Jogador | Fichas | Oscila??o |
---|---|---|
![]() |
550,000
250,000
|
250,000 |
![]() |
540,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
![]() |
400,000
160,000
|
160,000 |
![]() |
350,000
70,000
|
70,000 |
![]() |
350,000
50,000
|
50,000 |
![]() |
340,000
150,000
|
150,000 |
|
2025 Merit Poker Carmen Series
Chip Count
The last level of the day is underway. When this level ends, the survivors will bag up their chips ready for Day 2 on Friday, March 21st.

Lyudmil Ivanov just picked up pocket aces at the right time and got a full double-up courtesy of Gilles Simon.
Ivanov had opened from the button and called a three-bet from Simon, who was in the small blind. They saw a flop of 4?3?K? where Simon continued for 9,500, and Ivanov called to see the 8? hit the turn, Simon again bet, this time announcing a sizing of 15,000, which again Ivanov called.
A 4? completed the runout and Simon took some time before he shoved for a little over 60,000. Ivanov had 55,000 in his stack and after rechecking his cards, he made a quick call.
Simon then tabled a bluff with Q?J?, but couldn't beat the A?A? of Ivanov.
Jogador | Fichas | Oscila??o |
---|---|---|
![]() |
195,000
118,000
|
118,000 |
![]() |
7,000
7,000
|
7,000 |
|
Nível: 8
Blinds: 1,000/2,000
Ante: 2,000

The Day 1a record has officially been beaten, with the field soaring past 232 entries, setting a new high for an opening flight in Carmen Series history! This milestone cements the event's status as one of the must-play tournaments on the circuit, and with registration still open, the number is still climbing!
This isn't just a Carmen Series record—it's also outpacing other major events held here. For comparison, Day 1a of the Western Series Main Event saw 215 entries in 2023, followed by 180 in 2024 and 182 this year in 2025. The Carmen Series Main Event is on another level, showing impressive growth and setting the pace for what could be an all-time high turnout.
Previous Day 1a Field Sizes
Event | Entries |
---|---|
2025 Carmen Series | 233* |
2023 Carmen Series | 232 |
2023 Western Series | 215 |
2024 Carmen Series | 185 |
2025 Western Series | 182 |
2024 Western Series | 180 |
*and still growing!
Last year’s total field reached 664 entries, while 2023 peaked at 765—and with this record-breaking start, we could be headed for something even bigger. Stay tuned as we witness history unfold!

Mario Menicanin and Fahredin Mustafov are at the opposite ends of the leaderboard and just played a pot together that widened the gap.
On a board of 2?K?5?7?, there were around 80,000 chips in the middle when Mustafov bet 13,000 from under the gun and Menicanin called from the cutoff.
A 10? dropped on the river and both players quickly checked it down where Mustafov showed jack-high with J?9?, but Menicanin had the winner with Q?Q?.
Jogador | Fichas | Oscila??o |
---|---|---|
![]() |
520,000
290,000
|
290,000 |
![]() |
35,000 |
The Main Event Day 1a is now up to 229 entries, bringing it within touching distance of the 2023 record of 232. With late registration still open, it's highly likely this flight will surpass that mark, making it the largest Day 1a in the Carmen Series' Main Event history.
Given last year’s total field of 664 and 2023’s 765 entries, today’s strong turnout could set the stage for another massive Main Event.

Simas Karaliunas has joined the list of players who busted the High Roller and joined the Main Event.
An early pot for Karaliunas saw him call a raise of 15,000 on a board of 10?4?9?10? from the small blind to the 9? river. The small blind checked and Karaliunas then bet 75,000, which was enough to win him the pot.
Karaliunas is also a WSOP bracelet holder, having claimed gold in the 2024 WSOP Online Event #11: $500 NL Hold'em Mystery Bounty, where he topped the field to win $122,716.
Jogador | Fichas | Oscila??o |
---|---|---|
![]() |
120,000 |
Players are now back in their seats and have started their penultimate level of the day.
Jogador | Fichas | Oscila??o |
---|---|---|
![]() |
400,000
160,000
|
160,000 |
![]() |
330,000
330,000
|
330,000 |
![]() |
300,000
300,000
|
300,000 |
![]() |
280,000
130,000
|
130,000 |
|
280,000
150,000
|
150,000 |
![]() |
260,000
260,000
|
260,000 |
![]() |
220,000
20,000
|
20,000 |