2024 Merit Poker Western Series

$3,300 Main Event
Day: 1b
Event Info

2024 Merit Poker Western Series

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
99
Prize
$342,500
Event Info
Buy-in
$3,300
Prize Pool
$1,854,720
Entries
672
Level Info
Level
36
Blinds
200,000 / 500,000
Ante
500,000
Players Info - Day 1b
Entries
174
Players Left
77

$3,300 Main Event

Day 1b Started

Fresh Hope and Second Chances Await on Day 1b of the Merit Poker Western Series Main Event

Samy Barka
Samy Barka

Three players crossed the 700,000-chip milestone on Day 1a. Now the question today is who can join them when Day 1b of the Merit Poker Western Series Main Event begins at noon local time.

Frenchman Samy Barka ended the opening flight as the chip leader over the surviving 71 players with 783,000. He was followed close behind by Michel Habib (753,000) and Merit Poker Gangster Series Main Event champion Dmitry Yurasov (736,000). Candido Cappiello (476,500), Benjamin Hamnett (427,000), Andrew Hedley (402,000), and Dean Hutchison (380,000) also finished as top stacks.

Day 1a Top 10 Chip Counts

RankPlayerCountryChip CountBig Blinds
1Samy BarkaFrance783,000313
2Michel HabibLebanon753,000301
3Dmitry YurasovRussia736,000294
4Jianwei LinAustralia619,000248
5Basem AbudavasJordan600,000240
6Mustafa ErcanTurkey596,500239
7Xiang LianChina496,000198
8Candido CappielloItaly476,500191
9Benjamin HamnettUnited States427,000171
10Ilia KorliakovRussia421,000168

Today it’s the chance of a new crop of players to try to book their ticket for Day 2. Players begin with 100,000 and will play nine 60-minute levels, with a 15-minute break every two levels. Unlimited reentries are allowed during the registration period, which remains open until the end of Level 14 on Day 2. Already 188 players entered the starting flight as the Main Event is well on its way to surpassing the $1,500,000 guaranteed prize pool.

This is the second of four opening flights. Day 1c begins tomorrow at noon local time with 40-minute levels, while Day 1d at 7 p.m. features 25-minute levels. The surviving players from the four starting flights then combine for Day 2 on January 23 at noon.

Stay tuned as PokerNews provides all the action as new hopefuls take their shot at the title today.

Tags: Andrew HedleyBasem AbudavasBenjamin HamnettCandido CappielloDean HutchisonDmitry YurasovIlia KorliakovJianwei LinMichel HabibMustafa ErcanSamy BarkaXiang Lian

Level: 1

Blinds: 200/500

Ante: 500

Jazzar Whiffs His Draw

Level 1 : Blinds 200/500, 500 ante

With around 8,000 in the pot, Maroun Jazzar and Ali Zebarjad went heads-up to a flop of 9?A?6?. Zebarjad then bet 3,500 from under the gun and Jazzar called on the button.

The turn was the Q? and Zebarjad checked to Jazzar, who bet 5,000. Zebarjad called, then fired out 15,000 on the 9? river.

Jazzar tossed K?10? into the muck as Zebarjad flashed the A? while taking in the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Ali Zebarjad au
Ali Zebarjad
115,000
-28,500
-28,500
Maroun Jazzar lb
Maroun Jazzar
86,000

Tags: Ali ZebarjadMaroun Jazzar

Third Bet Good Enough For Pyzara

Level 1 : Blinds 200/500, 500 ante

In a blind versus blind battle, Kacper Pyzara led out for 1,800 on the 10?9?4? flop and Traian Stanciu called.

The turn was the 10? and Pyzara bet another 3,000. Stanciu called and the 9? fell on the river.

Pyzara then fired out 12,000 and Stanciu gave it some thought before sliding his cards into the muck.

Player Chips Progress
Kacper Pyzara pl
Kacper Pyzara
105,000
5,000
5,000
Traian Stanciu ro
Traian Stanciu
80,000

Tags: Kacper PyzaraTraian Stanciu

Zhaparov Raises Zhao on the River

Level 1 : Blinds 200/500, 500 ante

Cheng Zhao and Dauren Zhaparov built a pot of around 12,000 as they headed to a flop of 7?J?9?. Zhao then bet 3,000 from the big blind and Zhaparov called in middle position.

The turn was the 3? and Zhao checked. Zhaparov then bet 7,500 and Zhao called.

The 10? fell on the river and Zhao led out for 15,000. Zhaparov then raised to 64,000. Zhao leaned over the table and spent about 30 seconds in the tank before folding as Zhaparov took the pot.

Player Chips Progress
Dauren Zhaparov kz
Dauren Zhaparov
150,000
Cheng Zhao
Cheng Zhao
65,000
65,000
65,000

Tags: Cheng ZhaoDauren Zhaparov

Malyarchuk Shows a Ten in Four-Bet Pot

Level 1 : Blinds 200/500, 500 ante

Vladimir Malyarchuk had a three-bet of 6,500 in front of him from the big blind before Antoine Chamba four-bet to 14,500 in the cutoff. Malyarchuk called and they saw a flop of J?10?4?.

Both players checked to the 8? turn, where Chamba bet 22,000. Malyarchuk called and the 2? river was checked down.

"Ten," Malyarchuk said, turning over A?10? as Chamba mucked.

Player Chips Progress
Vladimir Malyarchuk kz
Vladimir Malyarchuk
130,000
Antoine Chamba
Antoine Chamba
60,000

Tags: Antoine ChambaVladimir Malyarchuk