2023 Merit Poker Carmen Series

$3,300 Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info

2023 Merit Poker Carmen Series

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
k4
Prize
$376,800
Event Info
Buy-in
$3,300
Prize Pool
$2,111,400
Entries
765
Level Info
Level
36
Blinds
300,000 / 600,000
Ante
600,000
Players Info - Day 1a
Entries
232
Players Left
106

Beg Shows Hulme the Nuts

Level 7 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Furkan Beg and Andrew Hulme were heads-up on a board of {3-Diamonds}{j-Hearts}{6-Hearts}{2-Diamonds} when Beg bet 15,000 from the small blind and Hulme called on the button.

The river came the {4-Hearts} and Beg bet another 30,000. Hulme leaned back in his chair with his hand on top of his head as he agonized over the decision for most of his chips.

Beg, meanwhile, borrowed tablemate Alexandru Papazian's sunglasses and put on his hood as he starred straight ahead. Hulme eventually tossed in a chip to call and Beg showed {a-Hearts}{q-Hearts} for the nut flush.

Beg dragged in the big pot, then returned Papazian's sunglasses.

Player Chips Progress
Furkan Beg tr
Furkan Beg
120,000
10,000
10,000
Andrew Hulme gb
Andrew Hulme
18,000
-7,000
-7,000

Tags: Andrew HulmeFurkan Beg

Selinger Gets Tricky With Kings

Level 7 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Julian Selinger three-bet to 13,000 in the small blind and Juozas Bizokas called from the button.

The flop came {j-Diamonds}{6-Spades}{7-Diamonds} and both players checked to the {5-Clubs} turn, when Selinger resumed betting and threw out 20,000.

Bizokas considered the decision for a moment before calling as the {10-Hearts} fell on the river. Selinger bet another 23,000 and Bizokas quickly tossed in a white 25,000 chip to signify a call.

Selinger turned over {k-Diamonds}{k-Clubs} and Bizokas shook his head before mucking his hand.

Player Chips Progress
Julian Selinger de
Julian Selinger
240,000
Juozas Bizokas lt
Juozas Bizokas
65,000
-5,000
-5,000

Tags: Julian SelingerJuozas Bizokas

Kaukua Picked Off on the River

Level 7 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

A pot of more than 100,000 had already developed between Toni Kaukua in the hijack and an opponent in early position on a board of {q-Hearts}{10-Clubs}{10-Spades}{9-Spades}{j-Hearts} when Kaukua moved all in for 110,000.

"I was waiting for that card. The best I can hope for is a chop," his opponent said as he tanked for several minutes.

He eventually called with {a-Clubs}{k-Diamonds} for a straight and Kaukua turned over {a-Diamonds}{4-Diamonds} for a bluff as he headed for the exit.

Player Chips Progress
Toni Kaukua fi
Toni Kaukua
Busted

Tags: Toni Kaukua

Savsa Coolers Akhmedzhanov to the Rail

Level 7 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Heads-up on a board of {5-Clubs}{10-Spades}{k-Hearts}{k-Clubs}, Farrukh Akhmedzhanov bet 12,000 from the button before small blind Yuksel Savsa made it 30,000.

Akhmedzhanov called to see the {8-Clubs} river, when Savsa bet 50,000. Akhmedzhanov only had a few chips more than the bet and put them in as Savsa called.

Akhmedzhanov showed {k-Spades}{7-Spades} for trip kings, but Savsa turned over {10-Diamonds}{10-Hearts} for a full house as Akhmedzhanov angrily tossed his cards into the muck before heading for the exit.

Player Chips Progress
Yuksel Savsa tr
Yuksel Savsa
180,000
Farrukh Akhmedzhanov
Farrukh Akhmedzhanov
Busted

Tags: Yuksel SavsaFarrukh Akhmedzhanov

Gadzhiev Rivers the Nuts

Level 7 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Roman Gadzhiev, Ali Moein, and Philippe Souki went three-handed to the {5-Clubs}{j-Hearts}{9-Spades} flop when Moein bet 5,000 from under the gun and was called by both opponents.

The turn came the {a-Clubs} and all three players checked. Souki and Moein also checked the {6-Hearts} river before Gadzhiev bet 25,500.

Souki quickly folded, but Moein called with {k-Diamonds}{j-Spades} for a pair of jacks. Gadzhiev, though, turned over {8-Spades}{7-Spades} for the rivered straight to win the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Ali Moein ir
Ali Moein
420,000
20,000
20,000
Roman Gadzhiev ru
Roman Gadzhiev
330,000
80,000
80,000
Philippe Souki gb
Philippe Souki
180,000
-50,000
-50,000

Tags: Ali MoeinPhilippe SoukiRoman Gadzhiev

Level: 7

Blinds: 1,000/1,500

Ante: 1,500

Chip Counts Near the Break

Level 6 : Blinds 700/1,500, 1,500 ante
Player Chips Progress
Anil Yildiz tr
Anil Yildiz
350,000
190,000
190,000
Daniel Rezaei at
Daniel Rezaei
290,000
Uri Reichenstein il
Uri Reichenstein
275,000
125,000
125,000
Anatoly Korochenskiy ru
Anatoly Korochenskiy
250,000
25,000
25,000
Valeriy Pak uz
Valeriy Pak
250,000
Philippe Souki gb
Philippe Souki
230,000
15,000
15,000
Mikhail Zamyatin ru
Mikhail Zamyatin
215,000
-20,000
-20,000
Koray Korkmaz tr
Koray Korkmaz
180,000
50,000
50,000
Ara Melkisetian lb
Ara Melkisetian
175,000
-15,000
-15,000
Daniel Montagnolli at
Daniel Montagnolli
175,000
45,000
45,000
Samuel Kabelitz at
Samuel Kabelitz
175,000
175,000
175,000
Alexandru Cinca ro
Alexandru Cinca
160,000
50,000
50,000
Roman Kolotiuk ru
Roman Kolotiuk
85,000
-45,000
-45,000
Andrew Hulme gb
Andrew Hulme
25,000

Sibgatova Shoves on Uguccioni

Level 6 : Blinds 700/1,500, 1,500 ante

Michael Uguccioni had a raise to 10,000 in front of him on the button before Alisa Sibgatova reraised to 30,000 in the big blind.

Uguccioni called as they went heads-up to the {6-Diamonds}{4-Spades}{8-Hearts} flop. Sibgatova continued for 11,000 and Uguccioni called.

The turn came the {7-Diamonds} and Sibgatova checked this time. Uguccioni took the opportunity to fire out 20,000, and Sibgatova responded by immediately moving all in for around 75,000. Uguccioni snap-folded.

"Respect," tablemate Toni Kaukua told Sibgatova as he gave her a fist pump following the hand.

"Professional," another tablemate added.

Player Chips Progress
Alisa Sibgatova ru
Alisa Sibgatova
165,000
60,000
60,000
Michael Uguccioni it
Michael Uguccioni
70,000
10,000
10,000

Tags: Alisa SibgatovaMichael Uguccioni

Hu Hits the Turn, Smuskevicius Spikes the River

Level 6 : Blinds 700/1,500, 1,500 ante
Boris Smuskevicius
Boris Smuskevicius

In a three-handed pot on the {a-Clubs}{6-Hearts}{7-Diamonds} flop, Boris Smuskevicius bet 15,000 from the button and was called by David Hu in the big blind.

The turn came the {3-Diamonds} and Hu shoved for around 50,000. Smuskevicius snap-called with {a-Spades}{7-Spades} for two pair, but flung his arms into the air in frustration when Hu showed {5-Clubs}{4-Spades} for a turned straight.

The river, though, brought the {a-Diamonds} and Smuskevicius now gave out a big fist pump as he made a full house to send Hu to the rail.

Player Chips Progress
Boris Smuskevicius lt
Boris Smuskevicius
380,000
380,000
380,000
David Hu nl
David Hu
Busted

Tags: Boris SmuskeviciusDavid Hu