ADRIAN MATEOS SURVIVES MARATHON TO LAND YET MORE TRITON SILVERWARE

Champion Adrian Mateos!

Adrian Mateos came to Triton Montenegro in exemplary form, riding the wave of some fantastic results in both the online and live games and every inch the formidable player we’ve grown to know and love.

He made two final tables from the first four events here in Montenegro, and can point to wicked beats in both halting what had seemed likely to be a charge to the title. But true to form, Mateos simply came back for more, bludgeoned his way to the final once again, and this time came out on the right side of a couple of beats.

It helped him on his way to his second career Triton title in the $50K 8-Handed Hold’em, landing him a payday of $1.761 million. He is now closing in on $10 million on the Triton Series.

“This week I ran so good,” Mateos said. “And I enjoyed it.” He said that he worked very hard on his game and knows that he plays well. “But to win a tournament you have to run good,” he said, adding that it was a “technical” final table, but the kind he has played many times before.

When someone as skilled as this 29-year-old runs good, there are few who can compete.

Adrian Mateos can finally celebrate

The tournament took three days to complete, a day longer than initially scheduled, but Mateos was irresistible throughout. He dominated the final table and secured the top spot by downing Justin Saliba heads-up, leaving Saliba with a $1.188 million runner-up prize.

It was a tournament packed with superstars, many of whom made it to the final. But the late stages were characterised by the sight of Mateos trying to shake off the challenges of Saliba and Triton first-timer Joe Zou. Both were stubborn, but Mateos is indefatigable. And that’s why he’s one of the very best in the world.

TOURNAMENT ACTION

As is the way with Triton, buy-ins gradually crept upwards through the first stages of this trip to Montenegro, and the $50K entry fee proved exceptionally popular. There were 159 entries and nearly $8 million in the prize pool, with the game’s very best all challenging for it.

There was a sensational top five after Day 1: Dan Smith, Phil Ivey, Paul Phua, Kiat Lee and Dan Dvoress. But in the early running, it was the player in sixth, Mikalai Vaskaboinikau, who surged up and into the lead. That was thanks to the double elimination of Daniel Rezaei and Ding Biao in the same hand: Vaskaboinikau’s kings held against queens and AsKs.

It set a tone for a race from 56 players to the 27 who would cash, which only slowed during a tense but entertaining bubble period.

Most of the fun centred on Paul Phua, or Mr Paul as he’s known to friends and staff on the Triton Series. Phua was holding court on one of the outer tables, discussing future Triton plans with Dan Smith, Chris Brewer and Danny Tang, while also fielding questions from players on other tables.

“What is the over/under on number of hands to break the bubble?” Elton Tsang asked, having taken a short stroll in Phua’s direction. Phua consulted the Triton Poker Plus app, learned that the shortest stack was 10 big blinds, and said, “Nine.” He added: “If someone said six, I would take the over.”

Paul Phua burst the bubble, going for the win

Tsang suggested seven-point-five was probably better. Phua seemed to think that was fine too. As it turned out, they should have taken the under.

Hand-for-hand was only about four hands old when Phua got involved in a pot against Smith. Phua limped from the small blind and Smith raised from the big blind, enough to put Phua all in. Phua looked back at his cards and then asked, “What’s the min-cash?” A chorus of opponents replied, “Eighty k!” and intimated that Phua shouldn’t worry about that kind of money.

Eventually, he concurred. “Go for the win,” he said as he dumped his stack over the line.

Phua was in great shape. He had AhQc to Smith’s Ad4c. But after a dry flop, the 4h fell on the turn and there was no miracle queen on the river. That was the end for Phua, who plummeted out of the tournament on the stone bubble.

James Chen, Tan Xuan, Patrik Antonius, Linus Loeliger and Tsang breathed a sigh of relief and bust too fairly quickly after. But they at least locked up that min cash.

Sights then turned onto the final table, but it would be a long, long time until the tournament reached that stage. With around 14 players left, a real slowdown descended and tournament organisers were forced to make alternative plans for the day. What had been intended to conclude on Saturday night was forced to go into Sunday. The news was announced when they did, finally, get down to the last nine.

That happened in the space of two rapid-fire hands. Chris Brewer and Phil Ivey got involved in a big one, with Brewer open-shoving the small blind sitting with enough chips to cover Ivey in the big. But Ivey looked down at AsTs and called for all of it, finding himself ahead of Brewer’s QsJs.

An ace on the flop made it even tougher for Brewer to come back and Ivey’s big double left Brewer with three big blinds.

Chris Brewer lost a big pot against Ivey and the rest went on the next hand

Brewer picked up AsQd on the next deal and committed his last chips. Mario Mosbock, in the big blind, made a mandatory call, even though he had only Tc3c. The dealer made this particularly cruel on Brewer, following the QcJh3d flop with the Jd turn and then the killer 3s river.

Brewer walked away, leaving nine players stacking up as follows:

Ben Tollerene – 5,550,000 (44 BBs)
Dan Smith – 4,875,000 (39 BBs)
Nick Petrangelo – 4,325,000 (35 BBs)
Mikalai Vaskaboinikau – 3,925,000 (31 BBs)
Phil Ivey – 3,225,000 (26 BBs)
Mario Mosbock – 2,725,000 (22 BBs)
Joe Zou – 2,475,000 (20 BBs)
Justin Saliba – 2,425,000 (19 BBs)
Adrian Mateos – 2,225,000 (18 BBs)

Triton Montenegro Event 7 final table players (clockwise from back left): Mario Mosbock, Ben Tollerene, Mikalai Vaskaboinikau, Justin Saliba, Joe Zou, Dan Smith, Phil Ivey, Adrian Mateos, Nick Petrangelo.

The revised plan was to play four more levels or down to four players, whichever came first. It seemed likely to take us to around 1.30 a.m. local time, and would unfortunately mean these guys couldn’t register in time for the $100K event unless they were knocked out within 45 minutes of the final table starting.

Only Mosbock ended up meeting that criteria. Mosbock lost a massive hand with pocket queens when Joe Zou flopped a flush with Jd9d. Mosbock also flopped a set, but couldn’t fill up.

Although Mosbock did find a small double through Tollerene, the last of his chips went to Ivey when the American’s AcKh beat QdJc. Mosbock banked $178,100 for ninth.

Mario Mosbock departed early from the final

The next hour or so of eight-handed play sent chips moving slowly around the table, with everyone retaining their seat. As levels went up, the average stack reduced to just 18 big blinds. Nobody was a runaway leader; everyone was under threat.

When the tension finally broke, it was Dan Smith who ended up on the receiving end of a nasty beat. He got six big blinds in with AcQd and was called by Justin Saliba’s As9d.

Both players matched their ace on the flop, but the nine on the turn spelled trouble for Smith. The river was a blank and eight belatedly became seven. Smith won $215,000 for this one.

Dan Smith led the tournament for long periods, but bust in eighth

All of a sudden, things were moving. Ivey felted Vaskaboinikau on the very next hand. In this one, Ivey found pocket deuces and moved all in. Vaskaboinikau picked up AhTs and risked his last six blinds.

The tiny pair wasn’t threatened through all five board cards and that meant Vaskaboinikau was out in seventh, for $297,000.

Mikalai Vaskaboinikau made the early running on Day 2 but bust before the end

Despite the win, Ivey’s stack was still less than 20 big blinds, and he became the next man to hit the rail. Adrian Mateos, revelling the short-stacked, high pressure battle, had built a commanding tower of chips and Ivey three-bet shoved from the button after the latest Mateos open raise.

Ivey had Ks8d but soon learnt that Mateos wasn’t raising light. Mateos made the call with AsJc and secured the knockout with a jack on the flop and an ace on the turn. Ivey banked $408,000 for sixth.

Phil Ivey had been in great form until he ran into Mateos

Tollerene, only an occasional visitor to the Triton Series, usually after eventually giving in to the hectoring of his good friend Jason Koon, had once again proved why Koon is so keen to get him out of here. He had played a typically flawless game to make it to the final table as chip leader.

However, Tollerene fell short of his second win during the volatility of the late stages, first doubling up Nick Petrangelo in a standard blind vs. blind battle, and then falling to a come-from-behind win for Mateos.

In at least two previous tournaments here in Montenegro, Mateos had suffered the cruel hand of fate in tournament defining pots at final tables, but today it was the Spanish player’s turn to land a lucky blow. Tollerene got his nine-blind-stack in with AdQc but Mateos’ AhTs not only hit a ten, but also four hearts to make the nut flush.

Both those hands were too much for Tollerene, who departed in fifth for $532,000. With that, the tournament paused again for the night, leaving four players to come back for an unprecedented Day 3.

Ben Tollerene again showed Triton what he’s made of

Mateos led with 49 BBs. Saliba sat second with 28 BBs. Petrangelo (23 BBs) was in third and Zou’s six blinds was the shortest. But they had all locked up $667,000 already.

On the return for the third day, Zou immediately doubled with pocket fives, and then shoved the next two hands to earn some more blinds. It helped him tread water as the other two took some potshots at Mateos’ chip lead, with only limited success.

Petrangelo managed to time a couple of shoves well and add some chips. But things went south soon after. Petrangelo found Ad3s in the small blind and just called, with Mateos behind him. Mateos raised to 1 million (the big blind was 300K) and Petrangelo jammed for 7.5 million.

Petrangelo had that ace, but Mateos did too. And the Spaniard’s AhJh was best. The jack played after the board missed everything. Petrangelo left the table $667,000 better off.

Nick Petrangelo found Mateos with a bigger ace

The last three players in this tournament were the bottom three coming into the final. It was indicative of how this final table had turned things on its head.

Mateos was in irresistible form and had more than half the chips in play. But after Zou landed another double up, with pocket nines beating Mateos’ Qs8s, it was a reminder that things can change very quickly. Zou turned his back to the table as the dealer delivered his fate, unable to watch what was essentially a runout determining a $350K pay-jump. But he survived it, leaving Saliba now most under threat.

Zou thought he had Saliba soon after, but Zou’s kings were cracked by Saliba’s Qd8d after a run out of Tc8h2s9hQs. That again elevated Saliba to second place and allowed Mateos to continue to shove with impunity against opponents with near-equal stacks hoping to outlast one another.

Joe Zou can’t watch

Zou managed another double, picking off a Mateos shove with Kc9d beating Qd2d. And on the battle raged.

The level went up and the stacks shallowed some more. And then, finally, Zou’s race was run. He got his last six blinds in with Kh5h and turned his back once more. But this time the trick wasn’t enough to beat Mateos’ AsQd.

Zou is on his first visit to the Triton Series and this was his first cash from the fourth tournament he played. His score of $818,000 put him comfortably in the black.

Joe Zou finally makes way

Both remaining players were now guaranteed a seven-figure payday, with around $600K between first and second place prizes. Mateos, seeking a second title, had 37 blinds to Saliba’s 16. There wasn’t likely to be long left, but it was far from a foregone conclusion.

Except it actually only lasted one hand. Mateos and Saliba both picked up aces and Saliba had a good shot at a crucial double up when his AcTc went up against Mateos’ Ah7h. The money was already all in when the dealer produced the something-for-everyone flop of 8hTh9c.

Second place for Justin Saliba

Both players remained static, even after the Js turn gave Mateos the straight. The Kh river wasn’t what Saliba needed and it handed the title to Mateos.

“My trophies are all in my parents’ house in Madrid,” Mateos said afterward, revealing that it was to the Spanish capital that this latest one was also headed. “I hope more to come,” Mateos continued.

That much seems certain.

Time for Mr and Mrs Mateos to make some more room on the mantlepiece

Event 7 – $50,000 – 8-Handed
Dates: May 17-19, 2024
Entries: 159 (inc. 62 re-entries)
Prize pool: $7,950,000

1 – Adrian Mateos, Spain – $1,761,000
2 – Justin Saliba, USA – $1,188,000
3 – Joe Zou, China – $818,000
4 – Nick Petrangelo, USA – $667,000
5 – Ben Tollerene, USA – $532,000
6 – Phil Ivey, USA – $408,000
7 – Mikala Vaskaboinikau, Belarus – $297,000
8 – Dan Smith, USA – $215,000
9 – Mario Mosbock, Austria – $178,100

10 – Chris Brewer, USA – $151,000
11 – Brian Kim, USA – $151,000
12 – Artur Martirosian, Russia – $132,000
13 – Sirzat Hissou, Germany – $132,000
14 – Kiat Lee, Malaysia – $119,200
15 – Danny Tang, Hong Kong – $119,200
16 – Maher Nouira, Tunisia – $107,000
17 – Anson Ewe, Malaysia – $107,000
18 – Aram Sargsyan, Armenia – $95,000
19 – Wiktor Malinowski, Poland – $95,000
20 – Aleks Ponakovs, Latvia – $95,000
21 – Elton Tsang, Hong Kong – $87,500
22 – Alex Kulev, Bulgaria – $87,500
23 – Igor Yaroshevskyy, Ukraine – $87,500
24 – Linus Loeliger, Switzerland – $80,000
25 – Patrik Antonius, Finland – $80,000
26 – Tan Xuan, China – $80,000
27 – James Chen, Taiwan – $80,000

Photography by Joe Giron/Poker Photo Archive

IGOR YAROSHEVSKYY TURNS SHORT STACK INTO TRITON TITLE AS HAXTON’S WAIT CONTINUES

Champion Igor Yaroshevskyy!

The final moments of the $40,000 Bounty Quattro Event at Triton Montenegro became a battle of east and west. At one end of the table, Ukraine’s Igor Yaroshevskyy was flanked by Viacheslav Buldygin, Shyngis Satubayev and Ramin Hajiyev, representing Russia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, respectively.

At the other end, Jason Koon and Ben Tollerene were among the Americans who had come to rail their friend and countryman Isaac Haxton. Yaroshevskyy and Haxton were watching the dealer decide one final coin-flip for the title: pockets sevens versus ace-king.

The neat moment encapsulated the international flavour of the Triton Series and underlined the respect and admiration all these elite players have for one another. When the board ran dry, guaranteeing a first Triton title for Yaroshevskyy, he was the first to console with Haxton, and Koon too crossed the table to celebrate with the new champion and friends.

Viacheslav Buldygin, Ramin Hahjiyev and Shyngis Satubayev sweat the final hand with Igor Yaroshevskyy

This was a terrific result for Yaroshevskyy, which paid $1,052,000 from the regular prize pool and another $120,000 in bounty payments. Having started the final table with the second shortest stack, Yaroshevskyy only actually knocked out one opponent, but it was that man Haxton and it was the knockout that secured the title. It also allowed Yaroshevskyy to cash in his own bounty token.

“It’s amazing,” Yaroshevskyy said, adding that poker players have a clear aim when they start playing. “It’s these big titles!”

He continued: “I’m feeling great.”

For Haxton, it was yet another near miss. He has a staggering 39 cashes on the Triton Series and earnings of $12 million. But that title continues to elude him, and he left the stage at the end of this tournament to hotfoot it into the neighbouring tournament room to play the $50K NLHE. Haxton will always be a threat in any game and it’s statistically ridiculous that he hasn’t yet won here.

Isaac Haxton’s long wait for a Triton trophy continues

But no matter. He took $716,000 — and in Yaroshevskyy he fell to another worthy opponent. The Ukrainian has been to at least one final table at each of the four stops he has visited on the Triton Series. This victory was well deserved.

“I am so excited,” the new champion said. “It’s an amazing feeling. Today is my day. Thank you guys!”

Igor Yaroshevskyy begins his celebrations

TOURNAMENT ACTION

After the thrills and spills of the Mystery Bounty yesterday, this tournament was slightly more conventional: of the $50,000 buy-in, $15,000 went into the bounty prize pool, with bounties introduced when 25 percent of the field remained. Each of 32 bounties was worth $60,000, so there was plenty of incentive to secure knockouts.

Twenty-eight players came back to play Day 2, with those bounties already in play, but in comparison with many other tournaments this week, the stacks were still deep. We had the pleasure of sitting around and watching some of the cream rise to the top.

Cash-game crusher Santhosh Suvarna found himself on the wrong end of a bubble collision here, getting his money in with AhTc and being called by Paulius Vaitiekunas and his Qd5d.

Vaitiekunas himself has been the bubble boy once this week, but this time he came from behind to burst it. A queen on the flop sealed Santhosh’s fate.

Santhosh Suvarna lands the wrong side of the bubble

Vaitiekunas had enough chips now to make his way to the final table, but others including Jason Koon, Chris Brewer, Michael Soyza and Mike Watson fell short this time. Bulgaria’s Dimitar Danchev emerged as the controlling force during this period of play — knocking out Watson along with Brian Kim in a huge three-way coup — and taking a sizeable chip lead to the eight-handed final table.

They stacked up as follows:

Dimitar Danchev – 6,840,000 (114 BBs)
Adrian Mateos – 4,260,000 (71 BBs)
Shyngis Satubayev – 3,370,000 (56 BBs)
Isaac Haxton – 2,930,000 (49 BBs)
Punnat Punsri – 2,895,000 (48 BBs)
Paulius Vaitiekunas – 1,920,000 (32 BBs)
Igor Yaroshevskyy – 1,885,000 (31 BBs)
Patrik Antonius – 1,100,000 (18 BBs)

Triton Montenegro Event 6 final table players (clockwise from back left): Igor Yaroshevskyy, Shyngis Satubayev, Patrik Antonius, Dimitar Danchev, Paulius Vaitiekunas, Punnat Punsri, Adrian Mateos, Isaac Haxton

It was still comparatively deep with plenty of play guaranteed, but unfortunately for Patrik Antonius, he couldn’t be part of it. The short stack coming into the final did not win a hand when it mattered most and departed at the hands of Isaac Haxton.

With AdTc in his hand, and a board of 6dTdKh9sAs on the board, Antonius called Haxton’s river shove.

Haxton’s JsQd had now filled a straight to beat Antonius’ two pair, and that was that for the Finn. Eighth place paid $136,000.

Another final for Patrik Antonius, but second title still elusive

After the bubble heroics, Vaitiekunas had found a tidy double up nine-handed to secure his place at the final, and then held firm during the late stages as the field thinned to its last seven. However, the first meaningful pot he played at the final was his last.

Vaitiekunas found a poor time to three-bet shove after an Adrian Mateos open, finding himself flipping with KdTc against Mateos’ pocket eights. The eights held, felting Vaitiekunas and sending him to the payouts desk where $183,800 awaited him. He also added $120,000 from two bounties.

Paulius Vaitiekunas burst the bubble on the right side this time

Mateos was at his second final table of the week, well stacked and looking in the zone. However, also for the second time, he found himself in a great spot to knock out a dangerous opponent, sitting with a dominating hand, only for it to go wrong.

Much as Brian Kim had come from behind to oust Mateos from the GG Million$ final table, Punnat Punsri became a nemesis at this one.

Mateos had AsKc and got it all in pre-flop against Punsri’s AdQs but a queen on the river doubled Punsri and left Mateos in real trouble. He couldn’t recover and lost the remainder of his chips to Punsri soon after.

Mateos was sixth again, for $245,000.

Tough beat and then elimination for Adrian Mateos, left

Shyngis Satubayev is very often Kazakhstan’s sole representative at the Triton tables, but he continues to put on a show to make his country proud. Here he was again in the deep stages, recording his seventh Triton cash, and at his second final table.

But Kazakhstan will need to wait more for its first champion as Satubayev became Punsri’s next victim. Satubayev was short and shoved the button with As4s. Punsri gave him a spin with Tc4d in the big blind.

Punsri couldn’t miss at this point and sent Satubayev packing when a ten appeared on the flop. Satubayev won $313,000 for fifth.

Shyngis Satubaev continues to fly the Kakakh flag on the Triton Series

Despite being the wrecking ball that took this tournament so quickly to its final table, things slowed considerably for Danchev once the field consolidated on the TV stage. He won a few pots with pre-flop aggression, but otherwise mostly sat on the sidelines as Punsri, in particular, seized control.

Danchev had dwindled to 10 big blinds when he found AdJh in the big blind and saw Punsri rip it in from the small blind ahead of him. It was plenty good for a call, but not plenty good for a win. Punsri’s Ks3d ended up hitting a full house, and that sent Danchev out in fourth for $390,000.

Dimitar Danchev couldn’t convert a chip lead into the win

Punsri was seemingly unstoppable. He began three-handed play with 18 million in chips, 60 big blinds, with his two opponents boasting only 7 million between them. If Punsri’s steamroller carried on rolling as it had, there was seemingly nothing anyone could do to stop him.

It did not, however, continued rolling as it had. Instead, it suddenly started hitting every obstacle in the road. Yaroshevskyy hit a flush to double. Haxton hit trip tens. Haxton hit a pair of tens to beat Punsri’s AhJh, and then Haxton found nines, called one more Punsri shove, and flopped a set.

Punsri was behind with Ac4h at the start of the hand, but was drawing dead by the turn. He got up to shake hands of his opponents and headed out the door. This time, Punsri took $473,000 for third — plus $300,000 for five bounties.

Punnat Punsri’s roller coaster comes to an end

And so we were down to two. Both Igor Yaroshevskyy and especially Isaac Haxton have been deep in the money numerous times on the Triton Series, but neither yet had a title. One of them would end that hoodoo, and they were delicately poised, 32 blinds to 31, as they entered heads up play.

Over the previous four nights of this series so far, the heads up battles have often been drawn out, with stacks shallowing to just a handful of blinds. Not this one. When both players got big hands for the first time, 7h7c for Yaroshevskyy and AcKs for Haxton, all the money went in.

Yaroshevskyy had the slight chip advantage and his hand held through a blank flop. That ended it in Yaroshevskyy’s favour and Ukraine can celebrate its latest champion.

Igor Yaroshevskyy clasps his lucky Triton card protector

RESULTS

Event 6 – $50,000 – Bounty Quattro
Dates: May 16-17, 2024
Entries: 126 (inc. 54 re-entries)
Prize pool: $6,300,000 (inc. $1,920,000 in bounty pool)

1 – Igor Yaroshevskyy, Ukraine – $1,172,000 (inc. $120K in bounties)
2 – Isaac Haxton, USA – $896,000 (inc. $180K in bounties)
3 – Punnat Punsri, Thailand – $773,000 (inc. $300K in bounties)
4 – Dimitar Danchev, Bulgaria – $690,000 (inc. $300K in bounties)
5 – Shyngis Satubayev, Kazakhstan – $463,000 (inc. $150K in bounties)
6 – Adrian Mateos, Spain – $495,000 (inc. $240K in bounties)
7 – Paulius Vaitiekunas, Lithuania – $303,800 (inc. $120K in bounties)
8 – Patrik Antonius, Finland – $136,000

9 – Henrik Hecklen, Denmark – $105,000
10 – Artur Martirosian, Russia – $147,500 (inc. $60K in bounties)
11 – Michael Watson, Canada – $147,500 (inc. $60K in bounties)
12 – Brian Kim, USA – $196,600 (inc. $120K in bounties)
13 – Michael Soyza, Malaysia – $196,600 (inc. $120K in bounties)
14 – Yaman Nakdali, Spain – $70,000
15 – Ramin Hajiyev, Azerbaijan – $100,000 (inc. $30,000 in bounties)
16 – Brandon Wittmeyer, USA – $63,500
17 – Jason Koon, USA – $183,500 (inc. $120K in bounties)
18 – Jules Dickerson, UK – $57,000
19 – Chris Brewer, USA – $57,000
20 – Frederic Delval, France – $57,000

Photography by Joe Giron/Poker Photo Archive

TRITON DEBUTANT ARTSIOM LASOUSKI TURNS FIRST EVER CASH INTO MYSTERY BOUNTY TITLE

Champion Artsiom Lasouski!

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

That, quite literally, is all Artsiom Lasouski had to do here in Montenegro at the first Triton stop of his career. The 25-year-old from Belarus has never been to this Super High Roller Series before, and arrived unannounced to play the first three events of the series.

He whiffed Events 1 and 2. But attempt three made him a champion. Lasouski tonight took down the $40,000 Mystery Bounty tournament banking $669,000 — and then added a further $680,000 from his 12 bounties when the draw took place the following day. He is the youngest Triton champion since Linus Loeliger burst onto the scene in 2019, and now has more than $1.3 million in his bankroll to continue his journey.

Not many players sample such success so soon. There are plenty of Triton regulars who have been coming to the tour for many years without ever hoisting a trophy. But Lasouski was the picture of calm in a roller coaster of a final table today, only breaking into grimaces and smiles during a topsy turvy heads up battle with Samuel Ju.

Ju had been down to one big blind at one point of the final, but pulled off a miraculous surge to the point that he could have won it himself. But Lasouski managed to claim that crucial last bounty, the one that came with the title.

“I am very excited about this moment,” Lasouski said, through a translator, at the awards ceremony. “I can’t believe how great it is.”

An emotional winner: Artsiom Lasouski

It will surprise few to learn that Lasouski learned his trade online and that he has some significant results to his name with a mouse in his hand. But this is by some measure his biggest tournament series and, it follows, his biggest win.

Remember, this tournament was only partially done on the first day. The draw for the Mystery Bounty prizes took place the next night, at which point the second half of the prize pool was awarded. Lasouski had 12 of the 47 bounties on offer, knowing that one bounty envelope contained $400,000 and two of $200,000 apiece.

As he left the stage on the opening night, Ju admitted he only had one bounty to pull tomorrow, but said hopefully: “It’s the bounty of Chris Moneymaker. It’s a good one.” It wasn’t really. It was “only” $40,000.

Samuel Ju will pray to turn his one bounty into more riches

TOURNAMENT ACTION

The Mystery Bounty element changes poker gameplay in mostly marginal ways–slightly looser calls, perhaps, in touch-and-go spots–but other times it’s more obvious. With bounty tokens not introduced until the second day, far fewer players bust on Day 1 than would normally be the case. They came back for today’s play with 47 players and the bubble still some way off.

Jason Koon scores the bubble-up

After the usual rush of bustouts, with players collecting their first knockout tokens, Jason Koon became one of those to be threatened with elimination on the stone bubble. Luckily for Koon, he had pocket aces and they held. The Sword of Damocles hovered over Paulius Vaitiekunas instead, and his AdJd went up against Anson Ewe’s pocket fives.

Paulius Vaitiekunas can’t bear to look as he falls on the bubble

The dealer showed an ace on the flop but also a five. And Vaitiekunas was drawing dead by the turn. That put everyone left on the right side of the bubble, with dual aims: collect as many bounties as possible and progress to the final table.

Koon slipped back to one big blind, then raced up to 33, but then was knocked out in 18th. Ewe too went out before the final.

The last elimination before the final table sent Sam Grafton heading away. Grafton made a straight draw with 9cTc on a flop of Qh7s8c. But Nikita Kuznetsov had hit a pair of sevens and Grafton couldn’t shift him.

Final table bubble for Sam Grafton

Grafton took $68,000 for ninth and the final table was set. For the third day in a row, the overnight chip leader was top of the charts heading to the final too.

FINAL TABLE STACKS

Nikita Kuznetsov – 7,400,000 (74 BBs)
Artsiom Lasouski – 6,250,000 (63 BBs)
Daniel Rezaei – 5,000,000 (50 BBs)
Chris Moneymaker – 3,675,000 (37 BBs)
Samuel Ju – 3,000,000 (30 BBs)
Dylan Linde – 1,975,000 (20 BBs)
Stephen Chidwick – 1,950,000 (20 BBs)
Danny Tang – 925,000 (9 BBs)

Triton Montenegro Event 3 final table players (clockwise from top left): Dylan Linde, Samuel Ju, Artsiom Lasouski, Danny Tang, Chris Moneymaker, Nikita Kuznetsov, Daniel Rezaei, Stephen Chidwick.

Tournament organisers had planned a dinner break at the point the final table was set, but with registration potentially closing soon on Event 5, the last eight in this one unanimously agreed to crack straight on and eat at the table, if they wished.

The two players most anxious to forego dinner were the two shortest stacks — nothing worse than only min-cashing *and* missing reg — and lo and behold, Danny Tang and Stephen Chidwick were the first players out from the final.

Stephen Chidwick busts in eighth, free to take a seat in the next event

As Moneymaker requested a menu, settling in for the long haul, Chidwick ran AcJd into Moneymaker’s pocket jacks to bust in eighth. Then Tang couldn’t get pocket eights to beat Daniel Rezaei’s AsTs, especially when the suited cards made a flush.

Chidwick added $82,000 to his ledger. Tang took $114,000. And, yes, they both made it in time to play the next one.

Danny Tang managed one double, but this time he was out

Despite the bounties in front of all the players still, or perhaps because of them, we had to wait a good couple of hours before the next elimination. Short stacks repeatedly doubled up, with Dylan Linde in particular pulling off a Lazarus-style resurrection when seemingly dead and buried. Meanwhile players like Moneymaker and Kuznetzov bounced up and down the leader board.

Daniel Rezaei mostly sat this out, but had to make a move sooner or later as the blinds began swallowing up his stack. He wasn’t in terrible shape when he opened/called all-in with JcTs agaisnt Artsiom Lasouski’s Ah2h. However any equity he had vanished when the flop brought an ace, and Rezaei’s second final table of the week finished in sixth. He took $156,000 plus whatever he’ll get in bounties.

Another slowdown descended and it resulted in the average stack among the last five slipping t just 15 big blinds. We were once again in that purgatory where any slip up is potentially terminal and a boatload of equity slides away.

Germany’s Samuel Ju, at his first Triton final table, enjoyed and endured both the highs and lows of the experience in quick succession. He shoved with 8s8h and got looked up by Kuznetsov, ending the hand with a straight and a double up.

But two hands later, his chips were in again with Ac8c and this time he lost to Kuznetsov’s pocket jacks. Although he now only had three big blinds and was in the big blind next hand, he must have been thrilled to see Lasouski three-bet shove over Linde’s raise, with Linde not having the stack to do anything but call.

Ju folded and left them to it, and Lasouski’s KcJh made two pair to beat Linde’s Ad2d. That put Linde out in fifth for $202,000 and allowed Ju to see another hand.

Dylan Linde managed to double when staring at elimination

And what a hand it was. Ju found AcJh and was obviously happy to get his chips in after Lasouski shoved his button. Amazingly enough, Kuznetsov called all in from the big blind too, having seen Ad5h.

Lasouski wasn’t bluffing, though. He had AcQc, putting the two others at risk. A jack on the flop saved Ju but Kuznetsov was knocked out. It meant another step up the ladder for Ju as the erstwhile leader bust in fourth for $253,000.

Nikita Kuznetsov was knocked out by the only player who could

Ju had five big blinds now, with Moneymaker sitting with 10 and Lasouski riding high with 60. How long was left in this one now?

Well, Ju certainly wasn’t giving up the ghost. He was all in again on the next hand and turned pocket tens into a flush to beat Lasouski’s ace high. That gave him 12 big blinds and put him in second place, with Moneymaker now on the ropes.

Samuel Ju begins a sensational comeback

Having come back from one big blind himself to win the GG Million$ earlier in the festival, Moneymaker must have appreciated Ju’s escapology skills here. But it was now Moneymaker who fell victim to it. The American shoved the button with Js3d and, with the confidence of someone who could do no wrong, Ju snapped him off with KhTs.

Moneymaker didn’t hit anything and was out in third, adding $311,000 to what is already a very, very good week here in Montenegro.

Chris Moneymaker falls a little short of a second title of the week

What had seemed to be a pushover was now a contest. Ju had a miraculous 20 big blinds entering the heads-up portion of play, with Lasouski sitting with 55. It was a big lead, but one double and the tables would turn. And that’s exactly what happened.

Ju had edged closer when the pair got to a flop of Qd6d8h. A bunch of chips went in there, but the remainder got in the middle after the 5s turn. Lasouski showed his AdKd but it now needed to hit a diamond because Ju’s 8c5c was now two pair. The diamond missed and Ju was now in a significant chip lead.

Artsiom Lasouski can’t bear to watch during heads-up play

Could he close it out now? No. He could not. Lasouski quickly doubled back into the chip lead with KdQs holding against KhTc. But then the pendulum swung back into Ju’s favour after a dry runout kept his JdTd better than Lasouski’s Jh3h.

However, after Lasouski nudged back into the lead, they once again butted heads in a major coup. With a board of 6c3dJd9c9s out there, Lasouski bet enough to put Ju all in.

Ju agonised, but made the call. However, Lasouski’s pocket queens were still better than Ju’s 8s6h. And with that, we have a new champion. Third time lucky.

Artsiom Lasouski can’t quite believe it

RESULTS

Event 5 – $40,000 – Mystery Bounty NLH – 7-Handed
Dates: May 15-16, 2024
Entries: 151 (inc. 52 re-entries)
Prize pool: $6,040,000 (inc. $3,020,000 in bounty pool)

1 – Artsiom Lasouski, Belarus – $1,349,000 (inc. $680,000 in bounties)
2 – Samuel Ju, Germany – $492,000 (inc. $40,000 in bounties)
3 – Chris Moneymaker, USA – $511,000 (inc. $200,000 in bounties)
4 – Nikita Kuznetsov, Russia – $553,000 (inc. $300,000 in bounties)
5 – Samuel Ju, Germany – $282,000 (inc. $80,000 in bounties)
6 – Daniel Rezaei, Austria – $716,000 (inc. $560,000 in bounties)
7 – Danny Tang, Hong Kong – $214,000 (inc. $100,000 in bounties)
8 – Stephen Chidwick, UK – $282,000 (inc. $200,000 in bounties)

9 – Sam Grafton, UK – $188,000 (inc. $120,000 in bounties)
10 – Aleksandr Zubov, Russia – $177,500 (inc. $120,000 in bounties)
11 – Danilo Velasevic, Serbia – $217,500 (inc. $160,000 in bounties)
12 – Anson Ewe, Malaysia – $90,000 (inc. $40,000 in bounties)
13 – Andrew Chen, Canada – $50,000
14 – Mario Mosbock, Austria – $85,000 (inc. $40,000 in bounties)
15 – Xianchao Shen, China – $45,000
16 – Pieter Aerts, Belgium – $40,500
17 – Phil Ivey, USA – $40,500
18 – Jason Koon, USA – $36,000
19 – Thomas Santerne, France – $36,000
20 – Roland Rokita, Austria – $36,000
21 – Leon Sturm, Germany – $293,000 (inc. $260,000 in bounties)
22 – Hossein Ensan, Germany – $33,000
23 – Henrik Hecklen, Denmark – $33,000
24 – Alex Boika, Belarus – $30,000
25 – Stoyan Madanzhiev, Bulgaria – $30,000
26 – Benjamin Chalot, France – $30,000
27 – Santhosh Suvarna, India – $30,000

Other bounty winners:

Anvar Muratov – $40,000
Orpen Kisacikoglu – $80,000

Luca Vivaldi and Ali Nejad prepare for the bounty draw

Photography by Joe Giron/Poker Photo Archive

MIKE WATSON MAKES IT FOUR AS KIAT LEE DENIED AGAIN IN MONTENEGRO

Champion Mike Watson!

The first seven-figure payout of Triton’s latest trip to Montenegro went into the coffers of Mike Watson tonight, taking the Canadian’s haul on the series to more than $10 million.

In landing his fourth career Triton title, his first in no limit hold’em, Watson denied Malaysia’s Kiat Lee a long-overdue first. Lee had been the chip leader at the end of Day 1 and carried that lead not only to the final table, but into heads-up play too, with all the rest of the 154 entries having departed.

But Watson’s wily brilliance helped him recover from a significant deficit, and then earn the maximum when he found a couple of big hands in the shallow late stages. Lee grimaced as he realised he had run into it, seeing another chance at Triton glory slip through his fingers. He has 23 cashes but no win.

Kiat Lee flicks his chips to Watson

But Watson, who turned 40 a couple of weeks ago and whose wife and young child are here supporting him in Montenegro, was as ruthless as one has come to expect. Though his days as a “Mad Dog” are largely behind him, he remains a formidable talent at the tables, and becomes only the second player to win a title in all three Triton disciplines: no limit hold’em, short deck and pot limit Omaha.

“Every time you come to a Triton stop you want to come away with a trophy,” Watson said. “You want to get a win. It feels really good to get one in hold’em now, which I hadn’t done either. Just want to keep adding.”

He stated in an early interview today that the no limit hold’em prize was the one he coveted, and the prize of $1,023,000 from a $30,000 buy-in tournament was a clear sweetener to go with the trophy. Watson was here in Montenegro when the tour first visited in 2018 and expressed his happiness that Triton has grown as his skills have continued to develop.

“The growth of the Triton tour has been incredible,” Watson said. “Now there’s no chance I can ever skip one. The fields are so big, they’re so good. Jeju was insane and Montenegro has been good as well.”

Four time Mike Watson

Watson also reserved some praise to his beaten heads-up opponent, stating that he and Lee had played many times at the short deck tables, but that Lee is now expanding his game too. He said: “Kiat has been playing all the hold’em recently and he’s gotten really good really quickly. He’s definitely a very tough player. The heads-up match was definitely a grind.”

But Watson had a feeling that this one wasn’t over, even when he was down to a handful of blinds. “I felt good, confident for whatever reason. I thought maybe this was going to be my time.”

It certainly was.

TOURNAMENT ACTION

There were 154 entries into this one which, combined with the slightly elevated buy-in compared with Events 1 and 2, put $4.62 million in the prize pool and guaranteed that seven-figure winner’s prize.

The typically speedy Day 1 took the field down to its last 25, including the bursting of the money bubble when Mario Mosbock bust to Morten Klein and walked away with nothing. Klein bagged an overnight stack that was right around the average of 21 big blinds, but Kiat Lee had nearly four times that and a massive chip lead.

The journey from the Day 2 start point to the final table was especially rapid this time and ended with two German speakers, Hossein Ensan and Daniel Rezaei, all in and called on neighbouring tables.

Hossein Ensan sweats Daniel Rezaei doubling up to stay alive

Ten were left at this point, and Ensan’s fate was decided first. His Ks2s lost to Leon Sturm’s Ac2h, denying Ensan a place at the final. But Ensan then came over to watch with Rezaei as he saw AcQd beat Lee’s Ac7h to survive.

Rezaei took his place at the final, alongside chip-leading Lee, with the last nine stacks as follows:

Kiat Lee – 6,225,000 (50 BBs)
Mike Watson – 5,800,000 (46 BBs)
David Yan – 5,125,000 (41 BBs)
Ding Biao – 3,750,000 (30 BBs)
Leon Sturm – 2,700,000 (22 BBs)
Morten Klein – 2,525,000 (20 BBs)
Stephen Chidwick – 2,100,000 (17 BBs)
Sirzat Hissou – 1,475,000 (12 BBs)
Daniel Rezaei – 1,100,000 (9 BBs)

Triton Montenegro Event 3 final table players (clockwise from back left): Morten Klein, Daniel Rezaei, Mike Watson, David Yan, Sirzat Hissou, Kiat Lee, Leon Sturm, Stephen Chidwick, Ding Biao.

Although still the short stack, Rezaei managed to ladder one spot thanks to Stephen Chidwick’s nosedive. Chidwick lost a flip to Sirzat Hissou, with jacks going down to KcQc, and the remainder of the Brit’s chips went to Mike Watson, whose Ah9d ended up quad nines.

Chidwick’s QsTd couldn’t match that, leaving Chidwick looking for $103,400 and a ninth-place finish.

Stephen Chidwick was first out from the final this time

It was, however, Rezaei’s turn next. The Austrian found a double through Watson with pocket queens beating pocket sevens, but two hands against Morten Klein spelled the end. Rezaei lost with As6s to AdJc. And then KhJs went down to KdAd.

That was the end of Rezaei, who banked $125,000.

Daniel Rezaei laddered one spot before busting

Leon Sturm has been on a long heater through the past year or so, and a first Triton title is surely only just around the corner. But it wasn’t to be in this one, with Sturm finding an unfortunate spot to shove from the small blind. Action folded to him and he open jammed 18 blinds with Kc7c. He only had to get through Lee to his left, but Lee looked down at pocket queens and called.

The queens stayed best and Sturm departed in seventh for $173,000.

Leon Sturm ran into it from the small blind

Sirzat Hissou was now the last German in the field, and he was looking healthy after a double through Watson with Ad6d hitting a flush to crack pocket kings. However, Hissou landed on the wrong side of a tough beat soon after, apparently flopping gold with KhQc on a board of 9dKdKcTh5h.

However David Yan was lurking with JhQd and sized his bets perfectly as a straight draw got there on the turn. Hissou maybe thought he was laying a trap, but when Yan shoved the river, he had the best hand. Hissou was out. he won $238,000 for sixth.

Sirzat Hissou fell into Yan’s trap

Yan was also responsible for the next elimination. It was Klein who hit the rail this time, losing a straight race. Ding Biao opened the pot but Yan, with pocket nines, three bet the small blind.

Klein found AdKc in the big blind and was happy to get it all in. But there was no help for him on an all low board and Yan’s pocket nines took it. Klein’s second final table of the week ended in fifth, for $309,000.

A second final table already for Morten Klein

Here we were again. Four players left, an average stack of around 25 big blinds, and a short-stacked shootout for the big prizes. Yan and Lee traded top spot, Ding Biao was slightly behind with Watson bringing up the rear. But there was still time for plenty to change.

And change it did. Yan’s stay at the top of the counts quickly came to an end in a hand against Biao. Biao’s pocket tens ended up making a flush in diamonds, earning him a near 4 million chip pot that Yan had check-called all the way down. Worse was to come for Yan, however. He called Lee’s three-bet shove with AcKh and was well ahead of KsQs.

But the dealer put a queen on the flop and nothing else of relevance, meaning Lee won the massive pot and sent Yan into the next event. His fourth place was worth $387,400.

David Yan suffered a grim beat to bust in fourth

The three players left had five Triton titles between them, but Lee won’t have needed reminding that none of them belonged to him. Despite being a final table regular, and perennial Player of the Year contender, Lee had never got over the line in one of these events before. Here was another great chance.

His prospects grew even stronger after the next pot of real note. Lee open shoved the button with Ac7d and Biao found pocket jacks in the big blind. That represented a clear call, but the dealer again was up to their tricks.

The ace on the flop was disaster for Biao but brilliant for Lee. It left the former picking up $475,000 for third while Lee assumed a big chip lead for heads up play.

Ding Biao makes his way out in third

Watson has won three Triton titles, but none in no limit hold’em, and he was therefore highly motivated to take this one down. He had only 15 big blinds to Lee’s 47, however, so had his work cut out.

After a 15 minute break to reset the table, Watson and Lee prepared to square off.

Watson’s all round skills helped him draw the stacks level pretty quickly. But then Lee pulled way ahead again. But then Watson secured a double with Ad3s beating Qs2s and Watson was back in contention.

Stacks shallowed some more to the point that there was only 38 big blinds on the table. They also stayed relatively even, meaning the next inevitable all-in confrontation could be the end of it.

So it proved. In a hand that played all the way through the streets, Lee flopped top pair with Qs6c on the 9cQc7h flop as Watson’s 8h6s became a straight draw.

The 5h turn completed that draw for Watson, and it was now just a case of getting all the money in the middle. He managed it with a river shove that sent Lee deep into the tank. Lee eventually made a crying call — it seemed to be reluctant — and learned the bad news.

Kiat Lee ponders a huge call

The massive pot left Lee with only three big blinds and they went in on the next hand. Watson had pocket fives and flopped a set. Lee couldn’t catch up.

Watson’s Triton tally now goes beyond $10 million and his trophy haul now moves up to four. Lee’s day will surely come, and he has $691,000 to ease the pain. But while the erstwhile Mad Dog might have gone out howling at the moon tonight, the new one was hurrying home to the family.

“To my wife Sara and baby girl Serena, looking forward to get back to see you guys,” Watson said.

Mad Dog Mike Watson is back

RESULTS

Event 3 – $30,000 – 8-Handed
Dates: May 14-15, 2024
Entries: 154 (inc. 54 re-entries)
Prize pool: $4,620,000

1 – Mike Watson, Canada – $1,023,000
2 – Kiat Lee, Malaysia – $691,000
3 – Ding Biao, China – $475,000
4 – David Yan, New Zealand – $387,400
5 – Morten Klein, Norway – $309,000
6 – Sirzat Hissou, Germany – $238,000
7 – Leon Sturm, Germany – $173,000
8 – Daniel Rezaei, Austria – $125,000
9 – Stephen Chidwick, UK – $103,400

10 – Hossein Ensan, Germany – $88,000
11 – Patrik Antonius, Finland – $88,000
12 – Damir Zhugralin, Kazakhstan – $76,300
13 – Orpen Kisacikoglu, Turkey – $76,300
14 – Fedor Holz, Germany – $69,300
15 – Adrian Mateos, Spain – $69,300
16 – Dimitar Danchev, Bulgaria – $62,300
17 – Seth Davies, USA – $62,300
18 – Justin Saliba, USA – $55,400
19 – Xianchao Shen, China – $55,400
20 – Dylan Weisman, USA – $55,400
21 – Punnat Punsri, Thailand – $50,800
22 – Dylan Linde, USA – $50,800
23 – Chris Moneymaker, USA – $50,800
24 – Mikita Badziakouski, Belarus – $46,200
25 – Stanley Choi, Hong Kong – $46,200
26 – Chuck Chu, Vietnam – $46,200
27 – Andrew Chen, Canada – $46,200

Photography by Joe Giron/Poker Photo Archive

ANDY NI GOES WIRE-TO-WIRE TO WIN FIRST TITLE WITH A BANG

Champion Andy Ni!

The Triton Super High Roller Series served up a thriller tonight in Montenegro, where China’s Andy Ni landed a first title after ending the $25K NLHE tournament with a bang.

With chips flying back and forth in an entertaining but perilously short-stacked finale, Ni managed to knock out two players in the final hand, taking the tournament from three to one in an instant.

Observers are fairly sure it’s the first time a Triton tournament has ended with a double knockout, but it was no more than Ni deserved after a dominant performance. The 41-year-old, originally from China but who has lived in Spain since childhood, had led at the end of Day 1 and maintained that lead when the final table began.

He then survived the ups and downs of a crazy final to emerge on top, ending the challenges of Nicolas Chouity and Chris Brewer in that spectacular end. Ni banked $785,000 for the win, which was his third and biggest cash on the Triton series.

Chouity settled for $531,000, his second runner-up finish on the series. Meanwhile Brewer took third for $354,000, and took his Triton total winnings to around $7.5 million.

But this one was all about Ni, who did his post-game interviews in Spanish and can perhaps take some of the weight off Adrian Mateos as the only Spanish Triton champion so far. He told reporters that he is mostly a recreational player, who only plays tournaments occasionally, but was persuaded to come to Montenegro by a friend.

Ni played for the first time in Madrid a couple of years ago, but has cashed his first two tournaments here in Montenegro, including this breakout win. He acknowledged he needed two big coups to go his way at the final, drilling a three-outer and a two-outer at crucial moments. But he earned his place at the winner’s table.

Andy Ni begins life as a Triton champion

TOURNAMENT ACTION

The tournament attracted 135 entries but after a speedy Day 1 only 18 were left. That meant they were all already in the money, with Matthias Eibinger having burst the bubble. Eibinger lost the majority of his stack in a clash with Alex Kulev, when the Bulgarian’s AdQh won the race against pocket jacks.

The last of Eibinger’s chips went to Patrik Antonius, who also held jacks but beat Eibinger’s AhTs.

There was just time for a few more players to go broke, including Triton stalwarts Mikita Badziakouski, Seth Davies and Kiat Lee, before bagging and tagging for the night. Eighteen came back, with Andy Ni leading the way.

Everyone was guaranteed at least $42,500 at this point, but the target was the final table of nine.

Luminaries continued to fall by the wayside, with Steve O’Dwyer, Ben Tollerene, Nick Petrangelo Henrik Hecklen, Zhou Quan, Patrik Antonius and Tobias Schwecht among those departing. Ben Heath had less than two big blinds remaining on the final table bubble, but managed to triple up and remain involved as simultaneous bust-outs took us from 10 to eight in one fell swoop.

On the outer table, chip-leading Ni bust Paulius Vaitiekunas with KsQs beating ThKc. It happened at the same time as Heath ran his pocket fours into Nacho Barbero’s Ac9c and Danny Tang’s pocket aces, with Tang all but tripling up as a result.

Ben Heath ended up chopping ninth and tenth place money

Heath and Vaitiekunas took $72,150 each as the payouts were modified to reflect the simultaneous elimination. Meanwhile, the final table of eight settled down to play to the champion. The stacks were as follows:

Andy Ni – 5,475,000 (44 BBs)
Chris Brewer – 4,600,000 (37 BBs)
Danny Tang – 4,300,000 (34 BBs)
Nicolas Chouity – 3,925,000 (31 BBs)
Nacho Barbero – 2,650,000 (21 BBs)
Alex Kulev – 2,375,000 (19 BBs)
Viacheslav Buldygin – 2,200,000 (18 BBs)
Aram Sargsyan – 1,475,000 (12 BBs)

Triton Montenegro Event 2 final table players (clockwise from top left): Alex Kulev, Nicolas Chouity, Nacho Barbero, Danny Tang, Andy Ni, Viacheslav Buldygin, Aram Sargsyan, Chris Brewer.

Ni had held the chip lead from the start of the day, and early action at the final only consolidated it. Ni knocked out Kulev to get things started, with pocket aces staying good against Kulev’s AsQs. It left Kulev on the rail, with a $98,500 payout.

Ni was not able to run away with things, however, and Chris Brewer continued to keep him in his sights. It helped that Brewer was the next to find aces in a pivotal spot, busting Nacho Barbero who was more than happy to get his chips in with AdKh. There were no miracles for Barbero here and he ended with a $133,600 payout.

Not much Nacho Barbero could do

As Ni and Brewer were collecting chips during the major elimination hands, Nicolas Chouity was chipping up consistently in smaller pots. To this point, Chouity’s graph showed a very steady incline: no sharp peaks taking him in either direction, and he landed at the top of the six-handed battle. Even when he was then involved in a major hand, he landed on the right side of it.

Danny Tang, who was returning to the venue where he made his Triton debut five years ago, had been holding firm through the early exchanges of the final table. But when he found a premium — pocket queens — and got his chips in, Chouity was sitting behind with AdKd.

Chouity called Tang’s three-bet shove and hit a king on the river to send Tang out in sixth, collecting $180,500.

Danny Tang’s career has blossomed since his Triton debut here in Montenegro

Viacheslav Buldygin was another player making a welcome return to the Triton Series here in Montenegro, and he too had progressed to the final. But he never managed to put together a big stack today (at least not big enough to really challenge) and he ended up dwindling down to a shoving stack. He got it in with Kc8h but lost to Brewer’s Ah3c.

Buldygin won $233,000.

Viacheslav Buldygin finished in fifth

Triton first-timer Aram Sargsyan had made the final table in only his second tournament on the tour, and his progression to fourth place had shown his chops. The final stages of his performance had been mostly a case of clinging on with a short stack, but he finally got it in good against Chouity.

Sargsyan had pocket tens but Chouity couldn’t fold Qd7d with a dominant stack and facing only a three blind shove. Chouity hit a queen on the flop and Sargsyan was out. He took $290,000 to get his Triton career up and running.

A fourth-place finish on Aram Sargsyan’s Triton debut

There had been precious few dramatic moments to this point, with the best hands usually holding up. That pattern continued in three-handed play, with Brewer and Chouity first to clash. Brewer’s AcTd beat Chouity’s As7d when they got it in pre-flop.

It gave Brewer a big lead. But it didn’t last long.

As is so often the case in this world, the stacks were shallow and getting shallower. The three players got their chips in repeatedly but chopped pots seemed to be the order of the day. It left them at one point with only two big blinds separating them, and stacks of 19, 18 and 17 blinds. It made it anyone’s game.

Chouity was sticking to his policy of firing at almost all flops and continuing to stay afloat. He slid a bit, but then moved back into a narrow lead. Brewer assumed the shortest stack. But then Brewer found kings and doubled, following up with another double with AdJd and suddenly he was our chip leader once more.

Chris Brewer was involved in most of the biggest pots at the final

There were now only 45 blinds at the table, and the volatility continued. Ni went from shortest stack to leader after a double through Brewer, with KhTd bettering KsJs when a 10 landed on the turn.

And that proved to be a big moment because it gave Ni the stack to take on anyone who came at him — even if both his opponents fired together.

Brewer ponders folding in a three-way all-in

So it happened: a three-way all in to end a Triton event. It may not have ever happened before. Brewer opened with his Ac8s, Ni looked down at AhJc and moved all in from the small blind. Chouity found AsTd in the big and called all in.

That put Brewer in a really tough spot. He had less than a big blind, but knew he might be able to fold the hand and limp into second. It was the best part of a $200K decision. After a while, however, he was persuaded to call — but regretted it.

The best hand held up. Chouity was officially second, for $531,000. Brewer took third for $354,000. But it meant Ni was our champion: chip leader at the start of the day, at the start of the final, and then a double killer to wrap it up.

A second runner-up finish for Nicolas Chouity

RESULTS

Event 2 – $25,000 NLHE – 8-Handed
Dates: May 13-14, 2024
Entries: 135 (inc. 45 re-entries)
Prize pool: $3,375,000

1 – Andy Ni, China – $785,000
2 – Nicolas Chouity, Lebanon – $531,000
3 – Chris Brewer, USA – $354,000
4 – Aram Sargsyan, Armenia – $290,000
5 – Viacheslav Buldygin, Russia – $233,000
6 – Danny Tang, Hong Kong – $180,500
7 – Nacho Barbero, Argentina – $133,600
8 – Alex Kulev, Bulgaria – $98,500

9 – Ben Heath, UK – $72,150
10 – Paulius Vaitiekunas, Lithuania – $72,150
11 – Tobias Schwecht, Germany – $65,800
12 – Patrik Antonius, Finland – $57,500
13 – Henrik Hecklen, Denmark – $57,500
14 – Nick Petrangelo, USA – $52,300
15 – Zhou Quan, China – $52,300
16 – Ben Tollerene, USA – $47,300
17 – Steve O’Dwyer, Ireland – $47,300
18 – Xiaohui Tan, China – $42,500
19 – Kiat Lee, Malaysia – $42,500
20 – Klemens Roiter, Austria – $42,500
21 – Krasimir Neychev, Bulgaria – $39,200
22 – Seth Davies, USA – $39,200
23 – Mikita Badziakouski, Belarus – $39,200

Photography by Joe Giron/Poker Photo Archive

IT’S BOOM-TIME AGAIN AS CHRIS MONEYMAKER LANDS TRITON TITLE IN MONTENEGRO

Champion Chris Moneymaker!

So much of what we love about modern poker owes a huge debt of gratitude to one man.

It was Chris Moneymaker’s victory in the 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event that is credited with igniting the poker boom — a boom that burned and grew through the following two decades, and eventually ended up with incredible tours like the Triton Super High Roller Series.

Tonight in Montenegro, as the Triton Series begins the final stop of it third season, Moneymaker has bossed his way into the headlines again. The man who was once just a plucky amateur, a fresh-faced 27-year-old accountant from Tennessee changing the poker landscape, tonight came of age as a high roller.

Moneymaker, now 48, beat a field of 163 entries to claim the first Triton title of his career, along with $903,000. It came in the $25,000 GG Million$ tournament, which kicked off Triton’s visit to the Maestral Resort in Montenegro.

“I wasn’t going to lose today,” Moneymaker told reporters as he celebrated his victory, calling home and then hugging friends on the rail. “I could have put it in with any hand and I would have won. I ran pure.”

Moneymaker was on the brink of elimination on the bubble, when he got a tiny stack into the middle and needed to hit an ace to survive. It came on the river, steering him into the money and beginning another boom. This time it was his stack, which just kept growing through the next few hours.

Moneymaker said: “I hit a three-outer, a six outer. I thought to myself, ‘You know what, this is going to be 2003. I’m not going to lose any more hands today.'”

Chris Moneymaker begins celebrations with Brian Kim, his beaten heads-up opponent

It ended with Moneymaker downing countryman Brian Kim heads up to land another famous triumph. It was once said that if Moneymaker could win the World Series, anyone could, and that sent millions of players to their local casinos or the online tables. If anyone wants to try to emulate Moneymaker on the Triton Series, there are 15 more events here in Montenegro for them to have a go.

And the man himself would encourage it.

“I don’t really play a whole lot of high rollers, but when I do I enjoy it,” Moneymaker said. “I probably won’t play a ton more, but I’m sure I’ll be back out at a Triton stop. They do a really good job. It’s insane how well they run tournaments.”

TOURNAMENT ACTION

Our first tournament of the trip meant the first bubble of the trip and it’s conceivable that we don’t see another to match the drama and duration of this one.

In early going, there was the rare sight of two WSOP Main Event champions all in and under threat on neighbouring tables, but Hossein Ensan and Chris Moneymaker both doubled up.

That came to be a lasting theme as short stacks around the room survived numerous tense moments. Moneymaker was again among them (he’d put himself back in the mire by bluffing off most of his stack to Igor Yaroshevskyy), but Moneymaker again pulled a spectacular Houdini act. Faced with two opponents, Biao Ding and Brandon Hamlet, Moneymaker got his last chips in with AdJc.

Chris Moneymaker managed a series of unlikely double ups to survive

Ding and Hamlet played through the streets until Ding folded with four community cards showing: 6c8d9h2h. That’s when Hamlet showed his pocket queens, leaving Moneymaker drawing to three outs. With cameras poised to watch his elimination, the dealer delivered the Ac on the turn to keep him alive. And Moneymaker set about making the most of this reprieve.

Malaysia’s Kiat Lee, by contrast, finally became the unfortunate man to end all the pain. He was involved in a pot against Byron Kaverman, with Kaverman having recently doubled thanks to some pocket kings. Kaverman and Lee got to a flop of TdTs8h, at which point the remainder of Lee’s chips landed over the line.

Lee had Jd8c but Kaverman had found another monster pocket pair. His pocket aces were now super strong thanks to the two tens on the flop, meaning even the Jc turn didn’t help Lee. The Qd ended it and burst the bubble. It left 27 in the money.

After a long and tortuous bubble, Kiat Lee relieved the tension

At this stage, Moneymaker was still one of the short stacks, despite the double up. But in another prolonged period of play, as the field slowly thinned to its final table of nine, Moneymaker began a steady upward rise.

Ensan was one of those going in the other direction, landing on the rail alongside players including Phil Ivey, Patrik Antonius, Nick Petrangelo and Seth Davies. The tournament got stuck for more than an hour with 10 players left, but Moneymaker knocked out Kaverman with pocket tens against AsJc, and set the final.

That final coup vaulted Moneymaker all the way to the top. The final table lined up as follows:

Chris Moneymaker – 11,300,000 (57 BBs)
Biao Ding – 6,125,000 (31 BBs)
Adrian Mateos – 5,250,000 (26 BBs)
Brian Kim – 5,000,000 (25 BBs)
Danilo Velasevic – 4,350,000 (22 BBs)
Lewis Spencer – 3,350,000 (17 BBs)
Isaac Haxton – 2,575,000 (13 BBs)
Morten Klein – 1,800,000 (9 BBs)
Igor Yaroshevskyy – 1,000,000 (5 BBs)

Triton Montenegro Event 1 final table players (clockwise from back left): Brian Kim, Ding Biao, Igor Yaroshevskyy, Lewis Spencer, Chris Moneymaker, Danilo Velasevic, Adrian Mateos, Morten Klein, Isaac Haxton.

The tournament was nothing if not shallow at this stage, with only Moneymaker able to feel even slightly comfortable. However, every payjump was worth navigating and nobody was preparing to throw caution to the wind.

Isaac Haxton became the first player eliminated from the final table, and that was only because he found a mid-sized pocket pair at the same time as Ding Biao had a bigger one. After Moneymaker opened from mid-position, Biao called on the button with pocket jacks.

Haxton had pocket nines in the small blind and sensed a good squeeze spot. The chips went in, Moneymaker folded, but Biao snapped Haxton off. The board ran dry and Haxton was bumped in ninth for €91,300.

Isaac Haxton continues the hunt for a first title

Morten Klein was still among the short stacks at this stage and the Norwegian high roller wasn’t able to get the double up he needed. Klein lost about half his stack when he got involved in a pot against Brian Kim where Kim three-bet shoved the turn on a board showing two jacks.

Klein folded to fight another day, but lasted only two hands more. Kim again was his nemesis, opening from the button, then calling Klein’s three-bet jam from the big blind. Klein’s QcJh lost to Kim’s Ac7c, leaving Klein with $110,500 for eighth. It also put Kim to the top of the chip counts, but only with 35 big blinds.

No more Morten Klein

In the GGMillion$ format, the blind increases are determined by the number of hands played rather than by the clock. But there’s still the grim inevitability of those levels going up and short stacks becoming even shorter. By the time players went on a break at the end of Level 25, the average stack sat at only 15 big blinds, with the chip leader sitting with 30.

It was inevitable that eliminations would now come in a hurry, but three players in as many hands was still a comparatively rare sight. Lewis Spencer, Adrian Mateos and Danilo Velasevic went bang, bang, bang.

Lewis Spencer’s face says it all

Spencer three-bet shoved pocket threes over Moneymaker’s button open, but Moneymaker’s pocket nines were better throughout. However, Mateos’ bust was a good deal more grim: he raise/called Kim’s big blind shove when Kim was the man now sitting with pocket threes.

Mateos had pocket jacks, but Kim spiked a three on the river to fell Mateos.

Adrian Mateos gets rivered by Brian Kim

Kim’s roll wasn’t done. On the very next hand, he had AsQc and Velasevic this time had pocket jacks. This time Kim hit his killer ace on the turn and Velasevic hit the skids.

Danilo Velasevic became the third player out in three hands

The two players at the top of the counts both won big pots, while Spencer collected $153,000 for seventh, Mateos took $209,500 for sixth and Velasevic won $272,000 for fifth. Igor Yaroshevskyy, who had found a lucky double before all this carnage (cracking kings with QsTh) looked on with glee.

Kim was in a commanding lead, but Moneymaker soon gave him a taste of his own medicine. The two chip leaders clashed with Moneymaker three-bet ripping from the big blind after Kim opened the button.

Kim wasn’t bluffing though. He had pocket queens. Moneymaker was in trouble with Kc9c, but he spiked a king on the river to not only survive, but double into the chip lead.

This was frantic now, and Ding Biao got his chips in as a three-bet shove from the button. Kim was once again the opening raiser, and once again he had a real hand. This time Kim’s AdKh beat Biao’s AsTs and they were down to three. Biao won $341,000 for fourth.

Yaroshevskyy might have been on the rail five eliminations ago, but he was now involved in the three-handed battle and guaranteed $419,000. He surely wouldn’t have complained about the end of his run at this point, losing his last four blinds with Qd3h to Moneymaker’s Ad8h.

Igor Yaroshevskyy hits unlikely double before a triple elimination

That left the two Americans heads up, with nearly $300K between first and second place. Moneymaker had the lead:

Moneymaker: 25,700,000 (51 BBs)
Kim: 15,050,000 (30 BBs)

And very soon, Moneymaker had the win.

Second place for Brian Kim, worth $609,000

The first two hands of heads up were uneventful. The third ended it all. Moneymaker opened with AcTc and Kim jammed with As8h. Moneymaker snapped him off and saw a ten on the flop to make things even better.

Two more cards couldn’t give Kim enough help. And with that, Moneymaker joins Espen Jorstad and Koray Aldemir as WSOP Main Event winners with a Triton Super High Roller title as well.

A born champion: Chris Moneymaker

RESULTS

Event 1 – $25,000 GG Million$ Live
Dates: May 12-13, 2024
Entries: 163 (inc. 56 re-entries)
Prize pool: $4,075,000

1 – Chris Moneymaker, USA – $903,000
2 – Brian Kim, USA – $609,000
3 – Igor Yaroshevskyy, Ukraine – $419,000
4 – Ding Biao, China – $341,000
5 – Danilo Velasevic, Serbia – $272,000
6 – Adrian Mateos, Spain – $209,500
7 – Lewis Spencer, UK – $153,000
8 – Morten Klein, Norway – $110,500
9 – Isaac Haxton, USA – $91,300

10 – Byron Kaverman, USA – $77,500
11 – Brandon Hamlet, USA – $77,500
12 – Justin Saliba, USA – $67,200
13 – Hossein Ensan, Germany – $67,200
14 – Phil Ivey, USA – $61,100
15 – Pieter Aerts, Belgium – $61,100
16 – Wai Leong Chan, Malaysia – $55,000
17 – Patrik Antonius, Finland – $55,000
18 – Ken Tong, Hong Kong – $48,900
19 – Diego Zeiter, Switzerland – $48,900
20 – Aleksandr Zubov, Russia – $48,900
21 – Nick Petrangelo, USA – $44,800
22 – Andy Ni, China – $42,900
23 – Aram Oganyan, USA – $42,900
24 – Klemens Roiter, Austria – $42,900
25 – Chris Nguyen, Germany – $42,900
26 – Seth Davies, USA – $41,000
27 – Gregoire Auzoux, France – $41,000

Photography by Joe Giron/Poker Photo Archive

Triton Poker Goes All-In on Streaming: Unveils Channel on Pluto TV

In a move set to electrify the poker world, Triton Poker, renowned for its high-stakes action and star-studded tournaments, is making a ground-breaking leap into the realm of streaming television. The announcement of a 24/7 subscription-free Triton Poker channel on Pluto TV, a leading free streaming service, marks a watershed moment in the history of the game.

The move, hailed as a landmark moment in Triton Poker’s illustrious history, promises to revolutionise how fans experience the game. Operated by C15 Studio, the Triton Poker channel is set to debut ahead of the much-anticipated Triton Super High Roller Series in Montenegro, the channel will offer wall-to-wall live coverage of the event starting May 12.

For poker aficionados, this means unprecedented access to over 400 hours of live high-stakes action annually, complemented by curated tournament replays, highlights, and expert analysis. It’s a virtual front-row seat to the exhilarating world of elite poker, where colossal prize pools and top-tier competition converge to create unforgettable moments.

The decision to join forces with Pluto TV represents a strategic move to broaden Triton Poker’s global reach. With the explosive growth of Free Ad-supported Streaming TV (FAST) channels in the USA, the Triton Poker channel is poised to captivate audiences across the nation.

By showcasing the 2024 Triton Poker Super High Roller series on Pluto TV, accessibility to these prestigious events is guaranteed. Whether it’s witnessing nail-biting bluffs or jaw-dropping victories, viewers can now immerse themselves in the drama and intensity of high-stakes poker anytime, anywhere.

Andy Wong, CEO of Triton Poker, expressed his excitement about the collaboration: “We are thrilled about this exciting new development, enabling us to bring the excitement of the 2024 Triton Poker series to new and existing fans. Together with C15 Studio, we hope to develop the Triton Poker channel into the top poker destination for fans everywhere, delivering on our commitment to unparalleled poker experiences globally.”

This partnership marks a significant milestone in Triton Poker’s journey, opening doors to a wider audience and solidifying its position as a pioneer in the world of high-stakes poker.

As the countdown to the channel’s launch begins, anticipation mounts among fans eager to embark on this exhilarating new chapter in Triton Poker’s storied legacy. So, clear your schedules, sharpen your skills, and get ready to go all-in with Triton Poker on Pluto TV. The cards are about to be dealt, and the stakes have never been higher.

——–

 

 

STEPHEN CHIDWICK’S SHORT DECK TURBO SUCCESS BRINGS CURTAIN DOWN ON TRITON JEJU

Champion Stephen Chidwick!

There’s no one on the Triton Super High Roller Poker Series who gives as much to these tournaments as Stephen Chidwick. He plays every single game, right from the moment registration opens, and by common consensus he is among the most feared and fearsome players at any table.

The fact that Chidwick wasn’t yet on the multiple champions page was one of those freaks of this volatile game: he had Triton earnings of close to $20 million from 36 cashes.

Chidwick put that right tonight. He probably sat at the Triton tables for longer than anyone during this trip, firing bullets, bubbling twice and making three final tables. And it was only fitting that he was the last player sitting at a table too, posing as champion of the $20K Short Deck Turbo, the final event of an exhausting stop.

Chidwick, however, is tireless and somehow remains deeply focused during the incredible hours he puts into both play and studying. And he was clearly gratified when it paid off tonight, landing him a $265,000 score.

“It feels amazing,” Chidwick said. “I look around all the time when I’m playing at the banners for the two-time champions and I didn’t have one…It feels great to get the win.”

He added: “Coming close a lot of times, you get your hopes up and you get them dashed. But that’s the nature of tournament poker.”

Chidwick defeated Tan Xuan heads-up, denying the Chinese player a third career title and a second in consecutive days. “He’s an incredible player,” Chidwick said. “He’s impossible to put him on a hand. I knew I had my work cut out.”

But if there’s anyone who can cope with whatever is thrown at him, it’s Chidwick. And his face will now be glaring from banners around the Triton tournament room, something he admitted will give him great pleasure.

Stephen Chidwick shakes hands with Tan Xuan, beaten heads-up

TOURNAMENT ACTION

The field of 42 entries (including 17 re-entries) was enough to put $840,000 in the prize pool and offer $265K to the winner. There are a lot of players in Jeju for whom even winning this tournament would not make much of a difference to their bottom line, but a win is a win and there’s still plenty of prestige.

As ever, the great and good were among those washed away shortly after registration closed, getting us nearer to the money. It would kick in when seven were left.

Jun Wah Yap only played the short deck events here in Jeju, so his exposure wasn’t quite so big as some of his peers. But after two whiffs, he will have hoped to leave the best until last. And he very nearly did.

However, after about an orbit of hand-for-hand play, Yap got his last 70 antes in with AdKh. He was leading Tan Xuan’s Qs9d, but the board of AcTsJh7s8c straightened Jap out.

Jun Wah Yap was the last man out before the money kicked in

That was the bubble burst and Xuan into a big chip lead. It was also final table time.

FINAL TABLE STACKS

Tan Xuan – 3,665,000 (183 antes)
Isaac Haxton – 2,660,000 (133 antes)
Dan Dvoress – 1,525,000 (76 antes)
Stephen Chidwick – 1,335,000 (67 antes)
Phil Ivey – 1,225,000 (67 antes)
Zhou Quan – 1,145,000 (57 antes)
Seth Davies 1,045,000 (52 antes)

Triton Jeju Event 19 final table players (clockwise from back left): Tan Xuan, Zhou Quan, Dan Dvoress, Isaac Haxton, Seth Davies, Phil Ivey, Stephen Chidwick

Seth Davies had already been at two Short Deck final tables this week, and here he was at a third, albeit with a short stack. But he sat and watched Tan Xuan win a decent early pot from Phil Ivey, which meant that when Davies and Ivey went to war pre-flop, it was Ivey under threat.

Davies had AhQh and Ivey Ad9d. There was nothing on the board to rescue Ivey, and out he went in seventh for $44,000.

Phil Ivey leaves Jeju without another win, but plenty of deep runs

Davies might have hoped that would kickstart a run to a first title, but he hadn’t accounted for Xuan. Davies picked up AdJd and moved all in. Xuan had AsQs and made the call. He saw three spades to finish this.

Davies won $54,500 for sixth.

Three short deck finals for Seth Davies

Xuan had an enormous stack now: 258 antes, when his closest challenger had only 99. All the others were left to scrap among themselves.

And it was quite a scrap. Zhou Quan won a flip against Dan Dvoress with pocket queens beating AcKs. That left Dvoress at the bottom of the counts, but he doubled back through Quan to get back even.

Chidwick was the shortest, but he shoved three times at different stages of three hands, picked up no callers, and chipped up. But then when others did similar, Chidwick was back down again.

The most significant pot of this period went to Quan. He took aces up against Xuan’s jacks and won, pushing him up to within only eight antes of Xuan.

They took a break and the antes went up and things grew ever more hectic. Chidwick found a double with pocket queens staying best against Quan’s Jd7c. That put Chidwick neck and neck with Xuan.

Haxton was still battling, but this final table followed the pattern of being cruel to North Americans. Two of the continents finest were already on the rail, and Haxton and then Dan Dvoress were soon to join them.

Dan Dvoress says goodbye to Isaac Haxton…

Haxton’s last chips went to Chidwick. Chidwick shoved with 9sTs and Haxton called with AsJh. This one also ended in a straight. The KsJc8sQdAc board gave Chidwick the winner.

Haxton banked $71,500 but still looks for a maiden title.

Dvoress already has two wins, both from the past 12 months. But with only 15 antes left, he fell victim in this one to Xuan, with AsQh perishing to Xuan’s JdTc. Dvoress snatched a last-gasp $92,000.

…before busting himself soon after

Chidwick therefore took on the two Chinese players, both of whom already had a title from this trip to Jeju. Xuan was in front, with 87 antes, Chidwick had 74 and Quan had 49. It was still anyone’s game.

Quan couldn’t win anything during this crucial phase, and he was the next man out. He shipped with KsQs and couldn’t beat Chidwick’s AsQc.

Quan looked crestfallen, but this has been a good trip for him. Although he bricked the hold’em events, he’s been excellent in the second half of the festival, landing a first title in PLO and then making two short deck finals. This one ended with a third-place finish and $122,000.

Zhou Quan leaves the Triton Jeju stage for the last time

That left Chidwick and Xuan for the final shootout of the week, with only two antes between them. Xuan had 80, Chidwick 78.

Only very small pots moved in either direction until there was just one big one to end it all. Chidwick called, Xuan raised his button, and Chidwick shoved over the top. Xuan made the call and was ahead with AhKs. But Chidwick’s AdTh flopped a ten, then picked up a diamond draw for good measure.

Tan Xuan: A great week in Jeju

Xuan’s fans called for a king, but it never came. Chidwick stood up, smiled broadly from beneath his vintage-movie-villain’s moustache and finally got his hands on a second Triton trophy.

Xuan took $191,000. Chidwick landed $265,000, and the champion paid tribute to his family, who accompany him to all these stops and keep him sane.

“My family gives me incredible support,” Chidwick said. “If I have a bad day, good day, they’re there to give me a hug, cheer me up or celebrate with me. It makes a big different to my mood and motivation.”

Tonight, it’s celebration. All round.

And with that, this exceptional Triton Series stop in Jeju was done. See you all in Montenegro!

A two-time champion at last

Event #19 – $20K – Short Deck
Dates: March 21, 2024
Entries: 42 (inc. 17 re-entries)
Prize pool: $840,000

1 – Stephen Chidwick, UK – $265,000
2 – Tan Xuan, China – $191,000
3 – Zhou Quan, China – $122,000
4 – Dan Dvoress, Canada – $92,000
5 – Isaac Haxton, USA – $71,500
6 – Seth Davies, USA – $54,500
7 – Phil Ivey, USA – $44,000

Photography by Joe Giron/Poker Photo Archive

MIKITA BADZIAKOUSKI BEATS PAUL PHUA HEADS-UP TO JOIN THE FIVE-TIME TRITON CLUB

Champion Mikita Badziakouski!

Mikita Badziakouski is now a five time champion on the Triton Super High Roller Series — and it’s a measure of this man’s talent that everyone was asking, “What took you so long?”

Badziakouski, 32, has played every single stop on the Triton Series and already had three titles by 2019, and added a fourth in 2022. But it’s been nearly two years since he was last standing beneath a Triton trophy, during which time Jason Koon has raced to 10 titles and both Phil Ivey and Danny Tang collected their fifth.

However, Badziakouski is back, and today beat crowd favourite and Triton co-founder Paul Phua heads-up to land the $1,153,000 first prize in the $100K Short Deck event in Jeju.

“Back in Cyprus (in 2022), I got second twice and I wasn’t really caring about winning another one,” Badziakouski said. “But then I went to London and Monte Carlo and didn’t get close. And by that time I’ve really been wanting to win one. I’m really happy.”

Each of Badziakouski’s five titles have landed him more than $1 million in prize money — an average haul that outstrips the other three players with as many wins as him. He is up to $19.8 million in Triton earnings now, and this is his second in Short Deck.

“I personally enjoy it very much,” Badziakouski said of this variant, adding that he still feels very much at home on the Triton Series. “There are not many players who have played all the stops since 2017…Triton is just doing everything the best.”

The same could really be said of Badziakouski. As fellow five-timer Danny Tang said when he came on stage to congratulate Badziakouski, “Welcome to the club.”

Mikita Badziakouski: Finally a five-timer

TOURNAMENT ACTION

The comparatively small field meant that this was one of those tournaments where not only making a final day didn’t mean making the money, making the final table didn’t either. There were 10 players at the start of Day 2, seven seats at the final, but only six players would be paid.

After Isaac Haxton, Kiat Lee and Dan Dvoress were knocked out, the last seven sat down to the final with the following stacks:

Mikita Badziakouski – 2,834,000 (236 antes)
Sun Ya Qi – 1,952,000 (163 antes)
Sam Greenwood – 1,372,000 (114 antes)
Jason Koon – 1,264,000 (105 antes)
Winfred Yu – 1,134,000 (95 antes)
Wu Xiao – 1,092,000 (91 antes)
Paul Phua – 553,000 (48 antes)

Triton Jeju Event 18 final table players (clockwise from back left): Sun Ya Qi, Winfred Yu, Jason Koon, Paul Phua, Mikita Badziakouski, Wu Xiao, Sam Greenwood

Wu Xiao seemed likely to be the player out when he got it in with AhKs against Jason Koon’s KhKd. Koon had a bigger stack too. However, an ace came on the river and Xiao survived, putting Koon in real danger.

By their usual standards, this trip to Jeju had offered slim pickings for North American players, with only Mike Watson and Dan Smith claiming titles, with European and Asian players at the fore.

Koon aside, this turned into another miserable event for poker’s typically dominant region, especially when Sam Greenwood picked up a second bubble finish in consecutive days. Greenwood, of course, is a total pro and understands everything about variance. But with four players sitting with shorter stacks, he must have been cursing the face that it was him picking up AcQh when Mikita Badziakouski had AhAd.

Greenwood open shoved 50 antes. Badziakouski gleefully picked him off, and that took the last six into the money.

Another day, another bubble for the unfortunate Sam Greenwood

Badziakouski was top of the pack still, and was the only player with more than 100 antes. Sun Ya Qi was close behind, but everyone else had less than the average of 57. They were, however, now guaranteed at least $240,000.

Paul Phua’s survival instincts earned him a double up to put him relatively safe. But Koon and Wu Xiao sank to the bottom of the counts, with only a handful of antes between them.

In this particular sub-plot, Koon came out on top. But only just. Xiao bust when his last chips went in with 9d7d and Qi’s AhQd became a full house. That meant $260K for Xiao.

Wu Xiao’s scores a first Triton cash in only his third tournament

One hand later, Koon joined him on the rail. Koon’s 9c7s lost to Phua’s pocket aces. The additional hand was worth $56K as Koon earned $306,000.

Even Jason Koon can’t beat aces

Two-time Triton champion Winfred Yu assumed the short stack now, and he too fell victim to Phua armed with pocket aces. Phua laid the trap with an open limp; Qi limped behind and then Yu saw AcQd and moved all in.

Phua called with his rockets, Qi folded and the dealer didn’t give quite enough to Yu. There was a queen on the flop but the aces stayed good. Yu was out in fourth for $391,000.

Winfred Yu became the second player to run into aces and bust

Badziakouski therefore now sat opposite Phua and Qi with 95 antes to his name and around 50 each to both opponents. If it looked like a lock for the four-time champion, it was far from certain who would finish runner-up. And maybe, just maybe, there would be a shock.

The trio played long enough for the blinds to raise once or twice and for the tournament to take a break. And then Badziakouski found aces when Qi found pocket tens. The money went in, the chips went to Badziakouski.

Qi won $510,000 for third and picked up his first Triton cash since a charity event in 2016, when the Triton Series was a mere infant.

Sun Ya Qi: Back in the money after a long wait

So here they were, Triton’s co-founder against one of Triton’s brightest shining stars. The pair are friends who have shared many tables together across the world, both in tournaments and cash games. Badziakouski had a three-to-one chip lead, 128 antes to 42. But only one double up and they’d be even…

Phua managed it. His pocket queens stayed best against Badziakouski’s JhTd. That put him close. And then five hands later he was ahead after betting out through all streets and getting a Badziakouski fold.

But Badziakouski wasn’t dead. He then found pocket kings and beat Phua’s Ac7c. Badziakouski was back in the box seat. And then at the third time of asking, this one was over: Badziakouski’s AcJc faded all kinds of outs to beat Phua’s Ad7d.

Paul Phua put up a good fight before succumbing in second

The flop — Td8d6s — brought murmurs from Phua’s rail. But after the 8s turn and a wish for “Picture!” from Badziakouski, the Qs landed on the river.

The room was stunned to silence. Everyone had gathered to witness Phua’s second victory. But after a few seconds the applause started for another terrific performance from the new five-time champion, Mikita Badziakouski.

“GG,” Mr Paul said. It was, again, GG from this exceptional talent.

Phua congratulates Mikita Badziakouski at the end

Event #18 – $100K – Short Deck
Dates: March 20-21, 2024
Entries: 34 (inc. 16 re-entries)
Prize pool: $3,400,000

1 – Mikita Badziakouski, Belarus – $1,153,000
2 – Paul Phua, Malaysia – $800,000
3 – Sun Ya Qi, China – $510,000
4 – Winfred Yu, Hong Kong – $391,000
5 – Jason Koon, USA – $306,000
6 – Wu Xiao, China – $240,000

Photography by Joe Giron/Poker Photo Archive

TAN XUAN COMPLETES SHORT DECK DOUBLE WITH JEJU MAIN EVENT SUCCESS

Champion Tan Xuan!

One of Triton Poker’s most captivating favourites tonight secured a second Triton title, nearly five years since he first held aloft the famous trophy.

China’s Tan Xuan has been a stalwart of both tournaments and cash games on this tour since its earliest years, and Triton co-founder Paul Phua was the first player on stage to congratulate him after Xuan won the $50K Short Deck Main Event in Jeju, South Korea.

Phua has crossed swords with Xuan many times during that period, with the enthusiastic crowds who watch the Triton live streams always thrilled to see the 37-year-old at the table. It always means action, aggression and a devil-may-care attitude.

“I’m a loose player, I love the fear of the bluff!” Xuan explained in his winner’s interview.

But just how much Xuan cares was clearly evident tonight in Jeju, where Xuan roared his delight as he hit a winning flush and defeated Martin Nielsen heads-up to book a $922,000 triumph.

He also wins an exclusive Jacob & Co timepiece, only available to winners of Main Events on the Triton Series.

Xuan played a slightly lighter tournament schedule than normal this time around, possibly because of some lively cash game action. But he was focused and committed today, first overhauling a runaway chip leader in the form of Rene Van Krevelen, then beating a short deck specialist, Nielsen, in the final duel.

“Luck is very important, but my experience was bigger than his,” Xuan said, explaining how he navigated through a characteristically tough tournament field. Nielsen landed his first Triton cash, picking up $655,000 for second.

Xuan and Nielsen just about got the tournament wrapped up before the midnight deadline to play the $100K short deck, also starting today in Jeju. But perhaps it’ll be straight back to the cash tables for Xuan, with viewers to expect thrills and spills when the episodes air later this year.

The new champion Tan Xuan begins the celebrations

TOURNAMENT ACTION

With 12 players left, it was bubble time and in short order three players were all-in and called. Lun Loon survived with AcKd against Phil Ivey’s KsTs. That was a double up. Then Michael Zhang chopped to survive against Tan Xuan when they both had king-jack.

Sam Greenwood was the third player to be put at risk on the bubble, but was in good shape with KsKd against Ivey’s AcTc. Good shape, that was, until the river. It was As and spelled the end for Greenwood.

Interested parties come over to watch Sam Greenwood learn his fate on the bubble

Ivey’s delight turned to rubble immediately after, when he became the next out, clashing with Van Krevelen. That was one hand in an incredible run for the Dutchman: he subsequently knocked out all of Loon, P Aorigele and Stephen Chidwick to set a final table of seven.

Van Krevelen was a mile ahead and, having seen what Mike Watson did to the other short deck final yesterday, took his seat and hoped to repeat the speedy resolution. (It’s just that some others thought differently.)

FINAL TABLE STACKS

Rene Van Krevelen – 13,505,000 (270 antes)
Tan Xuan – 6,875,000 (138 antes)
Martin Nielsen – 2,920,000 (58 antes)
Michael Zhang – 2,040,000 (41 antes)
Jason Koon – 1,680,000 (34 antes)
Zhou Quan – 1,605,000 (32 antes)
Seth Davies – 1,530,000 (31 antes)

Triton Jeju Event 17 final table players (clockwise from back left): Seth Davies, Zhou Quan, Martin Nielsen, Michael Zhang, Tan Xuan, Rene Van Krevelen, Jason Koon.

It certainly started well for the chip leader. Van Krevelen was on hand to send Seth Davies out in seventh. This one started with a raise from Davies, with As9s, continued with a three-bet from Van Krevelen, and then it went shove/call.

Van Krevelen had JcQc, which was technically behind at this point, but quickly caught up through a board of QsTsKc8h9c.

Davies made back-to-back short deck final tables, taking $161,000 from this one.

Seth Davies hit back-to-back short deck finals

Michael Zhang, who had survived with a short stack through the bubble, became Van Krevelen’s next victim. Zhang had managed to double up through Tan Xuan not long ago, which in itself was good news for Van Krevelen as it dented his closest challenger.

And it got even better when Van Krevelen was able to pull off a come-from-behind victory with As9h to beat Zhang’s AdKs. A fair chunk went in pre-flop. Then the rest went in with 7h6cJc on the table.

The 9d in the turn was what really hurt Zhang, and the Qc river proved immaterial. Zhang cashed for $205,000.

Michael Zhang was bad beat out of it in sixth

And then, suddenly, the power dynamic started to shift.

While Van Krevelen sat back for a while, the noose gradually began to tighten around Zhou Quan. Another player with a title this week, Quan lost a massive flip against Martin Nielsen, with queens losing to AcKc, before losing another big one to Tan Xuan.

This one was terminal for Quan: his Jd9d lost to Xuan’s KsQd, which made a straight. Quan talked about how his PLO victory took some of the self-imposed pressure off himself, and this second deep run of the week will have helped some more.

He earned $261,000 for fifth.

Zhou Quan, not quite empty handed, but out in fifth

Xuan now had the bit between his teeth and took over from Van Krevelen had left off. Shortly after knocking out Quan, Jason Koon landed in the crosshairs. Koon has not (yet) won a title here in Jeju this trip, which in itself seems something of a shock for a 10-time champion. But here he was again at a final, and clearly the man everyone feared the most.

But Koon couldn’t quite get this one done, losing after three-bet shipping Ad7d and running into Xuan’s KdKs. This big pot put Xuan into the tournament chip lead, and left Koon looking for $330,000.

Jason Koon: The man in black busts in fourth

Nielsen was now the short stack, but he remedied that pretty quickly with a double through Van Krevelen. Nielsen rivered an ace to help Ah8c beat Van Krevelen’s pocket kings, and to reveal a chink in Van Krevelen’s armour.

Nielsen then pierced that chink again to open a mortal wound: finding pocket queens and flopping a set to beat Van Krevelen’s KdQd. Just like that, there were two players left and Van Krevelen was not among them. The Dutchman picked up $428,000 for third, his second career cash on the Triton Series.

Rene Van Krevelen converted final table chip lead into third place

The two remaining players couldn’t have been more distinct. Nielsen, the short deck specialist from the Faroe Islands, had yet to record a single cash on the Triton Series, having first shown up to play in Madrid in 2022.

By contrast, Xuan has been a stalwart since the earliest days and had one title and 14 cashes to his name already. Stacks were fairly close, promising more play to come:

Nielsen 16,400,000 (164 antes)
Xuan 13,750,000 (138 antes)

Although, as usual, waves pushed chips in both directions, the prevailing tide was in favour of Xuan. He moved into a significant lead when his 7d8c made a straight and then the inevitable big skirmish finally arrived.

Short deck specialist Martin Nielsen finished second

Xuan was behind with AhJh to Nielsen’s AsKd when they got it all-in pre-flop, but celebrated when he saw the 9hJcQh flop. The 6h turn was even better and rendered the Ts river irrelevant.

By that point, Xuan was already shaking hands with Nielsen and admitting, “I got lucky.” But he later told interviewers, “I feel great, awesome,” and there’s no doubt he deserved that.

Congratulations Tan Xuan!

Event #17 – $50K – Short Deck Main Event
Dates: March 19-20, 2024
Entries: 67 (inc. 33 re-entries)
Prize pool: $3,350,000

1 – Tan Xuan, China – $922,000
2 – Martin Nielsen, Faroe Islands – $655,000
3 – Rene Van Krevelen, Netherlands – $428,000
4 – Jason Koon, USA – $330,000
5 – Zhou Quan, China – $261,000
6 – Michael Zhang, UK – $205,000
7 – Seth Davies, USA – $161,000
8 – Stephen Chidwick, UK – $125,000
9 – P Aorigele, Portugal – $95,000
10 – Lun Loon, Malaysia – $84,000
11 – Phil Ivey, USA – $84,000

Photography by Joe Giron/Poker Photo Archive