The 2025 Merit Poker Carmen Series $5,300 High Roller returns for Day 2 at 6 p.m. local time inside the stunning Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino, where the remaining contenders will continue their pursuit of a share of the $500,000 guaranteed prize pool.
From the 146 entries yesterday, a total of 96 players managed to make it through to Day 2, but with registration open until the end of Level 12, the field is set to grow even larger before the prize pool is finalized. Georgios Tsouloftas leads the field with 594,500 chips, the only player to cross the half-million mark. Second in chips is Paul Lagan with 440,000, while Tobias Peters holds third position with a stack of 428,000.
Top Ten Chip Counts
| Place | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgios Tsouloftas | Cyprus | 594,500 | 396 |
| 2 | Paul Lagan | Ireland | 440,000 | 293 |
| 3 | Tobias Peters | Netherlands | 428,000 | 285 |
| 4 | Vladislav Ivanov | Russia | 386,000 | 257 |
| 5 | Baltazar Five | Lebanon | 372,000 | 248 |
| 6 | Zoran Sesum | Serbia | 370,500 | 247 |
| 7 | Volodymyr Drokin | Ukraine | 356,000 | 237 |
| 8 | Siarhei Chudapal | Belarus | 355,000 | 237 |
| 9 | Yayun Liu | United States | 342,500 | 228 |
| 10 | Leonid Orman | Russia | 303,500 | 202 |
Day 2 resumes at Level 9, with blinds of 1,000/1,500 and a 1,500 big blind ante. Players who have yet to enter—or those looking to fire another bullet—have until the end of Level 12 to join the action, ensuring plenty of time for late arrivals. Once late registration closes at the end of Level 12, the prize pool and payouts will be finalized and announced. The schedule for the day will be confirmed shortly after play begins.
Remaining $5,300 High Roller Schedule
| Date | Day | Time | Blind Levels |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 17 | Day 2 | 6 p.m. | 40 minutes? |
| March 18 | Day 3 | 1 p.m. | 40 minutes |
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With the stakes rising and the prize pool still growing, expect high-stakes action as players battle for their shot at the six-figure payday. Follow along with PokerNews for all the live updates from Day 2.