Georgios Skarparis triumphed in the 2025 Merit Poker Western $2,200 Warm-Up with a dominating performance. Skarparis became the chip leader by the end of Day 2 and held his lead throughout the late stage of the tournament, taking home the coveted Merit Poker trophy and a six-figure payday of $180,200.
In 2024, Skarparis won his first bracelet in the 55th WSOP Event #78: $1k NLH Freezeout Mini Main Event for a career-best $554,925 payday. His latest victory at the Crystal Love Hotel and Casino has now brought his live earnings past $1,000,000.
The $2,200 buy-in Warm-Up event saw a turnout of 501 players across four starting flights, reaching the guaranteed $1 million prize pool. As the field narrowed, the top 63 players received payouts from the prizepool.
Merit Poker Western Series $2,200 Warm Up Final Table Quick Recap
The final table was formed on Day 3, with Georgios Skarparis leading the final nine. The remaining nine players advanced to Day 4, all vying for top prize and the Merit Poker trophy. The first to exit the final table was Aliaksandr Hirs, who finished in 9th place, collecting $18,020.
Mario R.J. Fata soon followed when he went all-in with nine-eight. Zhen Chen made the call with ace-queen, which was enough to send Fata out in 8th place for $24,025. A few hands later, Grigoriay Rodin, who started the final table as the second short stack, looked down at his ace-queen and jammed his stack. Skarparis called, holding pocket tens. Skarparis flopped a set, eliminating Rodin in 7th place. Rodin, for his impressive run, collected $30,035.
An hour passed without any eliminations, and soon Skarparis ended the stalemate, scoring his second elimination by sending Ali Zebarjad out in 6th place with pocket aces. Zebarjad collected a hefty $36,140 for his finish. Skarparis didn’t stop there, eliminating Philip Johannes Wood in 5th place for $45,050, kicking off the four-handed action.
The four-handed action was short-lived as China’s Zhen Chen was the next to follow the railbirds. In an intense hand, Chen, with a flush draw, went all-in on the turn against Skarparis’s trip kings. Chen needed a spade on the river to save his tournament life, but the deuce of hearts ended his run. Chen headed to the rail with a payday of $60,070 for his 4th-place finish.
Three-Way Deal
As three-handed play began, Danielle Noja, Konstantin Kvashin, and Georgios Skarparis agreed to a three-way deal to split the remaining payouts without further play. Skarparis, who held 85% of the chips in play, claimed the first-place prize of $180,200 and the trophy. Kvashin finished as the runner-up, adding $121,100 to his earnings, while Danielle Noja rounded out the podium, collecting $86,040.
2025 Merit Poker Western Series $2,200 Warm Up Final Table Payouts
| Rank | Player | Payout |
| 1st | Georgios Skarparis | $180,200 |
| 2nd | Konstantin Kvashin | $121,100 |
| 3rd | Danielle Noja | $86,040 |
| 4th | Zhen Chen | $60,070 |
| 5th | Philipp Johannes Wood | $45,050 |
| 6th | Ali Akbar Zebarjad | $36,140 |
| 7th | Grigoriay Rodin | $30,035 |
| 8th | Mario R. J. Fata | $24,025 |
| 9th | Aliaksandr Hirs | $18,020 |
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Sources – Merit Poker Facebook Page , and Hendon Mob.
Image Credit: Merit Poker
