The curtain will fall on the Merit Poker Carmen Series today, and by the end of the night, one player will be leaving the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino with a trophy and $167,100.
The final day of the Merit Poker Cup begins at 1 p.m. local time as 20 players return to play down to a champion. Toni Kaukua leads the way with 4,695,000, while Maher Achour is less than a big blind behind with 4,685,000. Achour already made the final table of the Main Event earlier this week in North Cyprus as he tries to add to what has already been a lucrative festival for the Tunisian pro.
Day 4 Top 10 Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|
| 1 | Toni Kaukua | Finland | 4,695,000 | 78 |
| 2 | Maher Achour | Tunisia | 4,685,000 | 78 |
| 3 | Ivan Zabiiakin | Russia | 4,400,000 | 73 |
| 4 | Aleksandr Ivanov Jr. | Russia | 3,720,000 | 62 |
| 5 | Nenad Dukic | Serbia | 3,635,000 | 61 |
| 6 | Simone Andrian | Italy | 3,580,000 | 60 |
| 7 | Milen Bakardjiev | Bulgaria | 2,760,000 | 46 |
| 8 | Boris Smuskevicius | Lithuania | 2,690,000 | 45 |
| 9 | Natan Chauskin | Belarus | 2,090,000 | 35 |
| 10 | Antonio Aversa | Italy | 2,000,000 | 33 |
Ivan Zabiiakin (4,400,000) and Nenad Dukic (3,635,000 are also in the top five, while the rest of the field includes Simone Andrian (3,580,000), Natan Chauskin (2,090,000), Simeon Spasov (1,700,000), Giorgiy Skhulukhiya (1,505,000), Matthew Davenport (1,435,000), and Maksim Shornikau (720,000).
Then there is the father-son duo of Aleksandr Ivanov and his son, Aleksandr Ivanov Jr. Both of them have navigated through a starting field of 459 entries to make it this far, Ivanov Jr. with 3,720,000 and his father with 665,000.
The action on Day 4 begins on Level 25 with blinds of 30,000-60,000 and a 60,000 big blind ante. The players have already locked up $7,600, with a spot at the nine-handed final table guaranteeing a payday of $16,900. The eventual champion will earn $167,100 and the title of Merit Poker champion.
Stay tuned to PokerNews throughout the day for all the live updates leading up to the final table and onward to the crowning of a new champion.
Tags:
Aleksandr IvanovAleksandr Ivanov JrAntonio AversaBoris SmuskeviciusGiorgiy SkhulukhiyaIvan ZabiiakinMaher AchourMaksim ShornikauMatthew DavenportMilen BakardjievNatan ChauskinNenad DukicSimeon SpasovSimone AndrianToni Kaukua
