Lithuania is one of the smallest countries in the world with under 3 million people. However, that isn't stopping the country from representing itself in the Unibet Open London Main Event.
In addition to Arvydas Merfeldas who is still hanging along with around 45,000 chips, Edgaras Kisielius is now one of the chip leaders with around 174,000 chips. He mentioned that it hasn't been one particular pot, but just winning a bunch of small ones that has propelled him. Kisielius also shared that he used his VIP points he earned on Unibet Poker to purchase his way into the Main Event.
Earlier we mentioned that Unibet paid the buy-ins for three eSports stars in Craig Shannon, Byron Bernstein, and JJ Janssen with all of them busting out early from the tournament.
Remko Rinkema interviews all three players about their experiences both today as well as yesterday when they played in the Unibet Open eSports Battle, a single-table sit-and-go, with other eSports stars.
The remaining 68 players are all getting up and stretching for the last break of the day. Play will resume at 800/1,600 with a 200 ante before going up to 1,000/2,000 with a 300 ante for the final level of the day. The average stack will remain steady at over 50 big blinds when play resumes shortly.
Out of the players remaining from the field are Dutch identical twins Alexander and Erik Koops. Things are going slightly better for Alexander who now has 150,000 after nailing a flush against Nicolas Cardyn. Erik, who can be mistaken for Alexander if not for the chip stack, is hovering the average stack of 65,000.
Among the players left in the field is Lithuania's Arvydas Merfeldas. The Tournament Poker Edge pro has never had a big stack, but seems to know how to play an average or less stack. In other words, Merfeldas is surviving, but not thriving.
Merfeldas just gave up 25% of his stack in a recent hand against Bob Drummond. A player in early position raised to 2,500 preflop, Drummond was next to act and overcalled, while Merfeldas completed from the big blind.
The flop came leading Merfeldas and the initial raiser to check. Drummond then bet 3,400 which Merfeldas called and the initial raiser folded. Drummond continued again when the came on the turn for 5,800 which Drummond called. Both players check on the river of the . Drummond turned over for top pair while Merfeldas through his hand into the muck.
leading Merfeldas and the initial raiser to check. Drummond then bet 3,400 which Merfeldas called and the initial raiser folded. Drummond continued again when the 
came on the turn for 5,800 which Drummond called. Both players check on the river of the 
. Drummond turned over 
for top pair while Merfeldas through his hand into the muck.