Historic Opening Day at the 2025 Merit Poker Carmen Series Main Event
The 2025 Merit Poker Carmen Series has kicked off with remarkable enthusiasm, highlighted by the $3,300 Main Event that broke records on its opening day. As the sun set on Day 1a, an impressive 235 entries surged into the tournament, officially marking it as the largest opening flight in the event’s illustrious history. This number surpassed the previous record of 232 entries set during the 2023 series. Such a strong turnout not only signifies the event’s growing popularity but also lays the groundwork for what promises to be the largest Main Event in the series to date.
Players Who Advanced
After battling through eight sixty-minute levels of intense competition, 113 players emerged victorious, advancing to Day 2. Each of these players took crucial steps toward claiming the prestigious title and a slice of the lucrative prize pool. Leading the charge is Konstantin Voronin. With a staggering stack of 601,000 chips, Voronin has positioned himself as the frontrunner, showcasing strategic prowess and aggressive gameplay throughout the night.
Top Ten Chip Counts
The competitiveness of the event has been underscored by the diversity of players, as reflected in the top ten chip counts. This lineup includes players from ten different countries, reinforcing the Merit Poker Classic’s reputation as a premier global poker destination.
| Place | Player | Country | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Konstantin Voronin | Russia | 601,000 |
| 2 | Hassan Nashar | Guinea-Bissau | 585,000 |
| 3 | Amir Mohammadi | Iran | 569,000 |
| 4 | Andrii Novak | Ukraine | 527,500 |
| 5 | Qiang Xu | China | 510,000 |
| 6 | Boris Kolev | Bulgaria | 508,000 |
| 7 | Mario Menicanin | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 504,500 |
| 8 | Alexandru Papazian | Romania | 459,500 |
| 9 | Benjamin Hamnett | United States | 451,500 |
| 10 | Kuljinder Sidhu | India | 416,000 |
Notable Performers
Among the top performers, we find Hassan Nashar, whose spirited and bold playing style has made him a crowd favorite. Although it took him a few hands to settle in, he ultimately amassed 585,000 chips, securing the second-largest stack of the day. Meanwhile, Andrii Novak, an online poker powerhouse, is making waves in traditional poker. Sitting comfortably in fourth place with 527,500 chips, he is aiming to convert his online success into a live victory. Not to be overlooked, Boris Kolev, one of Bulgaria’s top players, finished Day 1a with 508,000 chips, signaling that he remains a formidable contender.
Merit Poker Classic’s Global Appeal
The Merit Poker Classic series continues to attract a cosmopolitan mix of talent, demonstrating the growing international appeal of poker. The diverse backgrounds of the top ten players underline how the series attracts strategies and styles from all over the world, setting the stage for an exciting battle for the title. As players from Russia to the United States, and from India to China, clash at the tables, spectators can look forward to witnessing a fascinating array of poker dynamics unfold.
Upcoming Schedule
The action isn’t slowing down anytime soon. The Main Event continues over the next several days, and here’s the detailed schedule:
| Date | Day | Time | Blind Levels |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 19 | Day 1b | 12:00 p.m. | 60 minutes |
| March 20 | Day 1c | 12:00 p.m. | 40 minutes |
| March 20 | Day 1d | 7:00 p.m. | 25 minutes |
| March 21 | Day 2 | 12:00 p.m. | 60 minutes |
| March 22 | Day 3 | 12:00 p.m. | 60 minutes |
| March 23 | Day 4 | 12:00 p.m. | 60 minutes |
| March 24 | Day 5 | 1:00 p.m. | 60 minutes |
As Day 1b approaches, players will once again face the same structure as Day 1a, providing yet another opportunity for participants to test their skills. Late registration will remain open until the end of Level 14 on Day 2, giving even more players a chance to join this historic event.
Stay Tuned
Be sure to follow our coverage of the event as PokerNews will continue to deliver live updates, chip counts, and highlight key hands as the thrilling action unfolds at the 2025 Merit Poker Carmen Series Main Event. With such a record-breaking start and a lineup full of promising contenders, poker enthusiasts will not want to miss a moment of the excitement!
