$3,300 Main Event Day 2 | 2023 Merit Poker Carmen Series

03-31-2023 17:06 UTC+3

Ustimov Finds Kings to Double

David Salituro

Level 14 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante

Viktor Ustimov moved all in for around 70,000 in the cutoff, Gokhan Ozbek reshoved in the small blind, and the rest of the table got out of the way.

Viktor Ustimov:
Gokhan Ozbek:

Ustimov was a big favorite to double up as the board ran out . Both players finished with a full house, but Ustimov's nines full of kings was best to earn him the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Gokhan Ozbek	220,000 70,000	70,000
Viktor Ustimov	150,000 -181,000	-181,000

Tags: Gokhan Ozbek Viktor Ustimov

03-31-2023 17:03 UTC+3

Romaniuk Finally Believes Moein; Chilaud Cracks a Million

David Salituro

Level 14 : Blinds 2,000/4,000, 4,000 ante

Ali Moein raised to 9,000 from early position and was called by Egor Romaniuk in the big blind.

The flop came and Romaniuk led out for 10,000. Moein came back with a raise to 35,000 and Romaniuk called to the turn.

Romaniuk again led out, this time for 20,000, and Moein only called to see the river. Romaniuk now bet 35,000 and began spinning the $5 cash chip he uses as a card protector while Moein tanked.

Moein eventually raised to 110,000. "Okay, I believe you," Romaniuk said as he quickly folded.

At the same table, Maxime Chilaud is sitting on a stack of around 1,150,000, the first player to crack 1,000,000 chips in the tournament.

Player	Chips	Progress
Maxime Chilaud	1,150,000 540,000	540,000
Ali Moein	750,000 -50,000	-50,000
Egor Romaniuk	170,000 70,000	70,000

Tags: Ali Moein Egor Romaniuk Maxime Chilaud

Level: 14

Blinds: 2,000/4,000

Ante: 4,000

03-31-2023 16:30 UTC+3

Break Time

Cottrell van Wingerden

Level 13 : Blinds 2,000/3,500, 3,500 ante

Players have been sent on their second 15-minute break of the day. They will return to blinds of 2,000/4,000 with a 4,000 big blind ante at which point late registration will be closed.

03-31-2023 16:27 UTC+3

Rezaei Gets It In Good; Loses

Cottrell van Wingerden

Level 13 : Blinds 2,000/3,500, 3,500 ante

Ozcan Barut opened to 8,000 from middle position and was called by a player on the button. Daniel Rezaei then three-bet to 50,000 out of the small blind only for Barut to move all in for around 330,000. The button player quickly folded while Rezaei called just as quickly with the covering stack to put Barut at risk.

Ozcan Barut:
Daniel Rezaei:

Barut was in rough shape while Rezaei looked set to score a massive pot that would see him eclipse the 1,000,000 mark. The flop immediately provided a sweat for the Austrian pro but it would not last long as the turn brought an abrupt halt to his chances of getting the knockout. The completed the board as Rezaei counted out Barut's stack.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ozcan Barut	680,000 597,000	597,000
Daniel Rezaei	445,000 -355,000	-355,000

Tags: Daniel Rezaei Ozcan Barut

03-31-2023 16:26 UTC+3

Minkov Raises the River, Real Action Elsewhere at the Table

David Salituro

Level 13 : Blinds 2,000/3,500, 3,500 ante

Nikola Minkov bet 12,000 on a flop of from the button and Uri Reichenstein called in the big blind.

Both players checked the turn before Reichenstein led out for 5,500 on the river. Minkov came back with a raise to 42,500 and Reichenstein called, then mucked when Minkov turned over for a rivered ace.

While this hand was taking place, tablemate Hala Karam was attempting to solve a Rubik's Cube. She managed to complete it just as action reached the river as Merit Poker cameras came over to film her successful attempt.

Player	Chips	Progress
Uri Reichenstein	620,000 -90,000	-90,000
Nikola Minkov	270,000 270,000	270,000

Tags: Hala Karam Nikola Minkov Uri Reichenstein

03-31-2023 16:16 UTC+3

Papazian Takes Out Steinbrenner, Approaching One Million

David Salituro

Level 13 : Blinds 2,000/3,500, 3,500 ante

Alexandru Papazian and Justin Steinbrenner built a pot of around 120,000 on a board of when Steinbrenner, in the hijack, moved all in for 110,000.

"Feels like kings," Papazian said as he asked for a count. He eventually called with fo top pair. Steinbrenner didn't have kings, instead showing for a flush draw.

The river came the and Steinbrenner was eliminated.

"Sorry for the slow roll," Papazian told Steinbrenner, who took the loss in stride and was still smiling when he shook Papazian's hand on his way to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Alexandru Papazian	950,000 185,000	185,000

Justin Steinbrenner	Busted

Tags: Alexandru Papazian Justin Steinbrenner

03-31-2023 16:09 UTC+3

Tulepbergenov Picks Off Mandara

David Salituro

Level 13 : Blinds 2,000/3,500, 3,500 ante

Ryan Mandara bet 13,000 from under the gun on a flop of and Azamat Tulepbergenov called in the big blind.

The turn came the and Tulepbergenov checked to Mandara, who moved all in for 110,000. Tulepbergenov quickly threw in two chips to signify a call as Mandara turned over for a straight draw.

Tulepbergenov had for top pair and the river was no help to Mandara, who quickly took a sip of his coffee that had just arrived before leaving the table.

Player	Chips	Progress
Azamat Tulepbergenov	670,000 140,000	140,000
Ryan Mandara	Busted

Tags: Azamat Tulepbergenov Ryan Mandara

03-31-2023 16:04 UTC+3

A Round of Chip Counts

David Salituro

Level 13 : Blinds 2,000/3,500, 3,500 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Denis Kapustin	960,000 230,000	230,000
Daniel Rezaei	800,000 150,000	150,000
Yury Bochkarev	640,000 379,000	379,000
Gurcan Gungoren	500,000 220,000	220,000
[Removed:422]	460,000 160,000	160,000
Julian Selinger	450,000 100,000	100,000
Vitalii Pankov	450,000 -135,000	-135,000
Joseph Mouwad	400,000 108,500	108,500
Joseph Khneisser	370,000 19,500	19,500
Naji Tanuri	320,000 -43,500	-43,500
Seref Dursun Anar	200,000 -167,000	-167,000
Elie Farah	175,000 -52,000	-52,000

03-31-2023 16:02 UTC+3

Nakhjavani Falls to Anton

David Salituro

Level 13 : Blinds 2,000/3,500, 3,500 ante

Saman Nakhjavani bet 15,000 on a flop of before Ionel Anton raised enough to put him all in. Nakhjavani tanked for a moment before throwing in his last 100,000.

Saman Nakhjavani:
Ionel Anton:

Nakhjavani was already getting up from his seat by the time the board ran out , sending to the rail courtesy of Anton's flopped pair of tens.