$3,300 Main Event
Day 2 Completed
2023 Merit Poker Carmen Series
$3,300 Main Event
Day: 2
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 2
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
765
Players Left
142
Chilaud Man To Catch in Event #19: $3,300 Main Event
Level 18
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
After nine levels of play on Day 2 of Event #19: $3,300 Main Event at the Merit Poker Carmen Series hosted by the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino a total of 142 players emerged from a combined starting field of 765. A familiar name leads those 142; Maxime Chilaud of France with 1,895,000. Chilaud also led the field in Event #13: $5,300 High Roller after Day 1, going on to finish in 12th for $14,850. He does not have a big lead, however, with Efraim Tavdi nipping at his heels on 1,861,000. Israel's Michael Magalashvili, who displayed cautious patience alongside timely aggression, rounds out the top three with 1,766,000.
When play commenced, 187 players returned, having navigated their way through one of the four starting flights. But with late registration open for a further four levels and a big prizepool brewing, more players who perhaps did not enjoy the best of luck during Day 1 were sure to hop in. That is precisely what happened as the total number of entrants swelled beyond the number set in this same event back in January.
Merit Poker Carmen Series $3,300 Main Event Top 10 Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maxime Chilaud | 1,895,000 | 158 |
| 2 | Efraim Tavdi | 1,861,000 | 155 |
| 3 | Michael Magalashvilli | 1,766,000 | 147 |
| 4 | Denis Kapustin | 1,580,000 | 132 |
| 5 | Mikhail Zamiatin | 1,567,000 | 131 |
| 6 | Kristaps Vismanis | 1,560,000 | 130 |
| 7 | Uri Reichenstein | 1,545,000 | 129 |
| 8 | Shalev Halfa | 1,440,000 | 120 |
| 9 | Boris Angelov | 1,346,000 | 112 |
| 10 | Daniel Myers | 1,300,000 | 108 |
Those players were able to generate a total prizepool of $2,111,400, significantly more than the already lofty guarantee of $1,500,000. That mammoth total will be split amongst the top 89 finishers, each of whom is guaranteed a minimum of $4,580 for their efforts with a gargantuan $376,800 set to hit the bank account of whomever emerges victorious. Nobody has yet secured themselves a slice of the pie, however, as the money bubble is set to burst on Day 3.
Nevertheless, all those who were able to navigate their way through the first two days have already enjoyed a relatively deep run that they will be hoping to turn into a healthy payday. Unfortunately, several notable players who took their shot will not be joining them, including Boris Kolev, Jason Wheeler and Gabi Livshitz. They will have to test their luck and skill another day in another event.
Notables who do remain in contention include Uri Reichenstein (1,545,000), WSOPE Main Event winner Jack Sinclair (986,000) and Romania all time money leader (and perhaps the embodiment of the year of Romania) Alexandru Papazian (710,000).
Day 3 resumes at 12 p.m, Saturday April 1st (no April fools, promise) at the start of Level 19 with blinds at 6,000/12,000 with a 12,000 big blind ante at which point nine further levels will be played before the close of the day. April 1st also happens to be Cyprus National Day so even those who fall short of the money will have a reason to celebrate (or at least an excuse to drown their sorrows).
Be sure to stay tuned to PokerNews as its live reporting team continues to provide updates of Event #19: $3,300 Main Event through to its conclusion.
End-of-Day Chip Counts (full)
Level 18
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
1,895,000 | 295,000 |
|
1,861,000 | 511,000 |
|
1,766,000 | 256,000 |
|
1,580,000 | 230,000 |
|
1,567,000 | 847,000 |
|
1,560,000 | 1,320,000 |
|
1,545,000 | 565,000 |
|
1,440,000 | 1,440,000 |
|
1,346,000 | 326,000 |
|
1,300,000 | -100,000 |
|
1,299,000 | 799,000 |
|
1,175,000 | 125,000 |
|
1,160,000 | 880,000 |
|
1,120,000 | 300,000 |
|
1,094,000 | 803,500 |
|
1,090,000 | 180,000 |
|
1,074,000 | 124,000 |
|
1,069,000 | -31,000 |
|
1,004,000 | 444,000 |
|
988,000 | 168,000 |
|
986,000 | 116,000 |
|
924,000 | 64,000 |
|
855,000 | 105,000 |
|
844,000 | 704,000 |
|
827,000 | 67,000 |
End of Play
Level 18
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
Play has drawn to a close for the day. Stay tuned for full chip counts and a recap of the day's play to follow.
Final Three Hands
Level 18
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
The tournament director has just announced that three more hands will be dealt before bags are distributed.
Tavdi Drills the River to Send Out Veghinas
Level 18
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
Efraim Tavdi raised to 20,000 from the hijack before Adrian Veghinas shoved all in for 132,000 in the small blind. "I hope for live cards," Tavdi said as he called.
Adrian Veghinas: 
Efraim Tavdi: 
Tavdi didn't get his wish and was far behind Veghinas heading to the 
flop.
"Just an eight," he said as the 
fell on the turn. The river, though, came the 
and Tavdi completed his straight to bust Veghinas.
Veghinas took out his phone and snapped a picture of the board before wishing his tablemates good luck.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,350,000 | 1,100,000 |
|
Busted |
Loire Scores Late Knockout
Level 18
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
Picking up the action partway through the hand, Julien Loire in the small blind had his opponent from under the gun all in and at risk.
Under The Gun Player: 
Julien Loire: 
Loire was in good shape to get a knockout late in the day and with it a significant boost to his stack. The 
flop did give his opponent a gutshot (though Loire was blocking two of those outs) with the 
turn improving the Frenchman to a straight. The 
river completed a clean runout for the jacks to chip up Loire near the end of the final level of play.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
650,000 | 355,000 |
River Costs Mockevicius Chips
Level 18
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
Daniel Myers reraised to 100,000 from middle position and Martynas Mockevicius called in early position as they went heads-up to the 
flop.
Both players checked and the turn came the 
. Mockevicius checked over to Myers again, and this time Myers bet 75,000. Mockevicius looked back at his hand before he put in a call.
The river came the and Mockevicius checked for a third time. Myers quickly checked behind and found he made the right decision as Mockevicius showed 
for a full house.
"The river killed you. Any other river and I bet," Myers told him.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
1,400,000 | 1,288,000 |
|
|
560,000 | -100,000 |
Browne Finishes Off Ilani
Level 18
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
Paul Browne raised to 22,000 from early position and was called by a player in middle position and Ran Ilani in the big blind.
The flop came 
and Ilani open-shoved for around 80,000. Browne asked for a count before he announced a call, while the middle position player folded.
Ran Ilani: 
Paul Browne: 
Ilani was ahead with his pair of eights, while Browne had a straight draw. The on the turn gave Browne a pair of kings and left Ilani looking for help on the river, which didn't come as the dealer turned over the 
.
Ilani gave his former tablemates a fist pump and wished them good luck on his way to the exit while Browne raked in the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
750,000 | 525,000 |
|
Busted |
Everyone Has a Big Pair
Level 18
: Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante
Walid Bou Habib, Recep Aydemir, and Maher Nouira each put in 60,000 before the flop as the dealer turned over 
. Action checked to Nouira on the button, and he bet 30,000.
Bou Habib folded, but Aydemir called in middle position. The turn came the 
and both players checked to the 
river.
Aydemir now led out for 90,000 and Nouira spent nearly a minute shuffling his chips before he tossed in a blue 5,000 chip to signify a call.
"You're good," Aydemir told him as he turned over 
. Nouira showed to take the pot.
"I had jacks," Bou Habib admitted after the hand.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
820,000 | 320,000 |
|
600,000 | -110,000 |
|
320,000 | -280,000 |