$3,300 Main Event | 2024 Merit Poker Western Series

01-25-2024 14:37 UTC+2

Ara Melkisetian Eliminated in 18th Place ($17,600)

Ryan Lashmar

Level 29 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

With two players seeing a board of 9♠7♣5♠, Ara Melkisetian found himself all in and at risk from the big blind versus Mustafa Ercan who was under the gun.

Ara Melkisetian: 8♣6♦
Mustafa Ercan: 7♠7♥

Both players had smashed the flop but Ercan was behind with middle set against Melkisetian's flopped straight. The K♥ turn changed nothing but the K♣ river improved Ercan to a full house to send Melkisetian to the rail and collect a sizable pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mustafa Ercan	5,200,000
Ara Melkisetian	Busted

Tags: Ara Melkisetian Mustafa Ercan

01-25-2024 14:36 UTC+2

Michel Habib Eliminated in 19th Place ($15,390)

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 29 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Michel Habib moved all in from the button for 970,000. Nichan Khorchidian reshoved over the top from the small blind with a covering stack to put Habib at risk.

Michel Habib: A♥9♣
Nichan Khorchidian: K♣J♦

The board ran out 10♥9♥7♠2♣8♥. Khorchidian had made a straight on the river to take the pot and send Habib to the rail in 19th place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nichan Khorchidian	7,705,000 1,605,000	1,605,000
Antoine Hasbani	3,030,000 180,000	180,000
Christophe Panetti	2,405,000 5,000	5,000
Andreas Christoforou	2,355,000 -1,345,000	-1,345,000
Bassel Moussa	2,085,000 1,090,000	1,090,000
Vedat Yilmaz	950,000 -680,000	-680,000

Michel Habib	Busted

Tags: Michel Habib Nichan Khorchidian

01-25-2024 14:29 UTC+2

Ketzer Battles Di Nicola

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 29 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Ermanno Di Nicola was on the button facing a raise of 885,000 from Felipe Ketzer in the hijack. Di Nicola made the call.

The flop came K♠6♦6♥ and Di Nicola called a 225,00 continuation bet from Ketzer.

Ketzer fired a second barrel on the 9♦ turn for 425,00 and was once again called by Di Nicola.

On the 5♦ river Ketzer moved all in for 1,665,000 and this time it was enough to force a fold from his opponent.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ermanno Di Nicola	6,750,000 980,000	980,000

Felipe Ketzer	4,400,000 -1,095,000	-1,095,000

Tags: Ermanno Di Nicola Felipe Ketzer

01-25-2024 14:21 UTC+2

Wael Sarkis Eliminated in 20th Place ($15,390)

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 29 : Blinds 50,000/100,000, 100,000 ante

Three players saw a board of J♣10♦9♦ with Wael Sarkis having already gone all in after being left very short-stacked earlier. Samy Barka checked in the big blind and called an 85,000 bet from Giuliano Boellis on the button.

Barka check-called another bet from Boellis on the Q♣ turn, this time for 175,000.

The river was the 2♥. Barka checked, Boellis bet 340,000 and Barka folded. Sarkis held 9♣3♥ for a pair of nines while Boellis showed down K♦4♦ for a king-high straight to score the knockout.

Player	Chips	Progress
Samy Barka	3,700,000 -750,000	-750,000

Giuliano Boellis	2,900,000 -2,595,000	-2,595,000

Wael Sarkis	Busted

Tags: Giuliano Boellis Samy Barka Wael Sarkis

Level: 29

Blinds: 50,000/100,000

Ante: 100,000

01-25-2024 14:15 UTC+2

Victor Fryda Eliminated in 21st Place ($15,390)

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 28 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

Having recently been with under three big blinds, Victor Fryda was all in from the small blind and called by Mohamed Mokrani in the big blind.

Victor Fryda: K♥J♥
Mohamed Mokrani: 7♣2♣

Mokrani made a pair of sevens while Fryda failed to connect with the board, resulting in his elimination in 21st place while Mokrani collected the last of his chips.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mohamed Mokrani	4,900,000 -10,000	-10,000
Victor Fryda	Busted

Tags: Mohamed Mokrani Victor Fryda

01-25-2024 14:00 UTC+2

Azamat Tulepbergenov Eliminated in 22nd Place ($13,730)

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 28 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

Nichan Khorchidian opened to 180,000 from early position and received a call from Christophe Panetti in the cutoff. Azamat Tulepbergenov then moved all in for 1,400,000. Khorchidian raised all in with a covering stack and Panetti got out of the way.

Azamat Tulepbergenov: J♥J♠
Nichan Khorchidian: Q♥Q♣

Tulepbergenov was in bad shape against the bigger pocket pair and failed to improve on the A♠10♥3♦7♦8♠ runout resulting in his elimination while Khorchidian continued to add chips to his stack.

Player	Chips	Progress
Nichan Khorchidian	6,100,000 1,435,000	1,435,000
Christophe Panetti	2,400,000 515,000	515,000
Azamat Tulepbergenov	Busted

Tags: Azamat Tulepbergenov Christophe Panetti Nichan Khorchidian

01-25-2024 13:46 UTC+2

Khordbin Leaves Fryda on Fumes

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 28 : 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

In a preflop blind on blind confrontation, Hadi Khordbin was all in for roughly 1,500,000 and up against Victor Fryda who covered.

Hadi Khordbin: A♠4♥
Victor Fryda: A♣10♥

Fryda was in a great position to score the knockout but the 4♠6♥9♣ flop left him drawing to three outs. He couldn't catch a ten on the 7♣ turn or K♦ river and was left with under three big blinds while Khordbin scored a critical double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Hadi Khordbin	3,250,000 1,304,000	1,304,000
Victor Fryda	190,000 -595,000	-595,000

Tags: Hadi Khordbin Victor Fryda

01-25-2024 13:35 UTC+2

Amir Touma Eliminated in 23rd Place ($13,730)

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 28 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

Amir Touma was recently eliminated from the tournament.

Touma held K♠Q♥ for top pair on a board reading 4♣Q♠5♥J♣2♣ but Ihar Soika had K♦K♣ for an overpair to take down a nice pot while Touma was sent to the rail in 23rd place.