$2,200 Merit Poker Cup Day 3 | 2024 Merit Poker Carmen Series

03-30-2024 16:32 UTC+3

Hajj, Shamurzaev Fall

David Salituro

Level 19 : Blinds 10,000/15,000, 15,000 ante

Joseph Mouwad raised to 26,000 in early position, Tilekbek Shamurzaev moved all in for 184,000 in middle position, and Mouwad called.

Tilekbet Shamurzaev: A♣J♣ All in
Joseph Mouwad: J♠J♦

Mouwad was ahead with his jacks while Shamurzaev was looking for an ace to stay alive in the tournament. No help arrived on the 5♥Q♠7♥8♦K♥ board and Shamurzaev was sent to the rail.

At the same time at another table, Alain Hajj and Mikhail Zavoloka built a pot of around 400,000 with the board showing 3♦Q♦4♥3♥J♦. Hajj then bet 40,000, Zavoloka moved all in, and Hajj called for around 220,000.

Zavoloka showed K♦2♦ for a flush and Hajj mucked Q♠9♦ on his way to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mikhail Zavoloka	1,600,000 500,000	500,000
Joseph Mouwad	830,000 310,000	310,000
Tilekbek Shamurzaev	Busted
Alain Hajj	Busted

Tags: Alain Hajj Joseph Mouwad Mikhail Zavoloka Tilekbek Shamurzaev

03-30-2024 16:57 UTC+3

Kaukua Passes Two Million as Papapetrou Hits the Rail

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 19 : Blinds 10,000/15,000, 15,000 ante

In a preflop confrontation Yiannakis Papapetrou was all in for roughly 100,000 and up against Toni Kaukua who covered him.

Yiannakis Papapetrou: K♠Q♣
Toni Kaukua: A♣Q♥

Papapetrou was in rough shape with a dominated queen and couldn't catch up on the 3♣9♦10♠10♥Q♦ runout resulting in his elimination while Kaukua scooped the pot and surpassed two million chips in the process.

Player	Chips	Progress
Toni Kaukua	2,100,000

Yiannakis Papapetrou	Busted

Tags: Toni Kaukua Yiannakis Papapetrou

03-30-2024 18:21 UTC+3

Matti, Tantillo Flip For It All Again

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David Salituro

Level 20 : Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante

On the hand after doubling up, Armand Matti opened to 40,000 in the cutoff and Fausto Tantillo three-bet to 400,000, leaving himself just 10,000 behind. Matti then moved all in and Tantillo put in his last chips.

Fausto Tantillo: K♥Q♣ All in
Armand Matti: 2♣2♥

The two opponents were flipping for the second consecutive hand as Tantillo again filmed the action. He captured the board run out 6♠6♥3♣A♦9♥ and could only let out a laugh as Matti emerged on the right side of the race again, this time sending Tantillo to the rail a few spots short of the money.

Player	Chips	Progress
Armand Matti	1,150,000 400,000	400,000
Fausto Tantillo	Busted

Tags: Armand Matti Fausto Tantillo

03-30-2024 18:44 UTC+3

Tomescu Cracks Ghadamgahi's Set

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David Salituro

Level 21 : Blinds 15,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

Jovan Kenjic raised to 50,000 in the hijack before George Tomescu three-bet to 120,000 in the cutoff. Parham Ghadamgahi then moved all in for around 200,00 on the button. Kenjic folded. "I don't think you can fold," tablemate Nenad Dukic told Tomescu, who called to put Ghadamgahi at risk.

Parham Ghadamgahi: J♦J♠ All in
George Tomescu: A♠9♣

The flop came 2♣5♣9♠, followed by the J♣ as Ghadamgahi made top set. The river, though, was the 6♣ and Tomescu made a flush to win the pot and bust Ghadamgahi two spots off the money.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jovan Kenjic	820,000 -130,000	-130,000
George Tomescu	750,000 -390,000	-390,000
Parham Ghadamgahi	Busted

Tags: George Tomescu Jovan Kenjic Parham Ghadamgahi

03-30-2024 18:54 UTC+3

Achour Spikes a Two-Outer to Bust Matti on the Bubble

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David Salituro

Level 21 : Blinds 15,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

With around 315,000 in the pot on a board of 4♣2♦7♣9♦, Armand Matti bet 350,000 from the cutoff and Maher Achour moved all in under the gun. Matti snap-called for around 980,000.

"If you have more than one pair, you win," Achour told Matti as they waited to turn over their cards.

Achour eventually showed A♠A♦, but Matti had 4♠4♥ for a set and was poised for a massive double up. The river, though, was the A♣ and a loud gasp arose from the large crowd surrounding the table as Achour hit a set of aces. Matti stopped to snap a photo of the board, then leaned across the table to shake Achour's hand before heading for the exit.

Player	Chips	Progress
Maher Achour	2,500,000 1,000,000	1,000,000
Armand Matti	Busted

Tags: Armand Matti Maher Achour

03-30-2024 19:05 UTC+3

Spasov Puts a Big Cooler on Pyzara

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David Salituro

Level 21 : Blinds 15,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

Simeon Spasov raised to 50,000 in the hijack, then called when button Kacper Pyzara three-bet to 150,000.

The flop came 9♦Q♦6♣ and Pyzara bet 130,000. Spasov then raised to 280,000 and Pyzara called.

The turn was the 9♥ and Spasov bet 130,000. Pyzara again called to the 8♣ river, where Spasov moved all in.

Pyzara snap-called for his last 325,000 and turned over J♠10♦ for a straight. Spasov, though, had 6♦6♥ for a flopped set that improved to a full house on the turn to send Pyzara to the rail.

At the same table, Simone Andrian has increased his stack up past 2,000,000.

Player	Chips	Progress
Simone Andrian	2,400,000 1,100,000	1,100,000

Simeon Spasov	1,700,000 575,000	575,000

Kacper Pyzara	Busted

Tags: Kacper Pyzara Simeon Spasov Simone Andrian

03-30-2024 19:11 UTC+3

Zabiiakin Fills Up to Bust Kortan

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David Salituro

Level 21 : Blinds 15,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

Ufuk Kortan moved all in for 240,000 in the hijack and Ivan Zabiiakin called in the small blind.

Ufuk Kortan: A♥K♠ All in
Ivan Zabiiakin: Q♦Q♥

The K♥ came in the window to give Kortan hope, but it was followed by Q♠10♥ as Zabiiakin made a set. The 10♠ turn improved Zabiiakin to a full house, while the 6♦ completed the board and sent Kortan to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ivan Zabiiakin	1,700,000 400,000	400,000

Ufuk Kortan	Busted

Tags: Ivan Zabiiakin Ufuk Kortan

03-30-2024 19:33 UTC+3

Smuskevicius Slowly Peels a Bustout

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David Salituro

Level 21 : Blinds 15,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

Erdal Gulseven moved all in for 255,000 on the button as action folded to Boris Smuskevicius in the big blind. "First card is an ace," he said as he slowly peeled his cards.

"Second card is a spade," he added, taking a peek at his second. "King of spades," he said as he slammed in a call.

Erdal Gulseven: A♦J♣ All in
Boris Smuskevicius: A♣K♠

Smuskevicius had Gulseven dominated and stayed in front on the Q♣4♣5♥6♠A♥ board to send him to the rail.

"What can I do?" Gulseven wondered as he headed for the rail right before the break.

Player	Chips	Progress
Boris Smuskevicius	600,000 60,000	60,000
Erdal Gulseven	Busted

Tags: Boris Smuskevicius Erdal Gulseven

03-30-2024 19:34 UTC+3

Tabiyev Leaves Sener With Crumbs

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 21 : Blinds 15,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

In a preflop confrontation Boris Tabiyev was all in from the button for roughly 215,000 and up against Zafer Sener in middle position who covered him.

Boris Tabiyev: 9♠9♥ All in
Zafer Sener: A♠Q♥

Tabiyev got the better of the J♠J♦2♣10♥3♣ runout to score a full double up while Sener was left with five big blinds and would bust shortly afterwards.

Player	Chips	Progress
Boris Tabiyev	490,000 223,000	223,000
Zafer Sener	Busted

Tags: Boris Tabiyev Zafer Sener

03-30-2024 19:55 UTC+3

Chauskin Flips Tabiyev to the Rail

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David Salituro

Level 22 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Boris Tabiyev moved all in for around 450,000 from the small blind and Natan Chauskin put him at risk under the gun.

Boris Tabiyev: A♥K♦ All in
Natan Chauskin: J♣J♥

"Ace," Tabiyev pleaded as he stood up from his seat to await the flop, which came 9♥5♣8♠. The rest of the board came 2♣4♣ and Tabiyev couldn't catch up against Chauskin's jacks and was sent to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Natan Chauskin	1,500,000 950,000	950,000
Alan Turabayev	1,200,000 200,000	200,000
Edgard Raffoul	950,000 30,000	30,000
Sergei Sokharev	850,000 -250,000	-250,000
Yuliyan Kolev	630,000 522,000	522,000

Maxime Chilaud	400,000 -550,000	-550,000
Boris Tabiyev	Busted

Tags: Boris Tabiyev Natan Chauskin