Last Two Flights of €1,650 Main Event Playing Out Today in Montenegro
Day 1c of the €1,650 Main Event at the Merit Poker Montenegro Championship gets underway today inside the Merit Royal Splendid Casino in Budva, with the field already building steadily after two completed starting flights.
The opening day saw 149 entries take to the baize for Day 1a, with 59 players surviving nine 60-minute levels to secure a bag for Day 2. Italy’s Fausto Tantillo set the bar high after once again finishing at the summit of the counts, bagging 825,000, making him the man currently at the top for Day 2
Yesterday's Day 1b added 87 more entries to the field and saw 33 players advance. Russia’s Nikolai Isaev closed out the flight with 613,500, making him second currently overall, while Amir Hassan, who also came through on Day 1b, rounds out the podium positions with 579,000.
Current Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fausto Tantillo | Italy | 825,000 | 330 |
| 2 | Nikolai Isaev | Russia | 613,500 | 245 |
| 3 | Amir Hassan | Tunisia | 579,000 | 232 |
| 4 | Igor Abelmasov | Russia | 545,000 | 218 |
| 5 | Andrei Daniliuk | Russia | 540,000 | 216 |
| 6 | Bobby James | United Kingdom | 520,000 | 208 |
| 7 | Vladimir Lappo | Belarus | 519,000 | 208 |
| 8 | Oleksii Shchukin | Ukraine | 487,000 | 195 |
| 9 | Ufuk Erkmen | Turkey | 453,500 | 181 |
| 10 | Zael Zela | Albania | 449,500 | 180 |
Today’s Day 1c flight introduces a slightly quicker structure, with players starting once again on 100,000 chips and playing nine levels, although the blinds have been reduced to 40 minutes. As with the previous flights, the aim remains the same, survive the day, find a bag, and book a seat on Day 2.
A final turbo option still awaits later tonight at 7 p.m. with Day 1d, ensuring plenty of opportunities remain for players to join the action before late registration closes at the end of Level 14 on Day 2.
Remaining Main Event Schedule
| Date | Day | Time | Blind Levels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 21 | Day 1c | 12 p.m. | 40 minutes |
| Jan 21 | Day 1d | 7 p.m. | 25 minutes |
| Jan 22 | Day 2 | 12 p.m. | 60 minutes |
| Jan 23 | Day 3 | 12 p.m. | 60 minutes |
| Jan 24 | Day 4 | 12 p.m. | 60 minutes |
| Jan 25 | Day 5 | 1 p.m. | 60 minutes |
Stay tuned to PokerNews for all the live updates and chip counts from Day 1c of the €1,650 Main Event here in Montenegro.