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Alex Kulev has secured the title in the $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em Opener at the 2026 Onyx High Roller Series, held inside the Merit Royal Diamond Casino & Spa. Following an ICM agreement with Damir Gabdullin, the pair continued to play for the trophy and an additional $70,000, with Kulev ultimately closing out the match to claim the victory and a $384,150 first-place prize from the $1,945,800 prize pool.
“I’m delighted to be here and delighted to have been able to win this tournament,” Kulev said after the win, with his parents present at the final table. While not the largest score of his career, the result carried special meaning.
“Any tournament win is great for me. It shows I’m heading in the right direction as a poker player. Whenever I play, I play to win, so I’m very happy to take this one down.”
Known online as “FutureofMe,” Kulev has been a fixture at the highest online stakes for more than a decade. This victory adds another live title to his résumé and marks his first-ever cash in the Onyx High Roller Series—one he will not soon forget.
$10,000 No-Limit Hold’em Opener – Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alex Kulev | Bulgaria | $384,150* |
| 2 | Damir Gabdullin | Russian Federation | $315,850* |
| 3 | Fahredin Mustafov | Bulgaria | $200,000 |
| 4 | Klemens Roiter | Austria | $150,000 |
| 5 | Maksim Shornikau | Belarus | $107,000 |
| 6 | Alexey Borovkov | Russian Federation | $80,000 |
| 7 | Gha Iakobishvili | Israel | $63,000 |
| 8 | Ran Azor | Israel | $53,000 |
| 9 | Maximilian Wieser | Austria | $46,800 |
*Denotes heads-up deal
Final Table Action
From 207 entries across three opening flights, 31 players returned for Day 2, all already in the money and chasing significant pay jumps. The field thinned quickly, with several eliminations early in the day, while Gabdullin picked up a key boost when an opponent shoved directly into his pocket aces.
Kulev’s path was not without challenges. He faced a difficult river decision early, correctly calling with a straight to gain confidence. As play progressed toward the final two tables, Kulev and Gabdullin emerged as the dominant stacks.
Momentum swung decisively in Kulev’s favor after he won a crucial flip to eliminate Istvan Birizdo, followed shortly by a gutshot that sent Thomas Muehloecker to the rail. With pressure mounting near the final table bubble, Giorgiy Skhulukhiya exited, setting the stage for the final nine inside the Onyx Club.
Kulev entered the final table as chip leader but suffered an early setback when his ace-seven ran into Alexey Borovkov’s pocket aces. He responded by maintaining aggression and navigating several key spots, including eliminating Gha Iakobishvili and forcing Maksim Shornikau into a short stack before his eventual exit in fifth place.
Four-handed, Gabdullin and Klemens Roiter clashed in a massive pot, with Gabdullin emerging on top and later eliminating Roiter just short of the podium. Gabdullin then knocked out Fahredin Mustafov, setting up the heads-up battle.
Cool, Calm, and Collected
Gabdullin began heads-up with a 3:2 chip advantage, but the momentum shifted early as Kulev picked off a key bluff. The duel remained balanced until an ICM deal was agreed, locking up nearly identical payouts and leaving the trophy and $70,000 still to play for.
Despite Gabdullin briefly extending his lead, Kulev delivered the defining moment of the match by making a courageous call with bottom pair to catch a large bluff. From there, the end came swiftly. In the final hand, Kulev called off with top two pair, leaving Gabdullin drawing dead and sealing the championship.
With that, Alex Kulev was crowned the $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em Opener champion, marking a strong opening statement at the 2026 Onyx High Roller Series at Merit Royal Diamond.
