Austrian poker pro Daniel Rezaei has put together the best summer of his career, scoring back-to-back seven-figure paydays on the live tournament scene. In early July, he finished third in the 2025 Wynn Summer Classic $10M GTD Main Event, banking nearly $1.2 million. Just six weeks later, he returned to the winner’s circle by taking down the $51,000 buy-in Onyx Club Super High Roller Series for $1,043,530.

With this latest win, Rezaei’s lifetime earnings now exceed $7.5 million, with over $2.6 million coming in 2025 alone from just ten cashes.

Star-Studded Field Runs Deep

The 100-player turnout guaranteed only the top four spots a payday, but plenty of big names went on strong runs. Bracelet winner Jessica Teusl (14th), two-time WSOP champion Ben Lamb (12th), three-time bracelet holder Artur Martirosian (11th), four-time Triton Poker champion Matthias Eibinger (10th), and popular French pro Johan “YohViral” Guilbert (7th) all made deep runs before falling short of the final stages.

Guilbert’s elimination came in a classic race when his pocket fours fell to David Nicholson’s A-10. Soon after, Aram Oganyan busted when his pocket kings were cracked by Armin Ghojehvand’s queens, leaving him sixth. Nicholson kept the momentum by knocking out Manuel Fritz (5th) after spiking a three on the river with 6♣3♣ against A♦Q♠.

Rezaei picked up his first knockout at the final table when his A♠K♥ held against Ghojehvand’s A♣Q♦, sending the UK-based pro out in fourth place for $445,000.

Wakil’s Breakthrough Summer

Jamil Wakil continued his breakout festival run, finishing third for $585,000. The Canadian had already scored a runner-up finish in the series opener for $650,000 and added another $670,000 for fifth in the $100K invitational. With nearly $2 million in cashes from this festival alone, Wakil has now pushed his career live earnings to $5.3 million.

The Final Duel

Heads-up play began with Nicholson holding a 31.7M-to-18.3M chip lead over Rezaei. The two agreed to an ICM deal that secured Nicholson $1,101,570 and left the title plus $55,000 to play for.

The battle saw several lead changes before the final hand sealed it. Nicholson shoved with Q♥8♠ for just under 10 big blinds, and Rezaei called with A♦3♥. The board ran out K♥9♠4♠3♠5♣, pairing Rezaei’s three and crowning him the champion.

Final Table Results

The 2025 Onyx Super High Roller Series Main Event has crowned a new champion — Bulgaria’s Fahredin Mustafov, who conquered a world-class field of 227 entries to capture the trophy and a career-best $1,300,000 payday.

The $25,750 buy-in finale at Merit Crystal Cove created a staggering $5,504,750 prize pool, drawing elite high rollers from across the globe. In the end, Mustafov toppled Turkey’s “Kenar” in a lightning-fast heads-up match, clinching victory on the very first hand.

“Kenar” pocketed $820,000 as runner-up, while American pro Matthew Wantman completed the podium in third for $530,000.

A Career-Defining Triumph

According to The Hendon Mob, this seven-figure score marks the largest victory of Mustafov’s poker career, firmly establishing him among the game’s elite. The win also earned him critical Player of the Series points, putting the Bulgarian in strong contention for the leaderboard crown.

Celebrating with his wife, child, and close friends, Mustafov kept his winner’s speech short but heartfelt:

“My wife and my kids helped me a lot, and I’m very happy. This is my big win.”

He went on to praise Merit’s world-class atmosphere, calling the stop “super, super nice to play here” and urging poker fans:

“If you don’t come to Merit, you have to come, believe me.”

Mustafov’s Path to Glory

The final stages of the event were a rollercoaster. Mustafov’s run nearly hit turbulence when his pocket kings faced off against “Kenar’s” ace-king, but a disciplined fold kept him alive.

Momentum swung his way shortly after, eliminating Viacheslav Buldygin with ten-nine against ace-six. The pivotal hand of the tournament came against Matthew Wantman, who flopped middle set with pocket tens, only to see Mustafov’s flush complete on the turn. A gutsy river check-shove flipped the script, giving Mustafov the overwhelming chip lead.

Wantman eventually bowed out in third when his pocket nines were outdrawn by Mustafov’s six-five straight. Heads-up play barely lasted one hand — “Kenar” shoved with ace-six, but Mustafov snapped with ace-jack, and a clean board sealed the Bulgarian’s crowning achievement.

Final Thoughts

The 2025 Onyx Super High Roller Series Main Event will be remembered as the moment Fahredin Mustafov broke through on the global high roller stage, taking home life-changing money, international recognition, and the most prestigious title of his career.

With his confidence soaring and family by his side, Mustafov summed it up best:

“This is my big win.”

$25,750 Onyx SHRS Main Event – Final Table Payouts

The Onyx Super High Roller Series in Cyprus continues to deliver massive action and million-dollar moments. After Moussa Ahmad’s $1 million victory in the opening event, the $10,400 buy-in Second Chance High Roller saw French poker pro Gregoire Auzoux capture yet another prestigious title.

Auzoux battled through a 111-entry field to secure the championship and $223,500 in prize money after a heads-up deal with Australian high-stakes regular Warwick Mirzikinian, who pocketed the same amount for second place.

Auzoux’s Second Major Win in Cyprus

This marks Auzoux’s second big victory in his adopted home of Cyprus in just three years. Back in the 2023 Triton Super High Roller Series Cyprus, he took down a $40,000 buy-in NLH event for over $1 million.

“I’ve been coming to Merit for the past 4–5 years,” Auzoux said during his winner’s photoshoot. “Now that I live in Cyprus, how could I miss events like this?”

With this win, Auzoux earned 600 points in the Card Player Player of the Year (POY) race, presented by CoinPoker, marking his first qualifying result of the year.

Mirzikinian’s Career Highlight & Final Table Stars

For runner-up Mirzikinian, this was the second-largest cash of his career, trailing only his deep run in the 2019 WSOP Main Event where he finished 20th for $324,650.

The stacked final table also featured:

• Leon Sturm – WSOP bracelet winner and $9.6M in career earnings, 3rd for $128,400
• Matthew Wantman – Fresh WSOP bracelet winner & current POY contender, 4th for $94,000
• Daniel Dvoress – Canadian crusher with $46M+ in winnings, 8th for $33,000

Final Table Payouts – Onyx Super High Roller Second Chance

Shannon Shorr’s red-hot 2025 run continued in Hollywood, Florida, as the Alabama pro won the $25,500 High Roller at the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open for $352,873. The victory, his sixth of the year, came after a heads-up deal with Cherish Andrews, who earned $318,427.

The 44-entry event pushed the prize pool over $1 million, with the final table featuring Michael Macchia, Frank Russo, Jonathan Jaffe, and Nicholas Seward. Shorr eliminated multiple opponents en route to the title, including Russo in fourth with a two-pair hand and Macchia in third with a nut flush.

Andrews briefly held a massive 16-to-1 chip lead in heads-up play after her trip deuces topped Shorr’s top pair, but Shorr stormed back with four double-ups to retake the lead. The two ultimately agreed to a deal as registration closed for a nearby $10,000 event.

The win adds to Shorr’s already impressive 2025 haul, which includes four PokerGO trophies, a WSOP Circuit ring, and 11 final tables. His latest score boosts him to 4,570 points in the Card Player Player of the Year race, putting him in 12th place overall.

Final Table Results:

1. Shannon Shorr – $352,873 (420 POY points)
2. Cherish Andrews – $318,427 (350)
3. Michael Macchia – $154,300 (280)
4. Frank Russo – $108,700 (210)
5. Jonathan Jaffe – $87,000 (175)
6. Nicholas Seward – $65,500 (140)

Lebanon’s Nicolas Chouity has once again conquered the Mediterranean poker scene, capturing the 2025 Merit Poker Cyprus Dolce Vita Summer Series $3,300 La Notte Degli Assi Championship at Merit Crystal Cove Hotel and Casino. The former EPT Grand Final champion bested 1,023 entries to secure the $460,000 top prize from a prize pool exceeding $2.8 million. This was Chouity’s fourth-largest career score, boosting his lifetime tournament earnings to just under $6 million.

“Back in the day, I was 23 — now I’m 39. Naturally, I’m more mature. Before, I was more excited. I’m not saying I’m not happy now — but back then, it was a different experience,” Chouity told Merit Poker staff.

Final Day Highlights

• Early Knockout: Chouity’s K♣Q♥ outdrew Viacheslav Balaev’s J♦J♣ to send Balaev out in 8th place for $61,500.
• Pivotal Moment: In a huge preflop clash, Chouity’s J♥J♦ cracked Mehmet Deniz’s A♠A♥ with a river jack, eliminating Deniz in 4th for $156,000.
• Three-Handed Play: France’s “Ma” fell to Richard Broda’s 9♥9♦, setting up the heads-up duel.

Heads-Up Battle and Winning Hand

Chouity entered heads-up play with a commanding lead, but Broda fought back to briefly take the chip advantage. In the final hand:

• Broda: 7♦5♦
• Chouity: 8♦3♦
• Board: K♥Q♦6♦ | 2♦ | 8♠

Both players hit flushes on the turn, but Chouity’s was higher. Broda’s all-in move on the river was called, securing Chouity the title. Broda earned $307,000 as runner-up.

Final Table Results

Andrew Moreno recently appeared on his brother Johnnie Vibes’s video podcast to reflect on their performances during the 2025 World Series of Poker. In a candid moment shared on social media, Moreno said, “I’m losing this World Series, I’m winning this year. For the last two years, I’m losing. For the last three years, maybe I’m breaking even. For the last four years, I’m up a lot. How much do you want to zoom in, how much do you want to zoom out, and how much does it really matter? These are the things you tell yourself when you are losing.”

Those words hit differently now, just weeks later, as the 42-year-old tournament pro from Texas found his way back to the winner’s circle. Moreno topped a 386-entry field to win the $2,700 buy-in RunGood Poker Series Mission Million Dollar Main Event at Thunder Valley Casino Resort in California. For the victory, he earned $200,080 and another RunGood championship ring.

Another Milestone in a Decorated Career

The win pushed Moreno’s career tournament earnings past $5.5 million and marked his seventh recorded title. His biggest score remains the $1.4 million payday from his 2021 victory in the Wynn Millions main event.

Breaking Down the Action

The event ran from August 1-4, with the top 58 players sharing the seven-figure prize pool. Notable names making deep runs included Erick Lindgren (58th), Taylor Black (57th), Jacqueline Burkhart (19th), and defending champion Tyler Patterson (17th).

Moreno started the final day of play third in chips with 17 players left. He surged into the chip lead before the final table and maintained control from there. His first knockout came when he eliminated Dan Stavila in ninth place. Moreno’s A♦2♥ cracked Stavila’s A♠9♥ with a deuce on the river, sending Stavila out for $19,950.

Michael Persky, who made waves in 2023 with two WSOP Circuit main event wins—including one at Thunder Valley—was the next to go. His pocket queens ran into the pocket kings of Robert Grossglauser, who improved to kings full. Persky exited in eighth place for $26,350.

Grossglauser then eliminated two more opponents before running pocket jacks into Jackson Spencer’s kings. Soon after, he lost a preflop showdown with pocket fours against Moreno’s pocket sixes to finish fifth for $47,030.

Moreno Closes Strong

Jackson Spencer’s run ended in a blind-vs-blind clash. Moreno shoved from the small blind with 8♦4♥, and Spencer called with A♥K♣. Although ahead preflop, Spencer fell victim to trip fours when the board ran out 7♠4♣2♣4♦A♦. He took home $61,220 for fourth place.

Next, Joshua Prager moved in from the button with A♠10♥ and was called by Moreno holding A♠3♥ in the big blind. The board gave Moreno a wheel straight on the turn, and despite Prager holding a flush draw, he couldn’t catch up. Prager was eliminated in third for $89,620.

Heads-up play between Moreno and Hamed Valizadegan began with a double-up for the latter, but the momentum quickly shifted. The decisive hand came on a 7♥4♦3♠ flop where both players had top pair. Moreno’s J♥7♣ had Valizadegan’s 10♦7♦ out-kicked. The board ran out Q♣8♦, sealing the title for Moreno. Valizadegan earned $139,240 as the runner-up.

Final Table Results

Sixteen years after securing his first major live tournament victory at the 2009 World Poker Tour Borgata Poker Open, Olivier Busquet has found his way back to the spotlight. On Thursday, Busquet captured the Borgata Summer Poker Open Championship, earning $255,135—his largest win at the venue since that WPT triumph.

With this latest victory, Busquet boosted his career live earnings to over $9.1 million. It also marked his first recorded live cash since January 2020, ending a long hiatus from the tournament scene.

The $2,700 buy-in event drew 685 entries, pushing the prize pool to $1,644,000—well above the $1 million guarantee. Busquet struck a heads-up deal with runner-up Abe Gordon, flattening the top payouts. Gordon walked away with $233,255.

This win also earned Busquet 1,260 Card Player Player of the Year points, presented by CoinPoker—his best finish since 2019.

A Tough Road to Victory

The 43-year-old former online heads-up specialist came into the final day as chip leader, but the path to victory was filled with proven talent. Second in chips was Colombian pro Farid Jattin, a six-time WSOP final tablist with four WPT final tables under his belt.

Also in the final six were:

• Matthew Beinner, with prior WSOP and WPT final tables
• Sridhar Sangannagari, also a WPT and WSOP finalist
• Ryan Dodd, a three-time WSOP final tablist

One by one, they fell to the momentum of Busquet. Dodd exited first after his A♦J♦ lost to Busquet’s pocket tens. Jattin couldn’t find traction and was eliminated with Q♠9♠ against Sangannagari’s A♠J♣.

Sangannagari’s run ended shortly after. He lost a key hand to Gordon, then shoved six big blinds with A♥10♣. Beinner called with A♣Q♠ and held on a board of K♠10♥2♦J♣7♠, sending Sangannagari out in fourth.

The Final Stretch

Three-handed play saw Busquet in control, holding nearly 72% of the chips in play. He made a bold ace-high calldown against Beinner on a 9♥5♠2♥6♠5♦ board, which turned out to be spot-on.

However, Gordon wasn’t ready to fold. After picking off a few pots, he eliminated Beinner in third place with A♠8♣ against Q♣J♠. The board ran out A♣K♥6♦Q♥8♠.

That set the stage for a heads-up deal. The two agreed to a chop, with Busquet taking the title and top payout.

A Welcome Return

“It feels great,” Busquet told Poker.Org’s Brett Slezak after the win. “I fell in love, got married, and now have a family. I’ve been playing a lot online, and this summer I played at the World Series. I wanted to play more tournaments and ran incredibly well here.”

With his passion for live poker reignited, Busquet hinted this is just the beginning of his comeback: “I’ll probably play more. I really enjoy live poker—the social aspect of it.”

Final Table Results

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Just weeks after the 2025 World Series of Poker Main Event wrapped up in Las Vegas, the action picked right back up as the WSOP Circuit made its second stop of the season at the Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant, Oklahoma. Over the course of 12 intense days, the festival awarded 18 coveted WSOP Circuit rings and culminated in the $1,700 No-Limit Hold’em Main Event.

The headline of the series was written by Alex Cruz of Midland, Texas, who secured his first-ever live tournament victory by conquering a 968-player field. Cruz not only earned his first WSOP Circuit ring, but also took home a life-changing $241,412 payday and 912 points toward the Card Player Player of the Year race presented by CoinPoker.

“It felt like destiny,” Cruz told Poker.Org after lifting the trophy. “My friend told me he had a feeling I’d win this one — and so did I.”

A World Series of Poker Comeback Story

Cruz’s path to victory was anything but easy. Deep in the tournament, he found himself with the shortest stack at the final table. Down to just 10 big blinds with A♠7♠ versus Eliaan Pilo’s A♦Q♥, Cruz looked poised to exit. But a dramatic runner-runner flush runout brought him back from the brink.

Riding that momentum, Cruz doubled again — this time with pocket aces against Alex Rindone’s A♣Q♥ — to pull even in chips. From there, his climb continued.

Momentum Shift and a Final Table for the Ages

With each hand, Cruz chipped away at his opponents. He eliminated Pilo holding K♥2♦ against 10♥9♣ on an A♥K♠6♣A♠J♣ board and then caught a straight to knock out Peter Clive in third place. In that hand, Cruz was behind with J♦6♦ against Clive’s dominating K♦3♦ on a Q♥10♦9♦ flop. But the 8♠ river gave Cruz a miracle queen-high straight.

Heads-up play saw Cruz facing Rindone, who managed two quick double-ups. First, Rindone’s A♠10♠ held against Cruz’s A♦5♦, and then his pocket sixes beat Cruz’s A♠J♣. Still, Cruz maintained composure and chipped away steadily.

On the final hand, Cruz shoved with Q♦4♥ and Rindone called with J♥10♦. A clean runout of A♠6♣3♣8♦4♣ sealed Cruz’s win and his place in World Series of Poker Circuit history.

Familiar Faces and Notable Finishes

In an interesting coincidence, two players at the final table shared a unique career achievement. Jacob Thibodeau (7th place) and Ahmad Popal (9th place) both previously finished 74th in the WSOP Main Event — in 2019 and 2023, respectively.

As for Rindone, the runner-up performance marks his second major cash. He previously won a $900 PokerAtlas Tour event in Dallas in 2024, topping a 1,670-entry field.

Final Table Results – WSOP Circuit Choctaw Main Event

The excitement of the World Series of Poker continues to ripple through the poker world as fresh faces like Alex Cruz rise to the spotlight. With the WSOP Circuit back in full swing, poker fans can expect more breakout performances and unforgettable moments on the felt.

Norway’s Drea Karlsen cemented her status as the new queen of Tallinn after a commanding wire-to-wire victory in Ring Event #4: €350 NLH Queens at the WSOP Circuit stop in Estonia. Karlsen bagged €6,480, a coveted WSOPC gold ring, and a $5,000 Ticket to Paradise package to the Bahamas after dominating a 74-player field at Olympic Park Casino.

Starting the final day as chip leader, Karlsen never relinquished control. She bulldozed through the final table, eliminating six of her eight opponents—including a spirited final duel with Sweden’s Sindy Ygborn, who finished runner-up and received €4,150.

Karlsen’s final knockout came when Ygborn shoved with Q♦ 4♣, only to run into the Norwegian’s 6♥ 6♠. The board ran out 9♣ 4♥ K♠ 5♥ 7♥, giving both players a pair, but Karlsen’s sixes held strong to secure the title and her place in the WSOPC Tallinn winner’s circle.

The win marks Karlsen’s second major title of the year, having previously triumphed in a Queens event during OlyBet’s Showdown series in Vilnius. It was a fitting end to a memorable day in Tallinn, which also saw the €555 NLH draw a record-breaking field and the €1 million guaranteed WSOPC Main Event officially get underway.

Ring Event #4: €350 NLH Queens – Final Table Results

WSOPC Tallinn Main Event Heats Up

The €1 million guaranteed WSOPC Tallinn Main Event is officially underway, with Day 1a attracting 125 entries. Forty-seven players secured seats for Day 2, set for Friday. Two more flights are scheduled for Wednesday at 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. EEST, as players from across the globe chase a share of one of Northern Europe’s most prestigious titles.

With €161,595 already added to the prize pool, expectations are high for a massive turnout across the remaining flights, setting the stage for a thrilling weekend.

€555 NLH Shatters Estonian Records

Ring Event #3: €555 NLH will crown its champion today, but the event has already made history. A total of 744 entries created the largest €555 field ever recorded in Estonia, generating a prize pool that includes €62,100, a WSOPC ring, and a Ticket to Paradise package for the winner.

Latvia’s Raivis Pucurs leads the final day’s field. The Latvian has been on a heater in 2025, highlighted by a victory and several deep runs at OlyBet’s Showdown Voodoo Spring Edition in Riga.

Six WSOPC Rings on the Line Today

Wednesday brings a wave of action to Tallinn, with six WSOPC ring events either kicking off or playing down to winners.

Highlights include:

• Ring Event #6: €1,100 PLO4/5 – 29 players return to battle it out for the title.
• Ring Event #7: €5,000 NLH – One of the week’s premier high-roller events draws elite talent.
• Ring Event #8: €1,100 8-Game – Mixed-game players get their spotlight at 5 p.m. local time.

Meanwhile, satellites, side events, and buzzing cash games continue to fill the Olympic Park Casino, making WSOPC Tallinn a true summer poker festival.

Stay tuned as more champions emerge and the road to Paradise continues.