Timur Margolin Within Striking Distance as Main Event Reaches Day 4
Day 4 of the €1,650 Main Event at the Merit Poker Montenegro Championship gets underway on Saturday, Jan 24 inside the Merit Royal Splendid Casino in Budva, with the tournament now firmly in its endgame and the final table looming.
A total of 24 players will return to the tables from a field of 414 entries, all still chasing a share of the €571,320 prize pool. With every remaining player guaranteed at least €3,800 and a €110,000 top prize awaiting the eventual champion, Day 4 is set to be decisive as the race toward the final table intensifies.
Norway’s Jon Kyte returns as the chip leader after bagging 5,330,000 at the end of Day 3. He is followed by Timur Margolin with 4,235,000, while Paul Esau sits third with 3,825,000 as the top of the leaderboard begins to separate from the pack.
Top Ten Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jon Kyte | Norway | 5,330,000 |
| 2 | Timur Margolin | Israel | 4,235,000 |
| 3 | Paul Esau | Germany | 3,825,000 |
| 4 | Yaser Sakarya | Turkey | 2,625,000 |
| 5 | Eric Sands | San Marino | 2,500,000 |
| 6 | Nikolai Isaev | Russian Federation | 2,065,000 |
| 7 | Bljerim Imeri | North Macedonia | 1,955,000 |
| 8 | Dorjan Ushe | Albania | 1,850,000 |
| 9 | Predrag Premovic | Serbia | 1,710,000 |
| 10 | Nikolay Fal | Russian Federation | 1,660,000 |
Just behind the leading trio is one of the day’s most compelling storylines in Nikolai Isaev (2,065,000), who survived the brink of elimination late on Day 3 before mounting a remarkable comeback. Also well positioned are Yaser Sakarya (2,625,000), Eric Sands (2,500,000), and Bljerim Imeri (1,955,000), all within striking distance as play resumes.
At the other end of the counts, several short stacks will be under immediate pressure, with the next elimination triggering another pay jump and the final table drawing ever closer.
Remaining Payouts
Play resumes at 12 p.m. local time with 43 minutes remaining in Level 25 (20,000/40,000 with a 40,000 big blind ante).
As always, the plan for the day will be announced shortly after cards get in the air, with PokerNews on the floor providing live updates as the Main Event plays down to its final table in Budva.