$3,300 Main Event
Day 1cd Completed
2023 Merit Poker Carmen Series
$3,300 Main Event
Day: 1cd
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1cd
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
135
Players Left
73
Walid Bou Habib Sets Pace On Day 1c of Event #19: $3,300 Main Event
Level 9
: Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante
After nine levels of play on Day 1c of Event #19: $3,300 Main Event at the Merit Poker Carmen Series, 73 players survived from a starting field of 135. Once the final hand was completed, Lebanon's Walid Bou Habib found himself at the top of the leaderboard with an impressive 595,000. That sets him well apart from his nearest competitor, Roman Pshyk of Ukraine, who was able to amass 433,500. Not far behind and rounding out the top three is Germany's Justin Steinberg wtih 402,500.
Many notable players took their seat at the start of the day and were able to emerge out the other side, including Ran Ilani (375,000), who pulled off an interesting bluff late in the day, Bart Lybaert (225,000) and 2019 PSPC final table participant Florian Duta (157,000).
Well known players to take their shot but fall short of the final buzzer include WSOP bracelet winner Jason Wheeler and Event #13: $5,300 High Roller 8th place finisher Egor Romaniuk.
Day 1c Top 10 Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walid Bou Habib | 595,000 | 238 |
| 2 | Roman Pshyk | 433,500 | 173 |
| 3 | Justin Steinberg | 402,500 | 161 |
| 4 | Ran Ilani | 375,000 | 150 |
| 5 | Terence Etim | 373,500 | 149 |
| 6 | Can Miral | 363,500 | 145 |
| 7 | Damir Zhugralin | 345,500 | 138 |
| 8 | Evagoras Evagorou | 343,500 | 137 |
| 9 | Dogan Dinler | 341,500 | 137 |
| 10 | Bakhos Alalam | 334,000 | 134 |
The 73 runners who made it through today will combine with the 214 total players who survived days 1a and 1b as well as those who are able to navigate their way through Day 1d on Friday, 31st March at 12 p.m. at which point late registration will remain open for a further four levels before the final field and prizepool numbers are set. The remainder of the tournament will then be played out across three days.
Be sure to stay tuned as the PokerNews live reporting team continues to provide live updates through to the conclusion of Event #19: $3,300 Main Event at the Merit Poker Carmen Series hosted by the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino.
Conclusion of Play
Level 9
: Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante
Play has concluded for the day with all those still with chips returning tomorrow at 12 p.m. to combine with the fields from the other three starting flights. Stay tuned for a recap of the day's events to follow.
Final Three Hands
Level 9
: Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante
The tournament director has just announced that there will be three more hands dealt at each table before the survivors of Day 1c bag for the night.
Ilani Pulls Off "Thin Value" Bluff
Level 9
: Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante
A player in the cutoff opened to 5,500 and was called by Ran Ilani in the big blind.
Both players checked through the 
flop and 
turn to the 
river at which point Ilani casually tossed 2,500 into the middle. The cutoff, with the pained expression of someone with a high card hand facing a "thin value" bet, mucked only for Ilani to reveal he held 
for the airball, eliciting some laughter from the table as play for the day draws to a close.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
325,000 | 155,000 |
Lybaert Slowplays Aces To Perfection
Level 9
: Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante
A player limped from under the gun as did Bart Lybaert in middle position, the cutoff and the small blind. The big blind checked his option to send the players five-way to the flop.
Action checked to the cutoff on a flop of 
and he continued for 7,000. That got two quick folds from the blinds but calls from the under the gun player and Lybaert.
All three remaining players checked through the turn to the 
river at which point the under the gun player checked for a third time. Lybaet now seized control, making it 30,000 to go to showdown. The cutoff called while the under the gun player folded and Lybaert turned over 
for the flopped boat to take down a large pot late in the day.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
218,000 | 68,000 |
Level: 9
Blinds: 1,000/2,500
Ante: 2,500
Day 1d Set To Begin At 7 p.m.
Level 8
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Day 1d, the fourth and final flight of Event #19: $3,300 Main Event, will take place at 7 p.m. local time, shortly after the conclusion of Day 1c. That flight will be in the format of a turbo with 25-minute levels. Although PokerNews will not be doing live updates during play, we will provide full chip counts and entry numbers at its conclusion.
Fal Leaves Lahav Short
Level 8
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Tomer Lahav opened to 4,500 from middle position and was called by the cutoff as well as Nikolay Fal on the button and Rafi Elharar in the small blind.
Elharar checked following the 
flop and Lahav continued for 6,000. The cutoff called before Fal jacked it up to 26,500. That convinced Elharar and the cutoff to vacate the pot but Lahav decided to call to generate heads-up action heading to the turn.
Lahav checked to Fal on the turn and the Russian continued his earlier aggression with a bet of 18,500. Again, Lahav did not go away as he once more flatted.
The 
river put a four card flush on the board which caused Lahav to lead into Fal for a mammoth 75,000. Fal, with little more than that behind, moved the remainder of his stack into the middle. Lahav quickly called but, after Fal tabled 
for the ace high flush, mucked before paying off his opponent's stack with visible frustration.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
250,000 | 250,000 |
|
57,000 | -118,000 |
Ionel Finds Lucky Double
Level 8
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
A player opened to 5,000 from late position and action folded to Anton Ionel in the small blind who moved all in for his last 28,000. The big blind folded to send the action back to the late position player who quickly called to put Ionel at risk.
Anton Ionel:
Late Position Player: 
Ionel was in rough shape with his dominated ace but found immediate help on the 
flop. The turn was clean for the at risk player with the 
river confirming a full double for Ionel to keep him in contention.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
62,000 | -113,000 |