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

Jan 15, 2026

Velvelt Puts Moein to the Test

Kai Cocklin

Level 7 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

There was an open from the hijack and Ali Moein called in the cutoff. Urmo Velvelt three-bet the button to 5,500, which both of his opponents called.

The flop came 7♠6♥2♠ and all three checked to the Q♠ turn. When it got to Moein, he bet 12,500, Velvelt called and the hijack folded.

The river brought an 8♣ and Moein took some time before he checked it over, then Velvelt shoved just under 45,000.

Moein eventually asked for a count and upon learning it was 43,700, he sat back in his chair and mulled it over for around two minutes. Eventually, he did lay it down, and Velvelt took down the pot.

Tags: Ali Moein Urmo Velvelt

Jan 15, 2026

Flashback: Boris Kolev Dominates 2025 Merit Millions Final Table

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Kai Cocklin

Level 7 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

The inaugural $10,400 Merit Millions event at the 2025 Merit Poker Classic Millions wrapped up last April, with Boris Kolev rising above a talented field of 212 entries to become the first-ever Merit Millions champion. Held inside the stunning Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino & Spa, the unique event ended with Kolev capturing the coveted title and the massive $1,000,000 guaranteed top prize.

Kolev, who began the final table third in chips, put on a clinical display to systematically dismantle his opponents on the way to victory. In doing so, he became the first player in Merit Poker history to walk away with a seven-figure payday. The Bulgarian pro made quick work of Mehdi Chaoui in a brief heads-up battle to seal the title and etch his name in the record books.

2025 Merit Millions Final Table Results

Place	Player	Country	Prize
1	Boris Kolev	Bulgaria	$1,000,000
2	Mehdi Chaoui	Morocco	$300,000
3	Romans Lihacovs	Latvia	$200,000
4	Aleksandr Kirichenko	Russian Federation	$140,000
5	Rafael Aslanli	Turkey	$100,000
6	Maksim Shornikau	Belarus	$75,000
7	Andrey Pateychuk	Russian Federation	$55,000
8	Ali Al-Kubasi	Iraq	$45,000
9	Alexandr Lakhov	Russian Federation	$35,400

Read the Full Recap Here

Jan 15, 2026

Sibgatova Flops a Pair Against Varol

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Kai Cocklin

Level 7 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Hakan Varol came up just short in Day 1a, but is still battling it Day 1b to try and make it into Day 2. However, he just lost a small pot, which didn't help his situation.

Varol opened to 1,600 from the cutoff and Nikolay Fal called in the small blind. Alisa Sibgatova also called out of the big blind.

The three saw a flop of 3♣4♠Q♣, which checked to Varol, who bet 2,000. Fal folded, and Sibgatova called to the K♦ turn. Both checked, as they did on the K♥ river.

Sibgatova flipped a pair of fours with 4♥2♠, which was enough to win the pot.

Tags: Alisa Sibgatova Hakan Varol Nikolay Fal

Jan 15, 2026

Top Chip Counts at Second Break

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Kai Cocklin

Level 7 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Level: 7

Blinds: 400/800

Ante: 800

Jan 15, 2026

Break Time

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Kai Cocklin

Level 6 : Blinds 300/700, 700 ante

Players are heading on their second 15-minute break of the day.

A reminder that late registation closes at the start of Level 11, which will be just after 8 p.m.

Jan 15, 2026

Reznichenko Rails Razic

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Kai Cocklin

Level 6 : Blinds 300/700, 700 ante

Danilo Razic opened to 1,500 from under the gun and Mykola Serhiienko three-bet to 4,500 from the cutoff. Dmitriy Reznichenko then moved all in for around 50,000 from the button, and Razic called off his stack of a little less. Serhiienko folded.

Danilo Razic: A♠K♠ All in
Dmitriy Reznichenko: K♦K♣

Reznichenko had the goods, but he needed to fade the ace if he wanted to scoop the pot. A flop of 5♥9♥5♠ was safe for him, but the 6♠ turn gave Razic a flush draw.

A spade or an ace is what Razic needed, but he couldn't dig any of them out as the 6♥ river meant he was sent to the rail.

Tags: Danilo Razic Dmitriy Reznichenko Mykola Serhiienko

Jan 15, 2026

Selected Chip Counts

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Kai Cocklin

Level 6 : Blinds 300/700, 700 ante

Jan 15, 2026

Szychulski and Forman Clash

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Kai Cocklin

Level 6 : Blinds 300/700, 700 ante

Sebastian Szychulski opened the hijack to 1,400 and Miroslav Forman three-bet the button to 5,000. Szychulski responded with a four-bet to 11,000, and Forman called.

Both saw the 6♦K♠4♥ flop hit the table and Szychulski continued for 2,500. Forman then raised to 7,500, and Szychulski stuck around.

When the 9♥ fell on the turn, Szychulski checked it over to Forman, who pondered for a some time before he shoved around 20,000. Szychulski snap-folded, and Forman took it down.

Tags: Miroslav Forman Sebastian Szychulski

Level: 6

Blinds: 300/700

Ante: 700