$5,300 High Roller
Day 3 Completed
2024 Merit Poker Gatsby Gala Series
$5,300 High Roller
Day: 3
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 3
2024 Merit Poker Gatsby Gala Series
Buy-in
$5,300
Prize Pool
$473,800
Entries
103
Level
27
Blinds
50,000 / 100,000
Ante
100,000
Entries
31
Players Left
9
Level 22
: Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
After a short day of action on Day 3 of the $5,300 High Roller at the2024 Merit Poker Gatsby Gala Series, just nine players remain from the 31 who started the day at the Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino.
It took less than six 40-minute levels to trim the field down to the final table, where Angelos Michael sits in pole position after a stellar performance on the felt.
FInal Table Seat Draw and Chip Counts
| Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Angelos Michael | Cyprus | 2,975,000 | 99 |
| 2 | Zhen Chen | China | 2,345,000 | 78 |
| 3 | Felipe Ketzer | Brazil | 875,000 | 29 |
| 4 | Fahredin Mustafov | Bulgaria | 820,000 | 27 |
| 5 | Adrian State | Romania | 530,000 | 18 |
| 6 | Mehmet Demirkol | Turkey | 205,000 | 7 |
| 7 | Elie Saad | Lebanon | 490,000 | 16 |
| 8 | Aleksandr Chernikov | Russia | 605,000 | 20 |
| 9 | Simone Andrian | Italy | 1,470,000 | 49 |
The likes of Andrey Pateychuk, Timur Margolin, Nemo Koering, and Alisa Sibgatova all fell short of the money. The unfortunate title of bubble boy went to Razvan Belea when he called a shove with ace-king and was up against the queen-ten of Michael. The flop gave Michael a pair on a flush draw, and Belea was dead on turn, which meant he was the last player to leave empty-handed.
Michael then sent Dmitry Yurasov out in 13th, and Eyal Eshkar in 11th which helped him finish as the chip leader. Zhewen Hu then bubbled the final table when his ace-nine was out-kicked by the ace-jack of his countrymate Zhen Chen, which brought around the final nine.
Remaining Payouts
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1 | $132,300 |
| 2 | $91,500 |
| 3 | $58,800 |
| 4 | $43,600 |
| 5 | $32,000 |
| 6 | $26,000 |
| 7 | $21,400 |
| 8 | $17,100 |
| 9 | $13,100 |
Day 4 resumes at 1 p.m. on Monday, November 25, with play picking up in Level 22 (15,000/30,000 with a 30,000 big blind ante). Just under 10 minutes remain in the level, and the average stack sits at nearly 1,150,000, approximately 38 big blinds.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for live updates, key moments, and the crowning of the $5,300 High Roller champion!
Level 22
: Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
| Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Angelos Michael | Cyprus | 2,975,000 | 99 |
| 2 | Zhen Chen | China | 2,345,000 | 78 |
| 3 | Felipe Ketzer | Brazil | 875,000 | 29 |
| 4 | Fahredin Mustafov | Bulgaria | 820,000 | 27 |
| 5 | Adrian State | Romania | 530,000 | 18 |
| 6 | Mehmet Demirkol | Turkey | 205,000 | 7 |
| 7 | Elie Saad | Lebanon | 490,000 | 16 |
| 8 | Aleksandr Chernikov | Russia | 605,000 | 20 |
| 9 | Simone Andrian | Italy | 1,470,000 | 49 |
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
2,975,000
-425,000
|
-425,000 |
|
||
|
2,345,000
45,000
|
45,000 |
|
1,470,000
320,000
|
320,000 |
|
||
|
875,000
-325,000
|
-325,000 |
|
820,000
120,000
|
120,000 |
|
605,000
-245,000
|
-245,000 |
|
530,000
280,000
|
280,000 |
|
490,000
-270,000
|
-270,000 |
|
||
|
205,000
-95,000
|
-95,000 |
Level 22
: Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
The final table of nine is now set and play has come to an end in Day 3.
Stay tuned for a recap of the day's action plus the all-important seat draw.
Level 22
: Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
Aleksandr Chernikov raised to 60,000 from under the gun and Zhewen Hu shoved the button for 255,000. Zhen Chen called in the big blind, and Chernikov called.
They went to a flop of 10♣6♦A♦ where Chen led out for 100,000, and Chernikov folded.
Zhewen Hu: A♣9♠ 
Zhen Chen: A♥J♠
Chen had his countrymate on the ropes and it was all over by the time the J♦ fell on the turn, as Hu was drawing dead. A meaningless 4♠ completed the board, and Hu made his way to the exit just shy of the final table.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,300,000
650,000
|
650,000 |
|
Busted |
Level 22
: Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
Zhewen Hu raised from under the gun to 60,000 and Aleksandr Chernikov shoved the small blind for 400,000. When it got back to Hu, he quickly called.
Aleksandr Chernikov: 5♠5♦
Zhewen Hu: J♥J♠
Hu had a chance to end play for the day and would do so if his pocket jacks held up against the fives of Chernikov. However, the dealer had other ideas as the 5♥A♥2♥ flop gave Chernikov a set, but also improved Hu to a flush draw.
A 3♠ turn put a wheel draw on board, and the A♦ river gave Chernikov a full house.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
850,000 | |
|
|
200,000
-325,000
|
-325,000 |
Level 22
: Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
Eyal Eshkar shoved for 190,000 from under the gun and Angelos Michael called from the hijack.
Eyal Eshkar: Q♦10♠
Angelos Michael: A♣K♣
"Look familiar?" said one of the table to Michael. The cards and suits were exactly the same as then ones Michael used to burst the bubble just a matter of minutes ago.
This time, Michael had the other cards and used them wisely as the 3♣A♥3♦K♥7♥ runout sent Eshkar to the rail.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
3,400,000
200,000
|
200,000 |
|
|
||
|
Busted | |
Level 22
: Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
Fahredin Mustafov raised from under the gun and Jeremy Saderne called from the big blind with a short stack.
On the J♣5♠A♦ flop, Saderne shoved for 70,000, and Mustafov called.
Jeremy Saderne: 7♠5♣
Fahredin Mustafov: A♠9♠
Saderne had flopped a pair and gone with it, however Mustafov had the goods. No help arrived on the K♣3♠ runout, and Saderne was out in 12th.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
700,000
300,000
|
300,000 |
|
Busted | |
|
||
Level 22
: Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
Angelos Michael made it 60,000 from under the gun and Dmitry Yurasov shnoved from the small blind for almost 300,000. When it got back to Michael, he ran some calculations in his mind, then called.
Dmitry Yurasov: J♥J♦
Angelos Michael: Q♥J♠
Yurasov was well in the lead but Michael had been running hot, which was evident on the A♠2♣Q♦ flop. A K♥ on the turn did give both players a straight draw, but the 5♥ river was a brick, which sent Yurasov out in 13th.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
3,200,000
500,000
|
500,000 |
|
|
||
|
Busted | |
|
|
||
Level 22
: Blinds 15,000/30,000, 30,000 ante
Angelos Michael shoved his big stack from the button and Razvan Belea called off from the big blind for around 700,000.
Razvan Belea: A♣K♣
Angelos Michael: Q♦10♠
Belea was ahead but at risk of being the bubble boy. Michael found the dream flop of 10♦4♦5♦, which gave him a pair and a flush draw, leaving Belea drawing slim. The 2♦ turn sealed the deal, as an inconsequential K♦ river put a flush on board.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
2,700,000
1,100,000
|
1,100,000 |
|
|
||
|
Busted | |
|
||