2023 Merit Poker Carmen Series

$2,200 NL Warmup
Day: 3
Event Info
2023 Merit Poker Carmen Series
Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
k4
Prize
$206,800
Event Info
Buy-in
$2,200
Prize Pool
$1,124,240
Entries
611
Level Info
Level
38
Blinds
600,000 / 1,200,000
Ante
1,200,000
Players Info - Day 3
Entries
126
Players Left
21
Players Left 1 / 611
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Two Massive Pots Extend Into Break

Level 18 : Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante
Michael Uguccioni
Michael Uguccioni

Just as players were heading off on break, two pots continued on adjacent tables that extended well into the 15 minutes.

Daniel Montagnolli bet 175,000 on a flop of {j-Clubs}{9-Clubs}{4-Clubs} and Kubanychbek Abakirov called in the small blind. Both players checked the {5-Spades} turn.

The river came the {2-Hearts} and Abakirov checked over to Montagnolli, who slid forward a bet of 600,000. Abakirov tanked for several minutes before he called as Montagnolli turned over {a-Spades}{a-Clubs}. Abakirov mucked and quickly left the room.

At the same time, Michael Uguccioni and Elie Dib were involved in a pot with 500,000 in the middle on a board of {5-Hearts}{6-Diamonds}{q-Clubs}{9-Clubs}. Uguccioni moved all in and Dib, with around 700,000 remaining, also tanked for several minutes.

"Why all in," he asked Uguccioni before eventually mucking. Montagnolli and Uguccioni are now both above 2,000,000.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Daniel Montagnolli at
Daniel Montagnolli
2,300,000
2,087,000
2,087,000
Profile photo of Michael Uguccioni it
Michael Uguccioni
2,100,000
750,000
750,000
Profile photo of Kubanychbek Abakirov kg
Kubanychbek Abakirov
950,000
50,000
50,000
Profile photo of Elie Dib lb
Elie Dib
700,000
97,000
97,000

Tags: Daniel MontagnolliElie DibKubanychbek AbakirovMichael Uguccioni

Kolev Talks Himself Into a Call in Massive Pot

Level 18 : Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante
Fahredin Mustafov
Fahredin Mustafov

There was already around 300,000 in the middle on a board of {q-Clubs}{8-Spades}{5-Diamonds}{k-Hearts}{a-Spades} when Fahredin Mustafov, in early position, moved all in. Boris Kolev, in the big blind with around 190,000 behind, was faced with a decision for his tournament life.

"What you thinking now? Call or fold," Mustafov asked him.

"I think you have nine-ten the way the hand was played," Kolev replied.

"Or seven-six," Mustafov said.

"Seven-six I can beat," Kolev added.

A large crowd began gathering around the table as Kolev continued to tank. "I folded a hand I usually three-bet just to come see this," Gabi Livshitz said as he wandered over from another table.

"It's okay if you call time. Or maybe I never fold," Kolev finally said. "Okay, I call," he added as he tossed in a chip.

Mustafov turned over {j-Diamonds}{10-Diamonds} for the nut straight and Kolev flashed {q-Hearts}{2-Hearts} before heading for the exit.

"I didn't know it was your birthday. Nice gift," a tablemate told Mustafov following the hand.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Fahredin Mustafov bg
Fahredin Mustafov
1,800,000
440,000
440,000
Profile photo of Boris Kolev bg
Boris Kolev
Busted
WSOP 2X Winner

Tags: Boris KolevFahredin Mustafov

Kolgu Folds the Winner as Reiser Doubles

Level 18 : Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante
Stefan Reiser
Stefan Reiser

Mehmet Kolgu raised to 25,000 in the hijack before Maksim Shornikau three-bet to 110,000 from the cutoff. Stefan Reiser, on the button, then moved all in for 159,000.

Kolgu let out a deep sigh before he folded, but Shornikau quickly tossed in a chip to call.

Stefan Reiser: {j-Hearts}{j-Clubs}
Maksim Shornikau: {a-Diamonds}{q-Clubs}

Reiser was flipping for his tournament life and came out in front as the board ran out {5-Diamonds}{7-Spades}{4-Spades}{4-Diamonds}{9-Diamonds}. "That's the first hand I've seen," Reiser said after he doubled up.

"Did you fold queens," a tablemate asked Kolgu.

"Of course," Kolgu replied.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Maksim Shornikau by
Maksim Shornikau
600,000
250,000
250,000
Profile photo of Stefan Reiser de
Stefan Reiser
350,000
52,000
52,000
Profile photo of Mehmet Kolgu tr
Mehmet Kolgu
240,000
40,000
40,000

Tags: Maksim ShornikauMehmet KolguStefan Reiser

Kiba Flips Chauskin to the Rail, Sammer Waves Goodbye

Level 17 : Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
Stepan Kiba
Stepan Kiba

Natan Chauskin was all in for around 220,000 from early position and up against Stepan Kiba.

Natan Chauskin: {a-Spades}{k-Clubs}
Stepan Kiba: {j-Diamonds}{j-Clubs}

Kiba hit a set on the {q-Spades}{5-Spades}{j-Spades} flop, while Chauskin was looking to complete his straight and flush draws. Instead, the board ran out {4-Clubs}{2-Diamonds} and Chauskin was sent to the rail.

Harald Sammer was also eliminated at the same time on an adjacent table, waving goodbye to his former tablemates as he made his exit.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Stepan Kiba ua
Stepan Kiba
1,100,000
134,000
134,000
Profile photo of Natan Chauskin by
Natan Chauskin
Busted
Profile photo of Harald Sammer at
Harald Sammer
Busted

Tags: Harald SammerNatan ChauskinStepan Kiba

Rabih Saad Leads 126 Survivors in a Race to the Money on Day 3 of the Merit Poker Carmen Series $2,200 Warmup

Rabih Saad
Rabih Saad

The race to the money bubble is on when Day 3 of the Merit Poker Carmen Series $2,200 Warmup begins at noon local time.

Leading the way is Rabih Saad, who has built up a stack of 1,738,000 heading into the penultimate day of the tournament. Ran Ilani (1,366,000) and Alexandru Cinca (1,267,000) are close behind, while Fahredin Mustafov (1,360,000) and Petr Skripka (1,284,000) round out the top five on the chip leaderboard.

Top 10 Chip Counts

RankPlayerChip CountBig Blinds
1Rabih Saad1,738,000174
2Ran Ilani1,366,000137
3Fahredin Mustafov1,360,000136
4Petr Skripka1,284,000128
5Alexandru Cinca1,267,000127
6Eduard Barsegian1,170,000117
7Michael Uguccioni1,110,000111
8Aliaksandr Hirs1,087,000109
9Ali Moein1,031,000103
10Saman Nakhjavani1,022,000102

Selahaddin Bedir, who won this event here at the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino in North Cyprus last March, registered late on Day 2 but wasted no time amassing a stack of 991,000. Other top stacks include Philippe Souki (970,000), Gabi Livshitz (875,000), Gabriel Akiki (715,000), and Nicolas Chouity (681,000). Further down are Michele Guerrini (653,000), Helmut Phung (428,000), Luc Bindel (422,000), and Ryan Mandara (400,000).

The schedule for today calls for a further eight hour-long levels. Play will pick up on Level 17, with blinds of 5,000-10,000 and a 10,000 big blind ante.

The first milestone of the day will be the bursting of the money bubble. Just 126 players out of a starting field of 611 entries remain, but only 71 will make the money and grab a share of the $1,124,240 prize pool. A total of 55 players will leave the tournament after more than two days of play with nothing.

The money bubble is fast approaching. Then it’s a race toward the final table and the top prize money, and, as always, PokerNews will be following all the action and providing live updates throughout the day.

Tags: Rabih SaadAlexandru CincaFahredin MustafovGabi LivshitzGabriel AkikiHelmut PhungLuc BindelMichele GuerriniNicolas ChouityPetr SkripkaPhilippe SoukiRan IlaniRyan MandaraSelahaddin Bedir

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