Another huge tournament on the Triton Poker Series saw Thailand’s Punnat Punsri take down one of the biggest titles of his career as he banked over $2 million in Jeju. South Korea’s largest island has welcomed some of poker’s finest talents to the Asian province this week. Players such as Fedor Holz have already won titles during their trip to the Far East during the festival, sponsored by PokerStake.

Another Mammoth Triton Prizepool

With an awesome 190 entries each paying $50,000 to take part, the 8^th Event of this Triton Poker Series in Jeju saw 71 re-entries contribute to a total prizepool of $9.5 million. There was huge drama on the bubble as the two biggest stacks in the tournament somehow contrived to pile all the chips into a 150 big blind pot pre-flop, with chip leader and eventual winner Punnat Punsri holding and the at-risk player and Danish pro Henrick Hecklen

Sneaking into the money were players like Lithuanian player Vladas Tamasauskas (29^th for $84,000), New Zealander David Yan (25^th for $93,000), Canada’s Sam Greenwood (20^th for $112,000) and American Dan Smith (14^th for $140,000).

After Malaysian player Anson Ewe bubbled the final table by finishing in ninth place for $205,000, the final eight were set, with Spanish player Sergio Aido leading the way, slightly ahead of Thailand’s Punsri. With legends of the felt such as Phil Ivey, Steve O’Dwyer and Mike Watson all at the table, no-one was going to have it easy in their pursuit of glory.

O’Dwyer Shot Down First

Steve O’Dwyer has largely made his reputation on being one of the nicest guys off the felt but an absolute crusher at the highest stakes. In nosebleed events, he’s the one with the calmest demeanour and as such, he will have been disappointed to leave in eighth place for a score of $248,000. Calling off his stack all-in and at risk with on a board of O’Dwyer was disappointed to be behind when Ren Lin turned over pocket aces, sending the American-Irish player to the rail.

Phil Ivey often rides the rollercoaster in poker tournaments and the Poker Hall of Famer lost out in similar fashion once again in Jeju. Initally doubling up through Punsri with the superior pair of jacks over fours, Ivey then flopped a straight only to lose to a rivered flush for the eventual winner as Punsri got his revenge in particularly sweet fashion. Any recourse Ivey might have been hoping to seek was doomed when his micro-stack contrived to disappear despite him holding pocket aces, Aido’s flopping two pair and holding to send Ivey home in seventh with $339,000.

Out next was Malaysian Michael Soyza in sixth place for $465,000. The Game of Gold legend lost out when he jammed with and Punsri called it off with , correctly as it turned out. Nothing came on the board to help Soyza and soon Li was joining him on the outside looking in. Doubling up with pocket sixes, a fist-pump was ill-timed, coming shortly before Lin then lost his new stack with pocket fives, Aido’s nines more than strong enough to score the knockout blow, Lin departing for $611,000.

Punsri Celebrates Epic Victory in Style

With four left, Mike Watson made an immaculately coiffured exit from the action. All-in with pocket sixes himself, he lost a flip to Punsri’s as the Thai player flopped a jack to send ‘Sir Watts’ home with $773,000.

Brian Kim was next to go, leaving in third place for just short of a million dollars. Short stacked, Kim shoved from the button with and ran into the brick wall of Punsri’s . Another ace on the flop saw Kim rise, resigned to his fate, which, confirmed two cards later, send him home with $954,000 and sent the action heads-up for the win.

The final duel was an imbalanced one, chips-wise. Punsri had the lead and a big one, with his 56 big blinds more than dwarfing Aido’s 20 bigs. The Spanish player and the eventual champion did discuss a deal but looking at the numbers seemed only to strengthen Punsri’s resolve to win a second Triton Poker Series title without taking anything off the top.

That’s exactly what happened when Aido shoved with pocket aces when even shorter, only to be overtaken by Punsri’s calling hand of . The flop of hinted at the miracle and it came in on the turn. Punsri, gripping his friend Danny Tang on the rail, only had to fade an ace or a five for a full house for Aido. It didn’t come. Instead, a dropped on the river and Punsri dropped into the arms of his supporters, staggered at the $2 million win, the third biggest of his career and third seven-figure score on the Triton Poker Series.

Why would he play anywhere else?

The Thai Poker Prodigy does it again! Winning Event #8 50K NLH earns 🇹🇭 Punnat Punsri his second Triton title and a whopping $2,010,000. Punsri's performance tonight demonstrates why he's no. 1 on Thailand's all time money list by striking at the right time when he's running hot.… pic.twitter.com/irPiBtRfFM

— Triton Poker (@tritonpoker) March 12, 2024

With thanks to Triton Poker Series, partner of PokerStake, and award-winning photographer Joe Giron for images.