$3,300 Main Event Day 1a | 2024 Merit Poker Western Series

01-20-2024 14:09 UTC+2

Kaukua Shows Down a King

David Salituro

Level 2 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante

Toni Kaukua and Igor Pihela built a pot of around 14,000 as they went heads-up to the 5♠K♠9♥ flop. Pihela then bet from the big blind before Kaukua raised to 12,000 in early position.

Pihela called and the 4♠ fell on the turn. Kaukua then bet another 20,000 and Pihela again called.

Pihela checked over to Kaukua on the 9♠ river and Kaukua this time checked back. Pihela then showed Q♠Q♥, but Kaukua had A♠K♣ for top pair to win the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Toni Kaukua	130,000 30,000	30,000
Igor Pihela	65,000

Tags: Toni Kaukua Igor Pihela

01-20-2024 14:09 UTC+2

First Break

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David Salituro

Level 2 : Blinds 300/600, 600 ante

Players are on the first 15-minute break of the day.

The field has swelled to 106 players so far.

Level: 3

Blinds: 400/800

Ante: 800

01-20-2024 14:33 UTC+2

Pankov Calls Off Against Tulepbergenov

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David Salituro

Level 3 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

With around 20,000 in the pot on a board of 4♦4♥10♣J♣, Azamat Tulepbergenov led out for 11,000 from the big blind and Vitalii Pankov called in middle position.

The river was the 6♥ and Tulepbergenov moved all in for 53,500. Pankov called and Tulepbergenov showed 7♠4♣ for trip fours. Pankov flashed a ten before mucking.

A count of the stacks showed Tulepbergenov barely had Pankov covered and Pankov made his exit from the table.

Player	Chips	Progress
Azamat Tulepbergenov	150,000 150,000	150,000
Vitalii Pankov	Busted

Tags: Azamat Tulepbergenov Vitalii Pankov

01-20-2024 14:39 UTC+2

Plant Cracks Dato's Aces

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David Salituro

Level 3 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

More than 40,000 was already in the middle as Andrea Dato and Ryan Plant went heads-up to the 2♥A♦10♠ flop.

Dato then bet 4,500 from middle position and Plant called in the small blind. Both players checked the K♥ turn.

The river was the 4♠ and Plant bet 50,000, enough to put Dato all in. Dato snap-called and turned over A♠A♥ for top set, but Plant had Q♣J♣ for a turned straight to send Dato to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ryan Plant	280,000 70,000	70,000
Andrea Dato	Busted

Tags: Andrea Dato Ryan Plant

01-20-2024 14:48 UTC+2

Lian Raises Out Hasbani

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David Salituro

Level 3 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Four players went to a flop of 4♥4♦10♣ as action checked to Antoine Hasbani who bet 3,000 from the button. Iurii Saiapin called under the gun, as did Xiang Lian in early position.

The turn was the 10♥ and Hasbani bet another 7,500. Saiapin folded this time, but Lian put in a raise to 30,000. Hasbani quickly folded.

Player	Chips	Progress
Antoine Hasbani	190,000 20,000	20,000
Xiang Lian	120,000
Iurii Saiapin	50,000

Tags: Antoine Hasbani Iurii Saiapin Xiang Lian

01-20-2024 14:57 UTC+2

Bonnant Hits the River on Kaukua

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David Salituro

Level 3 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Clement Bonnant three-bet to 6,500 on the button and Toni Kaukua called in the cutoff.

The flop came 9♠8♣K♥ and Bonnant continued for 5,000. Kaukua then raised to 12,000 and Bonnant called.

The 5♥ fell on the turn and Kaukua bet 20,000. Bonnant again called and the Q♠ fell on the river. Kaukua then moved all in and Bonnant snap-called for 45,000.

Bonnant turned over Q♣Q♥ for a rivered set and Kaukua's cards quickly hit the muck as Bonnant doubled up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Clement Bonnant	170,000
Toni Kaukua	35,000 -95,000	-95,000

Tags: Clement Bonnant Toni Kaukua

01-20-2024 15:03 UTC+2

Nehme Calls Off With Fourth Pair

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David Salituro

Level 3 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Jose Nehme and Parahat Nurmuhammedov had already built a pot of around 45,000 as they went to the river on a completed board of 5♦3♦9♣K♠Q♠.

Nurmuhammedov then moved all in from the hijack, having Nehme's remaining 25,000 covered. Nehme tanked for several minutes until the clock was called.

He didn't wait for a tournament official to arrive and start the countdown before he called. Nurmuhammedov turned over K♣K♥ and Nehme flashed 6♥6♣ as he made his way to the exit.

Player	Chips	Progress
Parahat Nurmuhammedov	130,000
Jose Nehme	Busted

Tags: Jose Nehme Parahat Nurmuhammedov

01-20-2024 15:06 UTC+2

Recent Arrivals and Reentries

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David Salituro

Level 3 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Andrea Dato	100,000 100,000	100,000

Morad Qushqar	100,000 100,000	100,000
Bartlomiej Swieboda	100,000
Maxime Chilaud	100,000
Benjamin Hamnett	100,000

Yury Bochkarev	100,000
Alisa Sibgatova	100,000
David Hu	100,000

01-20-2024 15:13 UTC+2

Giliazetdinov Beats Zhao Without a Showdown

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David Salituro

Level 3 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Heads-up on a board of 5♥Q♣A♣3♥, Gang Zhao bet 12,000 from the hijack and Vasil Giliazetdinov called in middle position.

The river was the A♦ and Zhao bet another 31,000. Giliazetdinov took his time before calling and Zhao instantly mucked, allowing Giliazetdinov to take the pot without a showdown.

Player	Chips	Progress
Vasil Giliazetdinov	130,000 65,000	65,000
Gang Zhao	50,000