$5,300 High Roller | 2024 Merit Poker Western Series

01-20-2024 17:15 UTC+3

Chisu Falls to Skrbic

Ryan Lashmar

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

Danut Chisu moved all in from the button for 316,000 and was called by Milos Skrbic in the small blind who covered.

Danut Chisu: A♣4♦
Milos Skrbic: K♦Q♦

The board ran out Q♣4♠6♠7♥10♥. Skrbic's pair of queens was good at showdown and he took down a decent pot while sending Chisu to the rail just two spots away from making the money.

The tournament staff have now announced the start of hand for hand play.

Day 1 chip leader John Doe was also recently eliminated.

Player	Chips	Progress
Milos Skrbic	765,000 431,000	431,000
Danut Chisu	Busted
John Doe	Busted

Tags: Danut Chisu John Doe Milos Skrbic

01-20-2024 16:56 UTC+3

Luo Catches a Bluff

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Ryan Lashmar

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

Shuang Luo had opened from early position and received a call from Aleksandar Tot in the small blind.

The flop came 6♠5♦6♣ and Tot check-called a 25,000 continuation bet from Luo.

Tot lead out with a 50,000 bet on the 9♦ turn which was called by Luo.

On the 5♥ river Tot bet 180,000. Luo thought for roughly 45 seconds before flicking in a calling chip.

Tot tabled 4♣4♠ for a small pocket pair turned into a bluff. Luo showed down 8♠8♣ for a bigger pocket pair to take down a healthy pot.

Elsewhere in the tournament area, Joseph Sabe and Andrey Pateychuk were recently eliminated.

Player	Chips	Progress
Shuang Luo	885,000 64,000	64,000
Aleksandar Tot	391,000 -293,000	-293,000
Joseph Sabe	Busted
Andrey Pateychuk	Busted

Tags: Aleksandar Tot Shuang Luo

01-20-2024 16:36 UTC+3

Held Wins Battle of Chip Leaders

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Ryan Lashmar

Level 19 : 8,000/16,000, 16,000 ante

With two players seeing a board of 5♦6♠9♦7♣ and roughly 270,000 already in the middle, Justus Held bet 85,000 from the big blind and was called by Aleksandr Kirichenko from under the gun.

Held fired again for 160,000 on the J♥ river. Kirichenko, looking slightly exasperated with the situation, flicked in the call.

Held turned over 7♥5♥ for two pair to take the chip lead from Kirichenko.

Elsewhere in the tournament area, Giorgiy Skhulukhiya was recently eliminated.

Player	Chips	Progress
Justus Held	1,835,000
Aleksandr Kirichenko	1,095,000

Giorgiy Skhulukhiya	Busted

Tags: Aleksandr Kirichenko Justus Held

01-20-2024 16:11 UTC+3

Nikitin Flips Sibgatova to the Rail

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Ryan Lashmar

Level 19 : 8,000/16,000, 16,000 ante

Anatoly Nikitin opened to 32,000 from under the gun and Alisa Sibgatova three-bet to 105,000 from the cutoff, leaving roughly 160,000 behind. Nikitin moved all in with a covering stack and Sibgatova snap-called.

Alisa Sibgatova: Q♠Q♦
Anatoly Nikitin: A♠K♥

It was a classic preflop race that Nikitin got the better of on the A♦6♥3♦ flop. He remained ahead on the 10♥ turn and K♦ river to send Sibgatova to the rail in the first hand of the day and score nearly a full double up.

Player	Chips	Progress
Anatoly Nikitin	665,000 300,000	300,000
Alisa Sibgatova	Busted