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Cesar Garcia wasted no time asserting control at the final table of the Onyx High Roller Series $50,000 PLO Grand Slam inside the Onyx Club at Merit Royal Diamond Hotel & Spa. From the very first hand, he set the tone — opening relentlessly and applying pressure across the board.
What began as a routine steal of the blinds quickly evolved into a masterclass in controlled aggression.
Entering the final table as a commanding chip leader, Garcia leveraged his stack to full effect, raising at a relentless pace and forcing the rest of the field into difficult decisions. Hours later, he stood alone with the trophy and the $1,200,000 first-place prize, having defeated Gruffudd Pugh-Jones in an intense heads-up battle.
“It means a lot. Right now I’m exhausted — it was a long journey. I came into the final table as chip leader and ran very well throughout. It feels like a dream. It’s my biggest score, and I’m super happy,” Garcia said after rivering a straight in the final hand to clinch the title.”
$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 |
Maximum Pressure, Maximum Reward
Garcia’s approach was clear from the outset.
With several short stacks at the table, he relentlessly targeted the middle stacks, opening nearly 80% of hands during the early levels. At one stage, he controlled over 60% of the chips in play.
“My strategy was simple — put pressure on the middle stacks. I knew I was opening a lot, maybe 80% of hands. I think it worked. I tried to play my best and apply maximum pressure. I’m very happy with how it went.”
His dominance wasn’t just built on aggression — it was backed by premium hands at critical moments. He flopped sets, turned nut flushes, hit quads, and consistently capitalized on key spots, eliminating opponents while maintaining control of the tempo.
From Hold’em Success to PLO Mastery
While Garcia’s early career highlights came in No-Limit Hold’em — including a WSOP bracelet and multiple deep runs — recent years have seen him transition into Pot-Limit Omaha with remarkable success.
His résumé now includes:
- A €10,000 PLO title in Monte Carlo
- A Triton $50,000 PLO final table
- A Diamond Poker Series final table
- And now, the $50,000 PLO Grand Slam crown
“PLO tournaments are growing a lot. I started transitioning years ago, mostly playing cash. But over the last year and a half, I’ve played many tournaments. I really enjoy the competition and emotions. I think it’s a great time for PLO — it keeps growing.”
A Battle-Tested Heads-Up Finish
Heads-up play against Pugh-Jones — widely regarded as a PLO specialist — proved anything but straightforward.
Momentum swung multiple times. Massive pots were won and lost. At one point, Garcia was forced to claw back after surrendering the lead.
But in the defining hand, Garcia doubled through with a flopped set in a huge confrontation, reclaiming full control. Moments later, with both players holding straight draws, Garcia rivered the winning card — completing a seven-high straight to secure the championship.
“I knew Gruffudd was a heads-up specialist. I normally play cash, so I feel comfortable heads-up. He’s super tough. I’m just very happy I got it done.”
A Statement Performance in North Cyprus
Garcia praised the venue and organization following the win:
“It’s amazing here. The hotel, the organization, the structure — everything was perfect. We were super deep at the final table, which I love. I only have good words. Hopefully, I’ll come again.”
And his festival wasn’t over. Trophy in hand, Garcia headed straight to register for the next event — the $25,000 PLO Main Event — riding the momentum of one of the most dominant final table performances of the series.
From relentless aggression to composure under pressure, Cesar Garcia delivered a commanding performance to capture the $50,000 PLO Grand Slam title, adding the biggest score of his career to an already impressive résumé.
