$3,300 Main Event
Day 1a Started
2023 Merit Poker Carmen Series
$3,300 Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1a
2023 Merit Poker Carmen Series
Buy-in
$3,300
Prize Pool
$2,111,400
Entries
765
Level
36
Blinds
300,000 / 600,000
Ante
600,000
Entries
232
Players Left
106
Beautiful Music Will Be Made When the Merit Poker Carmen Series $3,300 Main Event Begins at Noon
Georges Bizet’s 1875 opera Carmen is one of the most internationally acclaimed pieces of classical music to come from the 19th century. Its arias “Habanera” and “Toreador Song” are instantly recognizable pieces of the Western canon. And, today inside the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino, one lucky player will begin writing their own grand symphony.
Today marks the start of the Merit Poker Carmen Series $3,300 Main Event, with Day 1a kicking off at noon local time. Players will begin with 100,000 chips and play nine hour-long levels today.
The last time the poker world was gathered here along the shores of the Mediterranean in North Cyprus, for the Merit Poker Western Series in January, it was native son Orthodoxos Orthodoxou who kept the title in his home country by prevailing over a field of 757 entries to win $372,800.
Those who don’t survive the day will still have several more opportunities to jump back in and try to replicate that achievement. There are three more starting flights, Day 1b on March 29, Day 1c on March 30, and a turbo Day 1d flight. Those who survive their opening flight, as well as any late entrants, will combine for Day 2 on March 31.
The tournament features a guaranteed prize pool of $1,500,000, With late registration and unlimited reentries available through the end of Level 13 on Day 2, a massive field is expected to fill up the poker room inside this seaside resort.
PokerNews will be following the action the entire way and providing live updates and chip counts until the festival concludes with the crowning of another Merit Poker champion.
Level: 1
Blinds: 200/500
Ante: 500
Shuffle Up and Deal
Level 1
: Blinds 200/500, 500 ante
The Merit Poker Carmen Series Main Event is now underway with 116 players currently taking a seat to begin Day 1a.
Early Notables
Level 1
: Blinds 200/500, 500 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000 | |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
||
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
Nurmuhammedov Doesn't Take Atanasov's Bait
Level 1
: Blinds 200/500, 500 ante
Heads-up on the turn with the board showing 
, Parahat Nurmuhammedov bet 10,000 on the button and Stefan Atanasov called in the big blind.
The river came the 
and Atanasov checked. Nurmuhammedov quickly checked.
"Ah, I got there on the river," Atanasov said, showing 
.
"Flush," a tablemate added as Nurmuhammedov mucked to surrender the early big pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
115,000 | |
|
85,000 |
Azar Spikes the River For First Bustout of the Day
Level 1
: Blinds 200/500, 500 ante
Georgio Azar and Or Suliman built a pot of around 35,000 heading to the turn on a board of 
. Suliman, in early position, moved all in for 47,400 as Azar began tanking from the big blind.
Azar thought about the decision for several minutes as he shuffled his chips before tossing in two white 25,000 chips to call. Suliman turned over 
for a pair of jacks and was ahead of Azar's 
.
The river brought the 
, giving Azar trip tens, and Suliman banged his fist on the table and began muttering to himself as he made his way to the exit as the first bustout of the Main Event.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
160,000
160,000
|
160,000 |
|
Busted |
Orthodoxou Gets Paid by Kabelitz
Level 1
: Blinds 200/500, 500 ante
Orthodoxos Orthodoxou and Samuel Kabelitz were involved in a blind versus blind battle heading to the river on a board of 
.
Orthodoxou, in the small blind, tossed out a bet of 5,000 into the 6,000 chip pot and Kabelitz quickly called. Orthodoxou turned over 
for a straight and Kabelitz mucked as the Merit Poker Western Series champion took down the early pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
95,000 | |
|
81,000 |
Streletskiy Straigtens Out Dadabaev
Level 1
: Blinds 200/500, 500 ante
Konstantin Streletskiy bet 1,000 from the hijack on a flop of 
and was called by a player on the button before Shakir Dadabaev raised to 4,600 in the small blind.
Only Streletskiy called as both players checked the turn. The river came the and Dadabaev checked again.
Streletskiy now bet 6,400 and Dadabaev quickly called. Streletskiy showed 
for the rivered straight as Dadabaev let out a laugh before mucking.
After the hand, tablemates Elias Abou Saleh and Philippe Souki introduced themselves to each other and began exchanging pleasantries.
"He looks like your son," a tablemate told Abou Saleh.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
105,000
105,000
|
105,000 |
|
85,000
85,000
|
85,000 |
Zamyatin Raises the River
Level 1
: Blinds 200/500, 500 ante
Mikhail Zamyatin bet 3,000 from the hijack on a flop of 
and Alisa Sibgatova called in early position.
Both players checked the 
turn before Sibgatova led out for 7,000 on the 
river.
Zamyatin came back with a raise to 27,600 and Sibgatova snap-folded.
Zamyatin, who is coming off a final table appearance in the Warmup event, is off to another fast start here in the Main Event.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
130,000 | |
|
105,000 |