Serbian Star Shines in Merit Poker Carmen Series Main Event

Serbia’s Nenad Dukic has etched his identify into the historical past books, conquering a record-breaking discipline within the $3,300 Fundamental Occasion on the 2025 Benefit Poker Carmen Sequence to seize the trophy and the $401,000 prime prize. After 5 intense days of poker contained in the Crystal Cove Lodge and On line casino, Dukic emerged victorious from a 881-entry discipline—the biggest ever recorded at a Carmen Sequence cease and one which generated a staggering $2,431,560 prize pool.

Dukic began the ultimate desk as chip chief and by no means let his foot off the fuel, making use of strain on the proper moments and making large calls when it counted. His run culminated in a heads-up battle with Turkey’s Akin Tuna, a widely known common on the European circuit. Tuna fought laborious and clawed his manner into rivalry, however Dukic’s momentum was just too robust to cease, and he closed it out in type to say the most important win of his profession.

Ultimate Desk Outcomes

Winner’s Response

Following the trophy ceremony and pictures, Dukic took a second to mirror on the most important victory of his poker profession. “It was actually superb,” he mentioned, visibly relieved and nonetheless soaking within the second. “I simply really feel so relieved to lastly shut it.”

Whereas he couldn’t single out one specific hand that sealed the deal, Dukic famous that the ultimate desk was removed from simple. He pointed to Mikhail Zavoloka as probably the most difficult opponents on the desk, although he was fast to offer credit score to the remainder of the finalists as properly. “Everybody performed properly. It was an actual battle on the market.”

The $401,000 payday marks Dukic’s largest reside rating thus far—simply narrowly edging out his earlier finest—however he did point out that he’s had some greater outcomes on-line. With this victory, Dukic now climbs into the highest ten on Serbia’s all-time cash record, presently sitting in ninth place with practically $1,000,000 in reside event earnings.

When requested about what retains him coming again to Benefit occasions, Dukic saved issues low-key. “I like coming right here. The tournaments are nice, the environment is all the time good,” he mentioned, praising the atmosphere at Benefit Poker. “The individuals on the tables saved me going. It’s only a actually good vibe.”

Dukic was additionally sincere in regards to the journey. “I wouldn’t suggest individuals do issues the best way I did,” he mentioned with fun. “However for those who’re chasing a giant win, simply maintain grinding. Maintain placing in optimistic effort and attempt to enhance. That’s all you’ll be able to actually do.”

Regardless of the massive milestone, Dukic downplayed the concept of this win altering who he’s as a participant. “It’s not that essential to me in that manner,” he admitted. “It’s only one step. A giant one, certain—however the grind continues.”

Dukic’s Journey to the Title

Dukic wasted no time asserting his dominance on the closing desk, shortly constructing on his start-of-day chip lead. He claimed the primary elimination of the day by sending Leonid Orman to the rail in ninth place, and by the point Daniil Kiselev bowed out in eighth, Dukic was already holding near a 3rd of the chips in play. Maher Achour was subsequent to go in seventh after a mistimed hero name in opposition to Zavoloka, which ended his run prematurely.

Dukic then picked up pocket aces and scored one other knockout, eliminating Chady Ojeil in sixth place. The Lebanese participant had flopped prime pair with king-queen in a three-bet pot and opted to check-call all three streets, solely to run head-first into the overpair of Dukic. However the Serbian’s momentum briefly stalled when he doubled up Tuna shortly after, permitting the runner-up to climb again and practically even out the stacks.

Soraya Estrada surged into the chip lead after a conflict with Zavoloka noticed her river two pair with queen-jack in opposition to ace-queen on a queen-high board. Shortly after, Dukic claimed one other elimination, profitable a flip with pocket jacks in opposition to the king-queen of Han Han, leaving simply 4 gamers left within the hunt for the title.

Zavoloka seemed to be on his manner out in fourth when he received ace-nine in in opposition to Estrada’s ace-jack, however a lucky 9 on the flop saved his hopes alive.

One of many defining arms of the event quickly adopted. Dukic limped in from the small blind and Estrada checked her choice. On a queen-high flop, the chips flew in after a giant flip guess from Dukic was met with an surprising shove from Estrada. Dukic made the decision with prime two pair, which had Estrada’s queen-seven crushed. The river modified nothing, and Estrada was left with mere crumbs earlier than bowing out moments later in fourth.

Zavoloka appeared poised to climb again into rivalry when he received ace-queen in forward of Dukic’s ace-eight. However the runout had different plans. After outdrawing Estrada earlier with the more severe hand, Zavoloka discovered himself on the unsuitable finish this time—Dukic made a straight on the flip, cracking the superior ace and ending Zavoloka’s run in third place.

Heads Up

The ultimate two gamers returned from a brief break with Dukic holding a commanding two-to-one chip lead—and it didn’t take lengthy to wrap issues up. After receiving a stroll within the first hand, Dukic moved all in on the very subsequent holding pocket threes. Tuna shortly referred to as with ace-nine, however the flop introduced catastrophe for him as Dukic flopped a full home. Though Tuna paired his 9 on the flip, there was no miracle river in sight. With that, Dukic sealed the victory and Tuna was compelled to accept second.