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

01-24-2024 19:36 UTC+2

Yurasov Takes from Zhugralin

Ryan Lashmar

Level 24 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

With two players seeing a board of K♥6♣7♣8♥ and 180,000 in the middle, Damir Zhugralin bet 150,000 from the big blind and was called by Dmitry Yurasov on the button.

On the 10♣ river Zhugralin slowed down with a check. Yurasov bet 350,000 which was enough to force a fold from Zhugralin.

Player	Chips	Progress
Damir Zhugralin	2,375,000 75,000	75,000
Dmitry Yurasov	2,260,000 810,000	810,000

Tags: Damir Zhugralin Dmitry Yurasov

01-24-2024 19:47 UTC+2

Warde Runs Into Queens

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David Salituro

Level 24 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Jad Warde got around 300,000 in the middle from the cutoff as Mustafa Ercan put him at risk from early position.

Jad Warde: A♣2♣
Mustafa Ercan: Q♥Q♠

The board ran out 8♠K♣K♠7♠6♦ and Ercan's queens held up to send Warde to the rail just as this table was about to break.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mustafa Ercan	230,000 -870,000	-870,000
Jad Warde	Busted

Tags: Jad Warde Mustafa Ercan

01-24-2024 19:55 UTC+2

Dato Takes from Mokrani

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 24 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Mohamed Mokrani opened to 60,000 from middle position and Andrea Dato defended from the big blind.

The flop came 7♠5♥4♦ and Dato check-called an 80,000 continuation bet from Mokrani.

Both players checked the 3♣ turn leading to the 2♥ river. Dato bet 35,000, worth roughly ten percent of the pot, and Mokrani made the call.

Dato tabled A♥4♥ for the wheel straight to take the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mohamed Mokrani	2,005,000 1,055,000	1,055,000
Andrea Dato	815,000 -90,000	-90,000

Tags: Andrea Dato Mohamed Mokrani

01-24-2024 20:04 UTC+2

Luo Survives on a Flip

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David Salituro

Level 24 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Xixiang Luo raised to 350,000 in the cutoff, leaving only a few chips behind, and Amir Touma moved all in from the big blind. Luo tanked for a minute before committing his last chips.

Xixiang Luo: 8♣8♠
Amir Touma: A♣K♠

The board ran out 9♦Q♥4♠4♦5♥ and Luo's two eights stayed in the lead to earn him a double up. After the hand, a tournament official came by to warn Luo about leaving only a little bit in his stack and tanking.

Player	Chips	Progress
Xixiang Luo	750,000 130,000	130,000

Amir Touma	350,000 -300,000	-300,000

Tags: Amir Touma Xixiang Luo

01-24-2024 20:06 UTC+2

Boellis Shoves, Melkisetian Goes Deep in the Tank

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David Salituro

Level 24 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Ara Melkisetian was in the hijack and bet 110,000 on a flop of 6♣4♣2♥. Giuliano Boellis called in the small blind.

The turn was the Q♦ and Melkisetian put out 315,000. Boellis then moved all in for 1,710,000.

Melkisetian went into the tank for more than five minutes. A tournament official eventually warned him that the clock would soon be called.

Melkisetian was then given 30 seconds to make a decision. "Pass," he said with about 10 seconds left on his countdown as Boellis took down the big pot without a showdown.

Player	Chips	Progress
Giuliano Boellis	2,400,000 200,000	200,000

Ara Melkisetian	1,550,000 50,000	50,000

Tags: Ara Melkisetian Giuliano Boellis

01-24-2024 20:15 UTC+2

Davenport Raises Peluso on the Flop

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David Salituro

Level 24 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

In a blind versus blind battle, Matthew Davenport led out for 65,000 on a flop of 5♣4♦3♥ before Fabio Peluso raised to 175,000.

Davenport then reraised to 365,000 as Peluso tanked for around three minutes before tossing his cards away.

Yingrui Ge was eliminated at another table at the same time.

Player	Chips	Progress
Matthew Davenport	1,600,000 50,000	50,000
Fabio Peluso	650,000 -1,050,000	-1,050,000

Yingrui Ge	Busted

Tags: Fabio Peluso Matthew Davenport

01-24-2024 20:18 UTC+2

PN Podcast: Breaking Down Global Poker Award Nominees & Guest Jason Somerville Talks PNIA

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Chad Holloway

Level 24 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

On the latest episode of the PokerNews Podcast sponsored by 888poker, Chad Holloway, Connor Richards, and Matt Hansen break down the recently revealed Global Poker Award nominees, which included one of their very own! Who do they like to win? Who do they think got snubbed? Find out here.

Plus, Chad talks about his experience playing on Poker Night in America (PNIA) last week, which is where Connor and Matt caught up with this week's guest, Jason Somerville, who shared what he's been up to lately and reminisced on his days co-hosting this very podcast.

The crew then discusses the hot start to 2024 for both Kristen & Alex Foxen, former 'American Idol' contestant William Hung's interview about losing his wife over a gambling addiction, and the Arkansas high school teacher who won $73K at the first RunGood Poker Series stop of the season. Finally, take a look at the 2024 Wynn Millions schedule, which offers more than $8M in guarantees!

Listen to the New PokerNews Podcast Here!

01-24-2024 20:22 UTC+2

Mokrani Calls Down Hrabec

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Ryan Lashmar

Level 24 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Mohamed Mokrani opened to 65,000 from the cutoff and was called by Roman Hrabec in the small blind.

The flop came Q♠J♣10♣. Hrabec checked, Mokrani fired an 80,000 continuation bet and Hrabec called.

On the J♠ turn Hrabec lead out with a bet of 125,000 that was called by Mokrani.

Hrabec bet again for 500,000 on the 5♦ river. Mokrani thought for roughly one minute before flicking in a call.

Hrabec could only show A♣9♣ for a missed flush and straight draw while Mokrani turned over A♦K♣ for a Broadway straight to take the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mohamed Mokrani	2,810,000 805,000	805,000
Roman Hrabec	2,250,000 -550,000	-550,000

Tags: Mohamed Mokrani Roman Hrabec

01-24-2024 20:24 UTC+2

Zhugralin Puts in a Massive Shove

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David Salituro

Level 24 : 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Vedat Yilmaz raised to 65,000 in the hijack, Damir Zhugralin three-bet to 195,000 in the cutoff, and Yilmaz called.

The flop came 5♠10♠2♣ and Zhugralin continued for 175,000. Yilmaz then raised to 450,000 and Zhugralin called.

The turn was the 7♣ and Yilmaz bet 550,000. Zhugralin announced he was all in and Yilmaz, with around 1,100,000 remaining, tanked for several minutes before giving up his hand as Zhugralin took the pot to hit the 4,000,000 chip milestone.

Player	Chips	Progress
Damir Zhugralin	4,000,000 1,625,000	1,625,000
Vedat Yilmaz	1,100,000 -1,600,000	-1,600,000

Tags: Damir Zhugralin Vedat Yilmaz

01-24-2024 20:25 UTC+2

Kirichenko Comes From Behind to Bust Munteanu; El Khazen Also Falls

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David Salituro

Level 24 : Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante

Bogdan Munteanu was all in for around 200,000 from middle position and up against Aleksandr Kirichenko under the gun.

Bogdan Munteanu: A♥J♥
Aleksandr Kirichenko: A♣10♣

Munteanu had Kirichenko dominated until the flop brought 7♣6♦10♦, giving Kirichenko top pair. The board ran out Q♣7♥ and Munteanu was sent to the rail.

A few hands later at this table, Youssef El Khazen put in his last 600,000 from the cutoff on a flop of 9♣7♥5♠ and Ihar Soika called in middle position.

Youssef El Khazen: A♥Q♣
Ihar Soika: 5♣5♥

Soika had flopped a set and was a massive against El Khazen's ace-high. The board ran out 10♠2♠ and El Khazen was eliminated.