High Stakes and Big Stacks as 39 Riders Gallop Toward Main Event Glory
Day 4 of the $3,300 Main Event at the 2025 Merit Poker Western Series kicks off today at 12 p.m., with just 39 players left in the hunt for the coveted $377,500 top prize. After three action-packed days at the stunning Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino, the stakes are higher than ever as the field narrows toward the final table.
Leading the charge is Dmitry Gromov, who enters the day with a commanding stack of 6,200,000, more than 120 big blinds. The Russian player is no stranger to deep runs in Merit Poker Main Events, and with his current momentum, he's in prime position to claim his first Main Event title.
Top Ten Chip Counts
| Place | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dmitry Gromov | Russia | 6,200,000 | 124 |
| 2 | Renars Skanis | Latvia | 5,300,000 | 106 |
| 3 | Tamer Kamel | United Kingdom | 3,685,000 | 74 |
| 4 | Mihai Niste | Romania | 3,660,000 | 73 |
| 5 | Ryan Mandara | United Kingdom | 3,500,000 | 70 |
| 6 | Umberto Ruggeri | Italy | 3,365,000 | 67 |
| 7 | Johan Guilbert | France | 2,895,000 | 58 |
| 8 | Mohamed Mokrani | France | 2,585,000 | 52 |
| 9 | Can Miral | Turkey | 2,545,000 | 51 |
| 10 | Ionut-Alexandru Moldovan | Romania | 2,510,000 | 50 |
Also in contention is Latvia's Renars Skanis, who bagged an impressive 5,300,000 and will be looking to leverage his chip advantage. Rounding out the top three is the UK's Tamer Kamel, who brings 3,685,000 chips into Day 4.
Ryan Mandara, the Day 1d chip leader, has positioned himself well for a run at the final table, bringing the fifth-largest stack of 3,500,000 into Day 4. Edward Quinn, who led the field on Day 1a, also remains in contention with a solid stack of 2,410,000. Meanwhile, Day 2 chip leader Zhen Chen saw his tournament come to an end on Day 3, finishing in the money.
The remaining field includes a mix of experienced pros and rising stars, including last year's champion Mohamed Mokrani and the Warm Up winner Georgios Skarparis, all vying for a spot at the final table.
Remaining Payouts
All remaining players are now guaranteed a payout of $10,560, but the ultimate goal remains the $377,500 first-place prize. A spot at the final table ensures a minimum payday of $37,950, adding even more incentive as the competition heats up.
With the blinds resuming at 25,000/50,000 and a 50,000 big blind ante, the average stack of just over 2,000,000 equates to 40 big blinds. The plan for today is to battle down to the final nine players, setting the stage for tomorrow’s grand finale.
Stay tuned to PokerNews as we bring you all the live updates and key hands from Day 4 of the 2025 Merit Poker Western Series Main Event.