2024 Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series
Level: 7
Blinds: 1,000/1,500
Ante: 1,500
Players are headed on another 20-minute break. There are three more levels left to play tonight.
The field has grown to 358 entries so far on Day 1b. Combined with the 169 players from the first opening flight, the event has already surpassed the $500,000 guaranteed prize pool with two more starting flights left to go and late registration remaining open for the first five levels of Day 2.
In a blind versus blind confrontation, Omer Nigdeli and an opponent went to the river on a board of 3♣Q♦7♣K♣5♦. The small blind then led out for 10,000.
Nigdeli came back with an all-in raise and his opponent called for his last 50,000. Nigdeli turned over A♣9♣ for the nut flush and his opponent mucked before the dealer retrieved K♠6♦ as the small blind headed for the exit.
With around 80,000 in the pot on a board of 7♣3♦10♠Q♠, Guillermo Gordo bet 27,500 from the button and an opponent in early position called.
The river was the 10♥ and Gordo bet 75,000, leaving himself just a few chips behind. His opponent took a minute but eventually called as Gordo turned over A♣Q♦ for top pair. His opponent mucked and Gordo took down the big pot.
Hassan Ali Nashar willingness to gamble got him in trouble yesterday as he busted no fewer than three times, but that same strategy appears to be paying off today.
In his last hand, Fabio Peluso raised to 3,500 in early position and received three callers, including Nashar on the button and Ufuk Kortan in the big blind.
All four players checked the 3♦A♥Q♣ flop before Kortan led out for 3,500 on the A♦ turn. Only Nashar called.
The river was the A♠ and Kortan bet another 5,000. Nashar called and Kortan showed Q♦9♦ for a full house. Nashar flashed the 6♣ as he mucked.
Despite dropping that pot, Nashar is still sitting on a stack of around 650,000.
Alexander Gaidukov bet 15,000 from the button on a flop of A♠5♠6♠ and an opponent in early position called.
Both players checked the 7♠ turn before the early-position player bet 12,000 on the Q♠ river. Gaidukov quickly called.
His opponent showed A♦Q♦ for two pair, but Gaidukov had J♦J♠ for a flush to win the pot.
Level: 6
Blinds: 700/1,500
Ante: 1,500
Kerem Tibuk raised to 5,000 in middle position before an opponent in the cutoff moved all in for 25,000. Action folded back to Tibuk who snap-called.
All-In Player: Q♣Q♥
Kerem Tibuk: K♥K♠
The at-risk player had run right into Tibuk's kings and found no help on the 5♠6♦4♥5♦8♠ board as he was sent to the rail.