Dmitrii Kopyl Rises from the Shadows to Claim Merit Poker Carmen Series Warm Up Trophy

The 2025 Merit Poker Carmen Series $2,200 Warm Up has its champion, as Dmitrii Kopyl staged a stunning late-game comeback to claim the $210,000 top prize. Entering the final table sixth in chips, the Russian player remained patient while bigger stacks battled for control.

But as the field thinned and the stakes soared, he came alive at exactly the right time. With fearless aggression, well-timed moves, and a bit of luck when he needed it, Kopyl transformed from an afterthought to the one lifting the trophy inside the Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino.

With momentum on his side, he dismantled the competition one pot at a time before delivering a quick and efficient heads-up performance against Atanas Malinov to secure the biggest win of his career. While the prize money was life-changing, the trophy itself held an even greater significance—a symbol of his resilience and ability to thrive under pressure. With his wife cheering from the rail and the spotlight shining bright, Kopyl etched his name into Carmen Series history in an unforgettable fashion.

Final Table Results

Winner’s Reaction

After lifting the trophy and celebrating with friends, Kopyl reflected on his journey through this tournament and his growing connection to Merit Poker.

“The first time I came to Merit was in August 2022… or maybe 2021?” he said with a grin. “It was a big series; I played the $5,300 Main Event. Then, I was at the EPT in October. My first Merit Poker Classic was in November 2023, and now I come here regularly. Why? Because everything here is top-notch—great service, great organization.”

Kopyl wasn’t alone in his victory run. His wife, who often travels with him to tournaments, enjoyed the experience in her own way. “While my husband grinds, I relax at the spa and enjoy the fresh air, the sea, and the beaches. I even took part in a women’s training session here.”

On his path to the trophy, Kopyl faced plenty of adversity, including a rough start in the event, where he fired a couple of bullets before bowing out. But on bullet number three, everything came together. “I bagged just 200,000 into Day 3, coming in with 15 players left before the money, sitting 95th out of 105. But I spun it up, and from there, things ran much more smoothly.”

The final table was a rollercoaster, with Kopyl short-stacked at times but never rattled. “I was down to 10-12 big blinds at one point, but I was patient. Either total garbage or premium hands. Ten hands in a row of seven-deuce, then suddenly I wake up with ace-king.”

Then came the key moments. “Four-handed, stacks were even; I picked up aces—they got paid off. Then I got it in with king-six suited on the turn with a flush draw and binked it on the river. Heads-up, I had a solid lead, chipped up with small pots, and then the final hand—sevens full.”

The $210,000 payday made this Kopyl’s biggest career cash, but the victory was about more than just the money. “The trophy means a lot too. Huge field, great buy-in, big money. This win is really special for me.”

Final Table Action

With Malinov, Alessio Isaia, Daniel Abrahamsson, and Humberto Lopes Galindo all starting the day with big stacks, many expected the battle for the title to come down to that quartet, while the shorter stacks fought for ladder spots. Early on, that script seemed to be playing out as planned, with Malinov quickly dispatching Rui Querido Martins after the Portuguese player made a huge mistake to become the first casualty of the final table.

Giorgiy Skhulukhiya, Galindo, and Atanas Pavlov all hit the rail in quick succession, with Pavlov’s elimination leaving Malinov holding nearly half of the chips in play. At that stage, it looked like the Bulgarian was in complete control, but the momentum started to shift when Kopyl found a crucial stroke of luck to stay in contention.

Short-stacked and needing a double, Kopyl ran jack-ten into Abrahamsson’s superior ace-jack, only to spike a ten on the flop to pull ahead. Abrahamsson had outs to regain the lead, but the board ran dry, keeping Kopyl alive and giving him the boost he needed to mount his late-game surge.

Erdal Gulseven bowed out in fifth place before Isaia, who had led the final table for stretches and sits eighth on Italy’s all-time money list, followed in fourth. Isaia’s run ended when ace-eight couldn’t outrun Malinov’s pocket nines, leaving just three players in contention for the title.

It was at this point that Kopyl took control, shifting gears and asserting dominance in back-to-back hands against Abrahamsson. The biggest of them saw Kopyl wake up with pocket aces and get paid off with an all-in shove on the river, vaulting into the lead. With momentum fully on his side, he never looked back, riding the wave to victory.

With Abrahamsson already on the ropes after losing a massive pot to Kopyl’s pocket aces, his tournament ended just moments later. A standard open from Kopyl saw Abrahamsson defend from the big blind, and after calling a continuation bet on the flop, he committed the rest of his chips on the turn with a pair and an open-ended straight draw. This time, Kopyl was the one drawing, holding a flush draw and an overcard, but the deck was on his side once again as a club on the river sealed the deal.

With that, Abrahamsson fell in third, and Kopyl entered heads-up play with a dominant stack, holding nearly a three-to-one advantage over Malinov. It didn’t take long for him to finish the job, as Malinov shoved preflop with ace-five suited, only to run into Kopyl’s pocket sevens, setting up the final showdown for the title.

A safe flop kept Kopyl ahead, though the turn gave Malinov a few extra outs to stay alive. But there was no miracle river, as the board paired once more to give Kopyl a full house and officially crown him the 2025 Merit Poker Carmen Series Warm-Up champion.

Stay tuned as PokerNews brings you full coverage from the ongoing $5,300 High Roller and the highly anticipated $3,300 Main Event at the 2025 Merit Poker Carmen Series!