Georgios Skarparis Rides Into the Sunset Merit Western Warm Up Win

Table Of Contents

After a swift and commanding performance, Georgios Skarparis has secured the $2,200 Warm Up title at the 2025 Merit Poker Western Series. In a day that spanned just five levels inside the iconic Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino, Skarparis took the reins early and never let go, eliminating four of the final table opponents on his way to victory.

The Cypriot cowboy rode off with the $180,200 top prize after striking a three-way deal with Konstantin Kvashin and Danielle Noja, who both locked up significant payouts.

With this win, Skarparis gallops past the $1,000,000 milestone in live tournament cashes, according to The Hendon Mob.

“I feel great, and it’s a fantastic start to the year,” he said with a grin. Skarparis acknowledged the significance of surpassing seven figures, noting, “I know, I know — it was a goal. But now the goal is $2 million!”

Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize
1 Georgios Skarparis Cyprus $180,200
2 Konstantin Kvashin Russia $121,100
3 Danielle Noja Australia $86,040
4 Zhen Chen China $60,070
5 Philipp Wood Germany $45,050
6 Ali Zebarjad Australia $36,140
7 Grigorii Rodin Russia $30,035
8 Mario Fata France $24,025
9 Aliaksandr Hirs Belarus $18,020

The victory also propelled him from sixth to fifth on Cyprus’ all-time money list, an achievement Skarparis was equally aware of. “Yes, I knew this too. We’re a small community, obviously — only seven or eight pros — and we always chase each other in good competitive spirit,” he remarked.

Reflecting on his dominating final table performance, Skarparis explained, “Today was perfect. I started putting pressure on the others early when we were nine-handed because I knew they were thinking about ICM, and I had the chip lead.

“Then, when we were down to seven, I let Zhen Chen take control for a while since he also had a good stack and was the main guy I was worried about. I found a great spot with pocket tens to three-bet him and eliminate Grigorii Rodin. From there, as soon as I regained the chip lead, it was smooth sailing.

“I think I knocked everybody out from seven left.”

Looking ahead, Skarparis revealed his plans for the coming months. “Next up is Cambodia, then probably Taiwan, and then back home to Cyprus — I will always protect home,” he said. “After that, maybe Ireland. That’s my plan for the next three months.”

With his latest triumph and a wave of confidence behind him, Skarparis is poised for an exciting year on the felt, ready to write the next chapter in his poker journey.

Final Table Action

Zhen ChenThe action was fast-paced from the get-go as Mario Fata had his ace-three all in and at risk against the queen-jack of Philipp Wood. Wood turned a flush, but Fata managed to survive with a miraculous backdoor full house to keep his hopes alive.

As blinds climbed quickly, it wasn’t long before the first elimination was recorded, with Aliaksandr Hirs becoming the first casualty. Hirs three-bet shoved with king-ten and was put at risk by Ali Zebarjad’s ace-six. A clean runout later, and Hirs was headed to the payout desk.

Fata quickly followed when his nine-eight couldn’t improve against Chen’s ace-queen, then Rodin lost a crucial flip with ace-queen against Skarparis’ pocket tens to finish seventh.

Philipp WoodBy the time the first break hit, Chen and Skarparis were well clear of the field with each of them having over double the stack of Wood, who was in third.

Wood and Kvashin’s stacks then started to get eaten away by the blinds and it seemed they were waiting for one another to bust to earn a pay jump. However, they both made a ladder after Zebarjad shoved with ace-deuce from the button and ran into Skarparis’ pocket aces.

Skarparis then scored another knockout when his nine-eight spiked a nine on the river to crush the ace-six of Wood, which brought about four-handed play.

Danielle NojaThe final table’s defining hand came as Chen and Skarparis clashed in a massive pot. Chen, holding queen-nine suited, defended his big blind against Skarparis’ cutoff raise and flopped a flush draw.

After betting and calling on the flop, Chen check-shoved after pairing his nine, only to see Skarparis snap-call with trip kings. The river bricked for Chen, sending him to the rail just shy of the podium as Skarparis amassed over 80% of the chips in play.

Konstantin KvashinAt this stage, the final three paused the clock to negotiate a deal.

After a lengthy discussion, an agreement was reached, with the details kept private. Skarparis claimed the trophy and the lion’s share of the prize pool, securing his place in Merit Poker history.

Georgios SkarparisThat concludes our PokerNews coverage of the Warm Up.

Check out our live reporting section to stay informed as the action heats up with in-depth coverage of the High Roller and the eagerly anticipated Main Event still to come!

FAQ

How do I install WPT Global?

How do I install WPT Global? Windows - minimum system requirements: Windows 7, min 500MB disk space, 3 GB RAM (4 GB recommended) 1. Press the button to start the download 2. Once the app has downloaded to your computer, open the file (check your “Download” folder) to launch the installer 3. Follow the installer’s instructions Mac - minimum system requirements: macOS 10.14, min 500MB disk space, 3 GB RAM (4 GB recommended)

Can you withdraw from WPT Global?

Can you withdraw from WPT Global? Before making your first withdrawal, WPT Global, as a licensed operator, requires new customers to verify their account by providing the necessary documentation. This includes: Documentation that proves your identity such as a driving licence or passport.

Can you play WPT global with a VPN?

Can you play WPT global with a VPN? Wpt global is one of the world’s largest online poker sites, but it is also one of the most restrictive in terms of IP address restrictions. As a general rule, traditional VPNs cannot be used to access the platform because they can either warn or block your accounts.

What is TP in WPT poker?

What is TP in WPT poker? Tournament Points (TPs) are used to buy into VIP tournaments on ClubWPT. All players start with a fixed amount of TPs (500) upon opening a VIP account. They cannot be reloaded, but will be automatically “topped up” once per day.

How to play okey online?

How to play okey online? During the game each player receives a hand of 14 tiles. The objective of the game is to form a hand that consists entirely of sets of equal numbered tiles and runs of consecutive tiles of the same color. This can be achieved by drawing and discarding tiles. The first player to complete their hand wins the game.

This site only collects related articles. Viewing the original, please copy and open the following link:Georgios Skarparis Rides Into the Sunset Merit Western Warm Up Win

WPT Global
news poker-players
Recommended Articles