$2,200 Warm Up
Day 1a Completed
2025 Merit Poker Carmen Series
$2,200 Warm Up
Day: 1a
Event Info
Top
Chip Counts
Chip Counts
5
475,000
6
439,500
9
430,000
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
The 2025 Merit Poker Carmen Series is off to a record-breaking start, as the $2,200 Warm Up event saw its largest-ever Day 1a in Merit Poker Classic history inside the Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino. A staggering 221 entries filled the opening flight, shattering the previous Day 1a record of 125 entries set in the 2023 Carmen Series Warm Up. This overwhelming turnout marks a significant milestone for the festival, reinforcing its growing reputation as one of the most anticipated stops on the poker calendar.
At the end of an action-packed opening day, it was Giorgiy Skhulukhiya who emerged as the standout performer, bagging a massive 627,000-chip stack to claim the overall chip lead. The accomplished Georgian pro showcased his skill and experience, maneuvering through the record-breaking field with precision. With a commanding stack heading into Day 2, Skhulukhiya is well-positioned for a deep run as the Warm Up continues to build momentum.
Day 1a Top Ten Chip Counts
| Place | Player | Country | Chip Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Giorgiy Skhulukhiya | Georgia | 627,000 |
| 2 | Ludovic Geilich | Scotland | 613,000 |
| 3 | Alexey Savenkov | Russia | 524,000 |
| 4 | Adem Marjanovic | Austria | 502,000 |
| 5 | Humberto Galindo | Spain | 475,000 |
| 6 | Iurii Grigorev | Russia | 439,500 |
| 7 | Farbod Nazari | Iran | 436,000 |
| 8 | Aytekin Yayla | North Cyprus | 432,500 |
| 9 | Banksy | United Kingdom | 430,000 |
| 10 | Haghgou Seyedahmad | Iran | 412,500 |
Right behind Skhulukhiya on the leaderboard is Ludovic Geilich, who closed out Day 1a with an impressive 613,000 chips, securing the second-largest stack of the flight. The Scottish high-stakes pro, known for his aggressive and creative playing style, was a dominant force throughout the day, consistently applying pressure to his opponents.
Geilich is no stranger to success in Cyprus, having previously won the $10,400 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller at the EAPT Grand Final/Mediterranean Poker Party last year, where he took home $148,800. With a deep stack and a proven track record in Merit Poker events, Geilich will be a serious contender as the Warm Up heads into the later stages.
Alexey Savenkov (524,000) rounds out the top three stacks, with Adem Marjanovic (502,000), Iuriii Grigorev (430,500), and Haghgou Seyedahmad (412,500) all making it into the top ten.
Remaining Warm Up Schedule
| Date | Day | Time | Blind Levels |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 14 | Day 1b | 12:00 p.m. | 40 minutes |
| March 14 | Day 1c | 9:00 p.m. | 25 minutes |
| March 15 | Day 1d | 10:00 a.m. | 15 minutes |
| March 15 | Day 2 | 12:30 p.m. | 40 minutes |
| March 16 | Day 3 | 12:00 p.m. | 40 minutes |
| March 17 | Day 4 | 12:00 p.m. | 40 minutes |
With multiple starting flights still to come, players have plenty of chances to jump into the action and build a stack for Day 2. The blind structures vary across flights, allowing competitors to choose their preferred format before the field consolidates for a deep run. As the tournament progresses, the stakes will rise, and the competition will become even fiercer as players vie for a spot in the final stages.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for live updates, chip counts, and all the key hands as the Warm Up unfolds. With a stacked field and big prizes on the line, you won’t want to miss a moment of the action!
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
627,000 | |
|
||
|
613,000 | |
|
524,000 | |
|
502,000
72,000
|
72,000 |
|
|
475,000
475,000
|
475,000 |
|
|
439,500
69,500
|
69,500 |
|
436,000
436,000
|
436,000 |
|
432,500
432,500
|
432,500 |
|
|
430,000
180,000
|
180,000 |
|
412,500
412,500
|
412,500 |
|
408,500
83,500
|
83,500 |
|
371,000
141,000
|
141,000 |
|
|
354,000
354,000
|
354,000 |
|
348,000
348,000
|
348,000 |
|
346,000
116,000
|
116,000 |
|
342,500
92,500
|
92,500 |
|
337,000
12,000
|
12,000 |
|
322,500
322,500
|
322,500 |
|
311,000
311,000
|
311,000 |
|
305,500
5,500
|
5,500 |
|
301,000
101,000
|
101,000 |
|
|
297,500
297,500
|
297,500 |
|
290,500
65,500
|
65,500 |
|
288,500
11,500
|
11,500 |
|
||
|
286,500
56,500
|
56,500 |
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
All surviving players have now bagged up their chips and it seems that Giorgiy Skhulukhiya is the day's chip leader with 627,000.
Stay tuned for confirmation and a recap of the day's action.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
627,000
217,000
|
217,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
613,000
173,000
|
173,000 |
|
|
524,000
524,000
|
524,000 |
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
The floor have stopped the clock and the players will get a couple more hands in before the survivors bag up for the evening.
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Aliaksandr Hirs raised the cutoff to 4,000 and got called by Jakub Michalak & Vladas Tamasauskas from the blinds.
All three checked the J?10?J? flop to the 8? turn, where Michalak led out for 6,500. Tamasauskas and Hirs both called.
An A? landed on the river and after Michalak checked, Tamasauskas bet 25,500. Hirs quickly folded, then Michalak slid a stack of around 140,000 into the middle. Tamasauskas had 63,000 behind after his bet, and went deep in the tank while he decided how to proceed.
After a long think, Tamasauskas threw in a chip to signify a call. Michalak then showed a flopped full house with 10?10?, and Tamasauskas revealed he rivered a straight with K?Q?.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
325,000
35,000
|
35,000 |
|
|
250,000
140,000
|
140,000 |
|
Busted |
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
Life Outside Poker is a podcast for PokerNews hosted by Connor Richards that seeks to pull back the curtain on poker players and allow viewers and listeners to get to know them on a personal level.
In the 25th episode, Connor speaks with embattled poker pro Brad Booth about learning poker from his grandfather, climbing up stakes in Canada, living at the Bellagio and playing in Bobby's Room, bluffing Phil Ivey and getting cheated on Ultimate Bet.
Booth, who the poker community hasn't heard from for several years, opened up about his absence and going missing in 2020, as well as his gambling addiction and various poker debts to players like Doug Polk that he says he plans to make right.
"I got caught up in all of it and all I can try and do is make right now," he told PokerNews of his poker debts.
The Life Outside Poker podcast is available on major streaming platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud and iHeartRadio. You can also watch the interview with Brad Booth by heading to the PokerNews YouTube channel.
Level 10
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
440,000
40,000
|
40,000 |
|
|
410,000
20,000
|
20,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
370,000
30,000
|
30,000 |
|
|
360,000
310,000
|
310,000 |
Level: 10
Blinds: 1,000/2,000
Ante: 2,000
Level 9
: Blinds 1,000/2,000, 2,000 ante
As the last level of the day looms closer, Adem Marjanovic and Ludovic Geilich still find themselves near the top of the counts.
With 40 minutes of action remaining, will one of those end the day on top of the pile or will somebody else fly up the leaderboard?
