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

03-31-2024 17:25 UTC+2

Zabiiakin Shoves on Achour

David Salituro

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

Ivan Zabiiakin raised to 250,000 in early position before Maher Achour three-bet to 800,000 in the small blind. Zabiiakin then moved all in.

Achour, with around 5,000,000 remaining, let out a deep sigh and burned a time bank as he stared up at the ceiling for a few moments before folding.

"We had the same hand," he said to Zabiiakin.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ivan Zabiiakin	8,000,000 200,000	200,000

Maher Achour	5,000,000 -1,400,000	-1,400,000

Tags: Maher Achour Ivan Zabiiakin

03-31-2024 17:20 UTC+2

Boris Smuskevicius Eliminated in 9th Place ($16,900)

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David Salituro

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

Giorgiy Skhulukhiya raised to 250,000 in middle position, Boris Smuskevicius three-bet to 800,000 in the small blind, and Skhulukhiya called.

The flop came 9♥5♣K♣ and Smuskevicius continued for 650,000. Skhulukhiya called.

The turn was the 4♣ and Smuskevicius checked to Skhulukiya, who bet 1,100,000. Smuskevicius called and they saw a river of K♠.

Skhulukhiya then moved all in and Smuskevicius snap-called for 1,700,000 with A♠K♦ for trip kings. Skhulukhiya, though, had 9♦9♣ for a full house to win the massive pot.

Smuskevicius went around the table exchanging fist bumps with his tablemates before heading off to the payout desk in ninth place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Giorgiy Skhulukhiya	11,300,000 6,100,000	6,100,000
Boris Smuskevicius	Busted

Tags: Boris Smuskevicius Giorgiy Skhulukhiya

03-31-2024 17:06 UTC+2

Skhulukhiya Ups the Price

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David Salituro

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

Aleksandr Ivanov raised to 250,000 in middle position and Maher Achour called on the button. Giorgiy Skhulukhiya then three-bet to 1,125,000 in the big blind.

Ivanov used up nearly his entire clock before folding, while Achour quickly folded.

Player	Chips	Progress
Maher Achour	6,400,000 -25,000	-25,000
Giorgiy Skhulukhiya	5,200,000 -600,000	-600,000
Aleksandr Ivanov Jr	2,400,000 -425,000	-425,000

Tags: Maher Achour Giorgiy Skhulukhiya Aleksandr Ivanov

03-31-2024 16:56 UTC+2

Zabiiakin Puts Big Stack to Work

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David Salituro

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

Mikhail Zavoloka raised to 250,000 in early position before Ivan Zabiiakin three-bet to 700,000 on the button. Zavoloka folded.

The next hand, Zabiiakin raised to 250,000 in the cutoff and encountered no resistance as he took another pot to begin the final table.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ivan Zabiiakin	7,800,000 400,000	400,000

Mikhail Zavoloka	4,800,000 -300,000	-300,000

Tags: Ivan Zabiiakin Mikhail Zavoloka

03-31-2024 16:45 UTC+2

Final Table Underway

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David Salituro

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

The introductions have been made and play at the final table has begun.

There are 41 minutes remaining in Level 28 with blinds of 50,000-125,000 and a 125,000 big blind ante.

03-31-2024 15:49 UTC+2

Seat	Player	Country	Chip Count	Big Blinds
1	Nenad Dukic	Serbia	1,350,000	11
2	Giorgiy Skhulukhiya	Georgia	5,800,000	46
3	Ivan Zabiiakin	Russia	7,400,000	59
4	Simeon Spasov	Bulgaria	9,200,000	74
5	Aleksandr Ivanov Jr	Russia	2,825,000	23
6	Boris Smuskevicius	Lithuania	4,350,000	35
7	Mikhail Zavoloka	Russia	5,100,000	41
8	Simone Andrian	Italy	3,550,000	28
9	Maher Achour	Tunisia	6,425,000	51

Player	Chips	Progress
Simeon Spasov	9,200,000 700,000	700,000

Ivan Zabiiakin	7,400,000 -600,000	-600,000

Maher Achour	6,425,000 -475,000	-475,000
Giorgiy Skhulukhiya	5,800,000 1,000,000	1,000,000
Mikhail Zavoloka	5,100,000 2,500,000	2,500,000
Boris Smuskevicius	4,350,000 -650,000	-650,000
Simone Andrian	3,550,000 50,000	50,000

Aleksandr Ivanov Jr	2,825,000 -1,475,000	-1,475,000
Nenad Dukic	1,350,000 375,000	375,000

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

03-31-2024 15:32 UTC+2

Smuskevicius Leaves Kaukua on Fumes

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David Salituro

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

Boris Smuskevicius raised to 250,000 under the gun and Toni Kaukua called in the big blind.

The flop came Q♦A♠K♠ and Smuskevicius bet 225,000. Kaukua called and both players checked the 7♠ turn.

The river was the 10♦ and Smuskevicius bet 200,000. Kaukua then moved all in and Smuskevicius snap-called for 1,825,000.

Kaukua showed A♥9♠ for a pair of aces, but Smuskevicius had K♦J♦ for a rivered straight to win the pot and double up, leaving Kaukua with just over one big blind.

Player	Chips	Progress
Boris Smuskevicius	5,200,000 1,700,000	1,700,000
Toni Kaukua	175,000 -2,525,000	-2,525,000

Tags: Boris Smuskevicius Toni Kaukua

03-31-2024 15:21 UTC+2

Spasov Straightens Out Skhulukhiya

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David Salituro

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

Giorgiy Skhulukhiya bet 150,000 from the cutoff on a flop of 10♥7♣6♦ and Simeon Spasov called in the small blind.

Both players checked the Q♦ turn and the 8♣ fell on the river. Spasov then bet 775,000.

Skhulukhiya called, then mucked when Spasov showed A♥9♠ for a straight.

Player	Chips	Progress
Simeon Spasov	8,500,000 1,700,000	1,700,000

Giorgiy Skhulukhiya	4,800,000 -2,000,000	-2,000,000

Tags: Giorgiy Skhulukhiya Simeon Spasov

03-31-2024 15:18 UTC+2

Achour Picks Off Dukic

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David Salituro

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

Heads-up on a flop of 8♠5♣K♥, Nenad Dukic bet 325,000 from under the gun and Maher Achour called in the big blind.

The turn was the 4♥ and Dukic bet another 675,000. Achour again called to see the 10♠ river.

Dukic then bet 1,075,000 and Achour used up his last time banks before calling. Dukic showed A♣7♣ for ace-high and Achour turned over 6♠4♠ for a pair of fours to win the big pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Maher Achour	6,900,000 2,100,000	2,100,000
Nenad Dukic	975,000 -2,525,000	-2,525,000

Tags: Maher Achour Nenad Dukic