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

01-17-2026 23:56 UTC+2

Cheaters, Arrests and Poker Villains Among Top Stories of 2025 | PokerNews Podcast #932

Tim Baker

Level 5 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

In the 932nd episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway and Mike Holtz recap the top 10 stories of 2025 according to PokerNews. They include:

Find out all about those stories and more in this week's episode of the PokerNews Podcast! Oh, and be sure to check out the audio version of the PokerNews Podcast that is available on all major podcasting platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and SoundCloud.

A new PokerNews Podcast drops every Thursday at 8a PT / 11a ET / 4p UK time. Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you do not miss an episode!

Click here to listen to the new PN Podcast!

01-17-2026 23:46 UTC+2

Pistalo Takes Down Back-to-Back Hands vs Golubev

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Tim Baker

Level 5 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Bora Kurtulus came in for a raise to 2,000 from the hijack before Andrey Golubev three-bet to 6,000 from the cutoff. Davor Pistalo cold-called from the button, and Kurtulus also called.

The action checked to Pistalo on the 10♥5♦9♠ flop and he chose to bet 5,000. Kurtulus folded, and before Golubev had acted, Pistalo said, "I flopped two pair". Upon apparently only just realising Golubev still had cards, Pistalo put his head in his hands and let out a sigh. Golubev decided to call.

A 7♠ hit the turn and Golubev checked. Pistalo bet 15,000, which was enough to get a fold from Golubev.

The next hand, Golubev min-raised to 2,000 from the hijack and Pistalo three-bet to 4,000 from the next seat. When it got back to Golubev he four-bet to 12,000. Pistalo gave it some thought, then five-bet jammed, covering Golubev. Golubev had 85,000 remaining in his stack and didn't take long to release his cards.

Pistalo proudly flipped over Jx8x for a complete bluff as the pot was sent his way.

Player	Chips	Progress
Davor Pistalo	140,000 55,000	55,000

Bora Kurtulus	90,000 20,000	20,000
Andrey Golubev	85,000 5,000	5,000

Tags: Andrey Golubev Bora Kurtulus Davor Pistalo

01-17-2026 23:28 UTC+2

Svesko Takes it Away on the River

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Tim Baker

Level 5 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Heads-up to a flop of 5♦5♣8♠ where Uri Reichenstein checked out of the big blind, and Darko Svesko bet 1,500 from under the gun. Reichenstein check-raised to 5,000, which Svesko called.

A 4♣ landed on the turn and Reichenstein continued for a bet of 11,000. Svesko stuck around with a call.

The 2♦ completed the board, and this time, Reichenstein checked. Svesko made a bet of 19,000, and after a bit of tanking, Reichenstein tossed his cards away.

Player	Chips	Progress
Darko Svesko	95,000 95,000	95,000
Uri Reichenstein	50,000 5,000	5,000

Tags: Darko Svesko Uri Reichenstein

Level: 5

Blinds: 500/1,000

Ante: 1,000

01-17-2026 23:15 UTC+2

Zerjav's Aces Take Out Solovyev

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Tim Baker

Level 4 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

With 25,000 already in the pot, Danila Solovyev and Blaz Zerjav saw a flop of 8♣J♥4♥ come down. Solovyev, who was seated under the gun, bet 7,000, and Zerjavc called.

The 2♦ on the turn checked through for the 10♥ to complete the board. Solovyev jammed for around 30,000, and Zerjav instantly called.

Solovyev turned over K♥K♠ for pocket kings and was second best to the A♦A♣ of Zerjav. Solovyev headed to the exit while Zerjav's stack increased to around 170,000.

Player	Chips	Progress
Blaz Zerjav	170,000 85,000	85,000

Danila Solovyev	Busted

Tags: Blaz Zerjav Danila Solovyev

01-17-2026 23:03 UTC+2

Selected Chip Counts

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Tim Baker

Level 4 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Petr Rudnev	240,000 140,000	140,000
Bobby James	180,000 80,000	80,000
Jon Kyte	145,000 45,000	45,000
Timur Margolin	140,000 140,000	140,000

Miroslav Forman	130,000 30,000	30,000
Paul Esau	130,000 30,000	30,000
Nazar Buhaiov	120,000 20,000	20,000
Giorgiy Skhulukhiya	115,000 56,600	56,600
Paul Grummitt	105,000 5,000	5,000
Urmo Velvelt	90,000 90,000	90,000
Jean-Baptiste Pano	80,000 55,000	55,000
Alexander Sokolovsky	70,000 70,000	70,000
Lennart Beumelburg	60,000 60,000	60,000
Alexander Lakhov	55,000 45,000	45,000

Uri Reichenstein	45,000 55,000	55,000

01-17-2026 22:55 UTC+2

Ostapenko Leads Out on Two Streets

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Tim Baker

Level 4 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

With 4,300 in the pot on a flop of J♥7♦8♦, Mikhail Ostapenko led out for 3,800 from the big blind and Mikhail Ketlerov made the call from early position.

A 8♣ on the turn saw Ostapenko lead out again, this time for 7,500. Again, Ketlerov just called.

Two checks came after the Q♦ river and Ostapenko took down the pot with K♣J♣ for a pair of jacks.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mikhail Ketlerov	120,000 120,000	120,000
Mikhail Ostapenko	70,000 70,000	70,000

Tags: Mikhail Ketlerov Mikhail Ostapenko

Level: 4

Blinds: 400/800

Ante: 800

01-17-2026 22:09 UTC+2

Dinner Break

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Tim Baker

Level 3 : Blinds 300/700, 700 ante

The players have been sent on a 30-minute dinner break.

01-17-2026 22:04 UTC+2

Kurtulus Wins Without Showdown

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Tim Baker

Level 3 : Blinds 300/700, 700 ante

From the button, Bora Kurtulus raised to 1,700 with Andrey Golubev and Davor Pistalo calling from the blinds.

Check, check, check followed the 7♠2♦K♥ flop to see the 9♥ hit the turn. Golubev led out for 2,900 and only Kurtulus called.

A Q♦ appeared on the river and Golubev bet again, this time for 12,500. Kurtulus called, prompting Golubev to immediately muck his cards, which meant Kurtulus won the pot without having to show.

Player	Chips	Progress
Bora Kurtulus	110,000 5,000	5,000
Davor Pistalo	85,000 14,000	14,000

Andrey Golubev	80,000 25,000	25,000

Tags: Andrey Golubev Bora Kurtulus Davor Pistalo