2024 Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series

$3,300 OPE Classic Cup 8-Handed
Day: 3
Event Info

2024 Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
88
Prize
$132,000
Event Info
Buy-in
$3,300
Prize Pool
$532,680
Entries
193
Level Info
Level
29
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
200,000
Players Info - Day 3
Entries
29
Players Left
1

$3,300 OPE Classic Cup 8-Handed

Day 3 Completed

Walid Bou Habib Claims Another Merit Major in $3,300 OPE Classic Cup

Level 29 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Walid Bou Habib
Walid Bou Habib

Though his recorded live tournament results date all the way back to 2008, Lebanon��s Walid Bou Habib doesn��t consider himself a professional poker player. He prefers to play select events at familiar venues, and his time at Merit Poker continues to be fruitful after adding another victory in the Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series.

Habib came into the added Day 3 second in chips, navigating his way through a field of 193 entries to reach the final table of the $3,300 OPE Classic Cup. From there, he did not knock out a single player until the very last hand, eliminating Julien Liarte and Antoine Hasbani together to claim the title.

��It is one amongst the major results which I have made,�� Habib told PokerNews moments after the win. ��To get the trophy, it��s always nice because I��m trying to make a nice collection of trophies. I have already three PokerStars trophies, and also four or five from Merit so it will be my, maybe, tenth trophy.��

The first-place score will also see his total career earnings climb above $2.3 million, with each of his last ten recorded cashes coming right here at Merit.

��I��m not professional but I play very often,�� Habib explained. ��This is one of the venues which I never miss. I��m just focusing on Cyprus, it��s very nice here, we came with the family, they enjoy the beach, they enjoy lot of summer activities, it��s nice.��

Walid Bou Habib
Walid Bou Habib

$3,300 OPE Classic Cup Final Table Results

PlacePlayerCountryPrize (USD)
1Walid Bou HabibLebanon$132,000
2Julien LiarteFrance$90,000
3Antoine HasbaniLebanon$60,000
4Konstantin VoroninRussian Federation$41,500
5Iurii SaiapinRussian Federation$32,500
6Jeremie ZouariFrance$26,500
7Fadi NakhoulLebanon$21,700
8Azamat TulepbergenovKazakhstan$17,150

Added Day 3

Due to the size of the field in the $3,300 OPE Classic Cup, the schedule needed to be adjusted in order to crown a champion. The last 29 players standing from Day 2 returned to the felt this afternoon for an unscheduled added day, prepared once again to play down to a winner.

Early on, the added hurdle was the looming money bubble, as only the top 23 players would earn a payday. It did not take long to reach hand-for-hand play, as the min-cash of $5,110 was quickly in play.

Darius Neagoe was knocked out on the very first hand, and the remaining players were set to battle for the largest payouts of the $532,680 prize pool.

Habib and Hasbani were at the top of the counts to begin the extra day, along with Russian Konstantin Voronin. All three carried that momentum to the final table, but it was Voronin doing most of the damage.

Final Table Action

The final table started with a bang, as Voronin took out Edgar Yamin and Azamat Tulepbergenov at the same time. Voronin endured a roller coaster from there, eventually bowing out in fourth place.

Hasbani was able to maintain a big stack all the way down to the final three, while Habib stayed out of trouble and made a move when it mattered the most.

Habib took out both Hasbani and Liarte for another big score in Cyprus, adding another trophy to his mantle. The win comes less than a year after he made a heads-up deal in the 2023 PokerStars EPT Cyprus $3,000 Mystery Bounty event for $242,623. Habib also claimed a trophy in the Merit Poker Western Series $2,200 Main Event back in 2016, so success on the island is certainly nothing new.

The OPE Classic champ will now seek to continue his good fortune here at Merit, while enjoying the time with family and friends.

Walid Bou Habib
Walid Bou Habib

That concludes our coverage of the $3,300 OPE Classic Cup, but be sure to check out PokerNews for all of the action from the $2,200 La Notte Degli Assi event as the Merit Poker Dolce Vita Series continues.

Tags: Antoine HasbaniAzamat TulepbergenovDarius NeagoeEdgar YaminFadi NakhoulIurii SaiapinJeremie ZouariJulien LiarteKonstantin VoroninWalid Bou Habib

Julien Liarte Eliminated in 2nd Place ($90,000); Antoine Hasbani Eliminated in 3rd Place ($60,000)

Level 29 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Julien Liarte
Julien Liarte

Antoine Hasbani moved his short stack of 1,425,000 into the middle and Walid Bou Habib followed by shoving as well. Julien Liarte quickly checked his cards and tossed in the call.

Antoine Hasbani: K?10? All in
Julien Liarte: 8?4? All in
Walid Bou Habib: 8?8?

Habib spiked a set on the 8?J?A? flop, improving to a full house on the K?J? runout to score the double knockout and the title. Liarte claimed second place, while Hasbani finished third.

Antoine Hasbani
Antoine Hasbani
Player Chips Progress
Walid Bou Habib lb
Walid Bou Habib
19,300,000
7,400,000
7,400,000
Julien Liarte fr
Julien Liarte
Busted
Antoine Hasbani lb
Antoine Hasbani
Busted
Day 2 Chip Leader

Tags: Antoine HasbaniJulien LiarteWalid Bou Habib

Habib Wins Three-Way All In

Level 29 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

Walid Bou Habib opened to 400,000 on the button and Julien Liarte called in the small blind. Antoine Hasbani then moved all in from the big blind, with Habib moving all in behind. Liarte called and the hands were turned up.

Walid Bou Habib: Q?Q? All in
Antoine Hasbani: A?10? All in
Julien Liarte: J?9?

Habib's pocket queens held through the 2?8?K?2?5?, tripling up his stack to take the chip lead.

Player Chips Progress
Walid Bou Habib lb
Walid Bou Habib
11,900,000
7,600,000
7,600,000
Julien Liarte fr
Julien Liarte
5,500,000
-4,425,000
-4,425,000
Antoine Hasbani lb
Antoine Hasbani
1,920,000
-3,155,000
-3,155,000
Day 2 Chip Leader

Tags: Antoine HasbaniJulien LiarteWalid Bou Habib

Konstantin Voronin Eliminated in 4th Place ($41,500)

Level 29 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Konstantin Voronin
Konstantin Voronin

Konstantin Voromin moved his short stack all in from the button, with Julien Liarte making the call in the big blind.

Konstantin Voronin: J?2? All in
Julien Liarte: A?J?

Liarte held through the J?Q?6?7?9? runout, eliminating Voronin in fourth place.

Player Chips Progress
Julien Liarte fr
Julien Liarte
9,800,000
1,200,000
1,200,000
Konstantin Voronin ru
Konstantin Voronin
Busted

Tags: Julien LiarteKonstantin Voronin

Level: 29

Blinds: 100,000/200,000

Ante: 200,000

Habib Shoves the Turn

Level 28 : Blinds 75,000/150,000, 150,000 ante

Konstantin Voronin raised to 375,000 in the small blind and Walid Bou Habib called in the big blind.

Voronin led out for 525,000 on the 9?7?2? flop, making the call after Habib raised to 1,150,000. Voronin then checked the 10? turn.

Habib went into the tank, using two time banks before announcing all in. Voronin then used a time bank card of his own before laying his hand down.

Player Chips Progress
Walid Bou Habib lb
Walid Bou Habib
4,450,000
1,950,000
1,950,000
Konstantin Voronin ru
Konstantin Voronin
850,000
-1,350,000
-1,350,000

Tags: Konstantin VoroninWalid Bou Habib

Liarte Calls Habib's Bluff

Level 28 : Blinds 75,000/150,000, 150,000 ante

Walid Bou Habib limped in the small blind before Julien Liarte raised to 450,000 in the big blind. Habib called to see the K?J?6? flop, where both players checked.

The J? turn saw Habib lead out for 500,000, with Liarte making the call. Habib then counted out a bet of 700,000 after the 6? river, with Liarte using a time bank card before tossing in the call.

Habiib showed Q?10? for a missed straight draw, while Liarte tabled K?4? for kings and jacks to add to his chip lead.

Player Chips Progress
Julien Liarte fr
Julien Liarte
8,600,000
1,400,000
1,400,000
Antoine Hasbani lb
Antoine Hasbani
5,850,000
-670,000
-670,000
Day 2 Chip Leader
Walid Bou Habib lb
Walid Bou Habib
2,500,000
-1,750,000
-1,750,000
Konstantin Voronin ru
Konstantin Voronin
2,200,000
200,000
200,000

Tags: Julien LiarteWalid Bou Habib