Main Event
Day 4 Started
bwin WPT Merit Cyprus Classic
Main Event
Day: 4
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
bwin WPT Merit Cyprus Classic
Buy-in
$4,000
Prize Pool
$1,000,000
Entries
262
Level
28
Blinds
30,000 / 60,000
Ante
10,000
Welcome to Day 4 of the bwin WPT Merit Cyprus Classic
![[user76023]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
We're back for the penultimate day of the first WPT event of season XII. Just 14 players remain, but only one will win the coveted WPT title and the $250,000 that goes with it, including a seat to the WPT Championships next year. The Russians have absolutely dominated this event from the start, particularly in the form of Alexey Rybin. Rybin was the chip leader at the end of Day 1A, Day 2 and last night's Day 3.
Sergey Rybachenko has over a million after late flurry of chips headed his way at the end of the day. Overall Day 1 chip leader Bernard Samaha is still in the mix while Party Poker qualifier Maximilian Droege saw a big late pot go his way to move him into the middle of the pack. It'll also be interesting to see how Albert Daher does - he was dominating his table for much of yesterday until a big late pot loss to Rybachenko when the latter made a full house using 'the Brunson' 
.
At the other end, Natalya Nikitina, who won the WPTR event in Paris is our short stack with just 114,000 - the pressure will be on from her right from the beginning.
Play begins at 1pm local time.
| Table 1 | Name |
|---|---|
| Seat 1 | Alexey Rybin |
| Seat 2 | Natalya Nikitina |
| Seat 3 | Alexandr Lakhov |
| Seat 4 | Albert Daher |
| Seat 5 | Maximilian Droege |
| Seat 6 | Kayan Tugrul |
| Seat 7 | Baris Topkaya |
| Table 2 | Name |
|---|---|
| Seat 1 | Kfir Yamin |
| Seat 2 | Bernard Samaha |
| Seat 3 | Sergey Rybachenko |
| Seat 4 | Oleg Suntsov |
| Seat 5 | Jerfi Firalti |
| Seat 6 | Andrei Nikonov |
| Seat 7 | Pierre Sayegh |
Photo courtesy of the WPT
Level: 20
Blinds: 5,000/10,000
Ante: 1,000
Topkaya Makes a Stand on First Hand
Level 20
: 5,000/10,000, 1,000 ante
Alexandr Lahkov opened from middle position for 21,000, Max Droege called from the button, Kayan Turgul folded his small blind and Baris Topkaya called in the big blind. They saw a flop of 
. Topkaya checked and Lahkov continued for 32,000. It folded to Topkaya who announced, “All in.” Lahkov had a long think and seemed to get a bit annoyed by the table chatter as he wondered whether to call the extra 74,000. After a few minutes Topkaya called “Time.” Lahkov released his hand.
All In - No Call
Level 20
: 5,000/10,000, 1,000 ante
Kfir Yamin opened to 23,000 from the button, Bernard Samaha then three-bet to 60,000 from the small blind and Sergey Rybachenko folded in the big blind. Yamin thought for a minute before moving all in and now it was Samaha's turn to tank. The latter dwelt for several minutes before he mucked. Yamin showed him the 
.
On the other table Natalya Nikitina shoved all in from the button, Alexandr Lakhov and Albert Daher both quickly checked their cards but neither could find anything to call with.
Droege Loses an Early Pot
Level 20
: 5,000/10,000, 1,000 ante
We haven’t seen many flops so far. There has been a lot of folding to three-bets. Oleg Suntsov went all-in, found no callers and showed 
in frustration. We did see one hand play to the river though.
Max Droege opened under the gun for 20,000 and it folded round to Albert Daher who defended his big blind. The flop was 
. Daher checked, Droege bet 20,000 and got a call. They both checked the turn . The river was the 
and Daher led for 49,000. Droege gave it some thought and announced “Call.” He let out a grunt of frustration when Daher turned over 
and mucked his cards.
Nikitina Doubles Through Tugrul
Level 20
: 5,000/10,000, 1,000 ante
Kayhan Tugrul opened to 22,000 and Natalya Niktina moved all in for about 120,000. Tugrul made an automatic call.
Nikitina: 
Tugrul: 
The board came 
and Nikitina's two pair was good enough to double her up into a safer position.
Photo courtesy of the WPT
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
740,000 | -67,000 |
|
250,000 | 136,000 |
Daher Doubles
Level 20
: 5,000/10,000, 1,000 ante
Albert Daher and Kayan Tugrul got into a pre-flop raising war. Daher made it 22,000, Tugral raised back to 55,000. Daher made it 122,000 and was met by an all-in by Tugral. Daher made the call with 
. Tugrul was behind with 
. The cards ran out 
and Daher doubled up.
Photo courtesy of the WPT
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
842,000 | 488,000 |
|
|
319,000 | -421,000 |
The Daher Debate
Level 20
: 5,000/10,000, 1,000 ante
Kayhan Tugrul opened to 22,000 preflop and was called by Baris Topkaya and Albert Daher in the big blind.
Flop: 
Daher checked to Tugrul who bet 23,000, Topkaya quickly folded but Daher made the call.
Turn: 
Daher checked a second time and Tugrul opted to check back.
River:
Daher now led for 62,000 but Tugrul decided to raise, initially trying to make it around 110,000 - he was forced to complete the min-raise to 124,000. Daher now took some serious time before he eventually folded, Tugrul intimated that he had held a much better kicker to his ace.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
740,000 | -102,000 |
|
|
450,000 | 131,000 |
Baris Topkaya Eliminated in 14th ($13,700)
Level 20
: 5,000/10,000, 1,000 ante
Kayan Tugrul opened for 24,000 and was called by Baris Topkaya in the small blind and Alexey Rybin in the big blind. The flop was 
and they all checked. The turn was the and moved all in. Rybin put put the all in marker in front of him and Tugul folded. Topkaya had 
against Rybin’s 
. There was a call of “Chop it up.” The river had other ideas, the giving Rybin the flush and busting Topkaya.
Photo courtesy of the WPT
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
1,859,000 | 123,000 |
|
|
Busted |