$2,200 NL Warmup
Day 2 Started
2023 Merit Poker Carmen Series
$2,200 NL Warmup
Day: 2
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
2023 Merit Poker Carmen Series
Buy-in
$2,200
Prize Pool
$1,124,240
Entries
611
Level
38
Blinds
600,000 / 1,200,000
Ante
1,200,000
Players Left
126
Day 2 Chip Counts
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
758,000 | |
|
664,000 | |
|
545,000 | |
|
522,500 | |
|
504,000 | |
|
498,000 | |
|
493,000 | |
|
484,500 | |
|
441,000 | |
|
|
435,500 | |
|
430,000 | |
|
427,500 | |
|
415,000 | |
|
414,000 | |
|
407,000 | |
|
406,500 | |
|
406,000 | |
|
|
397,000 | |
|
395,000 | |
|
382,500 | |
|
381,000 | |
|
371,000 | |
|
370,500 | |
|
|
368,000 | |
|
368,000 |
Ali Moein, Gabi Livshitz Lead the Way as Field Combines on Day 2 of the Merit Poker Carmen Series $2,200 Warmup
The field that has descended on the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino in North Cyprus for the Merit Poker Carmen Series $2,200 Warmup will all be together in one room today when Day 2 begins at 12:30 p.m. local time.
Ali Moein and Gabi Livshitz sit atop the leaderboard after amassing massive stacks on Day 1. Moein takes 758,000 into today’s play, while Livshitz, who already has one win here during this festival, is right behind him with 664,000.
Day 2 Top 10 Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ali Moein | 758,000 | 303 |
| 2 | Gabi Livshitz | 664,000 | 266 |
| 3 | Cheikh Hobeiche | 545,000 | 218 |
| 4 | Mikhail Zamyatin | 522,500 | 209 |
| 5 | Philippe Souki | 504,000 | 202 |
| 6 | Eduard Barsegian | 498,000 | 199 |
| 7 | Rabih Saad | 493,000 | 197 |
| 8 | Roman Gadzhiev | 484,500 | 194 |
| 9 | Koray Korkmaz | 441,000 | 176 |
| 10 | Murat Altas | 435,500 | 174 |
Other top stacks include Philippe Souki (504,000), Uri Reichenstein (368,000), and Thomas Eychenne (351,500). Further down the leaderboard are Michele Guerrini (252,500), Ran Ilani (241,000), and Toni Kaukua (210,000).
A total of 438 entries have already played the event, with 223 players making it through to Day 2. There is also a turbo Day 1d flight still to be played this morning. Players can still register for the first four levels today, with late registration open until the end of Level 12, which should come around 5 p.m. The official prize pool will then be announced.
Blinds pick up on Level 9 at 1,000-2,500 with a 2,500 big blind ante. The schedule today calls for a further nine hour-long levels. There will be a 45-minute dinner break following the conclusion of Level 14. That should bring the field close to the money bubble by the end of the day. But first, the players have to survive what will be a grueling and action-packed day here along the shores of the Mediterranean.
As always, PokerNews will be there following all the action and providing live updates throughout Day 2.
Level: 9
Blinds: 1,000/2,500
Ante: 2,500
Shuffle Up and Deal
Level 9
: Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante
The remaining 261 players are in their seats and unbagged their chips, and Day 2 is now underway.
Katykhin Shoves the First Hand
Level 9
: Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante
Mikhail Katykhin joined the field at the start of Day 2 and just found himself moving all in on the first hand he saw.
Katykhin was one of three players involved in a pot that already had 40,000 in the middle heading to the 
flop. Katykin, in middle position, bet 25,000 and only Elena Yasyuchenya called from the cutoff.
The turn came the 
and Katykin slid the rest of his stack forward, a bet of around 60,000. Vasyuchenya tanked for around two minutes as she counted out the rest of her stack before deciding to slide her cards into the muck.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
140,000 | |
|
45,000
-40,500
|
-40,500 |
Chilaud, Kaukua Play a Classic Flip
Level 9
: Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante
Maxime Chilaud was in the cutoff and got the rest of his 135,000 in the middle against Toni Kaukua from the small blind.
Maxime Chilaud: 
Toni Kaukua: 
Chilaud was racing for his tournament life and connected with the 
flop, hitting top pair. The board ran out 
and Kaukua was left paying off Chilaud early on Day 2.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
270,000
150,500
|
150,500 |
|
110,000
-100,000
|
-100,000 |
Etim Fills Up to Bust Wenhua
Level 9
: Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante
Zheng Wenhua was all in for around 60,000 from the small blind and up against Terence Etim in middle position.
Zheng Wenhua: 
Terence Etim: 
Etim had woken up with kings and improved to top set on the 
flop. Wenhua was looking to complete his straight draw but was left drawing dead when the 
on the turn gave Etim a full house.
The meaningless river came the 
and the retired mixed martial artist collected the knockout.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
260,000
143,000
|
143,000 |
|
|
Busted |
Moein's Stack Continuing to Grow
Level 9
: Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante
Harald Sammer raised to 5,500 from middle position and was called by Luc Bindel next to act as action folded around to chip leader Ali Moein in the big blind. He tossed in a three-bet to 25,000.
"How much do you have left," Sammer joked as he got out of the way. Bindel, though, stuck around with a call.
"Seat open," Sammer said as the flop came 
. Both players checked to the 
turn, when Moein again checked.
Bindel put out a bet of 37,000 before Moein took a few white 25,000 chips from his massive stack and raised to 125,000. Bindel quickly folded.
"Isn't it exhausting having to constantly build towers," Sammer asked Moein as he added to his stack.
"Give some back to the community," tablemate Gokhan Ozbek added.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
790,000
32,000
|
32,000 |
|
|
410,000
-20,000
|
-20,000 |
|
|
365,000
-30,000
|
-30,000 |
Katykhin All In Again, Busts This Time
Level 9
: Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante
Mikhail Katykhin just found himself moving all in again, placing his last 60,000 in the middle along with his card protector, a figurine of the Spongebob character Sandy. Maher Nouira called to put him at risk.
Mikhail Katykhin: 
Maher Nouira:
Katykhin was dominated heading to the flop. "Flush," he called for, and sure enough the 
flop gave him a flush draw. The 
on the turn also gave him a straight draw, while Nouira made top pair.
The on the river, though, was no help to Katykhin and he made his exit.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
190,000
97,000
|
97,000 |
|
|
Busted |