$3,300 Main Event Day 2 | 2024 Merit Poker Western Series

01-23-2024 12:40 UTC+2

Yilmaz Knocks Out Khadra

Ryan Lashmar

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

In a preflop confrontation Hadi Khadra, who had recently been left short-stacked, found himself all in and at risk against Aykutalp Yilmaz.

Hadi Khadra: K♠Q♣
Aykutalp Yilmaz: A♥J♦

The board ran out 6♦10♠7♠Q♥A♠. Khadra had made top pair on the turn only for Yilmaz to spike an ace on the river to score the knockout. Khadra would reenter shortly afterwards.

Player	Chips	Progress
Aykutalp Yilmaz	137,500 12,000	12,000
Hadi Khadra	100,000

Tags: Aykutalp Yilmaz Hadi Khadra

01-23-2024 12:43 UTC+2

Melkisetian Comes From Behind to Bust Matta

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David Salituro

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

Damir Zhugralin raised to 5,500 in the cutoff before Ara Melkisetian three-bet to 15,500 on the button. Serge Matta then moved all in for 45,000 in the small blind and Zhugralin folded. Melkisetian, meanwhile, tanked for about 30 seconds before calling.

Serge Matta: A♣K♠
Ara Melkisetian: A♠7♦

Melkisetian was dominated until the flop brought 7♣5♣2♠, giving him top pair. The board ran out 3♠5♥ and Matta was sent to the exit.

"Saved me. Ace-jack," Zhugralin told Melkisetian after the hand.

Player	Chips	Progress
Damir Zhugralin	300,000 -9,000	-9,000
Ara Melkisetian	200,000 70,500	70,500
Serge Matta	Busted

Tags: Ara Melkisetian Damir Zhugralin Serge Matta

01-23-2024 12:46 UTC+2

Hrabec Spikes Two-Outer to Bust Hursoz

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David Salituro

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

Roman Hrabec had a raise of 50,000 in front of him from middle position before Tugce Hursoz stuck in her last 130,000 from the hijack. Hrabec called.

Tugce Hursoz: A♠K♥
Roman Hrabec: Q♦Q♠

It was a classic flip and Hursoz pulled ahead on the 6♠K♠9♦ flop with top pair. The turn 4♦ was safe for Hursoz, but the Q♣ fell on the river as Hrabec spiked a set to send her to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Roman Hrabec	380,000 170,500	170,500

Tugce Hursoz	Busted

Tags: Roman Hrabec Tugce Hursoz

01-23-2024 12:54 UTC+2

Brown Bets Big on the River

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David Salituro

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

Heads-up on the turn with the board showing 8♥A♥2♣9♦ and around 70,000 in the pot, Michael Brown bet 17,000 from the big blind and Vitalii Pankov called in early position.

The river was the 4♣ and Brown fired out 125,000. Pankov spent a minute considering the decision before giving up his cards.

Player	Chips	Progress
Michael Brown	450,000 29,000	29,000
Vitalii Pankov	230,000 -86,500	-86,500

Tags: Vitalii Pankov Michael Brown

01-23-2024 13:03 UTC+2

Habib Building Massive Stack After Taking Out Wei

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David Salituro

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

Guoliang Wei raised to 6,000 on the button before Michel Habib three-bet to 26,000 in the small blind. Wei then moved all in for around 100,000 and Habib snap-called.

Guoliang Wei: A♣5♦
Michel Habib: A♠J♦

Wei found himself dominated and got no help on the Q♠8♦8♣6♠3♠ board as he was sent to the rail. Habib, meanwhile, moved up past 900,000 with that pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Michel Habib	920,000 167,000	167,000
Guoliang Wei	Busted

Tags: Guoliang Wei Michel Habib

01-23-2024 13:05 UTC+2

Dray Spikes the River

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Ryan Lashmar

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

Samuel Dray opened to 5,500 from middle position and Bogdan Munteanu three-bet to 13,000 from the hijack. Dray moved all in for 41,000 and Munteanu snap-called with a covering stack to put Dray at risk.

Samuel Dray: A♦Q♥
Bogdan Munteanu: K♣K♦

The board ran out Q♠6♦6♥7♥A♠. Dray got exactly what he needed with an ace on the river to secure a full double up and extend his tournament life.

Player	Chips	Progress
Bogdan Munteanu	292,000 33,500	33,500
Samuel Dray	88,000 -500	-500

Tags: Bogdan Munteanu Samuel Dray

01-23-2024 13:08 UTC+2

Break Time

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David Salituro

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

Players are now headed on a 15-minute break after the first level of the day.

The field has grown to 560 players, with 233 remaining.

Level: 11

Blinds: 1,500/2,500

Ante: 2,500

01-23-2024 13:32 UTC+2

Nikitin Takes from Hutchison

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Ryan Lashmar

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

Anatoly Nikitin opened to 5,500 from the hijack and Dean Hutchison three-bet to 18,000 from the cutoff. Nikitin made the call.

The flop came 6♣3♠3♥ and Nikitin check-called a 15,000 continuation bet from Hutchison.

Nikitin check-called another bet from Hutchison on the 4♣ turn, this time for 55,000.

Both players checked the 2♦ river. Nikitin turned over 7♦6♦ for two pair and Hutchison quickly mucked.

Player	Chips	Progress
Anatoly Nikitin	590,000 140,000	140,000
Dean Hutchison	385,000 5,000	5,000

Tags: Anatoly Nikitin Dean Hutchison

01-23-2024 13:33 UTC+2

Audere Doesn't Like the Turn, Bleau Not a Fan of the River

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David Salituro

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

Audere bet 5,000 from the hijack on a flop of 6♦3♥7♥ and Iulian Andrei Bleau called in the big blind.

The turn was the 5♦ and Audere bet 20,000. Bleau again called and the 7♦ fell on the river. Audere then bet 84,000.

"I don't like that river," Bleau told the dealer as he tanked for around a minute before folding.

"I didn't like the five," Audere added as he took the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Audere	500,000 -34,500	-34,500
Iulian Andrei Bleau	250,000 250,000	250,000

Tags: Iulian Andrei Bleau Audere