$3,300 Main Event Jour 1cd | 2023 Merit Poker Gangster Series

2023-11-30 20:01 UTC+2

Simas Karaliunas Bags Big on Day 1c of the Merit Poker Gangster Series Main Event

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

Day 1c of the 2023 Merit Poker Gangster Series $3,300 Main Event hosted by the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino attracted a total of 114 runners, with late registration still open till the end of level 14 on Day 2.

After nine levels of play, 62 players remained. Among the big stacks sits Simas Karaliunas of Lithuania, who bagged 504,500, along with Damir Gabdullin of Russia with 463,500, with both claiming a spot inside the top three.

Karaliunas found himself in a few interesting spots throughout the day, including a big pot that was won when his opponent limp-back-jammed with seven-duece and was called by the ace-ten of Karaliunas to scoop a massive pot and accumulate a ton of chips.

Later in the day, he would make a huge hero call when Dawid Smolka was caught with his hand in the cookie jar holding an under-pair. Karaliunas tank-called after a player at the table called the clock and he scooped another big pot.

Top Ten Chip Counts

Place	Player	Country	Chip Count	Big Blinds
1	John One	Turkey	764,500	306
2	Simas Karaliunas	Lithuania	504,500	202
3	Damir Gabdullin	Russia	463,500	185
4	Ali El-Siblani	Lebanon	431,000	172
5	Mariappan Subramaniam	Singapore	415,500	166
6	Kostiantyn Nikulin	Israel	358,500	143
7	Amir Sonsino	Israel	345,000	138
8	George Alahwal	Jordan	311,000	124
9	Anatoly Korochenskiy	Russia	287,000	115
10	Nikolay Tyurin	Russia	280,000	112

Some other notable names to find a bag on Day 1 include WPT champion Benjamin Hamnett with 95,000, Russian crusher Oleg Netaliev who has finished runner-up in a Merit Poker Main Event in the past with 118,500, and two-time WSOP bracelet winner Dmitry Yurasov with 231,000.

Day 2 of the event is set to begin at 12:00 p.m. local time. Players who qualified on the first day will be returning to level 10. The blinds will be set at 1,000/2,500/2,500, and players are scheduled to play for another nine levels concluding around 9:45 p.m. local time. Each level will last for 60 minutes.

As always, stay tuned into PokerNews for all the updates on the Merit Poker Gangster Series and all the other best events happening around the world!

Tags: Ali El-Siblani Amir Sonsino Anatoly Korochenskiy Benjamin Hamnett Damir Gabdullin Dawid Smolka Dmitry Yurasov George Alahwal Kostiantyn Nikulin Mariappan Subramaniam Nikolay Tyurin Oleg Netaliev Simas Karaliunas

2023-11-30 18:28 UTC+2

Karaliunas Makes a Big Call

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Niveau 9 : 1,000/2,500, 2,500 ante

Jihad Yehya opened to 7,000 from the hijack and received calls from Dawid Smolka in on the button and Simas Karaliunas in the small blind.

The flop came A♦4♥9♥ and action checked around to Smolka who bet 8,000. Both opponents made the call.

On the 7♥ turn Smolka bet again when checked to, this time for 23,000. Karaliunas called while Yehya got out of the way.

Karaliunas checked once more on the 10♣ river and Smolka bet 60,000, sending Karaliunas deep into the tank.

After a few minutes a player called the clock and shortly afterwards Karaliunas made the call. Smolka had 5♥5♣ for a small pair turned into a bluff while Karaliunas tabled A♦J♥ for top pair to take down a sizable pot.

Joueur	Jetons	Progression
Dawid Smolka	337,000 337,000	337,000
Simas Karaliunas	337,000 -10,000	-10,000
Jihad Yehya	82,000 -15,500	-15,500

Tags: Dawid Smolka Jihad Yehya Simas Karaliunas

2023-11-30 17:38 UTC+2

Hamnett Bets for Thin Value on Turn

Niveau 8 : Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante

Huseyin Akgul opened in late position to 3,000 before Benjamin Hamnett three-bet from the cutoff to 7,500. Akgul called and they were heads up to a flop.

The 7♠8♣3♥ flop landed and the action checked to Hamnett who continued for 8,500. Akgul called.

The J♣ landed on the turn and it checked to Hamnett again who sat in the tank for a moment before sizing up to 18,500.

After about a minute in the tank Akgul called and the 8♠ hit the river. The action checked through and Akgul tabled 6♣7♣ for bottom pair before Hamnett tabled 9♥9♠ for middle pair and a great turn value bet.

Joueur	Jetons	Progression
Benjamin Hamnett	180,000 -1,000	-1,000

Huseyin Akgul	125,000 -45,000	-45,000

Tags: Benjamin Hamnett Huseyin Akgul

2023-11-30 16:01 UTC+2

Akgul Coolers Diwan

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Niveau 6 : 700/1,500, 1,500 ante

With two players seeing a board of K♣8♦4♠, Albert Diwan was all in from the big blind for his last 30,400 and called by Huseyin Akgul in middle position who covered.

Albert Diwan: K♠4♦
Huseyin Akgul: K♥8♥

Both players had flopped two pair but Akgul was very far ahead with kings and eights. the A♠ turn gave Diwan some chop outs but the 6♥ river was a brick and Diwan was sent to the rail while Akgul collected the last of his chips.

Joueur	Jetons	Progression
Huseyin Akgul	170,000
Albert Diwan	Eliminé

Tags: Albert Diwan Huseyin Akgul

2023-11-30 14:49 UTC+2

Yurasov Undeterred by Flop Check-Raise

Niveau 4 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Dmitry Yurasov opened in middle position to 2,500 and got called in one spot when the big blind defended.

The 7♠7♣9♥ flop landed and action checked to Yurasov who continued for 2,000. The big blind then check-raised to 5,000. Yurasov sat in the tank for a moment but then put in the chips.

The 4♠ rolled off on the turn and the big blind slowed down with a check. Yurasov wasted little time before taking the betting lead back and putting out another 5,000. the big blind called and the A♥ landed on the river.

The big blind checked once more and Yurasov thought over his options before going almost full pot with a bet of 20,500. The big blind tanked for about a minute but it may have just been to save face. Eventually his cards hit the muck and Yurasov scooped.

Joueur	Jetons	Progression
Dmitry Yurasov	121,000 10,400	10,400

Tags: Dmitry Yurasov

2023-11-30 13:53 UTC+2

Prakesh Chips Up with Queens

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Niveau 3 : Blinds 400/800, 800 ante

Ali El Siblani opened to 2,300 from under the gun and was called by Assad Al Schanaa in the small blind before Austin Prakesh three-bet to 8,200 from the big blind. Siblani moved all in for roughly 60,000, forcing a fold from Schanaa while Prakesh made the call with a covering stack.

Ali El Siblani: K♣J♥
Austin Prakesh: Q♣Q♥

The board ran out A♣10♥2♦5♠4♥. Prakesh held with queens to score the knockout and take down a sizable pot.

Joueur	Jetons	Progression
Austin Prakesh	170,000 170,000	170,000
Assad Al Schanaa	81,000 81,000	81,000
Ali El-Siblani	Eliminé

Tags: Ali El Siblani Assad Al Schanaa Austin Prakesh

2023-11-30 11:03 UTC+2

Two Starting Flights Remain in 2023 Merit Poker Gangster Series $3,300 Main Event

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The flagship event of the 2023 Merit Poker Gangster Series here at Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino is already well underway, with two starting flights complete and two more still to go in the $3,300 Main Event. The event has featured a total of 303 entrants so far across the first two days, of which 133 players survived to advance to Day 2.

Top Ten Chip Counts from Day 1a and Day 1b

Rank	Player	Country	Chip Count	Big Blinds
1	Aleksei Petrov	Russian Federation	766,000	306
2	Shuang Luo	China	670,500	268
3	Dmitry Gromov	Russian Federation	627,500	251
4	Razvan Sabau	Romania	585,000	234
5	Adem Marjanovic	Austria	525,000	210
6	Bakhos Joumaa	Lebanon	485,500	194
7	Christos Leantzis	Cyprus	470,000	188
8	Sinead Priestley	United Kingdom	432,000	173
9	Selahaddin Bedir	Turkey	430,500	172
10	Maximilian Wieser	Austria	428,500	171

Aleksei Petrov currently holds the biggest stack from the first two starting flights. The Russian player finished Day 1a with 766,000 and is the only player with a stack worth over 300 big blinds going into Day 2. Petrov is most closely followed by Day 1b chip leader Shuang Luo (670,500) and WPT champion Dmitry Gromov (627,500).

Other notables to make it to Day 2 so far include Selahaddin Bedir (430,500), Guoliang Wei (401,500), Ankit Ahuja (322,000), Victor Yugay (279,000), Halil Tasyurek (159,000), previous Merit Poker Main Event champion Maxime Chilaud (131,000), winner of the 2023 Gangster Series $2,200 Warm Up Ivan Govorov (129,500) and winner of the 2023 Gangster Series $5,300 High Roller Giorgiy Skhulukhiya (99,000).

Day 1c begins at noon local time and will feature a similar structure as the first two starting flights. Players will start with 100,000 chips and play nine 40-minute levels. There will be a break after every three levels. Unlimited reentries and late registration will be available until the end of Level 14 on Day 2. There will also be a turbo Day 1d starting flight featuring 25-minute levels beginning today at 7:00 p.m. local time.

As always, PokerNews will be on-site to cover all the action today from when cards are in the air until players bag and tag at the end of the night.

Tags: Adem Marjanovic Aleksei Petrov Ankit Ahuja Bakhos Joumaa Christos Leantzis Dmitry Gromov Giorgiy Skhulukhiya Guoliang Wei Halil Tasyurek Ivan Govorov Maxime Chilaud Maximilian Wieser Razvan Sabau Selahaddin Bedir Shuang Luo Sinead Priestley Victor Yugay