$2,200 Merit Poker Cup
Day 4 Started
2024 Merit Poker Carmen Series
$2,200 Merit Poker Cup
Day: 4
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 4
2024 Merit Poker Carmen Series
Buy-in
$2,200
Prize Pool
$844,560
Entries
459
Level
36
Blinds
400,000 / 800,000
Ante
800,000
Entries
20
Players Left
1
The curtain will fall on the Merit Poker Carmen Series today, and by the end of the night, one player will be leaving the Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino with a trophy and $167,100.
The final day of the Merit Poker Cup begins at 1 p.m. local time as 20 players return to play down to a champion. Toni Kaukua leads the way with 4,695,000, while Maher Achour is less than a big blind behind with 4,685,000. Achour already made the final table of the Main Event earlier this week in North Cyprus as he tries to add to what has already been a lucrative festival for the Tunisian pro.
Day 4 Top 10 Chip Counts
| Rank | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toni Kaukua | Finland | 4,695,000 | 78 |
| 2 | Maher Achour | Tunisia | 4,685,000 | 78 |
| 3 | Ivan Zabiiakin | Russia | 4,400,000 | 73 |
| 4 | Aleksandr Ivanov Jr. | Russia | 3,720,000 | 62 |
| 5 | Nenad Dukic | Serbia | 3,635,000 | 61 |
| 6 | Simone Andrian | Italy | 3,580,000 | 60 |
| 7 | Milen Bakardjiev | Bulgaria | 2,760,000 | 46 |
| 8 | Boris Smuskevicius | Lithuania | 2,690,000 | 45 |
| 9 | Natan Chauskin | Belarus | 2,090,000 | 35 |
| 10 | Antonio Aversa | Italy | 2,000,000 | 33 |
Ivan Zabiiakin (4,400,000) and Nenad Dukic (3,635,000 are also in the top five, while the rest of the field includes Simone Andrian (3,580,000), Natan Chauskin (2,090,000), Simeon Spasov (1,700,000), Giorgiy Skhulukhiya (1,505,000), Matthew Davenport (1,435,000), and Maksim Shornikau (720,000).
Then there is the father-son duo of Aleksandr Ivanov and his son, Aleksandr Ivanov Jr. Both of them have navigated through a starting field of 459 entries to make it this far, Ivanov Jr. with 3,720,000 and his father with 665,000.
The action on Day 4 begins on Level 25 with blinds of 30,000-60,000 and a 60,000 big blind ante. The players have already locked up $7,600, with a spot at the nine-handed final table guaranteeing a payday of $16,900. The eventual champion will earn $167,100 and the title of Merit Poker champion.
Stay tuned to PokerNews throughout the day for all the live updates leading up to the final table and onward to the crowning of a new champion.
Level: 25
Blinds: 30,000/60,000
Ante: 60,000
Level 25
: Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante
The remaining 20 players are in their seats and Day 4 is now underway.
Level 25
: Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante
Matthew Davenport raised to 120,000 in the cutoff, Mikhail Zavoloka moved all in for 1,300,000 in the big blind, and Davenport called.
Mikhail Zavoloka: Q?10? 
Matthew Davenport: A?Q?
Davenport had Zavoloka dominated and was poised for a knockout as the board came 2?9?9?8?, but Zavoloka caught the 10? on the river to double up.
"F**king Christ," Davenport yelled out at the sight of the ten.
"Magician," tablemate Emad Ghadmian told Zavoloka after the hand.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
2,600,000
1,195,000
|
1,195,000 |
|
100,000
-1,335,000
|
-1,335,000 |
Level 25
: Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante
A few hands after doubling up Mikhail Zavoloka, Matthew Davenport moved in his last 100,000 from under the gun and Maher Achour called in the big blind.
Matthew Davenport: 10?2?
Maher Achour: 6?4?
The board ran out 9?Q?7?8?4? and Davenport again was overcome on the river, Achour hitting a pair of fours to send him to the rail in 20th place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
4,600,000
-85,000
|
-85,000 |
|
|
Busted |
Level 25
: Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante
Aleksandr Ivanov moved all in for around 500,000 on the button and Nenad Dukic called in the cutoff.
Aleksandr Ivanov: A?6?
Nenad Dukic: 10?10?
The J?8?Q? flop gave Ivanov the nut flush draw, but he improved no further on the 4? turn or 4? river and was eliminated in 19th place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
4,000,000
365,000
|
365,000 |
|
Busted |
Level 25
: Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante
Simeon Spasov raised to 120,000 in the cutoff, Maksim Shornikau moved all in for 700,000 in the big blind, and Spasov called.
Maksim Shornikau: A?K?
Simeon Spasov: 9?9?
Shornikau was racing for his tournament life but found no help on the 3?J?6?7?J? board and was eliminated in 18th place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
2,200,000
500,000
|
500,000 |
|
||
|
Busted | |
Level 25
: Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante
Maher Achour raised to 125,000 in early position before Natan Chauskin three-bet to 400,000 in the cutoff. Mikhail Zavoloka then moved all in from the small blind, Achour folded, but Chauskin snap-called for 2,150,000.
Natan Chauskin: K?K?
Mikhail Zavoloka: Q?Q?
Chauskin slammed down his pair of kings and held on through the 7?7?10?4?4? board to earn a massive double up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,700,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
4,300,000
2,210,000
|
2,210,000 |
|
|
1,000,000
-1,600,000
|
-1,600,000 |
Level 25
: Blinds 30,000/60,000, 60,000 ante
Maher Achour raised to 125,000 in the hijack and Emad Ghadamian called in the big blind.
The flop came 9?2?6? and Achour continued for 80,000. Ghadamian called.
The turn was the 7? and Ghadamian led out for 220,000. Achour then moved all in and Ghadamian called for 400,000 more.
Ghadamian showed K?6? for a pair and flush draw, while Achour had K?K?. Ghadamian failed to improve on the 5? river and was sent to the rail in 17th place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
5,500,000
800,000
|
800,000 |
|
Busted |