Level 6
: Blinds 800/1,500, 1,500 ante
Players are on a 15-minute break.
2025 Merit Poker Carmen Series
$3,300 Main Event
Day: 1a
Event Info
Top
Chip Counts
Chip Counts
4
240,000
Level 6
: Blinds 800/1,500, 1,500 ante
Don’t miss any of the exciting poker action at Merit this spring, as both the Merit Millions and Mediterranean Poker Party are on the way.
The special Merit Millions event will run from April 8-13, with a buy-in of $10,400 over four starting flights. The champion will earn $1,000,000, with the rest of the prize pool distributed between players at the final table.
The Mediterranean Poker Party (MPP) returns to Merit from May 3-13, bringing with it more than $10 million in guaranteed prize pools, including a monster-sized $5,300 buy-in, $5 million guaranteed MPP Main Event.
Featuring four flights, the MPP Main Event runs from May 8-12 and could see the champion reel in a million-dollar score. In 2024, some 1,260 entries resulted in a $6,048,000 prize pool, much more than the advertised $5 million guarantee.
Look out for satellites running on GGPoker and win your way to Merit this spring!
Level 6
: Blinds 800/1,500, 1,500 ante
Natan Chauskin busted the $5,300 High Roller not too long ago and jumped straight into the Main Event.
In the latest hand Chauskin played, he opened to 3,000 from middle position and Aren Bezhanyan made it 9,000 in the hijack. Chauskin then four-bet to 19,000, and Bezhanyan called.
They saw a flop of K?8?3? where Chauskin made a continuation-bet of 9,000, which Bezhanyan called to see the 2? drop on the turn. After eyeing up his opponent's stack, Chauskin shoved, and Bezhanyan quickly folded with around 60,000 behind.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
220,000
220,000
|
220,000 |
|
60,000
60,000
|
60,000 |
Level 6
: Blinds 800/1,500, 1,500 ante
The Main Event Day 1a has climbed to 221 entries, with 146 players still in the field as play continues. This flight has already surpassed last year’s Day 1a total of 185 and is now just 11 entries away from matching 2023’s 232.
With registration still open, there’s a strong chance today’s turnout could exceed the past two editions. In previous years, Day 1a has played a key role in the overall field size, with the 2024 Main Event reaching 664 entries and 2023 totaling 765.
Is there another Merit Poker record on the horizon?
Level 5
: Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
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Level 6
: Blinds 800/1,500, 1,500 ante
Danielle Noja min-raised from middle position and Qiang Xu called in the next seat before Vitalii Pankov three-bet to 12,000 from the cutoff. The player in the small blind called, as did Noja and Xu.
On the A?Q?K? flop, it checked to Pankov, who slid out 15,000. Only Xu called to see the J? fall on the turn, where he led out for 50,000. Pankov didn't like that bet and after some time in the tank, he elected to fold.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
210,000
55,000
|
55,000 |
|
||
|
180,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
|
120,000
10,000
|
10,000 |
Level: 6
Blinds: 800/1,500
Ante: 1,500
Level 5
: Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
200,000
200,000
|
200,000 |
|
175,000
175,000
|
175,000 |
|
150,000
150,000
|
150,000 |
|
140,000
140,000
|
140,000 |
|
140,000
140,000
|
140,000 |
|
100,000
10,000
|
10,000 |
|
90,000
10,000
|
10,000 |
|
80,000
18,000
|
18,000 |
Level 5
: Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
Hassan Nashar now has a few chips and is playing hyper-aggressively to try and run up a bigger stack.
In the latest hand, the action folded to Nashar in the small blind, who made it 10,600 to go. Jakub Michalak was in the big blind and put in the call.
On a flop of 9?9?J?, Nashar's 20,000-chip bet got the job done as Michalak quickly laid his hand down.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
240,000
140,000
|
140,000 |
|
130,000
130,000
|
130,000 |
Level 5
: Blinds 600/1,200, 1,200 ante
In the 882nd episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Kyna England, and Connor Richards discuss the return of Nik Airball to Hustler Casino Live (HCL) after a yearlong casino ban. They also dive into other HCL news such as the announcement of the next Million Dollar Cash Game, GGPoker buying out Nick Vertucci's shares, and Ryan Feldman celebrating his 40th birthday. Speaking of the big 4-0, Chad and Connor also surprise Kyna with decorations and cake for her 40th birthday!
The triumvirate then highlight Ari Engel retaking the lead from Maurice Hawkins in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit all-time ring race with both Josh Reichard and Daniel Lowery staying hot on their heels with recent ring wins of their own. You'll also hear about Chad Eveslage winning the $100K Super High Roller Bowl Mixed Games, Bryn Kenney winning another Triton Poker title, and Keith Heine earning his way into the MSPT Hall of Fame.
Plus, an update on the Tom Goldstein high-stakes poker saga and the return of the Bay 101 Shooting Star to the World Poker Tour (WPT) schedule for the first time since 2017!
Finally, you can check out the latest installment of "New Vlogs on the Block" and details on our backpack & hoodie giveaway in conjunction with Tilted Compass.
The podcast is sponsored by the #1 free-to-play WSOP app. Remember to use bonus code "POKERNEWS" if you download and play for an extra 1,000,000 in chips!
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