$3,300 Main Event
Day 1b Started
2024 Merit Poker Western Series
$3,300 Main Event
Day: 1b
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 1b
2024 Merit Poker Western Series
Buy-in
$3,300
Prize Pool
$1,854,720
Entries
672
Level
36
Blinds
200,000 / 500,000
Ante
500,000
Entries
174
Players Left
77
Three players crossed the 700,000-chip milestone on Day 1a. Now the question today is who can join them when Day 1b of the Merit Poker Western Series Main Event begins at noon local time.
Frenchman Samy Barka ended the opening flight as the chip leader over the surviving 71 players with 783,000. He was followed close behind by Michel Habib (753,000) and Merit Poker Gangster Series Main Event champion Dmitry Yurasov (736,000). Candido Cappiello (476,500), Benjamin Hamnett (427,000), Andrew Hedley (402,000), and Dean Hutchison (380,000) also finished as top stacks.
Day 1a Top 10 Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Samy Barka | France | 783,000 | 313 |
| 2 | Michel Habib | Lebanon | 753,000 | 301 |
| 3 | Dmitry Yurasov | Russia | 736,000 | 294 |
| 4 | Jianwei Lin | Australia | 619,000 | 248 |
| 5 | Basem Abudavas | Jordan | 600,000 | 240 |
| 6 | Mustafa Ercan | Turkey | 596,500 | 239 |
| 7 | Xiang Lian | China | 496,000 | 198 |
| 8 | Candido Cappiello | Italy | 476,500 | 191 |
| 9 | Benjamin Hamnett | United States | 427,000 | 171 |
| 10 | Ilia Korliakov | Russia | 421,000 | 168 |
Today it’s the chance of a new crop of players to try to book their ticket for Day 2. Players begin with 100,000 and will play nine 60-minute levels, with a 15-minute break every two levels. Unlimited reentries are allowed during the registration period, which remains open until the end of Level 14 on Day 2. Already 188 players entered the starting flight as the Main Event is well on its way to surpassing the $1,500,000 guaranteed prize pool.
This is the second of four opening flights. Day 1c begins tomorrow at noon local time with 40-minute levels, while Day 1d at 7 p.m. features 25-minute levels. The surviving players from the four starting flights then combine for Day 2 on January 23 at noon.
Stay tuned as PokerNews provides all the action as new hopefuls take their shot at the title today.
Level: 1
Blinds: 200/500
Ante: 500
Level 1
: Blinds 200/500, 500 ante
Day 1b is now underway with 36 players currently registered.
Level 1
: Blinds 200/500, 500 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
||
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
Level 1
: Blinds 200/500, 500 ante
With around 8,000 in the pot, Maroun Jazzar and Ali Zebarjad went heads-up to a flop of 9♦A♥6♥. Zebarjad then bet 3,500 from under the gun and Jazzar called on the button.
The turn was the Q♣ and Zebarjad checked to Jazzar, who bet 5,000. Zebarjad called, then fired out 15,000 on the 9♣ river.
Jazzar tossed K♥10♥ into the muck as Zebarjad flashed the A♠ while taking in the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
115,000
-28,500
|
-28,500 |
|
86,000 |
Level 1
: Blinds 200/500, 500 ante
In a blind versus blind battle, Kacper Pyzara led out for 1,800 on the 10♥9♠4♦ flop and Traian Stanciu called.
The turn was the 10♣ and Pyzara bet another 3,000. Stanciu called and the 9♥ fell on the river.
Pyzara then fired out 12,000 and Stanciu gave it some thought before sliding his cards into the muck.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
105,000
5,000
|
5,000 |
|
80,000 |
Level 1
: Blinds 200/500, 500 ante
Cheng Zhao and Dauren Zhaparov built a pot of around 12,000 as they headed to a flop of 7♣J♥9♦. Zhao then bet 3,000 from the big blind and Zhaparov called in middle position.
The turn was the 3♦ and Zhao checked. Zhaparov then bet 7,500 and Zhao called.
The 10♠ fell on the river and Zhao led out for 15,000. Zhaparov then raised to 64,000. Zhao leaned over the table and spent about 30 seconds in the tank before folding as Zhaparov took the pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
150,000 | |
|
65,000
65,000
|
65,000 |
Level 1
: Blinds 200/500, 500 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
||
|
100,000 | |
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
||
|
100,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
Level 1
: Blinds 200/500, 500 ante
Vladimir Malyarchuk had a three-bet of 6,500 in front of him from the big blind before Antoine Chamba four-bet to 14,500 in the cutoff. Malyarchuk called and they saw a flop of J♦10♣4♣.
Both players checked to the 8♠ turn, where Chamba bet 22,000. Malyarchuk called and the 2♦ river was checked down.
"Ten," Malyarchuk said, turning over A♥10♥ as Chamba mucked.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
130,000 | |
|
|
60,000 |