Chinese pro Zhen Chen continues his winning streak in 2024. Following an impressive two victories in the Manila Megastack in September, a win in the Mystery Bounty High Roller at Poker Dream 12 in October, and the APPT National victory at APPT Manila Championship in Manila, he has clinched his fifth live poker title of 2024 by winning the $5,300 High Roller of the 2024 Merit Poker Gatsby Gala Series at the Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino. He topped a tough 103-entry field to claim the coveted trophy and the top prize of $132,300, boosting his live tournament earnings to over $445k.
2024 Merit Poker Gatsby Gala Series High Roller Final Table
The eliminations at the final table were quick, with Turkey’s Mehmet Demirkol, one of the shortest stacks at the final table, becoming the first to exit after he ran pocket tens into the pocket queens of Simone Andrian. Shortly after that, Chen took the chip lead for the first time with a well-timed bet against start-of-day chip leader Angelos Michael.
The next player to fall from the final table was Elie Saad whose pocket sixes could not hold up against Fahredin Mustafov’s pocket queens, leading to his exit in eight place. Mustafov then eliminated Angelos Michael to bring the field down to six.
Felipe Ketzer followed shortly after his ace-ten couldn’t overcome the pocket aces of Chernikov, leading to his exit in sixth place. He was then followed by Fahredin Mustafov whose ace-king lost to the pocket tens of Andrian, who later eliminated Romania’s Adrian State in fourth place.
Chen was the short stack during the four-handed play but turned his tournament around, securing three double-ups in quick succession. A little later, Chen won a crucial pot against Chernikov to take a massive chip lead. He then shoved Jack-Ten and Andrian called with a stronger king-queen. However, Chen found a ten on the flop and held from there to send Italy’s Andrian packing in third place ($58,800).
Final Hand
The heads-up did not last long. After a few hands, Chen and Chernikov got their stacks into the middle in a coin flip. Chen held pocket eights and Chernikov had ace-nine. An eight on the flop all sealed the deal for Chen and Russia’s Chernikov had to settle for the runner-up payout $91,500.
Final Table Payouts (USD)
1 Zhen Chen – $132,300
2 Aleksandr Chernikov – $91,500
3 Simone Andrian – $58,800
4 Adrian State – $43,600
5 Fahredin Mustafov – $32,000
6 Felipe Ketzer – $26,000
7 Angelos Michael – $21,400
8 Elie Saad – $17,100
9 Mehmet Demirkol – $13,100
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Images and hands credit: MeritPoker/PokerNews
