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

01-24-2024 17:52 UTC+2

Hedley, Tulepbergenov Build a Huge Side Pot; Kamar Takes Out Aoun

David Salituro

Level 22 : Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante

Anatoly Nikitin was already all in as Azamat Tulepbergenov and Andrew Hedley went to a flop of J♣A♣7♠. Hedley bet 50,000 from the button, Tulepbergenov raised to 155,000 in the cutoff, and Hedley called.

The turn was the 10♦ and Tulepbergenov checked to Hedley who bet 385,000. Tulepbergenov tanked for several minutes as he counted out the chips to call and shuffled them in his hand before putting them in the middle.

He also checked the J♦ river and Hedley checked back this time. Nikitin showed Q♣4♣ and got up from his seat, Tulepbergenov had K♣5♣ for a missed flush draw, while Hedley had K♠Q♠ for a straight to win the pot and send Nikitin to the rail.

At the same time at another table, Carlos Aoun was all in for around 200,000 from the button and up against Fady Kamar under the gun.

Carlos Aoun: 5♥5♦
Fady Kamar: 10♦10♥

The board ran out K♦Q♠9♥A♣7♠ and Kamar's tens sent Aoun and his fives to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Andrew Hedley	2,200,000 1,485,000	1,485,000
Azamat Tulepbergenov	1,800,000 -360,000	-360,000
Fady Kamar	800,000 -400,000	-400,000
Anatoly Nikitin	Busted
Carlos Aoun	Busted

Tags: Anatoly Nikitin Andrew Hedley Azamat Tulepbergenov Carlos Aoun Fady Kamar

01-24-2024 17:53 UTC+2

Christoforou Makes a Big Fold

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 22 : Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante

With two players seeing a board of 10♦3♠3♣ and roughly 150,000 in the middle, Andreas Christoforou bet 120,000 from middle position and Roman Hrabec called from the cutoff.

Christoforou checked on the 10♥ turn and called an 85,000 bet from Hrabec.

On the 9♠ river Christoforou checked once more and Hrabec moved all in, covering Christoforou who had 210,000 behind. Christoforou folded Q♥Q♠ face up and Hrabec took down a nice pot without showdown.

Player	Chips	Progress
Roman Hrabec	2,800,000 1,170,000	1,170,000

Andreas Christoforou	185,000 -315,000	-315,000

Tags: Andreas Christoforou Roman Hrabec

01-24-2024 18:04 UTC+2

Melkisetian Uses Rags to Get Rich

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David Salituro

Level 22 : Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante

Around 500,000 was already in the middle as Mustafa Ercan and Ara Melkisetian went to the river in a blind versus blind battle and the board showing 4♠2♣10♦8♣7♥.

Melkisetian then moved all in for 430,000 from the big blind as Ercan went into the tank. He pondered the decision for several minutes until calling.

Melkisetian then showed 8♠2♦ for two pair and Ercan flashed 10♣9♥ before mucking as Melkisetian took down the massive pot.

Dean Hutchison was recently eliminated from this table.

Player	Chips	Progress
Ara Melkisetian	1,500,000 900,000	900,000
Mustafa Ercan	850,000 -700,000	-700,000
Dean Hutchison	Busted

Tags: Ara Melkisetian Mustafa Ercan Dean Hutchison

01-24-2024 18:07 UTC+2

Barka Pips Zhu

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 22 : Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante

In a preflop confrontation Nan Zhu was all in on the button for roughly 250,000 and was up against Samy Barka who held a covering stack in the hijack.

Nan Zhu: J♥J♣
Samy Barka: Q♥Q♠

Zhu was in rough shape with a dominated pocket pair and failed to improve on the K♣4♠2♠A♠6♥ runout, resulting in his elimination while Barka dragged in a healthy pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Samy Barka	790,000 132,000	132,000

Nan Zhu	Busted

Tags: Nan Zhu Samy Barka

01-24-2024 18:09 UTC+2

Hasbani Stuns Korkmaz on the River

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David Salituro

Level 22 : Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante

With around 150,000 in the pot on a board of Q♣A♦4♥Q♠, Koray Korkmaz bet 75,000 from the big blind before Antoine Hasbani raised to 225,000 from under the gun.

Korkmaz called and the river came the 10♥. Hasbani then moved all in and Korkmaz snap-called.

Hasbani showed K♥J♥ for a rivered straight and Korkmaz angrily tossed Q♥7♥ as well as his last 200,000 in the middle before heading off to the payout desk.

Player	Chips	Progress
Antoine Hasbani	1,400,000 550,000	550,000
Koray Korkmaz	Busted

Tags: Antoine Hasbani Koray Korkmaz

01-24-2024 18:14 UTC+2

Ercan Takes Another Hit, Doubles Christoforou

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David Salituro

Level 22 : Blinds 10,000/20,000, 20,000 ante

Mustafa Ercan raised to 40,000 in middle position, Andreas Christoforou pushed all in for 425,000 in the hijack, and Ercan called.

Andreas Christoforou: 10♠10♥
Mustafa Ercan: A♠8♠

Ercan made a pair on the 9♥5♦8♥ flop but improved no further as Christoforou's tens held up on the 6♦ turn and 4♠ river to earn him a double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Andreas Christoforou	870,000 685,000	685,000
Mustafa Ercan	525,000 -325,000	-325,000

Tags: Andreas Christoforou Mustafa Ercan

Level: 23

Blinds: 15,000/25,000

Ante: 25,000

01-24-2024 18:21 UTC+2

Soika Goes For Value Against Troyanovskiy

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David Salituro

Level 23 : Blinds 15,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

Ihar Soika bet 100,000 from the small blind on a board of J♥10♣J♣5♠ and Vladimir Troyanovskiy called in the big blind.

The river was the 6♥ and Soika led out for another 85,000. Troyanovskiy quickly called and Soika showed A♦10♠ for two pair. Troyanovskiy mucked and Soika took the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Xiang Lian	2,400,000 1,180,000	1,180,000
Ihar Soika	1,500,000 400,000	400,000
Ryan Plant	1,400,000 527,000	527,000
Carmel Halloun	750,000
Bogdan Munteanu	650,000 10,000	10,000
Aleksandr Kirichenko	600,000 450,000	450,000
Amine Karami	600,000 -550,000	-550,000
Vladimir Troyanovskiy	200,000 -99,000	-99,000

Tags: Ihar Soika Vladimir Troyanovskiy

01-24-2024 18:22 UTC+2

Adrianapoulos and Hedley Chop Up Luo

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 23 : Blinds 15,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

Sakis Adrianapoulos moved all in from middle position for roughly 200,000 and Andrew Hedley reshoved from the button, covering both players in the blinds. Shuang Luo called off from the big blind with a remaining stack of roughly 240,000 and, along with Adrianapoulos, was at risk.

Sakis Adrianapoulos: A♦J♦
Shuang Luo: K♦J♥
Andrew Hedley: A♠K♠

Hedley seemed poised to score a triple knockout with a dominating hand against both opponents. He remained ahead on the 8♣3♥5♠ flop and by the 4♥ turn Luo was drawing dead. The 2♣ brought in an unlikely wheel straight and the pot was split between Adrianapoulos and Hedley while Luo was sent to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Andrew Hedley	2,230,000 30,000	30,000
Sakis Adrianapoulos	280,000 -180,000	-180,000
Shuang Luo	Busted

Tags: Andrew Hedley Sakis Adrianapoulos Shuang Luo

01-24-2024 18:23 UTC+2

Lian Finishes Off Troyanovskiy

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David Salituro

Level 23 : Blinds 15,000/25,000, 25,000 ante

A few hands after taking a bit against Ihar Soika, Vladimir Troyanovskiy pushed all in for 190,000 from the cutoff and Xiang Lian called in the big blind.

Vladimir Troyanovskiy: K♠10♥
Xiang Lian: K♦7♣

Troyanovskiy had Lian dominated as both players hit their king on the K♥5♠9♠ flop. The turn brought the 7♦ and Lian improved to two pair to take the lead.

The river was the 6♥ and Troyanovskiy was sent to the rail. Mihai Tusnea was also recently eliminated.