Matthew Wantman Starts Short But Eyes Glory in SHRS Main Event
The $25,750 SHRS Main Event at the 2025 Onyx Super High Roller Series presented by Onyx Club has reached its finale inside the stunning Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino & Spa. From a starting field of 227 entries, just nine players remain, each guaranteed $121,750, but all with their sights set on the trophy, the $1,300,000 top prize from the $5,504,750 prize pool, and a major haul of Player of the Series points.
Leading the way is "Kenar", who returns with a massive stack of 15,665,000 after a huge final table bubble hand that vaulted him into a dominant position. Nearly doubling his closest challenger, Fahredin Mustafov (8,850,000), "Kenar" will be the player to catch when cards go in the air. Rounding out the podium is Russia’s Artur Martirosian, bringing a dangerous 7,410,000 stack to the table and plenty of experience in closing out high-stakes titles.
FInal Table Seat Draw
| Seat | Player | Country | Chip Count | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aren Bezhanyan | Armenia | 4,410,000 | 37 |
| 2 | Roman Stoika | Russia | 1,230,000 | 10 |
| 3 | Matthew Wantman | United States | 2,790,000 | 23 |
| 4 | Artur Martirosian | Russia | 7,410,000 | 62 |
| 5 | Vincent Huang | Australia | 2,845,000 | 24 |
| 6 | "Kenar" | Turkey | 15,665,000 | 131 |
| 7 | Fahredin Mustafov | Bulgaria | 8,850,000 | 74 |
| 8 | Rahul Byrraju | India | 6,895,000 | 57 |
| 9 | Viacheslav Buldygin | Russia | 6,670,000 | 56 |
The rest of the lineup features a mix of proven crushers and emerging threats. Rahul Byrraju (6,895,000) and Viacheslav Buldygin both start within striking distance of the leaders, while Aren Bezhanyan (4,410,000) and Vincent Huang occupy the middle of the pack. Matthew Wantman (2,790,000) and Roman Stoika face the steepest climb, with Stoika beginning as the clear short stack on just ten big blinds.
The Player of the Series standings could also see a shake-up today, with several finalists in position to collect valuable points. A strong finish here would boost their totals and keep them in the mix heading into the closing events of the festival.
Cards go in the air at 12 p.m. local time on Level 21 with blinds at 60,000/120,000 and a 120,000 big blind ante. Play will continue until a champion is crowned, and every hand will be streamed with a 30-minute delay on the OnyxLiveTV YouTube channel.
Final Table Payouts
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1 | $1,300,000 |
| 2 | $820,000 |
| 3 | $530,000 |
| 4 | $420,000 |
| 5 | $315,000 |
| 6 | $250,000 |
| 7 | $200,000 |
| 8 | $155,000 |
| 9 | $121,750 |
The nine remaining players have each secured a payout of $121,750, but there’s plenty more to play for. Reaching the final three spots will mean at least $530,000, while the runner-up is set to collect $820,000. Sitting at the top of the payout ladder is the $1,300,000 first-place prize, along with the trophy and the glory of winning the SHRS Main Event.
Stay tuned to PokerNews for live updates, chip counts, and all the big moments as the SHRS Main Event plays down to a champion.