Jason Koon Wins Record Eighth Triton Title, David Yan Scoops $200k Super High Roller

The action was hot and records were broken in London as England’s capital saw Jason Koon and David Yan both win Triton title in midweek. For the former, it was a record-extending eighth victory in the tournament format, and for the latter his first-ever triumph on the exclusive tour that is reserved only for the very best in the game.

Koon Wins Title Number Eight for $1.5m

“I just keep learning and getting better. I wouldn’t want to bet against me.” ~ Jason Koon

Jason Koon is closing in on the all-time money list position of Stephen Chidwick in the top five after his latest major tournament victory. Now less $2 million behind his great friend Stephen Chidwick in fourth, the fifth-place Koon was again the star at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House hotel in London scene of his record-making Triton win. Event #3 was a $60,000-entry No Limit Hold’em.

At a top-quality final table, there was an early elimination for Alex Kulev before both men who fought for the title in Event #3, Phil Ivey and Espen Jorstad, lost out in sixth and seventh places respectively. It was at this stage that Justin Saliba flew up the leaderboard, but the American was to endure a rollercoaster of a day. After Matthew Eibinger and Dan Smith lost their way, Saliba went from hero to zero, busting in third place after a protracted battle with Koon that he ended up on the wrong side of.

Koon led the heads-up going into battle, but Brazilian Rodrigo Selouan, latterly so successful in GG MILLION$ final tables, was no mean opponent and put up a strong fight. He was almost level before Koon shoved the river of a board that showed K-6-3-A-T. Selouan, who crucially had run out of time bank chips, called with jack-six but it was to be no heroic call, with Koon winning the top prize of $1.57m. Selouan scored $1.06m in second place, another seven-figure score for coming second.

“I play because I love the game,” said Koon after the game had ended and he lifted the iconic trophy for a record-extending eighth time. “I play a lot less than I used to but when I show up I’m very focused and I’m the best version of myself. You have to have the drive and grit to want to win, but at the same time there were several times along the way in my career when I wanted to quit.”

Explaining that he only tries to ‘stay fresh, stay in the chair, doing what you love’ he credited his entourage of fellow pros with elevating him. “Surround yourself with people who are better, smarter and better than you are at your job. And for me, I have a crew of guys that are probably better poker players than me. I just keep learning from them and getting better. I wouldn’t want to bet against me.”

In current form, and especially on the Triton Poker Series tour, who would want to take him on?

Yan Finally Claims Maiden Win

New Zealand’s David Yan finally claimed the Triton Poker Series win his efforts thus far have definitely deserved. There was an interesting end to proceedings in London for Event #7, the $200,000-entry Super High Roller level event, as the final three ended up in a deal that didn’t pay Yan the most money.

With only seven players making the final table, it was the double WSOP bracelet winner from the summer, Chris Brewer who busted first for $770,000. All-in with pocket tens, he lost to Timothy Adams’ to leave him with only a few chips, which Danny Tang took in the next hand.

Aleks Ponakovs wasn’t far behind Brewer in heading to the rail, crashing out to the eventual winner for $970,000 before Danny Tang lost with to Nacho Barbero’s with all the chips in the middle pre-flop. Tang departed with the first seven-figure score of the event, cashing for $1,247,00 in fifth place.

With four players left, it was an extremely unlucky bust-out for Tim Adams in fourth for $1.55 million, not least because a deal was agreed three-handed. A deal was discussed with four remaining, but the Canadian’s pocket nines lost to Barbero’s and suddenly only three remained. This time, with Barbero some way ahead, a deal was agreed. The Argentinian took the bulk of the cash, with only $100,000 and the trophy put to one side. Eventually, Yan prevailed, as Jorstad’s queens lost to Yan’s nines before the New Zealander won the title with winning against Barbero’s .

“You have to be really lucky. I’m over the moon, obviously,” said Yan after his epic triumph. “I am a believer in momentum, so I hope I can keep it up. We’re only halfway through [the TPS London Series] so there’s still a lot of poker to be played.”

The powerful trio of Yan, Barbero and Jorstad have all enjoyed profitable trips and will be massive threats for the remainder of the Triton Poker Series in England’s historic capital city.

* Denotes three-handed deal

Carrel Off Sick, Glaser Enters the Fray  

With the second half of this year’s Triton Poker Series London still to come, action is selling fast on the official PokerStake tournament page. One player who was available but no longer feels able to take part is Charlie Carrel, who explained that illness has ruled him out of the remainder of the Triton Poker Series London stop.

I played and lost the £30k mystery bounty, got slightly ill so skipping the rest.

— Charlie Carrel (@Charlie_Carrel) August 2, 2023

One British player is down, then, but another had entered the fray, with mixed game specialist Benny Glaser selling some rare action into the 10^th event of the Series which kicks off later today.  The $26,000-entry Pot Limit Omaha Event #10 plays right into Glaser’s strengths, both in terms of the mixed game and the location.

Hailing from the United Kingdom, Glaser is perhaps more well-known in the United States, where he has won five bracelets. Of these victories, all five have been in mixed games, with many believing Glaser to be among the top five players in the world in any mixed game format. The Southampton-born poker professional will be sold out before long, as over 5% of his action has already gone. Get in quick!