$2,200 Warm Up | 2023 Merit Poker Gangster Series

11-26-2023 19:51 UTC+2

PN Podcast: A Bracelet Winner Cheat, Win $100K, & Guest WPT Champ Frederic Normand

Chad Holloway

Level 30 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

On the latest episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Connor Richards, and Matt Hansen share what they did for Thanksgiving, discuss the Brazilian poker player who was suspended for adding chips at BSOP Millions, and give their thoughts on the Formula 1 Grand Prix and their experiences with PokerStars and Oracle Red Bull Racing.

They then dive into Josh Reichard and Stephen Song winning rings at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Grand Victoria stop, Ian Auvil emerging victorious in the Bar Poker Open World Championship and Doug Polk & Company’s $100,000 promotion at The Lodge in Texas. Plus, the crew share which poker pros and celebrities are slated to attend the upcoming WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas Dec. 3-14.

Finally, while down at the World Poker Tour (WPT) Rock ‘N’ Roll Poker Open, Matt chatted with guest Frederic Normand, who was fresh off winning the WPT bestbet Scramble for $350k. Hear what the Canadian player had to say about his victory and plans for the future.

Listen to the New PokerNews Podcast Here!

11-26-2023 19:54 UTC+2

Sun Battles the Chip Leader

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 30 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

Ivan Govorov opened to 500,000 with K♣8♣ and was called by Yunsheng Sun in the cutoff who held K♠Q♠.

The flop came 10♦10♥7♠ and Govorov fired a 425,000 continuation bet that was called by Sun.

Both players checked the J♦ turn leading to the K♥ river. Govorov bet 500,000 and was quickly called by Sun. Both players had connected with the king river but Sun's kicker played allowing him to take the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ivan Govorov	14,700,000 -100,000	-100,000
Yunsheng Sun	7,000,000 900,000	900,000

Tags: Ivan Govorov Yunsheng Sun

11-26-2023 19:57 UTC+2

Break Time

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 30 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

The final six players are on another 10-minute break.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ivan Govorov	14,730,000 30,000	30,000
Ankit Ahuja	12,065,000 2,065,000	2,065,000
Andrei Daniliuk	8,675,000 -1,025,000	-1,025,000

Yunsheng Sun	7,030,000 30,000	30,000

Martynas Vitkauskas	1,860,000 -1,200,000	-1,200,000
Bernard Boutboul	950,000 -100,000	-100,000

Level: 31

Blinds: 125,000/250,000

Ante: 250,000

11-26-2023 20:18 UTC+2

Bernard Boutboul Eliminated in 6th Place ($33,600)

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 31 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Andrei Daniliuk opened to 600,000 from the button and Ankit Ahuja three-bet to 1,900,000 from the small blind. Bernard Boutboul called off from the big blind for his last 700,000 and Daniliuk got out of the way leaving Boutboul all in and at risk against Ahuja.

Bernard Boutboul: J♣8♣
Ankit Ahuja: K♥K♦

Boutboul picked up a lot of equity in the form of an open-ended straight draw on the 9♠10♥A♣ flop. He was unable to make his straight on the 6♠ turn or 5♥ river and was forced to settle for sixth place while Ahuja continued to close the gap between himself and chip leader Ivan Govorov.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ivan Govorov	14,750,000 20,000	20,000
Ankit Ahuja	13,600,000 1,535,000	1,535,000
Andrei Daniliuk	8,100,000 -575,000	-575,000

Bernard Boutboul	Busted

Tags: Andrei Daniliuk Ankit Ahuja Bernard Boutboul Ivan Govorov

11-26-2023 20:29 UTC+2

Martynas Vitkauskas Eliminated in 5th Place ($41,900)

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 31 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Ankit Ahuja opened to 525,000 from the cutoff and Martynas Vitkauskas moved all in from the big blind for 985,000. Ahuja snap-called to put Vitkauskas at risk.

Martynas Vitkauskas: A♦2♦
Ankit Ahuja: 5♣5♥

Vitkauskas took the lead with trips on the 2♣K♦2♠ flop but Ahuja drilled a full house on the 5♦ turn, leaving Vitkauskas drawing only to the case 2♥ for his only out to preserve his tournament life. The K♠ river sealed his fate and he was sent to the rail while Ahuja overtook Ivan Govorov for the chip lead.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ankit Ahuja	16,850,000 3,250,000	3,250,000
Ivan Govorov	15,000,000 250,000	250,000
Andrei Daniliuk	7,450,000 -650,000	-650,000

Yunsheng Sun	6,010,000 -1,020,000	-1,020,000

Martynas Vitkauskas	Busted

Tags: Ankit Ahuja Martynas Vitkauskas

11-26-2023 20:51 UTC+2

A Round of Updated Chip Counts

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 31 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Ivan Govorov	14,900,000 -100,000	-100,000
Ankit Ahuja	14,700,000 -2,150,000	-2,150,000
Yunsheng Sun	7,700,000 1,690,000	1,690,000

Andrei Daniliuk	7,400,000 -50,000	-50,000

11-26-2023 21:01 UTC+2

Sun Pressures Daniliuk

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 31 : Blinds 125,000/250,000, 250,000 ante

Yunsheng Sun opened to 500,000 from the cutoff with Q♥Q♣ Andrei Daniliuk three-bet to 1,350,000 from the button with A♥J♠. Sun moved all in, covering Daninliuk who had roughly 6,000,000 behind. Daniliuk briefly considered his options before folding and Sun took down the pot, bringing his stack above ten million chips.

Player	Chips	Progress
Yunsheng Sun	10,200,000 2,500,000	2,500,000

Andrei Daniliuk	6,000,000 -1,400,000	-1,400,000

Tags: Andrei Daniliuk Yunsheng Sun

Level: 32

Blinds: 150,000/300,000

Ante: 300,000

11-26-2023 21:08 UTC+2

Govorov Forces Two Folds

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 32 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

Ivan Govorov opened to 600,000 from the cutoff with Q♦8♦ and Andrei Daniliuk called in the small blind with K♥J♥. Ankit Ahuja also called from the big blind holding K♠6♠.

The flop came 10♣7♦5♥ and action checked around to Govorov who fired a 1,400,000 continuation bet. Both Daniliuk and Ahuja opted to fold.