$2,200 Merit Poker Cup | 2024 Merit Poker Carmen Series

03-31-2024 12:14 UTC+2

Matthew Davenport Eliminated in 20th Place ($7,600)

David Salituro

Level 25 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

A few hands after doubling up Mikhail Zavoloka, Matthew Davenport moved in his last 100,000 from under the gun and Maher Achour called in the big blind.

Matthew Davenport: 10♠2♥ All in
Maher Achour: 6♠4♣

The board ran out 9♣Q♥7♥8♣4♦ and Davenport again was overcome on the river, Achour hitting a pair of fours to send him to the rail in 20th place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Maher Achour	4,600,000 -85,000	-85,000
Matthew Davenport	Busted

Tags: Maher Achour Matthew Davenport

03-31-2024 12:19 UTC+2

Aleksandr Ivanov Eliminated in 19th Place ($7,600)

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David Salituro

Level 25 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

Aleksandr Ivanov moved all in for around 500,000 on the button and Nenad Dukic called in the cutoff.

Aleksandr Ivanov: A♦6♦ All in
Nenad Dukic: 10♥10♠

The J♥8♦Q♦ flop gave Ivanov the nut flush draw, but he improved no further on the 4♥ turn or 4♠ river and was eliminated in 19th place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nenad Dukic	4,000,000 365,000	365,000
Aleksandr Ivanov	Busted

Tags: Aleksandr Ivanov Nenad Dukic

03-31-2024 12:22 UTC+2

Maksim Shornikau Eliminated in 18th Place ($8,700)

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David Salituro

Level 25 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

Simeon Spasov raised to 120,000 in the cutoff, Maksim Shornikau moved all in for 700,000 in the big blind, and Spasov called.

Maksim Shornikau: A♣K♣ All in
Simeon Spasov: 9♠9♥

Shornikau was racing for his tournament life but found no help on the 3♣J♦6♠7♦J♣ board and was eliminated in 18th place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Simeon Spasov	2,200,000 500,000	500,000

Maksim Shornikau	Busted

Tags: Maksim Shornikau Simeon Spasov

03-31-2024 12:43 UTC+2

Emad Ghadamian Eliminated in 17th Place ($8,700)

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David Salituro

Level 25 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

Maher Achour raised to 125,000 in the hijack and Emad Ghadamian called in the big blind.

The flop came 9♥2♣6♣ and Achour continued for 80,000. Ghadamian called.

The turn was the 7♥ and Ghadamian led out for 220,000. Achour then moved all in and Ghadamian called for 400,000 more.

Ghadamian showed K♥6♥ for a pair and flush draw, while Achour had K♣K♠. Ghadamian failed to improve on the 5♣ river and was sent to the rail in 17th place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Maher Achour	5,500,000 800,000	800,000
Emad Ghadamian	Busted

Tags: Emad Ghadamian Maher Achour

03-31-2024 12:48 UTC+2

Krzysztof Spisak Eliminated in 16th Place ($8,700)

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David Salituro

Level 25 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

Maher Achour raised to 125,000 in early position and Krzysztof Spisak called in the big blind.

The flop came 4♥4♠J♠ and Spisak moved all in for 725,000. Achour tanked for a minute before calling.

Krzysztof Spisak: A♠6♠ All in
Maher Achour: 9♥9♠

Spisak had the nut flush draw, while Achour was ahead with a pair of nines. The 10♦ turn was no help to Spisak, while the river came the 2♣ to give another bustout to Achour.

"Wrong kind of black" Spisak said on his way to the payout desk.

Player	Chips	Progress
Maher Achour	6,300,000 800,000	800,000
Krzysztof Spisak	Busted

Tags: Krzysztof Spisak Maher Achour

03-31-2024 12:59 UTC+2

Milen Bakardjiev Eliminated in 15th Place ($10,135)

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David Salituro

Level 25 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

Milen Bakardjiev moved all in for 760,000 in middle position and Ivan Zabiiakin called in the hijack.

Milen Bakardjiev: A♦10♠ All in
Ivan Zabiiakin: A♠K♥

Bakardjiev found himself dominated heading to the flop, which came K♣K♦Q♠. Zabiiakin made trips, while Bakardjiev was looking to complete a straight draw.

The board ran out 3♦10♦ and Bakardjiev missed his draw as he headed to the rail in 15th place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ivan Zabiiakin	4,800,000 400,000	400,000

Milen Bakardjiev	Busted

Tags: Ivan Zabiiakin Milen Bakardjiev

03-31-2024 13:02 UTC+2

Edgard Raffoul Eliminated in 14th Place; Antonio Aversa Eliminated in 13th Place ($10,135)

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David Salituro

Level 25 : Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante

Edgard Raffoul moved all in for 700,000 on the button, Antonio Aversa reshoved for 1,500,000 in the small blind, and Aleksandr Ivanov snap-called in the big blind.

Edgard Raffoul: A♠J♠ All in
Antonio Aversa: A♥K♥ All in
Aleksandr Ivanov: K♦K♠

Ivanov had woken up with kings and had both players at risk as the board ran out 8♣2♠10♣10♦3♥, earning him the entire pot. Raffoul took 14th place, while Aversa finished in 13th as the bigger stack.

Player	Chips	Progress
Aleksandr Ivanov Jr	6,000,000 2,280,000	2,280,000
Antonio Aversa	Busted
Edgard Raffoul	Busted

Tags: Aleksandr Ivanov Antonio Aversa Edgard Raffoul

03-31-2024 13:33 UTC+2

Nikolay Fal Eliminated in 12th Place ($12,415)

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David Salituro

Level 26 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

Maher Achour raised to 160,000 under the gun before Nenad Dukic three-bet to 555,000 in the hijack. Nikolay Fal then moved all in for 660,000 in the big blind, Achour folded, but Dukic called.

Nikolay Fal: Q♥Q♠ All in
Nenad Dukic: A♣10♣

Fal was ahead with his queens and finished with a set as the board ran out J♦2♠5♥6♠Q♦ to earn him a double up.

The next hand, Giorgiy Skhulukhiya raised to 160,000 on the button and Fal three-bet to 540,000 in the small blind. Achour four-bet to 1,000,000 in the big blind, Skhulukhiya folded, Fal moved all in for 1,300,000, and Achour snap-called.

Nikolay Fal: K♥K♠ All in
Maher Achour: A♠A♦

Fal had picked up a big pair for the second hand in a row, but this time he had run into Achour's aces and found no help on the 4♠J♦7♦9♥6♥ board as he was eliminated in 12th place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Maher Achour	6,300,000 900,000	900,000
Giorgiy Skhulukhiya	4,000,000 400,000	400,000
Nenad Dukic	2,500,000 -900,000	-900,000
Nikolay Fal	Busted

Tags: Giorgiy Skhulukhiya Maher Achour Nenad Dukic Nikolay Fal

03-31-2024 14:51 UTC+2

Natan Chauskin Eliminated in 11th Place ($12,415)

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David Salituro

Level 27 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Action folded to Simeon Spasov in the small blind who raised enough to put Natan Chauskin all in from the big blind. Chauskin snap-called for his last 1,700,000.

Natan Chauskin: K♣J♣ All in
Simeon Spasov: A♥4♠

Chauskin picked up a straight draw on the Q♣10♦2♦ flop but improved no further on the Q♥ turn or 6♣ river as he was eliminated in 11th place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Simeon Spasov	5,100,000 2,700,000	2,700,000

Natan Chauskin	Busted

Tags: Natan Chauskin Simeon Spasov

03-31-2024 15:34 UTC+2

Toni Kaukua Eliminated in 10th Place ($12,415)

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David Salituro

Level 28 : Blinds 50,000/125,000, 125,000 ante

Simone Andrian raised to 250,000 in the cutoff and Toni Kaukua looked around at the other stacks before putting in his last 175,000 from the small blind. Boris Smuskevicius also called in the big blind.

The flop came Q♦8♥10♠ and Andrian bet 400,000, drawing an immediate fold from Smuskevicius.

Toni Kaukua: Q♠6♥ All in
Simone Andrian: 10♣10♥

Kaukua had flopped top pair, but Andrian showed down a set as Kaukua was already drawing dead after the 5♠ turn. The river was the 5♣ and Andrian improved to a full house, sending Kaukua to the rail in 10th place.

The remaining nine players are now drawing for seats at the final table, after which they will take an hour break. Action should resume around 5:30 p.m. local time.

Player	Chips	Progress
Boris Smuskevicius	5,000,000 -200,000	-200,000
Simone Andrian	3,500,000 700,000	700,000

Toni Kaukua	Busted

Tags: Boris Smuskevicius Simone Andrian Toni Kaukua