Jean-Robert Bellande captured a dramatic victory in Cyprus, winning the Onyx High Roller Championship at Merit Royal Diamond for a career-best $1.5 million. The event carried a $100,000 buy-in and drew a field of 50 high-stakes players, creating a $5 million prize pool paid out to the top eight finishers.
From Chip Leader to the Brink Early
Bellande entered the final day in a strong position after dominating the last two tables and building a healthy chip lead. That advantage disappeared quickly when Pieter Aerts hit a miracle river to complete a set, cracking Bellande’s two pair and stripping him of most of his stack. Aerts surged into a commanding chip lead, and Bellande suddenly found himself facing a very real elimination threat.
Bubble Bursts and the Field Thins Out
The tournament turned once Artur Martirosian exited on the money bubble. Eliminations followed in quick succession as Gha Iakobishvili and Biao Ding were knocked out, with France’s Emilien Pitavy finishing sixth. At that stage, Rob Yong held the chip lead, but Bellande stayed alive by doubling through both Aerts and Thomas Eychenne, keeping his title hopes intact.
Heads-Up Between Friends Ends in One Key Hand
After Markkos Ladev exited in third and Aerts fell in fourth, the tournament came down to a heads-up battle between Bellande and Yong. The matchup remained close until a mistimed bluff swung momentum. In the decisive hand, Yong moved in with pocket fives on a full board, only to be called by Bellande holding pocket jacks, sealing the win.
Career Milestone and Long-Awaited Breakthrough
The $1.5 million payout nearly doubled Bellande’s previous best result, a second-place finish in the 2015 Poker Players Championship worth $748,828. It also ended a long stretch without a six-figure score since he captured his first WSOP bracelet in the $5,000 Six-Max event, marking one of the most significant victories of his career.