"Dony" raised to 400,000 from the hijack with A♦A♠7♥6♦ and Sergei Nesterenko called from the big blind holding A♥Q♣9♠9♣.
Both checked the 10♠5♥8♣ flop to the 6♣ turn, where Nesterenko led for 500,000. "Dony" called to watch the K♦ fall on the river and took some time before he potted it for 1,975,000. "Dony" was ahead with his aces, and did sniff out the bluff after some time, which left Nesterenko with just 300,000 in his stack.
Martin Dam made it 425,000 from the cutoff and "Dony" called from the small blind.
The flop came Q♥8♦9♠ and "Dony" check-called a bet of 350,000 from Dam to see the K♣ on the turn. "Dony" checked again and then Dam fired an even 1,000,000. "Dony" called.
A 7♣ filled out the board and after "Dony" checked, Dam fired 2,600,000. "Dony" eventually flicked in the call with Q♦Q♣8♣5♦ for a set, but Dam held A♥J♣10♠4♠ for the nuts to scoop an early pot.
The final day of the $102,000 Onyx SHRS PLO Invitational is about to kick off at the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino & Spa, where nine players return to chase one of the most prestigious titles of the Onyx Super High Roller Series. The event drew 79 entries to create a $7,663,000 prize pool, with $1,923,000 reserved for the eventual champion.
There’s no shortage of storylines at this final table. Leading the way is "Dony", who stormed into the chip lead on Day 2 and carries 23,400,000 into the finale. Right behind him is Samuli Sipila (9,075,000), making them the last surviving invitee-pro pairing in the tournament.
Final Table Seat Draw
Seat
Player
Country
Chip Count
Big Blinds
1
Ben Lamb
United States
5,000,000
40
2
Sergei Nesterenko
Russia
3,300,000
26
3
Robert Cowen
United Kingdom
4,800,000
38
4
Cong Pham
United States
14,000,000
112
5
Martin Dam
Denmark
6,425,000
51
6
Lautaro Guerra
Spain
2,300,000
18
7
"Dony"
United Arab Emirates
23,400,000
187
8
Laszlo Bujtas
Hungary
11,525,000
92
9
Samuli Sipila
Finland
9,075,000
73
This lineup is stacked with proven winners. Ben Lamb and Robert Cowen are both two-time WSOP bracelet champions, while Lautaro Guerra has one of his own. Laszlo Bujtas (11,525,000) adds even more pedigree as Hungary’s all-time money leader according to TheHendonMob.
Also in the mix are Cong Pham, who brings back 14,000,000 and sits second in chips, Martin Dam with 6,425,000, and Sergei Nesterenko on 3,300,000, each looking to make their mark on one of the biggest PLO stages ever assembled.
Martin Dam
Each of the nine finalists has locked up a payday of $255,000, but the real money lies further up the ladder. A podium finish guarantees $950,000, while both the runner-up and champion will collect seven-figure prizes. At the top sits the $1,923,000 first-place prize along with the coveted $102,000 Onyx SHRS PLO Invitational title.
Here’s what the nine finalists are playing for as they battle down to a champion tomorrow:
Remaining Payouts
Place
Prize
1
$1,923,000
2
$1,340,000
3
$950,000
4
$725,000
5
$565,000
6
$450,000
7
$370,000
8
$305,000
9
$255,000
Cards will be back in the air at 2 p.m. local time on Thursday, August 22 with around 12 minutes left in Level 15. The final table will be streamed with a 30-minute delay on OnyxLiveTV, giving fans around the world the chance to watch every hand unfold with commentary and hole cards revealed.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for complete live coverage of the $102,000 Onyx SHRS PLO Invitational as the final nine play down to a champion.
