€880 Merit Poker Cup Day 1a | 2026 Merit Poker Montenegro Championship

Jan 14, 2026

Pano Packs Up Grummitt; Redrado Eliminated

Kai Cocklin

Level 14 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante

Paul Grummitt shoved 31,000 from under the gun and was put at risk by Jean-Baptiste Pano in the big blind, who muttered he was sorry before he even revealed his cards.

Paul Grummitt: A♥J♥ All in
Jean-Baptiste Pano: A♣Q♣

Pano was ahead, but didn't want to pair his queen after the 2♦10♠K♦ flop gave each player a gutshot. A 2♠ turn brought around some chop outs, but the 9♥ river changed nothing, leaving Grummitt on the sidelines.

Pablo Redrado also just hit the rail, leaving the field two from the money.

Tags: Jean-Baptiste Pano Pablo Redrado Paul Grummitt

Level: 14

Blinds: 2,000/4,000

Ante: 4,000

Jan 14, 2026

Break Time

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Kai Cocklin

Level 13 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

Players are heading on a 15-minute break.

Jan 14, 2026

Gallo and Zerjav Hit the Rail

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Kai Cocklin

Level 13 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

Giulio Gallo and Blaz Zerjav have just hit the rail, reducing the field to 21, just four players away from the money.

Tags: Blaz Zerjav Giulio Gallo

Jan 14, 2026

Rudnev's Big Slick Dispatches Aristotelos

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Kai Cocklin

Level 13 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

Petr Rudnev opened the cutoff and Vladimir Lappo three-bet the button to 18,000. Katherina Aristotelos then shoved the small blind for around 70,000, and Rudnev reshoved for around 90,000. After some deliberation, Lappo folded.

Katherina Aristotelos: A♦Q♦ All in
Petr Rudnev: A♥K♥

It wasn't a great situation for Aristotelos to be in, and she couldn't pull a rabbit out of the hat as the 2♣9♥5♣8♠9♣ runout meant she was eliminated within touching distance of the money.

Tags: Katherina Aristotelos Petr Rudnev Vladimir Lappo

Jan 14, 2026

Queens Good for Carbo

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Kai Cocklin

Level 13 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

With around 25,000 in the pot on a 7♠3♣9♦ flop, Fabrizio Lo Carbo, had bet 8,000 from the hijack and Stefan Cupic called in the cutoff. Rashad Iskandarov, who initially checked the flop from the big blind, then made it 45,000. Carbo moved all in for 71,000, Cupic folded, and Iskandarov called.

Fabrizio Lo Carbo: Q♦Q♣ All in
Rashad Iskandarov: A♣9♣

Carbo was well ahead with his overpair, and the hand was all over when the Q♠ turn improved him to an unbeatable set. A meaningless 10♠ filled out the board, and Carbo raked in a healthy pot as the bubble edges closer.

Tags: Fabrizio Lo Carbo Rashad Iskandarov Stefan Cupic

Jan 14, 2026

Updated Chip Counts

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Kai Cocklin

Level 13 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

Level: 13

Blinds: 1,500/3,000

Ante: 3,000

Jan 14, 2026

Bako Collects the Last of Shalneva's Stack

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Kai Cocklin

Level 12 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Viktoria Shalneva had been short-stacked for most of the day, and got her last 26,000 in the middle from under the gun. Mazalahedwa Bako three-bet to 45,000 from the cutoff, which got everybody else to fold.

Viktoria Shalneva: A♣4♣ All in
Mazalahedwa Bako: A♦K♣

Shalneva was way behind, and couldn't catch up as the 6♠7♣9♠3♠2♥ runout ended her run.

Vidak Banicevic was on the same table, but is no longer in the tournament. Bobby James is also on Table 2, and his stack has swelled to around 220,000!

Tags: Bobby James Mazalahedwa Bako Vidak Banicevic Viktoria Shalneva

Jan 14, 2026

Become a Bigger Part of the Action With MyStack by PokerNews

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Kai Cocklin

Level 12 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

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