$5,300 High Roller | 2023 Merit Poker Carmen Series

03-28-2023 16:15 UTC+3

Final Two Tables Set

Cottrell van Wingerden

Level 22 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

With the eliminations of Dmitry Gromov in 19th ($9,100), Ondrej Drozd in 18th ($10,350) and Ran Ilani in 17th ($10,350) the final two tables have been set. The remaining 16 players have been sent on a short break while the tournament staff handle some administrative tasks.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dmitry Gromov	Busted
Ondrej Drozd	Busted
Ran Ilani	Busted

Tags: Dmitry Gromov Ondrej Drozd Ran Ilani

03-28-2023 15:50 UTC+3

Emrah Yildiz Eliminated in 20th Place ($9,100)

Cottrell van Wingerden

Level 22 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Emrah Yildiz in the cutoff was all in and at risk against Danut Chisu from middle position.

Emrah Yildiz:
Danut Chisu:

Chisu was in a good spot to win a crucial pot and send Yildiz to the rail. The flop did give Yildiz some hope but no further help came on the turn or river to send him out in 20th place.

Elsewhere, David Hu and Iacopo Brandi were eliminated in 22nd and 21st place respectively.

Player	Chips	Progress
Danut Chisu	600,000	190,000
Emrah Yildiz	Busted
Iacopo Brandi	Busted
David Hu	Busted

Tags: Danut Chisu David Hu Emrah Yildiz Iacopo Brandi

Level: 22

Blinds: 15,000/30,000

Ante: 30,000

03-28-2023 15:30 UTC+3

Danielle Noja Eliminated in 23rd Place ($8,100)

Cottrell van Wingerden

Level 21 : Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

Danielle Noja in the small blind found himself all in and at risk against Aliaksandr Hirs in middle position.

Danielle Noja:
Aliaksandr Hirs:

Hirs looked set to score a second knockout in quick succession and that is exactly what happened after the board ran out to send Noja to the payout desk in 23rd place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Aliaksandr Hirs	2,400,000	650,000
Danielle Noja	Busted

Tags: Aliaksandr Hirs Danielle Noja

03-28-2023 15:25 UTC+3

Alexandru Papazian Eliminated On Bubble

Cottrell van Wingerden

Level 21 : Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

Alexandru Papazian had just 70,000 behind before opening to 60,000 from under the gun with . Carlos Aoun woke up with in the hijack and he three-bet to 120,000. The remaining players got out of the way to send the action back to Papazian who tossed his remaining 10,000 into the middle.

Alexandru Papazian:
Carlos Aoun:

Papazian was in terrible shape and needed significant help to survive. The flop brought no help with nothing changing on the turn or river to send him out of the tournament on the pure bubble. All remaining players have locked up at least $8,100.

Player	Chips	Progress
Carlos Aoun	1,300,000	715,000
Alexandru Papazian	Busted

Tags: Alexandru Papazian Carlos Aoun

03-28-2023 15:20 UTC+3

Hand For Hand Play Commences

Cottrell van Wingerden

Level 21 : Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

With just 24 players remaining and 23 getting paid, hand-for-hand play has begun.

03-28-2023 15:18 UTC+3

Hirs Sends Iskandarov Packing

Cottrell van Wingerden

Level 21 : Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

Picking up the action partway through the hand, Rushad Iskandarov on the button found himself all in and at risk against Aliaksandr Hirs.

Rushad Iskandarov:
Aliaksandr Hirs:

Iskandarov did have two live cards and managed to pair up on the flop to take the lead. The turn, however, improved Hirs to broadway, rendering the river inconsequential as Iskandarov made his way to the exits.

Player	Chips	Progress
Aliaksandr Hirs	1,750,000	260,000
Rushad Iskandarov	Busted

Tags: Aliaksandr Hirs Rushad Iskandarov

03-28-2023 15:09 UTC+3

Mandara Fells Fellow Brit

Cottrell van Wingerden

Level 21 : Blinds 10,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

Ryan Mandara opened to 50,000 from early position before Andrew Hulme moved all in for his last 335,000 from the cutoff. Action folded back around to Mandara who quickly called with the covering stack.

Andrew Hulme:
Ryan Mandara:

Hulme was in rough shape and was all but out following the flop. The turn confirmed that fact before the river completed the board to keep Mandara on the rise while sending Hulme home painfully close to the money.