€2,750 High Roller Day 1 | 2026 Merit Poker Montenegro Championship

Jan 18, 2026

Ponomarev Soars Up the Chip Counts

Tim Baker

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

Davor Pistalo raised the button to 4,000 and Stojan Vazic called out of the small blind. Nikolay Ponomarev squeezed it up to 17,500 from the big blind, and then Pistalo four-bet shoved for around 100,000. Vazic got out the way, but Ponomarev called rather quickly.

Davor Pistalo: J♥5♠ All in
Nikolay Ponomarev: A♣Q♦

Pistalo had made a move with jack-five and ran into the ace-queen of Ponomarev.

Despite being behind, Pistalo had two live cards working in his favor. However, the 2♥A♦7♦ flop was a disaster for Pistalo as Ponomarev paired his ace. Pistalo was drawing dead after the 8♦ turn as the 2♦ on the river improved Ponomarev to an unnecessary flush.

Ponomarev's stack grew to a quarter of a million, and Pistalo was out.

Tags: Davor Pistalo Nikolay Ponomarev Stojan Vazic

Jan 18, 2026

Hasbani Busts to Petrytsia's Bullets

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Tim Baker

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

Antoine Hasbani checked from the big blind on a flop of 5♥6♠5♠ and faced a bet of 4,200 by IIlia Petrytsia on the button. Hasbani made the call.

A Q♦ rolled off on the turn and Hasbani check-called another bet from Petrytsia, this time for 9,500.

When the J♣ completed the board, Hasbani moved all in for 54,500. Petrytsia deliberated for quite some time before deciding to make the call.

Hasbani showed A♣Q♠ for top pair, top kicker, but it was no good against Petrytsia's overpair with A♠A♥. Hasbani headed for the exit and Petrytsia was up to around 450,000.

Tags: Antoine Hasbani

Jan 18, 2026

Pistalo Steals the Pot From Golubev

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Tim Baker

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

From the small blind, Davor Pistalo bet 6,000 on the Q♣J♦J♣ flop and Andrey Golubev made the call from the button.

A 8♥ landed on the turn, causing Pistalo to lead out again, this time for 13,500. Golubev continued in the form of a call.

A double board-pairing 8♠ completed the runout and Pistalo jammed for his last 55,000. Golubev quickly folded, and Pistalo was able to increase his stack past the initial starting stack.

Tags: Davor Pistalo Andrey Golubev

Level: 7

Blinds: 800/1,500

Ante: 1,500

Jan 18, 2026

Sibgatova Starts Her Spin-Up

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Tim Baker

Level 6 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

Elie Farah raised to 2,800 from the cutoff and Paul Grummitt called on the button. Alisa Sibgatova squeezed all in for 11,800 from the big blind and only Grummitt called to try and bust her.

Alisa Sibgatova: 10♥10♣ All in
Paul Grummitt: 6♥6♦

Sibgatova started the hand with just over a tenth of the starting stack and needed her pocket tens to hold up to begin her spin-up.

Sibgatova improved to a set on the Q♦A♠7♦10♠5♦ runout to win the pot and earn the much-needed double-up.

Tags: Alisa Sibgatova Elie Farah Paul Grummitt

Jan 18, 2026

Margolin Puts the Pressure On

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Tim Baker

Level 6 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

There was a raise to 2,500 from the button before Timur Margolin three-bet to 13,000 out of the big blind. Margolin's opponent instantly called to see a flop.

Margolin placed out a continuation-bet of 17,500 on the 8♦9♠4♣ flop, and the button player slid in the call.

When Margolin saw the 10♠ hit the turn, he paused momentarily before jamming for his opponent's remaining 55,000. The player on the button did some inventory of his stack and then returned his cards to the dealer, surrendering the pot to Margolin.

Tags: Timur Margolin

Jan 18, 2026

Velvelt's Top Pair Earns Him Some Chips

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Tim Baker

Level 6 : Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante

On the turn with the board showing 10♦8♥5♠6♠, Urmo Velvelt checked from the big blind and the player on the button jammed for 25,000, which was slightly less than the pot. Velvelt made the call and the players went to a showdown.

Button Player: A♦8♦ All in
Urmo Velvelt: J♠10♣

Both players had flopped a pair but it was Velvelt's top pair that had him out in front.

The river came the 5♣, and all of the button players' chips were sent over to Velvelt.

Tags: Urmo Velvelt

Jan 18, 2026