2024 Merit Poker Carmen Series

$3,300 Main Event
Day: 2
Event Info

2024 Merit Poker Carmen Series

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
q5
Prize
$338,500
Event Info
Buy-in
$3,300
Prize Pool
$1,832,640
Entries
664
Level Info
Level
37
Blinds
300,000 / 600,000
Ante
600,000
Players Info - Day 2
Entries
257
Players Left
172

Alisa Sibgatova Leads 241 Players into Day 2 of the Merit Poker Carmen Series Main Event

Alisa Sibgatova
Alisa Sibgatova

A total of 241 players return for the second act of the 2024 Merit Poker Carmen Series Main Event when Day 2 begins at noon local time.

Alisa Sibgatova leads the field into the day with a stack of 661,000. She’s followed by Dmitrii Kuzin (647,500), Fausto Tantillo (602,000), Rabih El-Hachem (588,500), and Aleksandar Tot (559,000), while past EPT champion Kalidou Sow is also in the top-10 with 531,000.

Day 2 Top 10 Chip Counts

RankPlayerCountryChip CountBig Blinds
1Alisa SibgatovaRussia661,000264
2Dmitrii KuzinRussia647,500259
3Fausto TantilloItaly602,000241
4Rabih El-HachemLebanon588,500235
5Aleksandar TotMontenegro559,000224
6Jovan KenjicSerbia547,500219
7Alper KerimTurkey546,000218
8Kalidou SowFrance531,000212
9Maciej KomorowskiPoland521,000208
10George TomescuRomania514,000206

Other notables still in the hunt include Simone Andrian (436,500), Milos Skrbic (404,000), Dmitry Gromov (312,000), Andrey Pateychuk (304,000), Andrea Dato (276,000), Bart Lybaert (205,000), Felipe Ketzer (164,500), and Benjamin Hamnett (128,500). Reigning champion Maxime Chilaud takes a stack of 151,500 into Day 2 as he looks to defend his title, while 2023 Merit Poker Retro Series champion Darko Svesko has 295,500.

The four opening flights saw the field grow to 502 entries so far. Late registration remains open until the end of Level 14, with unlimited reentries allowed during the registration period. The action begins on Level 10 with blinds of 1,000-2,500 and a 2,500 big blind ante. Day 2 is scheduled to play nine 60-minute levels.

By the end of the day, the players will know the prize pool that they are playing for. The money bubble will then be in sight. Stay tuned to PokerNews throughout the day for live updates.

Tags: Aleksandar TotAlisa SibgatovaAlper KerimAndrea DatoAndrey PateychukBart LybaertBenjamin HamnettDarko SveskoDmitrii KuzinDmitry GromovFausto TantilloFelipe KetzerKalidou SowMaxime ChilaudMilos SkrbicRabih El-HachemSimone Andrian

Akiki Survives a Three-Way All In on the First Hand

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante
Gabriel Akiki
Gabriel Akiki

On the first hand of Day 2, Georgios Skaparis got his last 30,000 in the middle from the cutoff and Dmitry Gromov called on the button. Gabriel Akiki, who had only just registered for the tournament, then reshoved in the big blind and Gromov called.

Georgios Skaparis: KQ All in
Gabriel Akiki: 99 All in
Dmitry Gromov: KQ

The board ran out 461037 and Akiki's pair of nines were enough to earn him a double up and send Skaparis to an early exit.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Gabriel Akiki lb
Gabriel Akiki
230,000
230,000
230,000
Profile photo of Dmitry Gromov ru
Dmitry Gromov
200,000
-112,000
-112,000
WPT 1X Winner

Tags: Dmitry GromovGabriel AkikiGeorgios Skaparis

Ivanov Spikes a One-Outer to Double

Level 10 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante
Aleksandr Ivanov
Aleksandr Ivanov

A player in the cutoff raised to 6,500 before Damir Zhugralin three-bet to 15,500 on the button. Aleksandr Ivanov then moved all in for around 30,000 and only Zhugralin called.

Aleksandr Ivanov: 77 All in
Damir Zhugralin: A5

Zhugralin hit his ace on the A102 flop, while the 10 turn left Ivanov a card away from elimination. The river, though, was the 7 and Ivanov hit a full house to double up.

"I folded king-seven," a tablemate said after the hand, revealing that Ivanov had hit the last remaining seven in the deck.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Damir Zhugralin kz
Damir Zhugralin
280,000
64,500
64,500
Profile photo of Aleksandr Ivanov ru
Aleksandr Ivanov
65,000
-68,000
-68,000

Tags: Aleksandr IvanovDamir Zhugralin

Lukovic Shoves on Peluso

Level 11 : Blinds 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante
Nemanja Lukovic
Nemanja Lukovic

Heads-up on a flop of 383, Fabio Peluso bet 10,000 from middle position and Nemanja Lukovic called in the big blind.

The turn was the Q and Peluso bet another 18,000. Lukovic then raised to 42,000 and Peluso called.

The K fell on the river and Lukovic moved all in. Peluso, who had around 105,000 remaining, quickly folded.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Nemanja Lukovic rs
Nemanja Lukovic
350,000
86,500
86,500
Profile photo of Fabio Peluso it
Fabio Peluso
105,000
-41,000
-41,000
WSOP 1X Winner

Tags: Fabio PelusoNemanja Lukovic

Partakkis Puts a Big Cooler on Zabiiakin to Double

Level 11 : Blinds 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante
Herodotos Partakkis
Herodotos Partakkis

Herodotos Partakkis was in middle position with a raise of 15,500 in front of him before Ivan Zabiiakin reraised to 32,000 on the button. Partakkis then moved all in for 110,000 and Zabiiakin snap-called.

Herodotos Partakkis: AA All in
Ivan Zabiiakin: KK

Partakkis had picked up aces against Zabiiakin's kings and held up through the 858102 board to earn a double up.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Ivan Zabiiakin ru
Ivan Zabiiakin
240,000
-33,000
-33,000
Profile photo of Herodotos Partakkis
Herodotos Partakkis
230,000
94,000
94,000

Tags: Herodotos PartakkisIvan Zabiiakin

Stanciu Catches Kuzin With Hand in Cookie Jar

Level 12 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante
Traian Stanciu
Traian Stanciu

Dmitrii Kuzin opened to 5,500 and received a call from a player on the button before Traian Stanciu three-bet to 30,000 from the big blind. Kuzin put in a four-bet to 60,500, forcing the button out of the pot while Stanciu made the call.

The flop came K62 and Stanciu check-called a 15,000 continuation bet from Kuzin.

Stanciu check-called another bet from Kuzin on the 5 turn, this time for 40,000.

On the Q river Stanciu checked once more and Kuzin bet 120,000. Stanciu thought for about one minute before making the call. Kuzin immediately mucked and Stanciu collected a massive pot without having to show the winning hand.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Traian Stanciu ro
Traian Stanciu
570,000
334,000
334,000
Profile photo of Dmitrii Kuzin ru
Dmitrii Kuzin
178,000
-469,500
-469,500
Day 1A Chip Leader

Tags: Dmitrii KuzinTraian Stanciu

Rodin Pays Off Daniliuk

Level 12 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante
Andrei Daniliuk
Andrei Daniliuk

Grigorii Rodin and Andrei Daniliuk built a pot of around 60,000 as they went heads-up to the river on a completed board of Q2K95. Daniliuk then moved all in for 53,000 in the big blind.

Rodin was in the small blind and went deep into the tank for nearly five minutes. "Ready for action," tablemate Ali El-Siblani said.

"Action and reaction," Issam Tannouri added. El-Siblani and Nan Zhu then began singing as the table continued to wait for Rodin to act.

Rodin eventually called and Daniliuk showed AA. Rodin mucked K10 and Daniliuk doubled up.

Nikolay Fal is also at this table.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Ali El-Siblani lb
Ali El-Siblani
570,000
229,000
229,000
Profile photo of Nikolay Fal ru
Nikolay Fal
400,000
54,500
54,500
WSOP 1X Winner
Profile photo of Nan Zhu cn
Nan Zhu
220,000
99,000
99,000
Profile photo of Andrei Daniliuk ru
Andrei Daniliuk
180,000
180,000
180,000
Profile photo of Issam Tannouri fr
Issam Tannouri
140,000
-12,500
-12,500
Profile photo of Grigorii Rodin ru
Grigorii Rodin
130,000
-70,000
-70,000

Tags: Ali El-SiblaniAndrei DaniliukGrigorii RodinIssam TannouriNan ZhuNikolay Fal

Pyzara, Guimond Slow Down on the River

Level 13 : Blinds 1,500/3,500, 3,500 ante
Kacper Pyzara
Kacper Pyzara

Kacper Pyzara bet 8,000 from the big blind on a flop of 342 and an opponent under the gun called. Florian Guimond then raised to 40,000 in the small blind and only Pyzara called.

The turn was the 9 and Guimond bet 90,000. Pyzara again called to the J river.

Guimond slowed down and checked, and Pyzara quickly checked back. Guimond turned over 33 for a set, but Pyzara had 44 for a higher set to take the pot.

At the same time at another table, Benjamin Hamnett eliminated Pavel Shchitnikov when Shchitnikov got his short stack all in with KQ but couldn't beat Hamnett's A10 on a board of 96A22.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Kacper Pyzara pl
Kacper Pyzara
700,000
260,000
260,000
Profile photo of Florian Guimond fr
Florian Guimond
350,000
30,000
30,000
Profile photo of Benjamin Hamnett us
Benjamin Hamnett
170,000
50,000
50,000
WPT 1X Winner
Profile photo of Pavel Shchitnikov ru
Pavel Shchitnikov
Busted

Tags: Benjamin HamnettFlorian GuimondPavel Shchitnikov

Bou Habib Wins a Flip on Gorji

Level 13 : Blinds 1,500/3,500, 3,500 ante
Walid Bou Habib
Walid Bou Habib

Ehsan Gorji moved all in for 35,000 from the hijack and Walid Bou Habib called in middle position.

Ehsan Gorji: 88 All in
Walid Bou Habib: KQ

Bou Habib spiked top pair on the JK2 flop, then improved to two pair once the board ran out 6Q to send Gorji to the rail.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Walid Bou Habib lb
Walid Bou Habib
160,000
-116,000
-116,000
Profile photo of Ehsan Gorji ir
Ehsan Gorji
Busted

Tags: Ehsan GorjiWalid Bou Habib

Tantillo Scores Double Knockout After Brutal Cooler

Level 13 : Blinds 1,500/3,500, 3,500 ante
Fausto Tantillo
Fausto Tantillo

Fausto Tantillo recently surpassed one million chips after winning a massive pot that resulted in the elimination of two players.

According to the players at his table, Damir Gabdullin moved all in for 45,000 from late position and Tony Aziz shoved over the top for 190,000. Tantillo, covering both players, made the call in the big blind.

Damir Gabdullin: 4x4x All in
Tony Aziz: KK All in
Fausto Tantillo: AxKx

Aziz was a massive favorite with top set on the Kx8x3x flop and needed to fade only running aces or running fours to scoop the pot. Tantillo got exactly what he needed when the rest of the board ran out AxAx to send both opponents to the rail and soar to the top of the chip counts.

Player Chips Progress
Profile photo of Fausto Tantillo it
Fausto Tantillo
1,110,000
385,000
385,000
Day 2 Chip Leader
Profile photo of Damir Gabdullin ru
Damir Gabdullin
Busted
Profile photo of Tony Aziz lb
Tony Aziz
Busted

Tags: Damir GabdullinFausto TantilloTony Aziz