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2025 Merit Millions : Boris Kolev wins the Main Event and takes home the million
2025-04-14 - Fabien RICHARD
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Bulgaria's Boris Kolev wins the Merit Millions 2025 in style, taking a million-dollar prize after a dominating end-to-end final.

With a buy-in of $10,400 and 212 entries, the 2025 Merit Millions generated a prize pool of $1,950,400, attracting the elite of the global poker scene. The winner was guaranteed a one million dollar check — a staggering sum that pushed the finalists to their mental limits.

 

Mehdi Chaoui, the heartbreak of a runner-up finish

 

In mid-April, Mehdi Chaoui came heartbreakingly close to hitting the million mark

 

Moroccan player Mehdi Chaoui, former member of Team Winamax, delivered a remarkable performance throughout the event. Despite a strong showing in the heads-up, he ultimately had to bow out against Kolev, finishing in second place with a payout of $300,000.

Boris Kolev, a two-time WSOP bracelet winner, produced a near-flawless final table performance, worthy of the circuit’s top strategists. Alternating between predator and chameleon, he shifted gears, imposed his rhythm, and dictated the tempo at every blind level. His hand-reading accuracy was surgical, particularly in several key spots where he managed to extract maximum value through impeccably sized bets.

From the early stages of the tournament, the Bulgarian established himself among the chip leaders, as if it were a foregone conclusion. He cruised through each Day with metronomic consistency, avoiding high-variance spots and capitalizing on every opponent’s misstep. Always in control, he built and maintained his stack with the tactical intelligence of a player who knows the path to the winner’s circle.

The heads-up battle against Mehdi Chaoui lived up to expectations: a clash of styles, tense, breathless, and strategic. But when the key moments came, Kolev never faltered. More seasoned, more precise, he exploited every hesitation to close the trap and secure victory with authority. This title at the Merit Millions is more than just another win — it’s a powerful statement from one of the greatest Bulgarian players of all time.

 

Final Table Results – 2025 Merit Millions $10,400 Main Event:

1. Boris Kolev (Bulgaria) – $1,000,000

2. Mehdi Chaoui (Morocco) – $300,000

3. Romans Lihacovs (Latvia) – $200,000

4. Aleksandr Kirichenko (Russia) – $140,000

5. Rafael Aslanli (Turkey) – $100,000

6. Maksim Shornikau (Belarus) – $75,000

7. Andrey Pateychuk (Russia) – $55,000

8. Ali Al-Kubasi (Iraq) – $45,000

9. Alexandr Lakhov (Russia) – $35,400

 

All chipcounts and live results available on Google Play HERE or on the App Store HERE

Photo credit: Merit Poker

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