Walid Bou Habib Sets Pace On Day 1c of Event #19: $3,300 Main Event
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.
and he continued for 7,000. That got two quick folds from the blinds but calls from the under the gun player and Lybaert. 
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.
flop. The 
turn was clean for the at risk player with the 
river confirming a full double for Ionel to keep him in contention.
