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

Jan 19, 2026

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Kai Cocklin

Level 7 : Blinds 800/1,500, 1,500 ante

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Jan 19, 2026

Isaev and Szychulski Battle Again

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Kai Cocklin

Level 7 : Blinds 800/1,500, 1,500 ante

There was a limp from under the gun and Sebastian Szychulski raised to 5,000 in middle position. Nikolai Isaev then three-bet to 16,500 on the button, which only Szychulski called.

The flop came 2♥2♦7♥ and after Szychulski checked, Isaev bet 20,000. That was enough to earn him the pot as Szychulski folded.

Both Isaev and Szychulski have been battling since the start of Day 1a, and both have well over the starting stack as the dinner break approaches.

Tags: Nikolai Isaev Sebastian Szychulski

Jan 19, 2026

Some Chip Counts

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Kai Cocklin

Level 7 : Blinds 800/1,500, 1,500 ante

Jan 19, 2026

Kudryavtsev Folds to Shalneva's River Shove

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Kai Cocklin

Level 7 : Blinds 800/1,500, 1,500 ante

On a flop of 9♣8♣Q♦, there were around 20,000 in the pot when Viktoria Shalneva checked the small blind and Sergey Kudryavtsev checked the big blind.

Genrik Alekian then bet 8,500 from under the gun, which Shalneva called. Kudryavtsev then raised to 25,000, which drove Alekian out, but Shalneva stuck around.

A J♦ turn saw Shalneva check again, only for Kudryavtsev to bet 37,000. After around a minute, Shalneva called.

The board-pairing 9♠ completed the runout and Shalneva took some more time before she shoved for around 85,000. Kudryavtsev had around 100,000 behind, but quickly made the laydown.

Shalneva then showed Q♠J♥ for top two pair as she raked the pot.

Tags: Genrik Alekian Sergey Kudryavtsev Viktoria Shalneva

Jan 19, 2026

Szychulski Shows Miskovic a Wheel

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Kai Cocklin

Level 7 : Blinds 800/1,500, 1,500 ante

Sebastian Szychulski raised the hijack to 3,000 and Milos Miskovic three-bet to 9,000 from the cutoff. When it got back on Szychulski, he called.

On the 2♠3♦7♥ flop, Szychulski checked and Miskovic bet 11,000. Szychulski called to the 5♥ turn, where both checked.

The 10♣ completed the board and Szychulski bet 12,000, and Miskovic quickly called.

Szychulski then revealed A♣4♣ for a straight, and Miskovic mucked.

Tags: Milos Miskovic Sebastian Szychulski

Jan 19, 2026

Selected Top Stacks

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Kai Cocklin

Level 7 : Blinds 800/1,500, 1,500 ante

Level: 7

Blinds: 800/1,500

Ante: 1,500

Jan 19, 2026

Break Time

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Kai Cocklin

Level 6 : Blinds 800/1,500, 1,500 ante

Players are heading on a 10-minute break.

Jan 19, 2026

Skhulukhiya and James Having Fun

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Kai Cocklin

Level 6 : Blinds 800/1,500, 1,500 ante

Bobby James and Giorgiy Skhulukhiya are continuing to battle on Table 4.

There were around 8,000 in the pot on a 2♥4♣J♥10♥ board when Skhulukhiya checked from the hijack and James knuckled back.

"What. Is this a new button you have installed?" joked James in reference to Skhulukhiya's check.

The 8♣ landed on the river and the check button wasn't used again by Skhulukhiya as he bet 5,500, forcing James into a quick fold.

"You must have got an upgrade with more buttons," joked James again.

Despite giving up that small pot, James' stack is back on the rise as he has around 275,000 in front of him.

Tags: Bobby James Giorgiy Skhulukhiya

Jan 19, 2026

Ojeil Makes the Right Call

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Kai Cocklin

Level 6 : Blinds 800/1,500, 1,500 ante

Chady Ojeil just picked off a bluff, bringing his stack back to just over that of starting.

There were around 40,000 in the pot on a K♥5♣7♠K♠Q♥ board when Ivo Zeravica bet 20,000 from the big blind. Ojeil was under the gun and taking his time with the decision while he tried to piece together the puzzle.

Eventually, Ojeil did call, and Zeravica sheepishly flipped over A♣8♠ with a smile. Ojeil had that beat as he rolled over A♠Q♦ for a rivered pair of queens, earning him the pot.

Tags: Chady Ojeil Ivo Zeravica