Day 2 Recap: $3,000 Mystery Bounty at the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino & Spa
The atmosphere was electric on Day 2 of the $3,000 Mystery Bounty tournament at the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino & Spa, part of the 2024 PokerStars European Poker Tour Cyprus. The day kicked off with 305 hopeful participants, all eager to navigate through the challenging field, but only the best of the best managed to make it through to the final 15 players.
A Bubble Filled with Drama
The tension of the bubble was palpable, with 128 players ultimately making the money. In a dramatic twist, Lukas Zaskodny and Fabian Schmidt both busted simultaneously, resulting in a split min-cash that highlighted the unpredictable nature of tournament poker. It’s always a rollercoaster of emotions at such critical moments.
As the day progressed, chips became more valuable, with players vying for a spot in the top ranks. By the end of the day, new leaders emerged, reshaping the landscape of the game.
Leaders of the Pack
Emerging victorious in chip counts was Uladzimir Zhyharau from Belarus, who bagged up an impressive 4,920,000 chips. Starting the day as the chip leader, Zhyharau managed to cement his position even further by doubling up with pocket tens against Krum Polihronov and subsequently eliminating Aren Bezhanyen with pocket eights. His stellar performance puts him in a strong position for what could potentially be his largest cash in live tournament history.
Just behind him was Ryhor Karapanau from Latvia, who ended the day with 3,225,000 chips, after busting several players in a flurry of action near the end of play. Nicolae Paunescu, with 3,020,000 chips, claimed the third position, rounding out a formidable trio at the top of the leaderboard.
Top Chip Counts at Day’s End
The players who made it to Day 3 are as follows:
| Position | Player | Country | Chips | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uladzimir Zhyharau | Belarus | 4,920,000 | 98 |
| 2 | Ryhor Karapanau | Latvia | 3,225,000 | 65 |
| 3 | Nicolae Paunescu | Romania | 3,020,000 | 60 |
| 4 | Marius Kudzmanas | Lithuania | 2,735,000 | 55 |
| 5 | Matthias Lipp | Austria | 2,325,000 | 47 |
| 6 | Valeriu Rosca | Romania | 1,340,000 | 27 |
| 7 | Stoyan Obreshkov | Bulgaria | 1,295,000 | 26 |
| 8 | Karen Nazarian | Russia | 1,300,000 | 26 |
| 9 | Guo Liang Wei | Hong Kong | 1,155,000 | 23 |
| 10 | Hadi Khordbin | Iran | 1,050,000 | 21 |
| 11 | Aziz Efe | Turkey | 1,005,000 | 20 |
| 12 | Boris Kolev | Bulgaria | 1,000,000 | 20 |
| 13 | Morten Klein | Norway | 965,000 | 19 |
| 14 | Anze Smajd | Slovenia | 905,000 | 18 |
| 15 | Maroun Jazzar | Lebanon | 490,000 | 10 |
The Excitement of Mystery Bounty Prizes
Adding to the excitement of the event was the Mystery Bounty format, where players not only compete for tournament glory but also for lucrative bounty prizes. As Level 15 began, the bounty tokens became active. Three jaw-dropping prizes of $75,000 were open for the taking, alongside a pair of $40,000 envelopes.
Alik Zazian was among the early adopters of fortune, claiming one of the $75,000 prizes during the bubble, even as he finished 116th overall with a cash payout of $3,400. But the true highlight came later when Matthias Lipp hit the jackpot not once, but twice, pulling $75,000 prizes from the bounty chest, sending cheers cascading through the tournament venue. With a total of $5,000 and $1,000 bounties added to his winnings, Lipp has positioned himself for a strong finish, currently sitting in fifth place with 2,325,000 chips.
The remaining bounty prizes also yielded rewards, including $40,000 prizes claimed by Stefan Uebber and Alessandro Pichierri.
What Lies Ahead?
As Day 3 approaches, excitement is building over the remaining payouts and the potential quick-paced action that could unfold. With a prize pool of $1,509,072 already disbursed, there’s still plenty to play for, including a top prize of $265,972 awaiting the champion.
Players will return at midday local time with blinds set at 25,000/50,000 and a 50,000 big blind ante in play. Without a scheduled dinner break, it’s anticipated that Day 3 will prove swift, with many of the leading stacks commanding average chips over 30 big blinds.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for live updates as the tournament progresses towards its thrilling conclusion!
