$5,300 High Roller Day 2 | 2024 Merit Poker Carmen Series

Mar 27, 2024

Habib Stuns Chauskin on the River; Chilaud Picks Up Aces on Gavrilovich

David Salituro

Level 15 : Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante

With around 140,000 in the pot on a flop of 2♦5♦7♥, Natan Chauskin bet 55,000 from the button before Michel Habib moved all in from the cutoff. Chauskin snap-called for 160,000.

Natan Chauskin: K♠K♣ All in
Michel Habib: J♥J♠

Chauskin was ahead with his kings as the 10♦ turn left him a card away from a massive double up, but Habib spiked the J♣ on the river as Chauskin stormed away from the table with his hands on his head in disbelief.

At the same time on another table, Maxime Chilaud moved all in for 153,000 from the big blind on a board of 6♠2♥Q♣8♦6♣. Jenya Gavrilovich called on the button and Chilaud showed A♠A♦ to beat Gavrilovich's 7♠7♦ and earn a double up.

Tags: Jenya Gavrilovich Maxime Chilaud Michel Habib Natan Chauskin

Mar 27, 2024

Kenjic on Fumes After Running Into Belea's Queens

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David Salituro

Level 15 : Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante

Razvan Belea raised to 12,000 in the cutoff before Jovan Kenjic moved all in from the button. The blinds got out of the way and Belea snap-called for his last 97,000.

Razvan Belea: Q♣Q♠
Jovan Kenjic: A♣7♣

Kenjic needed help against Belea's queens but none arrived on the 7♥3♣4♦4♠5♠ board and Belea doubled up, leaving Kenjic nursing a short stack.

Tags: Jovan Kenjic Razvan Belea

Mar 27, 2024

Dray Doubles Off Fal After Lengthy Tank

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David Salituro

Level 15 : Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante

With nearly 80,000 in the pot on a board of 8♦A♥3♥9♦, Nikolay Fal bet enough from the button to put Samuel Dray all in from the cutoff. Dray tanked for several minutes until he called for his last 56,000.

Fal showed J♥J♣, but Dray had A♣Q♠ for a pair of aces. "Five minutes he thinks," Fal said in disgust after seeing Dray's hand. The river was the 9♦ and Dray doubled up.

Tags: Nikolay Fal Samuel Dray

Mar 27, 2024

Dukic Shoves on Aslan

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David Salituro

Level 15 : Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante

Kemal Aslan three-bet to 39,000 in the cutoff and Nenad Dukic called in early position.

The flop came J♥8♦8♥ and Aslan continued for 23,000. Dukic then raised to 50,000 and Aslan called.

The turn was the 10♣ and Dukic moved all in, having Aslan's remaining 120,000 covered. Aslan spent several minutes in the tank, at one point taking out a $5 bill and examining it as he continued to ponder the decision.

He eventually folded and Dukic took the pot. "Big fold?" Dukic asked him.

"What did you have?" Aslan asked.

"You first," Dukic replied, and Aslan said he had ace-king. Dukic responded he had eight-seven for trips.

While this hand was taking place, Bojan Berberovic earned him a massive double up off Mikalai Vaskaboinikau at another table when he hit a set of threes, taking the tournament chip lead with nearly 800,000.

Tags: Bojan Berberovic Kemal Aslan Mikalai Vaskaboinikau Nenad Dukic

Mar 27, 2024

El-Yaacoubi Caught Making a Move as Gavrilovich Doubles

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David Salituro

Level 15 : Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante

Mahmod Hanif limped in from the cutoff before Jenya Gavrilovich raised on the button. Rachid El-Yaacoubi then reraised to 66,000, Hanif folded, while Gavrilovich moved all in for 121,000. El-Yaacoubi quickly called.

Jenya Gavrilovich: A♥Q♠ All in
Rachid El-Yaacoubi: 9♦8♦

El-Yaacoubi took the lead on the 10♣8♥10♦ flop with two pair. The turn was the Q♦ and Gavrilovich pulled in the lead. The 9♣ completed the board and Gavrilovich doubled up.

Tags: Jenya Gavrilovich Mahmod Hanif Rachid El-Yaacoubi

Mar 27, 2024

Peluso Survives With Queens

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David Salituro

Level 15 : Blinds 3,000/6,000, 6,000 ante

Andrei Spataru raised to 13,000 in middle position, Fabio Peluso moved all in for 70,000 in the hijack, and Spataru called.

Fabio Peluso: Q♥Q♣ All in
Andrei Spataru: A♣Q♠

Spataru was looking to hit an ace to bust Peluso but missed the 10♣3♦8♣2♦5♠ board as Peluso doubled up.

Tags: Andrei Spataru Fabio Peluso

Level: 15

Blinds: 3,000/6,000

Ante: 6,000

Mar 27, 2024

Updated Chip Counts

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David Salituro

Level 14 : Blinds 2,500/5,000, 5,000 ante

Mar 27, 2024

Woods Picks Up Kings to Bust Blebea

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David Salituro

Level 14 : Blinds 2,500/5,000, 5,000 ante

Jakub Michalak raised to 10,000 in the cutoff before John Woods three-bet to 26,000 on the button. Iulian-Remus Blebea then moved all in for 60,000 in the small blind, Michalak folds, while Woods snap-called.

Iulian-Remus Blebea: J♠J♦ All in
John Woods: K♠K♥

Woods was poised to win another big pot with his kings as the board ran out 4♠3♥8♦10♦8♥, sending Blebea to the rail.

Lachezar Petkov was also recently eliminated.

Tags: Iulian-Remus Blebea John Woods Jakub Michalak

Mar 27, 2024

Woods Gets Away With a Big Bluff

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David Salituro

Level 14 : Blinds 2,500/5,000, 5,000 ante

Mehdi Chaoui led out for around 10,000 from the big blind on a flop of A♦5♦2♣ before john Woods raised to 30,000 in early position.

Chaoui called and the A♣ fell on the turn. Woods then bet another 20,000 and Chaoui called.

The river was the Q♠ and Woods moved all in. Chaoui, with around 70,000 remaining, then spent several minutes in the tank as he pondered the call for his tournament life.

"Where are you from?" he asked Woods, who remained silent.

"Smile and I call," Chaoui added. He eventually slid his cards back to the dealer and Woods turned over 10♠9♠ as he took the pot.

Tags: John Woods Mehdi Chaoui