Event #10: $50,000 PLO Grand Slam
Day 3 Completed
2026 Onyx High Roller Series
Event #10: $50,000 PLO Grand Slam
Day: 3
Event Info
2026 Onyx High Roller Series
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 3
Buy-in
$50,000
Prize Pool
$4,800,000
Total Entries
98
Level
25
Blinds
200,000 / 400,000
Ante
400,000
Entries
7
Players Left
1
Players Left 1 / 98
Filter
Level 25
: Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
Cesar Garcia opened the first hand at the final table of the Onyx High Roller Series $50,000 PLO Grand Slam and took down the blinds and ante. It was a seemingly insignificant moment, an innocuous pot in what promised to be a long day inside the Onyx Club. But that hand set the stage for what was to follow, for Garcia spent the next several hours raising, and raising, and raising some more.
Garcia came into the final table as a massive chip leader and used his stack to full advantage, bullying the rest of the table on his way to capturing the trophy and $1,200,000 first prize after defeating Gruffudd Pugh-Jones heads-up.
"It means a lot. Right now it feels super tired, because it being a long journey. I came as chip leader to the final table. I ran very well in the tournament. So it’s like a dream. It’s my biggest score, and right now I’m super happy,” Garcia said after rivering a straight on the last hand to clinch the title.
Onyx High Roller Series $50,000 PLO Grand Slam Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cesar Garcia | Spain | $1,200,000 |
| 2 | Gruffudd Pugh-Jones | Wales | $840,000 |
| 3 | Filip Aleksic | Austria | $555,000 |
| 4 | Sean Rafael | United States | $430,000 |
| 5 | Nino Pansier | Netherlands | $340,000 |
| 6 | Danielle Noja | Australia | $265,000 |
| 7 | Espen Myrmo | Norway | $210,000 |
Garcia’s strategy at the start of the day was simple: he was going to apply maximum pressure on the rest of the table. He raised preflop in around 80 percent of the hands for the first few levels, taking down countless pots with little resistance. Tablemate Danielle Noja said he was a “Spanish matador” and a “bull in a China shop.” He held more than 60 percent of the chips in play while there were still five players left and threatened to leave the rest of the table in his wake as he coasted to the trophy.
“My strategy, of course, because there were some short stacks, so I have to put a lot of pressure on the middle stacks. And, yeah, my plan was to open most of the hands. I know that the first three, four hours I was opening like 80 percent. Somebody told me that they said it in the live streaming,” Garcia said. “So, yeah, I think that it works. I think that I play my best. I try to put a lot of pressure and it works, so I’m very happy.”
The prize was the biggest of Garcia’s career, which goes back more than a decade. He won a WSOP bracelet in a $2,000 No-Limit Hold’em event in 2016 and made two EPT final tables, including an eighth-place finish in Barcelona last August. Garcia had compiled $2.3 million in live earnings before this event, and this score will push him to the cusp of cracking the top-10 all-time among Spanish players.
Most of his early big scores, though, came in No-Limit Hold’em. It was only in the past few years that Garcia began to focus on PLO tournaments, and he’s quickly built up a record of mastery at the four-card game. He won a €10,000 PLO event at EPT Monte Carlo last year and made the final table of the $50,000 PLO event at the Triton Series in Jeju, South Korea, in September. He also finished in fifth place in the €10,000 Diamond Poker Series Championship in Prague in December.
Garcia has seen the sudden burst of PLO tournaments in recent years and thinks the game will only continue to grow. “So when I started playing poker, I started playing No-Limit. But, like, I don’t know, eight years ago I made a transition. But I was only playing cash, and right now, PLO tournaments are growing a lot,” he said.
“So, yeah, since one year and a half or something, I start playing like a lot of tournaments. I really like it. I like the competition, the emotions that you live in a tournament, and I think that it’s a good moment to start playing PLO tournaments because it’s growing and growing. And hopefully it will be like this a lot of time.”
Final Table Action
The final seven players returned to the Onyx Club inside the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel & Spa at 1 p.m. local time to compete for the trophy, and at the start of the day, Garcia seemingly had one hand around it already.
Garcia began with 20,260,000, more than 40 percent of the chips in play and 9,000,000 ahead of his closest challenger. His massive stack was worth a staggering 253 big blinds. He quickly put his chips to work, raising nearly every hand and building his stack some more with little resistance from the rest of the table.
Garcia sometimes even picked up a good hand. He flopped a set of sevens against Espen Myrmo’s top pair and held on to send Myrmo to the rail as the first casualty of the day. He then woke up with aces as Noja called all in for 1,930,000. The affable Australian picked up a pair and straight draw on the flop, but he couldn’t improve from there and was eliminated in sixth place.
Garcia approached 30,000,000 in style, hitting quad threes against Nino Pansier’s set of queens to win a big pot. He finally lost a pot when Pugh-Jones doubled up for 1,685,000 with jacks against Garcia’s flopped pair of nines.
Garcia had widened his lead when the remaining five players went on the first break of the day, holding 28,805,000. Filip Aleksic was far behind in second place with 9,195,000. Pansier brought Garcia closer to the pack when he flopped a set of queens and raised to 4,050,000 on the turn. Garcia managed to get away from a pair of aces, but not before giving up the big pot to Pansier.
Pugh-Jones was then all in for 2,350,000 against Garcia and hit two pair on the flop, leaving Garcia looking for just one of two sevens left in the deck going to the river. “Give me them chips,” Pugh-Jones playfully said going to the river, tempting fate, but he held on to earn the double up.
Garcia’s downturn was halted when Pansier tried a bluff for 2,275,000 on the river. Garcia called with a pair of kings after a lengthy tank, and Pansier instantly mucked his cards, allowing Garcia to take the pot without a showdown.
Pugh-Jones picked up two aces and was all in again on the flop for 1,700,000 against Pansier. Pugh-Jones improved to a straight on the turn, and he doubled up to more than 7,000,000 while Pansier was left with just 440,000. The Dutchman was eliminated on the next hand as Garcia made kings and deuces to bust Pansier in fifth place.
Garcia’s once-unassailable chip lead encountered its first challenge in a pot against Pugh-Jones, who bombed the river for 5,010,000 after rivering a straight. Garcia called with just two pair and fell down to 18,580,000, while Pugh-Jones moved up to 15,590,000. Sean Rafael then raised to 700,000 on the button and Garcia potted to 2,300,000 in the small blind. Pugh-Jones, though, woke up with aces in the big blind and reraised to 7,800,000, forcing out both Rafael and Garcia as he moved into the chip lead for the first time.
Garcia moved back in front after flopping the nut straight against Pugh-Jones. Aleksic, meanwhile, spiked two pair on the turn to beat Rafael’s pair of nines and send him to the rail in fourth place.
Garcia picked up two aces in a pot against Pugh-Jones and ended up making the nut flush on the river. He put out a bet of 8,350,000, and Pugh-Jones managed to get away but not before Garcia began to reopen a big lead.
Pugh-Jones and Aleksic were virtually tied in chips when they tangled in a pot that would determine who would get to challenge Garcia for the title heads-up. Pugh-Jones limped the button, then called when Aleksic raised to 1,000,000 in the small blind. Aleksic continued for 800,000 on the king-high paired board, and Pugh-Jones called after flopping trip eights. Aleksic fired out another 1,300,000 on the turn, and Pugh-Jones again called. Aleksic bet 6,600,000 on the river, leaving just 50,000 behind, and Pugh-Jones tanked for a minute before calling. Aleksic could only show two pair, eights and fives, and Pugh-Jones took the massive pot to leave Aleksic on fumes.
Aleksic managed two double ups to get back to 600,000, but Pugh-Jones then hit trip jacks and left Aleksic drawing dead by the river and heading to the rail in third place. Garcia led 27,300,000 to 21,325,000 at the start of heads-up, but with both players still having more than 80 big blinds each, it promised to be a protracted affair.
After taking a 40-minute dinner break just after the start of heads-up, Pugh-Jones returned from break and bombed the river for 8,850,000 with trip fours. Garcia folded, and Pugh-Jones moved back in front.
Garcia was a card away from a massive double up when both he and Pugh-Jones hit the nut straight. Garcia, though, had a flush draw and two pair, and he used his “one time” going to the river. It didn’t come through, however, and he had to settle for a chop. Pugh-Jones then tried a bluff for 2,300,000 on the river holding just a pair of tens on a paired board, and Garcia called with a pair of aces to win the pot and retake the lead.
His advantage proved short-lived, as Pugh-Jones flopped the nut straight and got paid on a bet of 5,100,000 on the river to move up to 32,000,000. Garcia crawled back into contention after making a full house, firing 4,000,000 on the river as Pugh-Jones called with trip fives. The two opponents remained evenly matched before Pugh-Jones raised to 900,000 in the big blind with two aces and Garcia called on the button. Pugh-Jones checked the flop and called after Garcia bet 1,700,000. Garcia bet another 4,200,000 on the turn, and Pugh-Jones called to the river, where Garcia moved all in for 12,450,000.
Pugh-Jones took a minute before calling with his aces, but Garcia turned over a flopped set of fives to win the pot and earn a massive double up that made him the overwhelming chip leader once more. He progressively whittled Pugh-Jones down to 8,000,000 before raising to 1,200,000. Pugh-Jones called to a queen-high flop, where Garcia bet 2,800,000. Pugh-Jones called, and they got in the rest of Pugh-Jones’ stack of 4,825,000 on the turn.
Both players had a straight draw, while Pugh-Jones was ahead with a pair of fives. Garcia, though, spiked a three on the river to make a seven-high straight and secure the title.
From running away from the field to having to come back against the Welsh online wizard, who in 2024 proved his PLO mastery by winning two WCOOP Main Events on the same day, Garcia nonetheless remained confident in his own heads-up abilities. “I know that Gruffudd was a heads-up specialist. I normally play cash, so I feel okay playing heads-up. But he was a super tough player and, you know, finally I won, so I’m very happy,” he said.
From the majestic sandy beaches, luxurious hotel, and the well-organized tournament structure, Garcia has enjoyed his time here in North Cyprus this week and promises to be back.
“It’s amazing. I really love Merit. The hotel is amazing. The organization is amazing. The tournament, too. Even the stucture. I twas a super good structure. We were super deep at the final table, which is, for me, great. Everything was perfect, and I only have good words for them. Hopefully, I will come again,” he said.
Garcia’s festival wasn’t done just yet, however. He quickly made his way, trophy in hand, downstairs from the Onyx Club to the main tournament room to register for Day 1c of the $25,000 PLO Main Event. Coming off his dominant run here today, he’s proven he’ll be a tough man to beat.
That concludes PokerNews' coverage of the Onyx High Roller Series $50,000 PLO Grand Slam. The festival wraps up with the $25,000 PLO Main Event, so stay tuned for more updates here in North Cyprus over the next few days.
Level 25
: Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
Cesar Garcia started out the final table of the Onyx High Roller Series $50,000 PLO Grand Slam as the clear favorite to take the title, and while his path wasn't always smooth, the Spaniard was the one left holding the title and taking home the $1,200,000 at the end.
Stay tuned for a recap of the final table and an interview with the champion.
Final Table results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cesar Garcia | Spain | $1,200,000 |
| 2 | Gruffudd Pugh-Jones | Wales | $840,000 |
| 3 | Filip Aleksic | Austria | $555,000 |
| 4 | Sean Rafael | United States | $430,000 |
| 5 | Nino Pansier | Netherlands | $340,000 |
| 6 | Danielle Noja | Australia | $265,000 |
| 7 | Espen Myrmo | Norway | $210,000 |
Level 25
: Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
Gruffudd Pugh-Jones limped in from the button before Cesar Garcia raised to 1,200,000. Pugh-Jones called, and they saw a flop of Q♣10♠5♦.
Garcia then bet 2,800,000, and Pugh-Jones called. The turn was the 4♠ and Garcia moved all in. Pugh-Jones called for his last 4,825,000.
Pugh-Jones had A♦J♦5♣2♠ for a pair of fives and straight draw, while Garcia was also on a straight draw with K♣J♠7♥6♣. Both players stood up from their seats to await the river, which came the 3♥ to give Garcia a seven-high straight and the title.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
49,000,000
8,800,000
|
8,800,000 |
|
||
|
Busted | |
Level 25
: Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
Cesar Garcia limped in from the button before Gruffudd Pugh-Jones raised to 1,200,000 with A♣10♦9♣2♦. Garcia called.
The flop came K♥Q♠3♣ and Pugh-Jones bet 600,000. Garcia folded 9♠8♣5♠4♠.
Garcia limped in again a few hands later, and Pugh-Jones raised to 1,200,000 once more holding A♠Q♥9♣8♠. Garcia called, and the flop came J♠7♠4♣.
Pugh-Jones then bet 2,800,000, and Garcia gave up 7♦5♣3♥3♣.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
40,200,000
4,000,000
|
4,000,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
8,825,000
4,000,000
|
4,000,000 |
Level 25
: Blinds 200,000/400,000, 400,000 ante
Cesar Garcia raised to 1,200,000 on the button with Q♠9♦8♣7♠ and Gruffudd Pugh-Jones called.
The flop came A♥8♦4♣ and Garcia bet 800,000. Pugh-Jones called, and they both checked the 2♦ turn.
Garcia improved to trips on the 8♠ river and bet 3,000,000, and Pugh-Jones folded K♥6♣5♣4♦.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
44,200,000
2,400,000
|
2,400,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
4,825,000
2,400,000
|
2,400,000 |
Level: 25
Blinds: 200,000/400,000
Ante: 400,000
Level 24
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Gruffudd Pugh-Jones limped in from the button before Cesar Garcia raised to 900,000 with K♥K♦8♦5♦. Pugh-Jones called to see the J♦9♠5♠ flop.
Garcia then bet 2,100,000, and Pugh-Jones quickly folded A♣J♣2♠2♦.
The two players then checked to the river on a board of A♦10♣6♥Q♠A♣ in a limped pot when Garcia bet 300,000 from the big blind. Pugh-Jones called, and Garcia showed Q♦8♦5♣3♠ for two pair. Pugh-Jones mucked J♥J♦3♣2♠, and Garcia took another pot.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
41,800,000
800,000
|
800,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
7,225,000
800,000
|
800,000 |
Level 24
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Cesar Garcia raised to 900,000 on the button with A♣J♦7♣3♥ and Gruffudd Pugh-Jones defended Q♦10♦10♣4♦.
Action was checked to the river on a board of Q♣5♦5♥9♦4♠. Pugh-Jones then bet 700,000, but Garcia then raised to 4,200,000.
Pugh-Jones again went in the tank, but this time he laid down his two pair while Garcia took the pot playing just the fives on the board.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
41,000,000
2,200,000
|
2,200,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
8,025,000
2,200,000
|
2,200,000 |
Level 24
: Blinds 150,000/300,000, 300,000 ante
Cesar Garcia limped in on the button, Gruffudd Pugh-Jones raised to 900,000, and Garcia called.
Pugh-Jones checked the 10♣8♣5♥ flop and Garcia bet 1,700,000. Pugh-Jones called, and the Q♦ fell on the turn.
Garcia then bet 4,200,000, and Pugh-Jones again called. The river was the 4♦ and Garcia moved all in for 12,450,000.
Pugh-Jones waited for a confirmation of the amount and tanked for a minute before slamming in a chip to call. Garcia loudly clapped his hands together and shot out of his seat as he turned over Q♥5♠5♣3♠ for a set. Pugh-Jones sent A♠A♣J♦7♥ into the muck, and Garcia earned the massive double up.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
38,800,000
18,600,000
|
18,600,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
10,225,000
18,600,000
|
18,600,000 |
