Rickie Merritt Poker Tournament Updates

Chan Pelton and Master Lynch Bust a Combined Four Players to Burst Bubble

Apr 12, '15

There were several busts during round-for-round play, which led to four players busting out and bursting the bubble.

We missed the action, but Srikanth Gottumukkala was sitting out with no chips in front of him and Chan Pelton was stacking the chips to be the first casualty on the bubble. If nobody else was eliminated, then Gottumukkala would be the tournament’s bubble boy.

But the very next hand, action folded to Josh Evans on the button, who moved all in for 56,000. Chan Pelton moved all in for 450,000 and the cards were tabled. Evans showed QQ and needed help against Pelton’s KK.

The board ran out J10358 and Evans was eliminated and would at very least split the prize money with Gottumukkala.

A few tables over, however, Abdel Hamid was all in preflop and Master Lynch was building a side pot against another player on a flop of 966. Lynch bet 10,000 after his opponent checked and he was check-raised to 30,000. The dealer pulled in the dead money and then Lynch clicked it back to 70,000. His opponent folded the 9 face up and the other cards were tabled.

Lynch showed 76, good for trips and was up agaisnt Hamid’s J10. The turn was the 10 and the river was the K to keep Lynch’s trips in the lead and add Hamid to the list of players who would be splitting prize money.

On one of the last hands of the round, Rickie Merritt shoved all in on the turn with the board reading 5429. Lynch called and showed JJ and was in the lead against Merritt’s 32. Lynch faded the pair and straight draw as the 7 fell on the river and Lynch knocked out his second player during round-for-round play.

There were no other casualties during the bubble and Evans, Gottumukkala, Merritt and Hamid will split 72nd, 71st and 70th place prize money. Gottumukkala and Hamid take home $1,336 while Merritt and Evans each take home $1,337.

Normal play resumed after the conclusion of round-for-round with an increase in the blinds and antes.

Player Tags: Josh Evans,   Chan Pelton,   Rickie Merritt,   Abdel Hamid,   Srikanth Gottumukkala

Seniors Event Champ Bests Two-Time Prelim Champ

Aug 02, '14

Rickie Merritt, who won the seniors event earlier this series, just took a pot from Trent Smith, who has two prelim championships of his own to his name.

Merritt won the $100 no-limit hold’em seniors event, while Smith picked up titles in both the $350 no-limit hold’em $20,000 guarantee and the $240 no-limit hold’em bounty tournament.

The hand began when Smith raised to 400 from the cutoff, Phu Huynh called from the small blind and Merritt called out of the big blind. The dealer fanned 1095 and action checked to Smith. Smith bet 625, Huynh folded and Merritt called. The turn was the 3 and Smith bet 1,200. Merritt asked to see his stack and Smith obliged. Merritt made it 2,500 and Smith called to see the 8 on the river. Smith then check-folded to Merritt’s 5,000 bet.

Player Tags: Rickie Merritt,   PHU HUYNH,   Trent Smith

In the Money Eliminations

Aug 03, '14

With the money bubble broken, we have lost the following players:

56. Arshin Gamini – $2,850
57. William Burford – $2,850
58. Rickie Merritt – $2,850
59. John McMillan – $2,850
60. Jerry Randack – $2,850
61. Ravitej Garlapati – $2,850

Player Tags: Jerry Randack,   Rickie Merritt,   Arshin Gamini,   William Burford,   Ravitej Garlapati

Seniors Event Champ Bests Two-Time Prelim Champ

Aug 02, '14

Rickie Merritt, who won the seniors event earlier this series, just took a pot from Trent Smith, who has two prelim championships of his own to his name.

Merritt won the $100 no-limit hold’em seniors event, while Smith picked up titles in both the $350 no-limit hold’em $20,000 guarantee and the $240 no-limit hold’em bounty tournament.

The hand began when Smith raised to 400 from the cutoff, Phu Huynh called from the small blind and Merritt called out of the big blind. The dealer fanned 1095 and action checked to Smith. Smith bet 625, Huynh folded and Merritt called. The turn was the 3 and Smith bet 1,200. Merritt asked to see his stack and Smith obliged. Merritt made it 2,500 and Smith called to see the 8 on the river. Smith then check-folded to Merritt’s 5,000 bet.

Player Tags: Rickie Merritt,   PHU HUYNH,   Trent Smith

In the Money Eliminations

Aug 03, '14

With the money bubble broken, we have lost the following players:

56. Arshin Gamini – $2,850
57. William Burford – $2,850
58. Rickie Merritt – $2,850
59. John McMillan – $2,850
60. Jerry Randack – $2,850
61. Ravitej Garlapati – $2,850

Player Tags: Jerry Randack,   Rickie Merritt,   Arshin Gamini,   William Burford,   Ravitej Garlapati