$102,000 Onyx SHRS NLH Invitational Day 1 | 2025 Onyx Super High Roller Series

08-16-2025 09:30 UTC+2

The $102,000 Onyx SHRS NLH Invitational Kicks Off at 2 p.m.

Tim Baker

The $102,000 Onyx SHRS NLH Invitational gets underway at a new start time of 2 p.m. today as part of the 2025 Onyx Super High Roller Series presented by Onyx Club at the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino & Spa in Northern Cyprus. This exclusive event will bring together an elite mix of invited guests and top poker pros for three days of high-stakes action, ending on Monday, August 18, when one player will lift the trophy.

Unlike other tournaments on the schedule, today’s NLH Invitational and the PLO Invitational later in the series each have their own unique set of rules.

All players must be in their seats from the start, with chips in play from Hand 1. For the first 12 levels, invited players will compete only against other invited players, while pros will be seated with other pros. After Level 12, a redraw will take place to equally combine the two groups into mixed tables. Late registration is open until the start of Level 10 on Day 2. Reentries are allowed within 60 minutes of elimination, with those busting in Level 8 on Day 1 having the option to return before the start of Day 2.

$102,000 Onyx SHRS NLH Invitational Schedule

Date	Day	Time	Blind Levels
August 16	Day 1	2 p.m.	60 minutes
August 17	Day 2	12 p.m.	60 minutes
August 18	Final Day	12 p.m.	60 minutes

Players start with 1,000,000 chips to work with, and blinds start at 4,000/4,000 with a big blind ante of 4,000. Day 1 will feature eight 60-minute levels, with the same structure continuing on Day 2 before the final day plays down to a champion. This event will not count towards the Onyx Player of the Series standings.

The final table will be streamed with a 30-minute delay, along with several other featured events from the festival. The complete live stream schedule is available below, giving fans around the world the chance to watch the action unfold.

https://twitter.com/OnyxClub_/status/1951730440361906665

Stay tuned to PokerNews for full live coverage of the $102,000 Onyx SHRS NLH Invitational, including chip counts, key hands, and all the highlights from the first shuffle to the last river.

08-16-2025 13:36 UTC+2

Klein Gets Paid Off by Hammond

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Tim Baker

Level 1 : Blinds 4,000/4,000, 4,000 ante

Morten Klein made it 11,000 to go from the hijack and only Mark Hammond called from the big blind.

Hammond checked the K♠8♥4♦ flop, which allowed Klein to place out a continuation-bet of 8,000. Hammond made the call.

The Q♣ fell on the turn and Hammond check-called a second bet from Klein, this time for 11,000.

Hammond checked for the last time when the 7♥ dropped on the river, and Klein quickly bet 30,000. Hammond immediately called, and was forced to muck when Klein revealed 8♠7♠ for a rivered two pair.

Player	Chips	Progress
Morten Klein	1,070,000 70,000	70,000
Mark Hammond	930,000 70,000	70,000

Tags: Mark Hammond Morten Klein

08-16-2025 14:33 UTC+2

Ivey Sniffs Out Kaladjurdjevic's Bluff

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Tim Baker

Level 2 : Blinds 4,000/6,000, 6,000 ante

On a completed board of 10♥9♣7♥A♦7♦, Henrik Hecklen placed a bet of 26,000 out from the big blind, and Phil Ivey called from under the gun. Dejan Kaladjurdjevic, who was seated in the cutoff, thought for a while before raising to 75,000.

Hecklen released his cards almost instantaneously, but Ivey didn't. Instead, Ivey went into deep thought for quite some time, burning through a couple of his time banks.

Ultimately, Ivey flicked in the call and was shown a bluff by Kaladjurdjevic with 6x4x. Ivey tabled A♠K♠ for a pair of aces and the pot headed his way.

Player	Chips	Progress
Dejan Kaladjurdjevic	1,380,000 220,000	220,000
Henrik Hecklen	1,015,000 8,000	8,000
Phil Ivey	450,000 120,000	120,000

Tags: Dejan Kaladjurdjevic Henrik Hecklen Phil Ivey

08-16-2025 15:09 UTC+2

Martirosian Busts Lonis

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Tim Baker

Level 2 : Blinds 4,000/6,000, 6,000 ante

Artur Martirosian raised to 15,000 from the cutoff before Jesse Lonis three-bet to 68,000 out of the small blind. Martirosian four-bet to 140,000, and Lonis five-bet ripped it for around 450,000. Martirosian made the call to put Lonis at risk.

Jesse Lonis: 10♠10♣ All in
Artur Martirosian: A♥Q♥

Lonis needed to win this flip with pocket tens to be back to around the starting stack.

A flop of 10♥6♥2♠ may have given Lonis a set, but Martirosian picked up the nut flush draw. The 3♦ turn was safe for Lonis, but the 9♥ river completed Martirosian's flush.

Lonis headed to the rail, but still has a chance to reenter within the next hour.

Player	Chips	Progress
Artur Martirosian	1,300,000 250,000	250,000

Jesse Lonis	Busted

Tags: Artur Martirosian Jesse Lonis

08-16-2025 15:42 UTC+2

Byrraju Takes Half of Hissou's Stack; Hissou Busts Soon After

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Tim Baker

Level 3 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

On a completed board of J♠8♦5♣Q♠8♥ and with around 400,000 in the middle, Sirzat Hissou was first to act from the big blind blind and checked the action over to Rahul Byrraju. Byrraju, who was seated on the button, threw out an overbet of 500,000.

Hissou went into the tank for a long time, burning through four of his time banks. In the end, he decided on a call. Byrraju revealed a straight with 10♦9♣, and all Hissou could do was shake his head, while returning his cards to the dealer.

Hissou was seen leaving his table soon after the hand as he was eliminated.

Player	Chips	Progress
Rahul Byrraju	3,000,000 400,000	400,000
Jesse Lonis	1,000,000 1,000,000	1,000,000

Sirzat Hissou	Busted

Tags: Rahul Byrraju Sirzat Hissou

08-16-2025 16:01 UTC+2

Ding's Bluff Turns into a Pair

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Tim Baker

Level 3 : Blinds 4,000/8,000, 8,000 ante

Biao Ding raised to 20,000 from under the gun before Mate Hanusi three-bet the hijack to 60,000. When it got back to Ding, he called.

Ding knuckled the action over to Hanusi on the K♦7♦6♣ flop, and Hanusi placed out a bet of 40,000. Ding check-raised to 125,000, which was called by Hanusi.

The 6♠ turn went check-check for the 10♠ to appear on the river. Ding bet 40,000, and Hanusi called to see the Q♣10♣ of Ding for a pair of tens on the river. Hanusi couldn't beat it, and Ding was awarded the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Biao Ding	1,400,000 200,000	200,000
Mate Hanusi	400,000 200,000	200,000

Tags: Biao Ding Mate Hanusi

08-16-2025 16:36 UTC+2

Brutal Turn Ends Bevers' Tournament

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Tim Baker

Level 4 : Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante

With around 600,000 in the pot already on the turn of a board showing 3♦8♥J♥3♥, Maxim Bevers jammed for around 400,000 from the big blind, and was snap-called by Jessica Teusl, who was seated on the button.

Maxim Bevers: K♥Q♥ All in
Jessica Teusl: J♦J♠

Bevers was drawing dead with his flush to the full house of Teusl. A meaningless Q♠ fell on the river, and all of Bevers' chips were sent to Teusl.

Player	Chips	Progress
Jessica Teusl	2,300,000 700,000	700,000

Maxim Bevers	Busted

Tags: Jessica Teusl Maxim Bevers

08-16-2025 17:05 UTC+2

Ding Shows "YoH ViraL" the Bluff

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Tim Baker

Level 4 : Blinds 5,000/10,000, 10,000 ante

After being moved to a new table and while still getting comfortable in his new seat, Biao Ding raised to 25,000 from the cutoff. Only "YoH ViraL" made the call from the big blind.

"YoH ViraL" check-called a bet of 35,000 from Ding on the 7♠4♠Q♣ flop, and the 2♥ fell on the turn. "YoH ViraL" checked again, but then folded after Ding bet 150,000.

On the very next hand, Ding raised to 20,000 from he hijack and "YoH ViraL" three-bet the small blind to 55,000. Ding continued in the form of a call.

"YoH ViraL" started with a check on the 4♠6♦6♣ flop, and Ding opted to bet 30,000. After a brief pause, "YoH ViraL" called.

The 9♦ turn got a second check by "YoH ViraL", and a second bet from Ding, this time for 140,000. After using one of his time bank cards, "YoH ViraL" folded, and Ding revealed 5♥2♠ for a complete bluff.

Player	Chips	Progress
Thomas Santerne	1,000,000 1,000,000	1,000,000
Biao Ding	900,000 500,000	500,000
YoH ViraL	650,000 250,000	250,000

Tags: Biao Ding

08-16-2025 18:06 UTC+2

Hammond Pays to See Hanusi's Quads

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Tim Baker

Level 5 : Blinds 6,000/12,000, 12,000 ante

Mark Hammond came in with a raise to 25,000 from the cutoff, and only Mate Hanusi defended from the big blind.

Hanusi check-called Hammond's bet of 15,000 on the A♦A♣6♦ flop, and the two players saw the A♠ appear on the turn.

Both players checked for the 7♥ to roll off on the river. Hanusi bet 75,000, which Hammond called.

Hanusi showed an unbeatable hand with A♥5♣ for quads to take down the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mate Hanusi	950,000 200,000	200,000
Mark Hammond	720,000 180,000	180,000

Tags: Mark Hammond Mate Hanusi

08-16-2025 18:58 UTC+2

Hammond's Aces Send Ding Out

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook

Tim Baker

Level 6 : Blinds 8,000/16,000, 16,000 ante

Liang Xu raised to 34,000 from middle position and Mark Hammond called from the cutoff. Biao Ding squeezed to 140,000 out of the big blind, which forced Xu to fold. Hammond, however, back-jammed for 562,000, and was snap-called by Ding.

Biao Ding: K♣K♥ All in
Mark Hammond: A♥A♣

It was poker's classic preflop cooler that Hammond was on the right side of.

Hammond improved to a set on the 6♥7♥Q♣8♣A♠ runout to win the pot and eliminate Ding, who had just one big blind less than Hammond to start the hand.