$2,200 NL Warmup Day 3 | 2023 Merit Poker Carmen Series

Mar 25, 2023

Abou Khalil Fades Everything to Double

David Salituro

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

Ghassan Abou Khalil, Daniel Rezaei, and Rashad Iskandarov were three-handed on a flop of when Abou Khalil got his last 270,000 in the middle from the hijack against Rezaei in the small blind, while Iskandarov folded.

Ghassan Abou Khalil:
Daniel Rezaei:

Abou Khalil had top pair but needed to fade Rezaei's straight and flush draws. The board ran out and Rezaei missed both draws to hand over most of his stack to Abou Khalil.

"Do you win," tablemate Toni Kaukua asked Iskandarov after the hand, who shook his head..

Tags: Daniel Rezaei Ghassan Abou Khalil Rashad Iskandarov

Mar 25, 2023

Korkmaz Spikes the River to Stay Alive

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

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

Ran Ilani raised to 20,000 from early position before Koray Korkmaz shoved all in for 196,000 in middle position. Ilani asked for a count before he called.

Koray Korkmaz:
Ran Ilani:

Korkmaz was dominated and got no help on the flop as he was already getting up from his seat and preparing to exit the tournament.

The on the turn was no help and Korkmaz was now one card away from elimination, but he hit the on the river to double up.

"Happy endings," a tablemate told him as Korkmaz sat back down.

Tags: Ran Ilani Koray Korkmaz

Mar 25, 2023

Shornikau Takes a Chunk Off Guerrini

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

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

Three-handed on the turn and around 150,000 already in the pot on a board of , Maksim Shornikau bet 100,000 from the button and Michele Guerrini called in the small blind.

Saman Nakhljavani quickly folded from early position as Shornikau and Guerrini went heads-up to the river. Guerrini checked again, and this time Shornikau slid forward a bet of 130,000.

Guerrini snap-folded as Shornikau raked in the big pot.

Tags: Maksim Shornikau Michele Guerrini Saman Nakhljavani

Mar 25, 2023

Kiba Flips Chauskin to the Rail, Sammer Waves Goodbye

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

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

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

Natan Chauskin:
Stepan Kiba:

Kiba hit a set on the flop, while Chauskin was looking to complete his straight and flush draws. Instead, the board ran out 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.

Tags: Harald Sammer Natan Chauskin Stepan Kiba

Mar 25, 2023

Rezaei Raises Out Korkmaz, Busts Gulal

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

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

Mustafa Gulal was all in for 27,000 from early position before Koray Korkmaz put in a raise to 50,000. Action folded around to Daniel Rezaei in the big blind, who three-bet as Korkmaz snap-folded.

Mustafa Gulal:
Daniel Rezaei:

The board ran out and Rezaei won the pot with two pair to bust Gulal.

"Nice play," a tablemate told him following the hand.

Vitalii Pankov and Dmitry Yurasov have also been eliminated.

Tags: Daniel Rezaei Koray Korkmaz Mustafa Gulal

Mar 25, 2023

Nigbolu Puts Kolgu to the Test

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

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

With around 120,000 in the pot on a board of , Cenk Nigbolu bet 80,000 from early position and Mehmet Kolgu called in the big blind.

The river came the and Kolgu checked over to Nigbolu, who announced he was all in.

Kolgu, with around 200,000 remaining, tanked for several minutes as he counted out his stack. "Sorry guys," he told his tablemates before throwing his cards into the middle of the table.

"It wasn't meant to be," a tablemate told him following the hand.

Tags: Cenk Nigbolu Mehmet Kolgu

Mar 25, 2023

Early Bustouts

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

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

Mar 25, 2023

"Nuts on the River" For Atanasov

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

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

Heads-up on a flop of , Stefan Atanasov moved all in for 150,000 and Charbel Salloum called from under the gun.

Stefan Atanasov:
Charbel Salloum:

Atanasov had out-flopped Salloum's pair of eights with top pair. The on the turn gave him two pair, while he filled up on the river.

"Nuts on the river," a tablemate told him.

"Nuts on the river," Atanasov replied, nodding his head and flashing a smile as he stayed alive.

Tags: Charbel Salloum Stefan Atanasov

Mar 25, 2023

Shapira Picks Off Sammer Early

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

David Salituro

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

On the first hand of Day 3, Harald Sammer three-bet to 55,000 from early position and Liron Shapira called when action folded back around to him.

The flop came and Shapira checked over to Sammer, who continued for 35,000. Shapira called and both players checked the turn.

The river came the and Shapira checked once again. Sammer now bet 110,000 and Shapira snap-called. Sammer turned over for a bluff, while Shapira took the pot with for a rivered two pair.