Record-Breaking Start to the Main Event as Konstantin Voronin Tops the Counts

The $3,300 Main Event at the 2025 Merit Poker Carmen Series is off to a historic start as Day 1a closed with 235 entries, officially setting a new record for the largest opening flight in the event’s history. The previous mark of 232 entries from 2023 has been surpassed, signaling a strong turnout and setting the stage for what could be the biggest Main Event yet.

After eight sixty-minute levels of play, 113 players advanced to Day 2, each one taking their first step toward the prestigious title. Leading the way is Konstantin Voronin, who bagged an impressive 601,000 chips, putting him in pole position heading into Day 2. Voronin separated himself from the pack with a dominant performance, accumulating chips throughout the night and finishing as the clear frontrunner.

Top Ten Chip Counts

Place	Player	Country	Chip Count
1	Konstantin Voronin	Russia	601,000
2	Hassan Nashar	Guinea-Bissau	585,000
3	Amir Mohammadi	Iran	569,000
4	Andrii Novak	Ukraine	527,500
5	Qiang Xu	China	510,000
6	Boris Kolev	Bulgaria	508,000
7	Mario Menicanin	Bosnia and Herzegovina	504,500
8	Alexandru Papazian	Romania	459,500
9	Benjamin Hamnett	United States	451,500
10	Kuljinder Sidhu	India	416,000

The Merit Poker Classic series continue to showcase its global appeal, as the top ten chip counts from Day 1a feature players from ten different countries. From Russia to the United States, China to Guinea-Bissau, and India to Romania, this truly international lineup highlights Merit’s reputation as a premier poker destination that attracts talent from all corners of the globe. With players from diverse backgrounds and playing styles, the battle for the title is set to be an exciting clash of strategies and experience on one of poker’s biggest stages.

Among the top ten is Hassan Nashar, a player known for his entertaining and fearless style. It took him a few attempts to build momentum, but once he found his stride, he bagged an impressive 585,000, securing the second-biggest stack of the day. Andrii Novak, a force to be reckoned with in the online poker world, sits comfortably in fourth place with 527,500, while Boris Kolev, one of Bulgaria’s most accomplished players, also locked up a strong position with 508,000.

Main Event Schedule

Date	Day	Time	Blind Levels
March 19	Day 1b	12:00 p.m.	60 minutes
March 20	Day 1c	12:00 p.m.	40 minutes
March 20	Day 1d	7:00 p.m.	25 minutes
March 21	Day 2	12:00 p.m.	60 minutes
March 22	Day 3	12:00 p.m.	60 minutes
March 23	Day 4	12:00 p.m.	60 minutes
March 24	Day 5	1:00 p.m.	60 minutes

The Main Event continues over the next six days, with Day 1b playing out tomorrow under the same structure as Day 1a, featuring 60-minute levels. Survivors from both flights, and from 1c & 1d, will return for Day 2 on Friday, March 21, where late registration will remain open until the end of Level 14.

Stay tuned to PokerNews for continued coverage of the Carmen Series Main Event, including live updates, chip counts, and all the key hands as the action unfolds.