At the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel & Casinò di Kyrenia in northern Cyprus, Italian poker pro Italo Modena secured a formidable fourth-place chip count entering Day 2 of the high roller main event at the Onyx High Roller Series. Featuring a massive prize pool, the tournament narrowed its total entries down to 38 returning players.
The Bottom Line
- The Event: The main event at the Onyx High Roller Series inside Northern Cyprus’s Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino.
- The Field: A total of entries generated a prize pool, with 38 players advancing to Day 2.
-
The Standout Run: Italy’s Italo Modena bagged 3,415,000 chips (85 big blinds), positioning himself fourth overall behind chip leader Jordan Woodall.
High-Stakes Momentum in the Mediterranean
Live poker in the Mediterranean has maintained an electric pace, and the Onyx High Roller Series has delivered marquee fields for elite competitors. According to coverage from Italia Poker Club, the festival’s buy-in Main Event drew precisely 255 entrants across its qualification rounds. That turnout pushed the total prize pool right to the anticipated mark, creating an immediate sense of urgency for the 38 survivors who booked their tickets to Day 2.
For Modena, this deep run serves as a swift redemption arc. Just days earlier, the Italian contender came agonizingly close to sealing a victory in the Premiere event before bowing out at the final table. Rather than letting the narrow miss derail his trip, he pivoted directly into the festival’s crown jewel event and immediately established dominance.
Chasing the Chip Leaders on Day 2
When the tournament clock resumed at 13:00 local time, Modena unpacked a staggering bag of 3,415,000 chips, translating to 85 big blinds. That stack placed him fourth in the official counts, trailing only a tight pack of international heavyweights.
Germany’s Jordan Woodall led the remaining field into Day 2 holding 3,935,000 chips (98 big blinds). Bulgaria’s Boris Kolev sat closely behind in second with 3,700,000 chips (93 big blinds), followed by compatriot Fahredin Mustafov in third with 3,555,000 chips (89 big blinds). Just behind Modena in fifth place sat Belarus’s Aliaksandr Shylko with 2,920,000 chips.
| Position | Player | Nation | Stack | Big Blinds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jordan Woodall | Germany | 3,935,000 | 98 |
| 2 | Boris Kolev | Bulgaria | 3,700,000 | 93 |
| 3 | Fahredin Mustafov | Bulgaria | 3,555,000 | 89 |
| 4 | Italo Modena | Italy | 3,415,000 | 85 |
| 5 | Aliaksandr Shylko | Belarus | 2,920,000 | 73 |
Navigating a World-Class Field
Securing a spot near the top of the leaderboard is only half the battle when the remaining 38 players feature some of the sharpest tournament minds on the global circuit. Modena’s path to the final table requires grinding past an unforgiving roster of seasoned professionals who also secured bags for Day 2.
The chasing pack includes high-roller regulars such as Sergio Aido (1,580,000 chips), Daniel Rezaei (1,410,000 chips), Eelis Parssinen (1,245,000 chips), and Arsenii Karmatckii (725,000 chips). Further down the counts, shorter stacks like Aleksejs Ponakovs (280,000 chips) and Matthew Wantman (200,000 chips) retain enough flexibility to pose a threat if they find early double-ups.
With official payouts locked in upon the Day 2 restart, the tension inside the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel & Casinò continues to escalate. Whether Modena can convert his massive stack into a career-defining trophy remains to be seen, but his performance in Cyprus confirms his standing among Europe’s elite tournament contenders.
