Level: 5
Blinds: 600/1,200
Ante: 1,200
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
Christoforou Does Not Take The Bait
Level 4
: Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante
A player opened to 2,000 from middle position before Andreas Christoforou three-bet to 6,000 in the cutoff. The small blind called while the big blind and original raiser both folded to send action heads-up to the flop.
Both players checked through the 
flop to the 
turn at which point the small blind took over the betting lead, firing off 10,000. That did not dissuade Christoforou who quickly called.
The 
river paired the board and the small blind slowed down, checking to Christoforou who wasted little time in checking back. The small blind turned over 
for rivered trips to take down a decently sized pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
95,000 |
Wheeler Gives It Up
Level 4
: Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante
Jason Wheeler opened to 2,300 from middle position and was called by a player in the cutoff as well as the big blind.
The big blind checked to Wheeler on a flop of 
and he continued for 2,700. The cutoff called while the big blind folded to send action heads-up to the turn.
Wheeler slowed down following the 
turn, checking to the cutoff who, unwilling to give a free card to his opponent, fired off 3,600. It did not take long for Wheeler to muck his hand, taking a minor hit to his stack in the process.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
110,000
110,000
|
110,000 |
|
||
Level: 4
Blinds: 500/1,000
Ante: 1,000
Break Time
Level 3
: Blinds 400/800, 800 ante
Players have been sent on their first 15-minute break of the day. They will return to blinds of 500/1,000 with a 1,000 big blind ante.
Elharar Boosted By Rockets
Level 3
: Blinds 400/800, 800 ante
Picking up the action on the river, Rafi Elharar in the small blind, who is already on his second bullet after his ladies were downed by the big slick of Terence Etim earlier in the day, was involved in a pot with a player in the big blind. With the board reading 
Elharar moved all in for around 40,000, which was a little less than pot. His opponent, with less than that behind, deliberated before eventually calling it off with 
. It was no good, however, as Elharar turned over 
for the superior full house to score the knockout and ensure that his second attempt in the tournament is off to a better start than the first.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
150,000
150,000
|
150,000 |
Ilani Loses Small Pot
Level 3
: Blinds 400/800, 800 ante
Ran Ilani opened to 1,600 on the button and was called by a player in the big blind.
Action checked to Ilani on a flop of 
and he continued for 1,100. His opponent responded by raising to 2,500 and, with little delay, Ilani folded to take a small hit to his stack. He has still enjoyed a productive start to the day, however, winning a number of small pots to sit comfortably above the tournament average.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
125,000
125,000
|
125,000 |
Level: 3
Blinds: 400/800
Ante: 800
Ionel Gets Bluff Through
Level 2
: Blinds 300/600, 600 ante
Anton Ionel, fresh off a final table appearance in Event #13: $5,300 High Roller, opened to 1,200 from middle position only to see a player on the button three-bet to 3,600. The blinds got out of the way to send the action back to Ionel who opted to flat.
The flop came 
but neither player chose to take a stab at the pot, instead checking through to the turn. Ionel then pushed 5,600 into the middle but that was not enough to get the three-bettor off of his hand as he instead called.
Barely had the 
hit the felt on the river before Ionel tossed 15,000 into the pot. That did not appear to sit well with his opponent who, though seemingly an unbeliever, released his holding. Ionel flipped over for the missed gutshot bluff, eliciting a "nice hand" from his opponent.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
115,000
115,000
|
115,000 |
Etim Fills Up To Score Early Knockout
Level 2
: Blinds 300/600, 600 ante
Florian Duta opened to 1,300 from under the gun before Terence Etim three-bet to 4,200 one seat over. The player to his left called before a player in middle position cold four-bet to 15,000. Action folded back around to Duta who quickly released his holding while Etim, after some deliberation, called. The player to his left folded to send action heads-up to the flop with a big pot brewing.
Both players checked through the 
flop to the 
turn at which point Etim checked for a second time. The middle position player tossed out a bet of 16,000 and Etim called.
The 
river completed the board and saw Etim check for a third time. His opponent, after a considerable amount of time, moved all in and with no hesitation Etim called, turning over 
for the full house. The middle position player, who had the effective stack, meekly turned over 
before announcing "rebuy" while Etim raked in a huge pot early in the day.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
215,000
215,000
|
215,000 |
|
95,000
95,000
|
95,000 |