$2,200 NL Warmup Day 1bcd | 2023 Merit Poker Carmen Series

03-23-2023 15:22 UTC+3

Bsaibes Runs Into Kings

David Salituro

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

Georgios Tsouloftas three-bet to 6,500 from early position and was called by Aleksandr Chernikov on the button. Ramzi Bsaibes, from under the gun, then moved all in for 32,500.

Tsouloftas tanked for a moment before re-shoving as Chernikov quickly got out of the way.

Ramzi Bsaibes:
Georgios Tsouloftas:

Bsaibes needed to improve against the two kings of Tsouloftas but found no help on the board as he hit the rail shortly after returning from break.

Player	Chips	Progress
Aleksandr Chernikov	115,000 -5,000	-5,000
Georgios Tsouloftas	110,000 43,000	43,000
Ramzi Bsaibes	Busted

Tags: Aleksandr Chernikov Georgios Tsouloftas Ramzi Bsaibes

03-23-2023 14:37 UTC+3

Livshitz, Baybars Tangle Again in Massive Pot

David Salituro

Level 2 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Soon after playing their previous big pot against each other, Gabi Livshitz and Halil Baybars got involved in another that turned out to be the biggest so far on Day 1b.

Heads-up on a flop of , Baybars bet 20,000 from the button before Livshitz threw in two white 25,000 chips, raising to 50,000. Baybars spent a few minutes in the tank before calling.

The turn came the and Livshitz put in three 25,000 chips this time, enough to put Baybars all in for his remaining 50,000. Baybars shrugged and committed his last chips, turning over . Livshitz had for a pair and straight draw.

The on the river completed Livshitz's straight as Baybars threw his arms in the air in frustration before making a quick exit.

Player	Chips	Progress
Gabi Livshitz	260,000 115,000	115,000
Halil Baybars	Busted

Tags: Gabi Livshitz Halil Baybars

03-23-2023 14:04 UTC+3

Etim Blasts the River

David Salituro

Level 1 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante

Boris Angelov raised to 4,000 from the button before Terence Etim three-bet to 13,000 out of the small blind. Angelov called to see the flop.

Etim continued for 7,500 and Angelov again called. Both players checked the turn.

On the river, Etim announced he was all in for 55,100 and slowly began pushing his stacks of chips in the middle. "Ace-king," Angelov asked with a puzzled look as he tanked for around two minutes.

Angelov eventually folded as Etim claimed the pot. "I like your style," a tablemate told him following the hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
Boris Angelov	105,000 105,000	105,000
Terence Etim	96,000 96,000	96,000

Tags: Boris Angelov Terence Etim

03-23-2023 11:55 UTC+3

New Crop of Players Attempt to Chase Down Zamyatin's Chip Lead When Day 1b of the $2,200 Warmup Begins at Noon

David Salituro

Mikhail Zamyatin set the benchmark on Day 1a yesterday. Now a new group of hopefuls will try to replicate what he did when Day 1b of the Merit Poker Carmen Series $2,200 Warmup begins at noon local time.

Zamyatin topped the 62 surviving players from the opening flight with 522,500. Luc Bindel, Sergei Efimov, Aliaksandr Hirs, and Maksim Skripkin joined him above 400,000 chips, while Fausto Tantillo (283,500), Fahredin Mustafov (270,000), Michele Guerrini (252,500), Dragos Trofimov (168,500), Yiannis Liperis (129,500), and Maxime Chilaud (119,500) are also already through to Day 2.

Day 1a Top 10 Chip Counts

Rank	Player	Chip Count	Big Blinds
1	Mikhail Zamyatin	522,500	209
2	Luc Bindel	430,000	172
3	Sergei Efimov	415,000	166
4	Aliaksandr Hirs	407,000	163
5	Maksim Skripkin	406,000	162
6	Harald Sammer	395,000	158
7	Damir Zhugralin	382,500	153
8	Denis Kapustin	365,500	146
9	Stepan Kiba	333,500	133
10	Murat Altunok	315,500	126

The crop of players who join the field today when action resumes at the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino in North Cyprus will begin with 100,000 chips and play eight hour-long levels, with a break every two levels. Late registration and unlimited reentries are available through the end of Level 12 on Day 2.

Those who make it through Day 1b will join the survivors from yesterday’s flight on Day 2 tomorrow. There are also two more starting flights, a turbo Day 1c beginning at 9:30 p.m. tonight, and a turbo Day 1d tomorrow at 10 a.m.

A total of 125 players have already joined the field chasing a piece of the $700,000 guaranteed prize pool. That will grow substantially larger today, and PokerNews will be on hand providing all the updates.

Tags: Fausto Tantillo Luc Bindel Maksim Skripkin Maxime Chilaud Michele Guerrini Mikhail Zamyatin Sergei Efimov Yiannis Liperis