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

01-24-2024 12:34 UTC+2

Ercan Four-Bet Shoves

Ryan Lashmar

Level 18 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

Andreas Christoforou opened to 16,000 from under the gun and was called by Mustafa Ercan from the next seat over. Fabio Peluso then raised to to 85,000 from middle position, forcing a fold from Christoforou. Ercan responded by moving all in for just under 1,000,000 and Peluso quickly folded allowing Ercan to take the pot without having to see a flop.

Player	Chips	Progress
Fabio Peluso	1,340,000 -137,000	-137,000

Mustafa Ercan	1,065,000 125,000	125,000
Andreas Christoforou	378,000 -22,000	-22,000

Tags: Andreas Christoforou Fabio Peluso Mustafa Ercan

01-24-2024 12:40 UTC+2

Karami Picks Off Smolka's Big Bluff

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David Salituro

Level 18 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

Amine Karami raised to 16,000 in the hijack before Dawid Smolka three-bet to 70,000 in the big blind. Karami called and they saw a flop of 4♠10♠2♥.

Smolka continued for 50,000 and Karami called. The turn was the 6♣ and Smolka bet 150,000.

Karami again called as the 7♦ fell on the river. Smolka then bet 320,000. Karami took about 30 seconds before calling and Smolka turned over A♣3♥ for a bluff.

Karami showed 10♣9♣ for top pair as he took the massive pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Amine Karami	1,150,000 440,000	440,000
Dawid Smolka	120,000 -636,000	-636,000

Tags: Amine Karami Dawid Smolka

01-24-2024 12:48 UTC+2

Smolka Doubles Through Tashliyev

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 18 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

Ildar Tashliyev opened to 16,000 from early position and Dawid Smolka moved all in for 128,000 from the button, putting Tashliyev deep into the tank.

Tashliyev separated calling chips from his stack and counted out how much he would have should he lose the pot. After just under four minutes he put in the call to put Smolka at risk.

Dawid Smolka: A♣J♣
Ildar Tashliyev: A♥8♥

Smolka was in excellent shape to double up with a dominating ace and was a massive favorite after connecting with the 2♣2♦J♥ flop. Tashliyev picked up a flush draw on the 9♥ turn but the 9♣ river was a brick and Smolka secured a full double up at Tashliyev's expense.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ildar Tashliyev	520,000 169,000	169,000
Dawid Smolka	276,000 156,000	156,000

Tags: Dawid Smolka Ildar Tashliyev

01-24-2024 12:55 UTC+2

Mokrani Holds On to Double Off Zhu

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David Salituro

Level 18 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

Mohamed Mokrani raised to 18,000 in the cutoff and Mohammadreza Karkan called on the button. Nan Zhu then three-bet to 60,000 and both opponents called.

The flop came J♠2♦K♦ and Zhu continued for 40,000. Mokrani raised to 107,000 and Karkan got out of the way, but Zhu moved all in. Mokrani snap-called for his last 370,000.

Mohamed Mokrani: K♠J♦
Nan Zhu: 7♦4♦

Mokrani was ahead with top two pair, while Zhu had a flush draw. The 5♠ turn was no help to Zhu, while the 2♥ completed the board on the river and secured Mokrani a double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mohamed Mokrani	920,000 485,000	485,000
Mohammadreza Karkan	600,000 130,000	130,000
Nan Zhu	580,000 -494,000	-494,000

Tags: Mohamed Mokrani Mohammadreza Karkan Nan Zhu

01-24-2024 13:00 UTC+2

Ercan Wins a Race to Bust Zhaparov

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David Salituro

Level 18 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

Mustafa Ercan raised to 17,000 in early position and was called by Vedat Yilmaz and Yiannakis Papapetrou. Dauren Zhaparov then moved all in for 150,000 in the big blind and Ercan called, while the other two opponents got out of the way.

Dauren Zhaparov: A♠J♥
Mustafa Ercan: 7♣7♦

Zhaparov needed to win the race to stay alive in the tournament but found no help on the 3♥10♠2♥3♣8♦ board as he was sent to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mustafa Ercan	1,550,000 485,000	485,000
Vedat Yilmaz	450,000 150,000	150,000

Yiannakis Papapetrou	110,000 -275,000	-275,000
Dauren Zhaparov	Busted

Tags: Dauren Zhaparov Mustafa Ercan Vedat Yilmaz Yiannakis Papapetrou

01-24-2024 13:06 UTC+2

Skripkin Almost Cracks Dato's Aces

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 18 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

In a preflop confrontation Andrea Dato was all in from the hijack with a stack of 128,000 and up against Maksim Skripkin in the big blind who covered.

Andrea Dato: A♣A♥
Maksim Skripkin: K♦Q♦

Skripkin took a massive lead with top two pair on the K♣Q♠9♦ flop. The 8♦ turn changed nothing for either player but the 8♥ river paired the board to give Dato aces up and he scored a full double up through Skripkin who was left with just 15 big blinds.

Player	Chips	Progress
Andrea Dato	268,000 120,000	120,000

Maksim Skripkin	120,000 -77,000	-77,000

Tags: Andrea Dato Maksim Skripkin

01-24-2024 13:07 UTC+2

Kometiani Wins a Flip to Double

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David Salituro

Level 18 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

Antoine Hasbani raised to 17,000 in middle position, then called when Vazha Kometiani moved all in for 146,000 in the hijack.

Vazha Kometiani: A♦J♦
Antoine Hasbani: 6♦6♥

Kometiani smacked the J♠4♠J♥ flop as he made trips, leaving Hasbani with just two outs heading to the turn. The board ran out 9♥2♥ and Kometiani doubled up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Antoine Hasbani	460,000 -154,000	-154,000
Vazha Kometiani	300,000 300,000	300,000

Tags: Antoine Hasbani Vazha Kometiani

Level: 19

Blinds: 5,000/10,000

Ante: 10,000

01-24-2024 13:13 UTC+2

Munteanu Goes Runner-Runner For the Nuts

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David Salituro

Level 19 : Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante

Xiang Lian raised to 21,000 in middle position before Bogdan Munteanu three-bet to 80,000 in the small blind. Lian called and the flop came 9♥2♠4♠.

Both players checked the flop and the 7♥ turn before Munteanu led out for 22,000 on the 2♥ river. Lian quickly called.

Munteanu then showed A♥K♥ for the nut flush and Lian mucked.

Player	Chips	Progress
Xiang Lian	1,220,000 -133,000	-133,000
Bogdan Munteanu	640,000 143,000	143,000

Tags: Bogdan Munteanu Xiang Lian

01-24-2024 13:18 UTC+2

Skripkin's Turn to Double on the River

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David Salituro

Level 19 : Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante

Hady El Asmar raised to 20,000 in the hijack and John Doe S called in the cutoff. Maksim Skripkin then moved all in for 106,000 in the small blind, El Asmar called, and Doe folded.

Maksim Skripkin: 5♣5♥
Hady El Asmar: A♣Q♠

The flop came K♥Q♦7♠ to give El Asmar a pair and the lead, while the Q♣ turn improved him to trips as Skripkin was already up out of his seat prepared to exit the tournament.

Instead, the 5♦ fell on the river and the table let out a loud gasp as Skripkin sat back down with a miracle double up.