Dawid Smolka in Striking Distance of Historic Merit Poker Treble
Day 4 of the $3,300 Main Event at the 2025 Merit Poker Carmen Series kicks off today at 12:00 p.m. local time, with just 60 players still in the hunt for the title and the massive $401,000 top prize. After three full days of action and a record-breaking turnout of 881 entries, the field has been whittled down to a talented group of contenders ready to battle for a seat at the final table inside the Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino.
Leading the charge is Ludovic Geilich, who returns with 3,955,000 chips and a commanding lead over the rest of the field. Right behind him is Dawid Smolka (3,500,000), who continues his historic run as he looks to win all three major Merit Poker titles.
Also sitting comfortably near the top are Akin Tuna and Soraya Estrada, both bagging 3,200,000, while Nenad Dukic (2,600,000), Bassel Alanaz (2,540,000), and Nichan Khorchidian (2,515,000) round out a tightly packed leaderboard. With eight players holding over 2,500,000 and several more close behind, the stage is set for an explosive Day 4.
Top Ten Chip Counts
| Place | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ludovic Geilich | Scotland | 3,955,000 | 99 |
| 2 | Dawid Smolka | Poland | 3,500,000 | 88 |
| 3 | Akin Tuna | Turkey | 3,200,000 | 80 |
| 4 | Soraya Estrada | Spain | 3,200,000 | 80 |
| 5 | Nenad Dukic | Serbia | 2,600,000 | 65 |
| 6 | Bassel Alanaz | Lebanon | 2,540,000 | 64 |
| 7 | Nichan Khorchidian | Lebanon | 2,515,000 | 63 |
| 8 | Gurcan Gungoren | Turkey | 2,510,000 | 63 |
| 9 | Ghassan Bitar | Lebanon | 2,460,000 | 62 |
| 10 | Andrei Konopelko | Belarus | 2,410,000 | 60 |
The plan is to play down to the final table, and with blinds starting at 20,000/40,000 (40,000 big blind ante), the average stack of 1,468,000 gives players around 37 big blinds to maneuver. Every decision will carry weight as the payouts escalate, and with $2,400,00 in the prize pool, the pressure is on as the road to Carmen Series glory continues.
Every remaining player has already locked up a guaranteed payday of at least $8,690, but with the stakes rising quickly and six-figure sums now within reach, the tension is only going to climb from here. The next few pay jumps will be crucial, and the pressure will be felt with every all-in and every river card as the field draws closer to the final nine.
Remaining Payouts
Stay locked in with PokerNews for full Day 4 coverage, including live updates, key hands, and the road to the final table.