Traveling approximately 6,400 miles from Florida, Ray Qartomy surprised some by entering the $3,500 Championship in Cyprus. For Qartomy, however, the trip was an easy decision. “I heard about it and I was in Jordan, so I just flew back with my wife here to Cyprus,” he explained during a Day 2 break. “I came once before, and I do like it. I love the casino. Just everything is comfortable. It’s free, very friendly, very clean. I would be back for sure.”
A Consistent WPT Contender
While his presence in Cyprus might have been unexpected, Qartomy’s participation in a World Poker Tour event was not. He has become a familiar face on tour, widely regarded as one of the best players yet to claim a WPT title. His résumé includes:
- 21 WPT cashes totaling $1,559,720
- Six final table appearances
- Two top-three finishes, highlighted by:
- 3rd place at WPT Choctaw 2022 for $235,000
- 2nd place at WPT Legends of Poker 2022 for $380,000
“It’s my dream actually,” Qartomy said about chasing a WPT victory. “It’s my dream to just finish it up. I tried many times. I wish I could do this one. I have a belief. I’m playing really well right now, so I have a belief that I will do something here.”
Eliminated on Day 3
Qartomy advanced to Day 3 among the final 70 players, but his quest for a seventh WPT final table ended in Level 19 (10,000/15,000/15,000). With 370,000 chips, he moved all in on the button holding A♣8♣, only to run into K♠J♠ held by Hulya Secking.
The flop brought A♠6♠4♠, giving Secking the nut flush and leaving Qartomy nearly drawing dead. The 7♣ turn sealed his elimination, and he finished in 47th place, earning $11,800.
Strong 2025 Results
Despite the setback, Qartomy has enjoyed a strong year. According to official records, he had already accumulated $597,330 in 2025 earnings prior to Cyprus, pushing his lifetime total to $5,867,976. This resurgence comes after two modest years, with just $30,600 won in 2024 and $31,947 in 2023.
A more relaxed approach to life, including spending more time in Jordan after his marriage, seems to have revitalized his game. “I changed a little bit because I took a little vacation,” he said. “I was in Prussia and then the US when I went to Jordan. I got married there a few years ago, so I am in Jordan now more, so I’m more relaxed.”
The results back it up:
- April 2025: Two wins at the PokerGO Tour Texas Poker Open for $40,500 and $41,700, plus a 3rd-place finishworth $19,200
- July 2025: Consecutive $15,000 ARIA High Roller titles for $270,000 and $210,200
Looking Ahead
Although Cyprus ended short of another deep run, Qartomy remains focused on the bigger picture. “I’ll be back on the tour with WPT for sure by next year, I will play them all,” he said, pointing to Jacksonville as one of his favorite stops.
In Cyprus, he played while wearing a patch representing bestbet Jacksonville, and he is expected to return there for the $5,000 Bounty Scramble Championship in November. Asked how he feels about playing as a bounty, Qartomy responded with a smile: “Actually, I love it because I don’t have to be really aggressive. They always attack the bounty, so I like it. It’s nice.”
For now, the dream of a WPT title remains just out of reach. But with renewed momentum and a string of recent victories, Qartomy continues to prove that his long-awaited breakthrough could come at any stop on the tour.
