Triton High Roller Archives

‘Ferocious’ Kenney rules Montenegro, seals another $1.4m title

Bryn Kenney is the latest champion at Triton Montenegro, winning HK$11.23 million (US$1.43 million) in the second event of the week — and describing his performance as “ferocious” as he blasted away a 79-entry field.

The list of the fallen from this HK$500,000 6-Max tournament included such luminaries as Steve O’Dwyer, Linus Loeliger, Tony G and Mikita Badziakouski. The overnight chip leaders — Xuan Tan and Erik Seidel — went out on the bubble. And then all of Daniel Dvoress, Sergio Aido and Ivan Leow led at the final table only to find themselves wrecked.

But Kenney is the perfect man for such occasions. There are few players in world poker with a skill set so equipped to master these forces. Kenney can be ruthless when ahead and sneaky when chasing; he has a savant’s grasp of critical calculations and the mind-reading skills of a clairvoyant. He looked like running away with proceedings at one point, but was happy to take a back seat as Dvoress went on a rush and led nearly two-to-one heads-up. But Kenney turned the tables quickly, flopping a straight and fading Dvoress’s flush draw to double up, and then pressing home his advantage. It left Dvoress still seeking the first major title of his career, while Kenney added another to his bursting collection.

“I made a lot of really good value bets, really good bluffs, played really ferocious, feel real strong,” Kenney said in the immediate aftermath of his victory. “When you get in such a zone for a while, you can only really think about cards. I feel great, just because I only really care about how I play.”

Both these men had already outlasted the previously unimpeachable Triton Ambassador Jason Koon, who departed in fifth, and Richard Yong, the series co-founder, who cashed in seventh. And there are still eight more events in this series for everyone else to seek redemption. But for now, Montenegro belongs to Kenney, whose reputation as one of the modern greats is once again underlined.

In fairness, we should have seen the collisions approaching when the overnight leader board turned itself upside down in the run-up to the money bubble. Tan and Seidel finished the first day on a high, sitting pretty at the top of the counts. But they both left with nothing today. Seidel’s elimination came after a classic one-two combination: he flopped a set of fours, but Dvoress rivered a flush. Then he flopped two pair to lose to Kenney’s runner-runner two pair. Similar happened to Tan. Richard Yong won a huge flip to leave Tan in tatters, and the last of his chips went to Sergio Aido.

Even for someone with Seidel’s experience, the game can sometimes hurt. “Poker isn’t always fun,” he tweeted soon after elimination, with the footage of the hand against Dvoress included.

Poker isn’t always fun https://t.co/XoBech6KtG— Erik Seidel (@Erik_Seidel) May 7, 2019

Cheong Cheok Leng and Danny Tang were the two short stacks as they edged into the money, and they were quickly dispatched. Leng’s lost to Ivan Leow’s , and a few hands later Tang pushed with and a flop of exposed, but Kenney had and called. That took them down to a final table.

Final table (l-r): Sergio Aido, Richard Yong, Daniel Dvoress, Bryn Kenney, Ivan Leow, Jason Koon, Christoph Vogelsang

Richard Yong, the Triton co-founder, was in the money again, but he couldn’t ladder any further after running pocket nines into Dvoress’s pocket aces. Christoph Vogelsang, who had also nursed a short stack for a while lost with fours to Koon’s sixes. Yong’s prize was HK$1.82 million, while Vogelsang took HK$2.3 million.

Early series cash for Christoph Vogelsang

Despite his pedigree, and a useful double-up with against Kenney’s ace-king, Koon was next out. He lost with pocket jacks to Kenney’s pocket kings in the kind of hand that would have played the same way in any poker tournament across the world, including one costing HK$500,000 to play. Koon has three titles to his name already, but didn’t emerge with the trophy this time.

The Spanish whiz Aido won the biggest tournament of his career last week in Monte Carlo, where he won a Super High Roller event on the EPT. And Aido continued his form after trading one Monte for another, finding his way to the last four in this one. He dwindled to a short stack, however, and pushed with . It couldn’t beat Dvoress’s .

Kenney and Dvoress, who were now two of the last three, have spent plenty of time opposite one another at poker tables the world over. But it’s only in recent years that they have also been facing off against Leow, the man who joined them this evening. Leow is a former winner on the Triton series and already has $6.5 million in cashes to his name, which is all the more remarkable when you learn he only took up the game four year ago.

This time, he had to settle with third, the same place in which he finished this event last year. Dvoress’s pocket queens did for Leow’s and Leow took HK$5.07 million (US$646,172).

Ivan Leow: Moving up the Malaysian money list

Dvoress had 9.98 million chips when the table was rearranged and Kenney sat at the other end with 5.85 million. But true to form in this event, everything quickly span around and Kenney never let the advantage slide again. He closed it out by rivering a flush with and forced Dvoress to depart with “only” $7,430,000 (US$946,954), the biggest single result of his career.

Heads up between Daniel Dvoress and Bryn Kenney

There’s only one thing certain: that won’t be the last we see of either of them, and the Triton Series is all the better for it.

Triton Montenegro Event #2: 6-Max Hold’em
Dates: May 5-6, 2019
Buy-in: HK$500,000
Entries: 79 (inc. 34 re-entries)

1 – Bryn Kenney, USA – HK$11,230,000 (US$1,431,264)
2 – Daniel Dvoress, Canada – $7,430,000 (US$946,954)
3 – Ivan Leow, Malaysia – HK$5,070,000 (US$646,172)
4 – Sergio Aido, Spain – HK$3,820,000 (US$486,859)
5 – Jason Koon, USA – HK$2,970,000 (US$378,527)
6 – Christoph Vogelsang, Germany, HK$2,300,000 (US$293,135)
7 – Richard Yong, Malaysia, HK$1,820,000 (US$231,959)
8 – Danny Tang, Hong Kong, HK$1,410,000 (US$179,705)
9 – Cheong Cheok Ieng, Macau – HK$1,080,000 (US$137,646)

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Ivan Leow Wins The Triton Poker Super High Roller in Russia For $1.3m

A woman barges past me in the queue. I put a firm hand on her shoulder and tell her to get the fuck. Never underestimate the power of non-verbal communication, something I have learned sitting at the poker table.

Down below there is a sculpture of a Titan throwing a javelin, and in between the rushing taxi cabs I see his great big iron balls and tackle, and wonder why it is that we see this as art and the same thing in a magazine is pornography?

I am wondering about a lot of things this morning.

Why is the aesthetic beauty so crucial to Koreans?

How do you grow rice?

Who is the best Malaysian poker player?

I don’t know how Ivan Leow makes his money, but he’s either very good at what he does or comes from a well to do family. The 36-year-old Malaysian who plays poker for fun has taken down the R 6,000,000 (USD 94,000) buy-in Triton Poker Super High Roller at partypoker MILLIONS Russia, iron tackle and all.

It completes an incredible couple of weeks for Leow, who made three final tables at the Triton Poker Series in Jeju, including winning the HKD 500,000 (USD 64,000) Short-Deck, Ante-Only event for HKD 8,470,000 (USD 1,079,367).

It hasn’t been all cute kittens for Leow. There have been a few dead pussies in the mix. He bubbled the HKD 2,000,000 (USD 255,000) buy-in Triton Poker Jeju No-Limit Hold’em Main Event (he was in for USD 1,000,000), and he also bubbled the first event in Russia a few days back.

Things were different on this day.

A million out.

A million in.

Another day in the life of a high stakes poker player.

Let’s see how Leow took it down.

How Leow Took it Down

Day 1 ended with nine players remaining from fourteen, with Manig Loeser in charge.

1. Manig Loeser – 782,000
2. Timothy Adams – 558,000
3. Phil Ivey – 517,500
4. Chin Wei Lim – 378,000
5. Abraham Passat – 337,000
6. Niall Farrell – 316,000
7. Johannes Becker – 276,000
8. Seng Ying Tang – 186,000
9. Leong Chan Wai – 158,000

Ivan Leow was one of the early birds seeking a few worms during late registration on Day 2, and he doubled through Phil Ivey 77>AQo early doors to give him a solid footing during the first ascent up the mountain he would eventually conquer.

With Leow climbing, Ivey kept slipping, this time doubling-up Koray Aldemir. Ivey held pocket jacks in a three-bet pot against the pocket queens of the German and called Aldemir’s shove on the 8h7h3d3s board.

Then our soon to be crowned champion suffered a blow when his pocket kings ended up on the floor for the count of ten when all-in against the AQo of Konstantin Uspenskii. The deck spat the second ace on the flop to give the Russian the double-up.

At times the field resembled the German High Stakes Poker Championships, and one of them had an early visit to the cash desk. Johannes Becker and Wai Leong Chan got it in pre-flop. Both of them held pocket nines. However, with a split pot looming, Chan hit runner-runner-runner-runner-runner spades to eliminate the German in a bad beat story at the bar kind of way.

Becker’s second bullet was a dud.

KK versus the AK of Dietrich Fast and Becker was a goner for the second time, before loading his third bullet into the chamber.

We lost Timofey Kuznetsov when the Russian moved all-in with 13 big blinds and pocket fours, only for Abraham Passet to wake up with pocket jacks. The call came and five community cards later, the Russian hit the rail. Then a 15bb shove followed the 13bb shove as Philipp Gruissem moved in holding A7cc, only to be flogged by the superior A9o of Leow.

We were down to the final two tables.

Here were the Top 5 chip counts.

1. Dietrich Fast – 1,282,000
2. Wai Leong Chan – 803,000
3. Manig Loeser – 745,000
4. Abraham Passet – 536,000
5. Wai Kin Yong – 468,000

Leow sat in ninth with 349,000.

Timothy Adams eliminated Aldemir when the pair battled it out for stacks in the blinds. Aldemir held 86dd; Adams A6ss, and ace-high held at the end of the flop, turn and river nonsense.

Becker would have to finish fourth to break even, but that seemed unlikely after losing a flip against Ivey 9999.

And then we lost Richard Yong.

Firstly, Passet’s ATdd took a chunk out of Yong’s stack beating pocket treys to the punch, and Loeser made it a German left and right hook when his ace trash beat pocket fours, all-in pre-flop.

Ivey doubled again, this time through Farrell KJo>33.

And then Loeser took the lead he last held at the end of Day 1.

The former Triton Poker Montenegro Main Event winner opened to 45,000 with AQdd in the first position, Fast called in the cutoff holding pocket sevens, Passet squeezed to 160,000 with KQss from the small blind, and both players called.

Flop: As6h5s

Passet c-bet 160,000, Loeser called; Fast folded.

Turn: Td

Passet moved all-in with his flush draw and gutshot, and two timebank chips later, Loeser made the call and doubled up when the 8h bricked for Passet.

Farrell eliminated Chin Wei Lin 99>66.

Ivey doubled through Leow A8dd>AQcc hitting runner-runner diamonds.

Wei Leong Chan took a chunk from Fast doubling 55>AA thanks to a five on the turn.

Then Leow made his move.

The man who plays more hands than most woke up with pocket aces at the same time Ivey made his final stand with A5o and Adams did likewise with AQo. Ivey did flop a doubler-gutter, but the outs stayed in the deck, and both Ivey and Adams hit the rail. We had a final table. Leow was the new chip leader

Final Table Chip Counts

1. Ivan Leow – 1,934,000
2. Dietrich Fast – 1,516,000
3. Manig Loeser – 1,474,000
4. Niall Farrell – 643,000
5. Abraham Passet – 639,000
6. Wai Leong Chan – 584,000
7. Paul Phua – 285,000
8. Wai Kin Yong – 173,000

First to go was the short-stacked Yong. His nine big blinds went into play holding Q9o, and Leow snaffled them up with A4o. The second smallest stack followed. Phua moved all-in in a single raised pot holding KQss on Kh7c2h, only for Loeser to call with AQhh. The flush arrived on the turn. Phua’s mission ended in seventh.

Then Farrell suffered a fatal beat.

The Triple Crown winner got it in holding pocket aces against the nines of Passet, and a nine on the flop cut his heart out with a spoon. That hand left Farrell with 64k, and the rest of the table feasted on it like vampires in the very next hand.

Five players remained.

Four would be paid.

Not Fast.

The German star, who remained in the top three spots for most of the day, opened to 65,000 from the cutoff and found a caller in the shape of Leow in the small blind. Fast held two black nines. Leow had KQcc under his fingertips.

Flop: 8c3c2h

Leow checked, Fast bet 125,000, Leow called.

Turn: Qd.

Leow bet 275,000, Fast moved all-in, and Leow made the call.

River: 7s.

Fast was out.

Then we lost the Day 1 chip leader.

Leow opened to 90,000 holding A2hh. Chan called with KQhh, Loeser took a flop with JTss, and Passet took a peek with J9o. The flop was AsJh3s giving everyone a little something. Leow was first to put a chip in the pot – 125,000 of them to be precise – Chan called, Loeser check-raised to 400,000, Passet folded, Leow called, and Chan folded. The turn was the 9h, Loeser moved all-in for 1m, and Leow made the call. The 9d bricked on the river, and the top pair was kind enough to oust Loeser.

Then Leow eliminated the Triton Poker Jeju Main Event runner-up, Chan.

Leow opened to 90,000 on the button, and Chan called in the small blind. The flop was QsJh9c, Chan checked, Leow bet 125,000, Chan check-raised to 350,000; Leow called. The Ad came out of the deck on the fourth street. The money went in with Leow holding ATo for top pair and straight draw. Chan was ahead with QJo for two pairs. However, the Td on the river gave Leow a stronger two pairs, and Chan was out.

Heads-Up

1. Ivan Leow – 4,350,000
2. Abraham Passet – 2,900,000

Passet took the lead after flopping a straight on KT9, holding QJo, and Leow called holding the middle pair. Then Leow retook the lead after a series of aggressive plays, and he never lost it from that point onward.

In the final hand, the pair limped in to see a Jh4h4d flop. Passet checked to Leow who bet 150,000, and Passet moved all-in for 1,395,000; Leow called.

Leow: J5o
Passet: 62hh

Leow had flopped the two pairs, and Passet was all Tin Man seeking a heart.

The 2d gave Passet some possible boat outs, but the Qc wasn’t one of them, and Leow became our champion.

The event attracted 29 entrants (20 unique, 9 re-entries).

Here are the results:

ITM Results

1. Ivan Leow – R 72,000,000 (USD 1,134,000)
2. Abraham Passet – R 47,040,000 (USD 740,880)
3. Wai Leong Chan – R 30,000,000 (USD 472,500)
4. Manig Loeser – R 8,000,000 (USD 283,500)

Leow has now earned $3,610,190 in lifetime earnings. His win in Russia was the third of his career, and his second seven-figure score (all this year).

Manig Loeser Leads Day 1 of Triton Poker Super High Roller in Russia

It’s July, 2017.

Manig Loeser is one of 52 entrants in the HKD 100,000 (USD 12,700) buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Triton Poker Series Main Event in Montenegro. Two days later, and he is the last man seated, banking USD 2,162,644 in prize money, and the high stakes scene welcomed its newest incumbent.

Since that hazy night, Loeser has recorded a further ten six-figure scores, including, most recently, a runner-up spot in the €25,750 buy-in Super High Roller as part of Poker EM at the Casinos Austria in Velden, earning $304,143 after losing to Leon Tsoukernik, heads-up.

And he’s at it again.

Day 1 of the R 6,000,000 (USD 94,000) buy-in Triton Poker Super High Roller at the partypoker MILLIONS Russia live series in Sochi is in the books, and it’s Loeser who tops the field with nine players left from a starting field of 14 entrants.

The day began slowly, as they do in these big buy-in events, with five levels passing into the ether before a dealer threw a card in frustration.

Then.

Bingo.

Johannes Becker doubled through Wai Kin Yong when the pair got it in pre-flop with Becker holding two red aces against AKss, and the two-time Triton Poker Champ busted not long after, losing a flip AQ44 and then lost the lot to Loeser 77

End of Day Chip Counts

Play resumes at 1 pm (local time) Thursday 9 August where they play down to a winner. Late registration remains open until 3:30 pm.

Aymon Hata Wins The R 3,000,000 (USD 47,000) Triton High Roller in Russia

The first-ever Triton High Roller held in conjunction with the partypoker MILLIONS live tour has come to an end, and Aymon Hata survived a field of 47 entrants to capture the R 48,000,000 (USD 756,000) first prize, after beating Vladimir Troyanovskiy in heads-up action.

24 players survived a 37-entrant Day 1 field.

Patrik Antonius led the way with that chiselled chin of his.

Hata ended the first day sixth in chips.

Late registration remained open for a full two hours of Day 2, and a further ten entrants added USD 470,000 to the prize pool.

Let’s see how that whittled down to only one.

Level 9: 500/1000/1000 – Yaroshevskyy Busts Pateychuk; Antonius Takes Care of Machon.

Igor Yaroshevskyy had a great Day 1, and Day 2 began much the same way. The Ukranian star opened to 2,300, Andrey Pateychuk three-bet to 6,500; Yaroshevskyy called.

The Flop was 7h3h3s, and Yaroshevskyy check-called a 5,000 bet, before doing likewise on the 5c turn for another 16,00. The river card was the 4h, Yaroshevsky moved all-in, and Pateychuk made the call. Yaroshevskyy showed A2hh for the nut flush, and Pateychuk had to re-enter early.

Patrik Antonius also began brightly. The Day 1 chip leader eliminated Bartlomiej Machon after they both flopped two pairs on AhJs8c. The Finn’s AJo dominated the A8o of the Pole, and Machon had to re-enter.

Level 10: 600/1200/1200 – Ivey Eliminates Yurasov; Leow Coolers Passet; No Birthday Cake For Filatov

Phil Ivey’s pocket jacks took care of a short-stacked Dmitry Yurasov’s KQcc to send the Russian packing. Ivan Leow did the same to Abraham Passet AT>AK, all-in pre-flop with Leow flopping a ten to come from behind. And Shyngis Satubayev bust the birthday boy, Anatoly Filatov.

Level 11: 800/1600/1600 – Bord, Ivey & Chow Lose Bullets; Fast In And Out

Ivan Leow eliminated the former World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) Main Event winner, James Bord. Hing Yaung Chow sent Phil Ivey to the cash desk when his pocket tens spiked a third ten on the turn to beat pocket jacks. And then Chow fell victim to a cooler that saw him also dig deep into his jean pockets, after getting it in with pocket eights on 765r, only for Machon to be holding 98o, for the straight.

Patrick Antonius sent Fast into his wallet when the Germa’s pocket queens failed to beat AQo after an ace landed on the flop. Fast re-entered and quickly bust Pateychuk.

Level 12: 1000/2000/2000 – Hata Busts Lim; Fast Out; Hata Eliminates Satubayev.

Aymon Hata eliminated Chin Wei Lim after the pair got it in on an 8s5s4d flop with Lim holding 86cc for top pair and a gutshot, and Hata holding pocket fives for a sticky middle set.

Fast’s topsy-turvy competition ended when he lost a flip against Wai Kin Yong KJ<99 after Yong flopped a set. His compatriot Manig Loeser joined him in the ‘down in the dumps club’ after Ivan Leow eliminated him. And Hata continued to rock things at the top of the chip counts sending Satubayev to the rail QQ>AK.

Level 13: 1200/2400/2400 – Khoroshenin, Yong, Sinclair And Aldemir Bust.

Ivan Leow ousted Oleksii Khoroshenin QQ>22, all-in pre-flop. Paul Phua sent Richard Yong back to his suite AQs>AKo after rivering a flush, and then we lost the former November Niner, Jack Sinclair, after the Brit got it in with tens against the jacks of Vladimir Troyanovskiy, to condense this thing to two tables. Then a battle of the Germans saw Philipp Gruissem come from behind to eliminate Koray Aldemir KJo>ATo after binking a jack on the river.

Level 14: 1500/3000/3000 – Phua Busts Gofman; Antonius Eliminates Beh.

Aleksandr Gofman fell short of the money after his shove holding A4hh fell into the bearhug of Paul Phua’s AQcc. And then we lost Kok Weng Beh after he called a turn shove from Antonius, seeking the nut flush draw, with Antonius already holding the goods.

Level 15: 2000/4000/4000 – Leow Takes Two; Becker Busts; Yong Out.

Ivan Leow sent a short-stacked Wai Leong Chan to the rail when his ATo bested K2o all-in pre-flop, and then became a real force in the competition eliminating Igor Yaroshevskyy when his pocket sixes turned a set to beat the Ukranian’s rockets. And we also lost Johannes Becker after Wai Kin Yong and Patrik Antonius’ AQ chopped KJ into two bite-sized chunks.

Yong didn’t last much longer though. The two-time Triton Champ got it in with A3o against the pocket queens of Konstantin Uspenskii, and pocket nines of Hata. Uspenskii’s hand held up to double through Hata, and the tournament waved bye-bye to Yong.

Unofficial Final Table

1. Ivan Leow – 663,500
2. Konstantin Uspenskii – 525,000
3. Paul Phua -240,000
4. Vladimir Troyanovskiy – 228,000
5. Patrik Antonius – 220,500
6. Bartlomiej Machon – 148,500
7. Timothy Adams – 139,000
8. Philipp Gruissem – 121,500
9. Aymon Hata – 119,500

Level 16: 2500/500/500 – Gruissem Busts Machon.

Three people would leave with the inside of a flat tyre, and the first was Bartlomiej Machon after the Pole got it in with AQ versus the AK of Philipp Gruissem.

Level 17: 3000/6000/6000 – Paul Phua Double, Double, Double.

Timothy Adams doubled through Paul Phua AK>AT. Phua then doubled through Hata AA>KQs, and Gruissem AJ>74cc.

Level 18: 4000/8000/8000 – Phua Busts Adams; Hata Climbing.

Phua opened to 16,000 with AQo, and Adams defended the big blind with ATcc. The flop was AJ8r, and Adams check-called a 20,000 Phua bet. The turn was the 9h, and Adams moved all-in. Phua called, and a community card later the Canadian was out.

Then Hata doubled through Leow AJo>KK after flopping an ace.

Level 19: 5000/10000/10000 – Leow Bubbles.

Phua opened to 125,000, and Leow shoved his last 143,000 into the middle from the button Antonius did likewise for 172,000, and Phua made the call.

Antonius: QcQh
Phua: JdJh
Leow: AsTh

The ace never got out of bed, and Antonius tripled up to 497,000, Phua moved down to 306,000, and Leow was out on the bubble.

Level 20: 6000/12000/12000 – Antonius Busts Gruissem.

A short-stacked Gruissem moved all-in holding A9o, and Antonius nailed him to the cross with AJo.

Level 21: 8000/16000/16000 – Antonius Busts Phua; Hata Busts Antonius and Uspenskii.

Phua moved all-in holding pocket nines, and once again Antonius was waiting with a great big hammer – this time pocket kings – and Phua was out in the fifth spot. Then Antonius followed him out of the casino entrance.

Troyanovskiy opened to 37,000 from under the gun holding AKo, Antonius defended the small blind with 76hh, and Hata came along for the big blind ride holding A4hh.

Flop: Th3h3s

The action checked to Troyanovskiy who bet 50,000, Antonius moved all-in for 408,000chasing his flush, Hata moved all-in for slightly more with the same idea in mind, and Troyanovskiy got out of the way.

Turn: 9h

Hata hit the nut flush, and only the 8h would have saved the Finn, but it didn’t come out to play.

And then Hata took a big lead into a heads-up battle with Troyanovskiy after eliminating Uspenskii. The Russian moved all-in holding K8ss, and Hata called and won with pocket queens.

Heads-Up Chip Counts

Aymon Hata – 1,581,000
Vladimir Troyanovskiy – 775,000

Troyanovskiy played well during heads-up, but never closed the gap. The final hand saw the Russian get it in with J7o, and Hata called and won with K4cc.

The victory was Hata’s first of his career and his second most significant score after finishing third in the $100,000 High Roller at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) for $1,247,230.

Here are the ITM results:

1. Aymon Hata – R 48,000,000 (USD 756,000)
2. Vladimir Troyanovskiy – R 31,860,000 (USD 501,795)
3. Konstantin Uspenskii – R 22,500,000 (USD 354,375)
4. Patrik Antonius – R 15,000,000 (USD 236,250)
5. Paul Phua – R 10,500,000 (USD 165,375)
6. Philipp Gruissem – R 17,500,000 (USD 118,125)