After seven intense levels of play in the $2,200 Warm Up, the field of 38 players was whittled down to the final nine inside the majestic Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino, setting the stage for the first major final table of the 2025 Merit Poker Western Series.
Day 2 chip leader Georgios Skarparis successfully defended his position at the summit, riding high to finish at the peak of the chip counts once again with 8,425,000 chips. Much of his stack came from a pivotal clash against Aliaksandr Hirs during the penultimate level of the day, solidifying his spot as the player to beat heading into the final day of play.
Final Table Chip Counts
| Place | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgios Skarparis | Cyprus | 8,425,000 | 42 |
| 2 | Philipp Wood | Germany | 8,000,000 | 40 |
| 3 | Zhen Chen | China | 7,625,000 | 38 |
| 4 | Konstantin Kvashin | Russia | 6,275,000 | 31 |
| 5 | Danielle Noja | Australia | 5,975,000 | 30 |
| 6 | Aliaksandr Hirs | Belarus | 3,675,000 | 18 |
| 7 | Ali Zebarjad | Australia | 3,625,000 | 18 |
| 8 | Grigorii Rodin | Russia | 3,475,000 | 17 |
| 9 | Mario Fata | France | 3,025,000 | 15 |
Philipp Wood sits close behind in second with an even 8,000,000 chips, and it was the German player who ended the night in style, eliminating Haghgou Seyedahmad in the final hand of the day. A familiar face rounds out the top three, as Zhen Chen bagged 7,625,000. Chen, fresh off his High Roller victory at the Gatsby Gala just months ago, will be aiming to add another prestigious trophy to his collection.
Other notable stacks include Konstantin Kvashin, who boosted his count with a crucial late double-up holding pocket kings, and Danielle Noja, who sits fifth in chips. Completing the final table lineup are Hirs, Ali Zebarjad, Grigorii Rodin, and Mario Fata.
Day 3 Action
The day began with a bang as ten players were sent to the sidelines during the opening level of play. Philip Joyce, Damir Zhugralin, and Darius Neagoe were among the early casualties, heading for an early shower as the action heated up.
Skarparis found himself in a pivotal flip with pocket jacks against the ace-queen of Xin Yuan. An ace on the flop seemed to spell disaster for Skarparis, but a dramatic jack on the river turned the tables, earning him a crucial pot. From there, the Cypriot rode the momentum and never looked back.
The tournament’s two remaining ladies, Sofia Merkulova and Alisa Sibgatova, saw their runs come to an end within seconds of each other, finishing in 24th and 23rd places, respectively.
Meanwhile, notable contenders like Boris Kolev, Dan Borlan, and Nikolay Ponomarev battled valiantly but ultimately fell short of reaching the final table.
Remaining Payouts
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1 | $180,200 |
| 2 | $121,100 |
| 3 | $86,040 |
| 4 | $60,070 |
| 5 | $45,050 |
| 6 | $36,140 |
| 7 | $30,035 |
| 8 | $24,025 |
| 9 | $18,020 |
Each finalist is guaranteed a payday of $18,020, but all eyes are fixed firmly on the top prize of $180,200 and the coveted title.
The final table begins tomorrow at 12 p.m., resuming at the halfway point of Level 31 with blinds at 100,000/200,000 and a 200,000 big blind ante. The average stack is just shy of 5,600,000, equating to 28 big blinds — leaving plenty of room for calculated risks and bold moves.
Stay tuned to PokerNews as the remaining nine contenders saddle up for the final ride, each hoping to carve their name into the record books and claim the trophy in this thrilling Western Series showdown!
