ and after Kyte checked, Esau continued for 850,000. Kyte took some time before he slid out a raise to 2,200,000, and Esau snap-folded.