$3,300 Main Event | 2025 Merit Poker Western Series

2025-01-26 10:18 UTC+2

Nine Cowboys Ready for the Ultimate Showdown in the Main Event

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Kai C

The dust has settled at the Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino, and the final nine gunslingers are ready to duel for supremacy in the $3,300 Main Event at the 2025 Merit Poker Western Series. This year’s record-breaking 791-entry field has been whittled down to just a handful of contenders, each aiming to seize the coveted trophy and the $377,500 top prize.

Leading the pack is Latvia’s Renars Skanis, sitting atop a mountain of 14,600,000 chips as he rides into the final day with more than 50 big blinds — an enviable position in this high-stakes shootout. Skanis has already shattered his previous best tournament cash by tenfold and now has his sights set firmly on a career-defining victory.

Final Table Seat Draw

Seat	Player	Country	Chip Count	Big Blinds
1	Mihai Niste	Romania	9,725,000	39
2	Edward Quinn	Jersey	6,550,000	26
3	Alexander Sokolovsky	Serbia	4,550,000	18
4	Xiaosheng Zheng	China	12,225,000	49
5	Ryan Mandara	United Kingdom	3,500,000	14
6	Mario Colavita	Italy	10,875,000	44
7	Muhtar Taysi	Turkey	6,050,000	24
8	Umberto Ruggeri	Italy	11,000,000	44
9	Renars Skanis	Lativa	14,600,000	58

Chasing close behind are two sharpshooters — China’s Xiaosheng Zheng (12,225,000) and Italy’s Umberto Ruggeri (11,000,000). Both bring considerable firepower to this final showdown, and their sights are set on capturing the lion's share of the $2,183,160 prize pool.

Also still in contention are Mario Colavita (10,875,000) and Mihai Niste (9,725,000), who round out the top five after navigating the minefield of Day 4. Meanwhile, Ryan Mandara (3,500,000) will look to pull off an underdog story as the shortest stack entering the final table.

Final Table Payouts

Place	Prize
1	$377,500
2	$251,000
3	$180,300
4	$130,200
5	$94,600
6	$75,900
7	$63,200
8	$50,500
9	$37,950

Each of the final nine players are guaranteed a payout of $37,950, but their focus remains fixed on claiming the prestigious trophy and the $377,500 first-place prize. The cards go back in the air at 1:00 p.m. local time, with just under 12 minutes remaining in Level 33. Blinds will resume at 125,000/250,000 with a 250,000 big blind ante.

Stay tuned to PokerNews for every twist and turn of the final table, as we crown the champion of this unforgettable Western Series Main Event!

Tags/etiquetas: Alexander Sokolovsky Edward Quinn Mario Colavita Mihai Niste Muhtar Taysi Renars Skanis Ryan Mandara Umberto Ruggeri Xiaosheng Zheng

2025-01-26 13:50 UTC+2

Zheng Makes a Big Laydown Against Taysi

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Kai C

Nivel 34 : Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante

Xiaosheng Zheng raised the cutoff to 600,000 and Muhtar Taysi called from the big blind.

On the 2♦9♠10♦ flop, Taysi checked, Zheng bet 750,000, and Taysi called.

A 6♠ landed on the turning, putting a second flush draw on board, and again Taysi checked. Zheng then fired out 2,000,000, and after some time, Taysi shoved for 6,525,000. Zheng went deep into the tank and burned through three time banks before he eventually folded, claiming he had ace-ten.

"If you give me $50, I'll show," said Taysi. Mihai Niste took him up on the offer, and Taysi showed 10♣6♣ for two pair.

Jugador	Fichas	Progreso
Muhtar Taysi	11,500,000 3,500,000	3,500,000
Xiaosheng Zheng	9,000,000 3,225,000	3,225,000

Tags/etiquetas: Muhtar Taysi Xiaosheng Zheng

2025-01-26 14:48 UTC+2

Mandara Moves Up a Gear

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Kai C

Nivel 35 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Renars Skanis opened to 800,000 from middle position and Ryan Mandara defended his big blind.

On the flop of 4♣6♠A♣, Mandara checked it over to Skanis, who put out a continuation-bet of 700,000. Mandara called.

A 9♠ landed on the river and Mandara checked again, then Skanis fired out 1,300,000. Mandara thought about it for a while, then shoved for around 3,400,000. Skanis quickly folded.

Jugador	Fichas	Progreso
Renars Skanis	9,500,000 3,000,000	3,000,000

Ryan Mandara	8,000,000 2,900,000	2,900,000

Tags/etiquetas: Renars Skanis Ryan Mandara

2025-01-26 15:09 UTC+2

Ruggeri Survives a Scary Sweat

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Kai C

Nivel 35 : Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante

Muhtar Taysi raised the cutoff to 800,000 and Umberto Ruggeri shoved from the button for almost 7,000,000. The blinds folded, and after some thought, Taysi elected to call.

Umberto Ruggeri: A♣K♥ All in
Muhtar Taysi: A♥K♠

"Chop, chop," said both players, who shared a warm embrace upon seeing that they had the same hand.

However, the deck seemed to have other ideas as the 3♠4♠A♠ flop gave Taysi a freeroll to win the pot. However, despite the extra equity, the 7♣10♣ runout was clean, and the two chopped the pot.

What a sweat for Ruggeri!

Jugador	Fichas	Progreso
Muhtar Taysi	9,500,000 500,000	500,000
Umberto Ruggeri	7,400,000 400,000	400,000

Tags/etiquetas: Muhtar Taysi Umberto Ruggeri

2025-01-26 16:04 UTC+2

Sokolovsky Gets Out of Jail

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Kai C

Nivel 36 : Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante

Alexander Sokolovsky made it 3,500,000 from under the gun and Xiaosheng Zheng shoved for over 11,000,000 from the next seat. The action folded back to Sokolovsky, who immediately called for his remaining 2,500,000.

Alexander Sokolovsky: A♥K♠ All in
Xiaosheng Zheng: A♠A♦

Sokolovsky was in a deep, dark hole and didn't get much help on the 8♠5♦4♣ flop. However, an opportunity to escape elimination came on the 3♠ turn as both players picked up a gutshot.

"Deuce!" shouted Muhtar Taysi.

Taysi must be able to see the future as the 2♣ rolled off on the river, which meant the pot was chopped and Sokolovsky escaped elimination.

Jugador	Fichas	Progreso
Xiaosheng Zheng	11,600,000 500,000	500,000
Alexander Sokolovsky	6,500,000 500,000	500,000

Tags/etiquetas: Alexander Sokolovsky Muhtar Taysi Xiaosheng Zheng

2025-01-26 16:17 UTC+2

Colavita Stuns Skanis to Take the Chip Lead

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Kai C

Nivel 36 : Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante

Renars Skanis raised to 1,000,000 from middle position and Mario Colavita called from the big blind.

They went to a flop of Q♦7♠2♦ where Colavita check-called a bet of 1,000,000 from Skanis to see the 9♦ drop on the turn. Again Colavita checked, Skanis fired 2,000,000, and Colavita slid forward a stack of calling chips.

A board-pairing 9♥ fell on the river and Colavita checked for a third time, then Skanis shoved. Colavita had 4,700,000 behind and was burning through his time banks. Eventually, after using three, Colavita tossed in a chip to signify a call.

"Good call," said Skanis as he rolled over A♣6♣. Colavita flipped K♠Q♣ for a pair of queens, and took the chip lead with that huge call!

Jugador	Fichas	Progreso
Mario Colavita	17,200,000 7,800,000	7,800,000
Renars Skanis	3,400,000 7,600,000	7,600,000

Tags/etiquetas: Renars Skanis Mario Colavita

2025-01-26 16:33 UTC+2

Edward Quinn Eliminated in 9th Place ($37,950)

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Kai C

Nivel 36 : Blinds 250,000/500,000, 500,000 ante

Mario Colavita opened from middle position to 1,100,000 and Muhtar Taysi called in the hijack. Edward Quinn then moved all in for 1,474,000 in the big blind, which both Colavita and Taysi called.

With action on the side, the two active players saw a flop of 4♦3♠8♥, where Colavita fired out 2,000,000. Taysi called.

Both checked the 4♣ turn to the 8♦ river, where Colavita checked and Taysi fired out a big bet of 4,500,000. After thinking it over, Colavita released his cards.

Quinn then flipped J♦9♠ for just jack-high, and Taysi took both the main and side pots with a full house holding A♠8♠.

Jugador	Fichas	Progreso
Muhtar Taysi	18,000,000 3,000,000	3,000,000
Mario Colavita	11,500,000 3,500,000	3,500,000
Edward Quinn	Eliminado

Tags/etiquetas: Edward Quinn Mario Colavita Muhtar Taysi

2025-01-26 17:01 UTC+2

Renars Skanis Eliminated in 8th Place ($50,500)

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Kai C

Nivel 37 : Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante

Mario Colavita raised to 1,100,000 from the cutoff and Renars Skanis shoved for around 1,500,000 from the big blind. Colavita called.

Renars Skanis: J♣9♥ All in
Mario Colavita: A♣7♥

Skanis had lost a big pot earlier with the same hand, and this time it would be his last as the 5♦A♠6♣K♠7♦ runout left him drawing dead on the turn.

Jugador	Fichas	Progreso
Mario Colavita	22,000,000 2,000,000	2,000,000
Renars Skanis	Eliminado

Tags/etiquetas: Mario Colavita Renars Skanis

2025-01-26 17:20 UTC+2

Niste Wins a Big Flip Against Ruggeri

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Kai C

Nivel 37 : Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante

Umberto Ruggeri raised to 1,300,000 from the hijack and Mihai Niste shoved 7,900,000 from the cutoff. When it got back to Ruggeri, he called with a covering stack.

Mihai Niste: 10♠10♥ All in
Umberto Ruggeri: A♠K♥

Niste was flipping for his tournament life and got off to a good start as he made a set on the A♥Q♥10♦ flop, Ruggeri paired his ace, but it was a jack that he was looking for as that would complete Broadway. However, the Q♦ turn gave Niste a boat, which meant Ruggeri needed an ace or a queen on the river.

Niste breathed a sigh of relief when the 5♦ dropped on the river, which meant he doubled and Ruggeri was left short.

Jugador	Fichas	Progreso
Mihai Niste	17,000,000 10,200,000	10,200,000
Umberto Ruggeri	3,000,000 10,500,000	10,500,000

Tags/etiquetas: Mihai Niste Umberto Ruggeri

2025-01-26 17:33 UTC+2

Ryan Mandara Eliminated in 7th Place ($63,200)

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Kai C

Nivel 37 : Blinds 300,000/600,000, 600,000 ante

Ryan Mandara made it 2,650,000 from middle position and Muhtar Taysi called in the cutoff.

They saw a flop of 6♦4♥6♠, where Mandara shoved for 3,500,000, and Taysi called.

Ryan Mandara: 2♥2♦ All in
Muhtar Taysi: A♠J♣

Mandara was ahead with his ducks and just needed to fade two cards to secure a crucial double-up. A 9♠ on the turn did give Taysi a few more counterfeit outs, but Mandara was still the favorite to win the pot.

However, the 4♦ on the river gave Taysi two pair with a better kicker, which ended Mandara's run in seventh.

Jugador	Fichas	Progreso
Muhtar Taysi	25,000,000 3,000,000	3,000,000
Ryan Mandara	Eliminado

Tags/etiquetas: Muhtar Taysi Ryan Mandara

Final Table Seat Draw

Final Table Payouts

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