$2,200 Merit Poker Cup Dia 2 | 2024 Merit Poker Carmen Series

2024-03-29 11:58 UTC+3

Huseyin Akgul Leads the Way Into Day 2 of the Merit Poker Carmen Series Merit Poker Cup

The remaining 158 players survived one of four starting flights. Now the road to the title begins in earnest when Day 2 of the Merit Poker Carmen Series Merit Poker Cup begins at 12:30 p.m. local time.

The four opening flights saw 349 total entries. Huseyin Akgul built the biggest stack among them, coming into Day 2 with 744,000. Mukhtar Nasiradinov (728,000), Emad Ghadamian (660,000), Joseph Mouwad (541,500), and Koray Korkmaz (535,000) round out the top five.

Day 2 Top 10 Chip Counts

Rank	Player	Country	Chip Count	Big Blinds
1	Huseyin Akgul	Turkey	744,000	298
2	Mukhtar Nasiradinov	Russia	728,000	291
3	Emad Ghadamian	Iran	660,000	264
4	Joseph Mouwad	Lebanon	541,500	217
5	Koray Korkmaz	Turkey	535,000	214
6	Andrea Dato	Italy	521,000	208
7	Sergei Sokharev	Russia	504,500	202
8	Iurii Saiapin	Russia	488,500	195
9	Victor Yugay	Uzbekistan	464,000	186
10	Siavash Ziarat	Iran	432,500	173

The rest of the leaderboard is littered with notable names with big stacks. They include Andrea Dato (521,000), Simeon Spasov (403,000), High Roller runner-up Halil Tasyurek (401,500), Maksim Shornikau (380,500), Alexandru Papazian (364,000), Florian Guimond (341,500), Maxime Chilaud (259,500), and Benjamin Hamnett (251,000). Also making it to Day 2 are Fausto Tantillo (235,500), Simone Andrian (167,500), Aylar Lie (138,500), and Fabio Peluso (112,000).

The action on Day 2 picks up on Level 9 with blinds of 1,000-2,500 and a 2,500 big blind ante. Late registration remains open through the end of Level 12, so the field could grow substantially by the time the registration period ends. The official prize pool will then be announced and players will find out what they are playing for this week at the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino. The schedule calls for a further seven 60-minute levels today.

Stay tuned to PokerNews throughout the day for all the live updates from the Merit Poker Carmen Series here in North Cyprus.

Tags: Alexandru Papazian Andrea Dato Aylar Lie Benjamin Hamnett Emad Ghadamian Fabio Peluso Fausto Tantillo Florian Guimond Halil Tasyurek Huseyin Akgul Iurii Saiapin Joseph Mouwad Koray Korkmaz Maksim Shornikau Maxime Chilaud Sergei Sokharev Siavash Ziarat Simeon Spasov Simone Andrian Victor Yugay

2024-03-29 14:01 UTC+3

Kortan Smacks the Flop to Bust Tulepbergenov in Massive Pot

Nível 9 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Heads-up on a flop of 10♥8♥6♥, Ufuk Kortan bet 10,000 from the cutoff before Azamat Tulepbergenov raised to 26,000 in the big blind. Kortan let out a loud sigh and tanked for a minute before calling.

The turn was the 4♠ and Tulepbergenov bet another 33,000. Kortan then raised to 105,000, Tulepbergenov moved all in for around 210,000, and Kortan called.

Tulepbergenov had A♥4♣ for a flush draw, while Kortan had flopped a flush holding K♥9♥. The river was the 2♦ and Kortan held up to send Tulepbergenov to the rail.

Jogador	Fichas	Progresso
Ufuk Kortan	530,000 208,500	208,500
Azamat Tulepbergenov	Eliminado

Tags: Azamat Tulepbergenov Ufuk Kortan

2024-03-29 14:12 UTC+3

Kaukua Coolers Daniliuk to Double

Nível 9 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Heads-up on a flop of 5♠8♦2♥, Toni Kaukua bet 8,000 from under the gun and Andrei Daniliuk called in early position.

The turn was the A♥ and Kaukua bet another 21,000. Daniliuk again called and the Q♥ fell on the river.

Kaukua then moved all in for 71,000 and Daniliuk called with A♦5♦ for two pair. Kaukua, though, had 2♣2♦ for a flopped set to win the pot and double up.

Jogador	Fichas	Progresso
Toni Kaukua	220,000 116,000	116,000

Andrei Daniliuk	10,000 -79,000	-79,000

Tags: Andrei Daniliuk Toni Kaukua

2024-03-29 14:34 UTC+3

Dato Runs Into the Nuts to Double Another

Nível 9 : Blinds 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Andrea Dato and Mario Scalia built a pot of around 85,000 as they headed to the turn on a board of 10♥8♣9♠K♥. Scalia then bet 43,000 from the button, Dato moved all in from the big blind, and Scalia called for around 90,000.

Dato showed K♠7♥ for top pair and a straight draw, but Scalia already had the flopped straight with Q♥J♥. The river was the 5♦ and Dato handed over another double up.

Jogador	Fichas	Progresso
Andrea Dato	450,000 -70,000	-70,000

Mario Scalia	320,000 190,000	190,000

Tags: Andrea Dato Mario Scalia

2024-03-29 14:43 UTC+3

Cakir Shoves the River in Massive Pot

Nível 10 : Blinds 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante

Murad Cakir and Kutay Taskin built a pot approaching 130,000 going to the flop which came 4♠8♦J♠. Both players then checked to the K♦ turn, where action was again checked through.

The river was the 6♥ and Taskin led out for 43,500 in the small blind. Cakir then moved all in for around 180,000 from the button and Taskin snap-folded.

Felipe Ketzer, runner-up in the Main Event earlier in the Merit Poker Carmen Series, just fired another bullet and took his seat at this table.

Jogador	Fichas	Progresso
Murad Cakir	360,000 133,500	133,500
Kutay Taskin	190,000 -46,500	-46,500
Felipe Ketzer	100,000 100,000	100,000

Tags: Kutay Taskin Murad Cakir

2024-03-29 14:54 UTC+3

Gavrilovich Bets Big With a Straight on Board

Nível 10 : Blinds 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante

Around 70,000 was in the pot as Jenya Gavrilovich and Mehdi Chaoui went to the turn on a board of 2♣5♦4♠3♦. Gavrilovich then bet 31,500 from the hijack and Chaoui called in the cutoff.

The river was the A♥ and Gavrilovich bet another 90,000, sending Chaoui deep into the tank. The clock was eventually called and Chaoui yelled out to the floor to come to the table himself.

"Just a smile," he said to Gavrilovich, who remained motionless. "No smile? Nothing?" he continued before eventually folding.

Gavrilovich then flashed 5♠3♠ as he took the pot.

Jogador	Fichas	Progresso
Jenya Gavrilovich	450,000 106,500	106,500
Mehdi Chaoui	230,000 -51,500	-51,500

Tags: Jenya Gavrilovich Mehdi Chaoui

2024-03-29 15:36 UTC+3

Sener Shoves Sokharev Off an Ace

Nível 10 : Blinds 1,500/2,500, 2,500 ante

Sergei Sokharev three-bet to 17,000 on the button and Zafer Sener four-bet to 37,500 in the cutoff. Sokharev then five-bet to 72,000 and Sener called.

The flop came 7♦5♣A♦ and Sokharev continued for 20,000. Sener then moved all in for around 215,000.

Sokharev tanked for nearly five minutes until he flashed the A♥ and tossed it into the muck as Sener won the big pot without a showdown.

Jogador	Fichas	Progresso
Zafer Sener	420,000 200,000	200,000
Sergei Sokharev	250,000 -254,500	-254,500

Tags: Sergei Sokharev Zafer Sener

2024-03-29 16:05 UTC+3

Rolli Gets Called by King-High

Nível 11 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

Maher Achour had a three-bet of 18,000 in front of him from the button before Fabian Rolli four-bet to 43,000 in early position. Achour called.

The flop came J♥7♠Q♥ and Rolli moved all in for 105,000. Achour again called.

Fabian Rolli: A♦K♥ All in
Maher Achour: K♠10♦

Neither player had a pair as Rolli was ahead with ace-high. The board ran out 3♠10♣ and Rolli rivered a straight to secure the pot and double up.

Jogador	Fichas	Progresso
Fabian Rolli	290,000 48,000	48,000
Maher Achour	280,000 78,500	78,500

Tags: Fabian Rolli Maher Achour

2024-03-29 16:30 UTC+3

Dahmani Rues His Fold as Aversa Triples on the River

Nível 11 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

Three-handed on a flop of K♦8♣4♦, a player in middle position bet 15,000 and Hassan Dahmani called in the hijack. Antonio Aversa then moved all in for 88,500 in early position and the middle-position player called, as did Dahmani.

The turn was the Q♠ and Dahmani's opponent paused for several minutes until the clock was called. He eventually moved all in and Dahmani snap-folded.

The middle-position player showed K♠Q♣ for two pair, while Aversa had A♦Q♦ for a pair and flush draw. The 8♦ fell on the river and Aversa made his flush to triple up.

Dahmani then shot out of his seat. "Quads," he said, indicating he folded a set of eights and would've taken the massive pot if he had stayed in.

Jogador	Fichas	Progresso
Hassan Dahmani	720,000 720,000	720,000
Antonio Aversa	370,000 370,000	370,000

Tags: Antonio Aversa Hassan Dahmani

2024-03-29 17:00 UTC+3

Dahmani Sends Dato Deep Into the Tank

Nível 11 : Blinds 1,500/3,000, 3,000 ante

Hassan Dahmani bet 6,500 from the small blind on a flop of J♥5♥Q♠ and Andrea Dato called under the gun.

The turn was the 2♥ and Dahmani bet another 48,000. Dato again called and the A♣ fell on the river, where Dahmani fired out 125,000.

Dato tanked for more than five minutes. "Feel free to call time," he told the table, and Dahmani eventually called the clock.

Dato allowed the countdown to reach zero and his hand was declared dead. Dahmani allowed him to choose one of his cards, and Dato picked the 7♠.

"Ace good?" Dahmani asked as he also showed the A♦.

"I was not expecting that," Dato replied.

"When I see you outside, you pay me one coffee," Dahmani added.

Jogador	Fichas	Progresso
Hassan Dahmani	500,000 -220,000	-220,000
Andrea Dato	350,000 -100,000	-100,000

Tags: Andrea Dato Hassan Dahmani