The Triton Super High Roller Series in Jeju continues to deliver drama at the highest levels of poker. In the $30,000 No-Limit Hold’em/Pot-Limit Omaha event, Jose “Nacho” Barbero captured his fourth Triton Poker title and $646,000 in prize money. In doing so, the Argentinian star denied Phil Ivey a chance at securing his sixth career Triton trophy.

Ivey Falls Just Short

With Jason Koon’s record 12 titles still in a league of its own, a tight race continues among poker legends chasing second place. Michael Watson recently tied Bryn Kenney, Mikita Badziakouski, Punnat Punsri, and Danny Tang with five Triton victories. Ivey had the chance to pull ahead with a sixth, but Barbero’s hot run kept him stuck at five.

Barbero’s Hard-Fought Victory

Barbero admitted the series in Korea had been tough—limited sleep, mental fatigue, and no major results until this breakthrough win. Despite those struggles, he showed resilience:

“It’s insane, it’s like a dream come true,” Barbero told Triton commentator Henry Kilbane. “This series was mentally and physically draining, but I’m super happy to finally get it done.”

With this win, Barbero now sits 14th in the POY leaderboard, while fellow finalists Dylan Linde, Igor Yaroshevskyy, Daniel Dvoress, and Ivey all improved their standings as well.

Action-Packed Final Table

The hybrid format of No-Limit Hold’em and Pot-Limit Omaha kept fans entertained until the final hand. Here’s how the action unfolded:

• 7th – Eelis Parssinen ($116,000): Knocked out after Dvoress spiked runner-runner quads.
• 6th – Igor Yaroshevskyy ($146,000): Another deep run for the Ukrainian grinder, but a third title wasn’t in the cards.
• 5th – Dylan Linde ($187,000): Fell to Ivey in a cooler, running A♦K♣ into A♠J♥.
• 4th – Daniel Dvoress ($232,000): Eliminated when his combo draw bricked against Barbero’s trips.
• 3rd – David Wang ($297,000): Out when his A♥J♦ failed to hold versus Barbero’s underdog A♠3♦.

Heads-Up: Barbero vs. Ivey

When the dust settled, the stage was set for an iconic heads-up clash. Unfortunately for Ivey, the chip deficit proved too steep. On the final hand, Barbero flopped a straight with 10♥7♦6♦6♣, while Ivey’s A♠K♠K♦10♦ could only hope for a flush. The river blanked, and Barbero secured the title.

Final Table Results

From Triton Poker Jeju to NYC Poker Nights

Poker fans watching Barbero’s fourth Triton triumph know that the game thrives at every level—from $30,000 buy-ins to private cash games in New York City. If you’re looking for the same adrenaline rush closer to home, NYC poker clubs offer exclusive no-limit hold’em action with buy-ins that fit every bankroll.

Whether you’re chasing trophies like Barbero or just want to sharpen your game, private NYC poker games provide a safe, competitive, and welcoming environment for serious players.

Stay tuned for more Triton Poker Jeju updates, and if you’re ready to put your skills to the test off the big stage, check out the best NYC poker games happening right now.

Chinese high roller Peter Wang has proven he can shine not only in live-streamed cash games but also on the tournament stage. On Sept. 13, 2025, Wang conquered the $60,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Eight-Max event at the Triton Poker Jeju festival, securing his first Triton title and a career-best payout of $2,046,000.

From Cash Game Star to Tournament Champion

Wang is a familiar face from Hustler Casino Live and High Stakes Poker, where he’s been involved in countless viral hands. But in Jeju, he outlasted a field of 154 entries to grab the lion’s share of the $9,240,000 prize pool. Before this win, his best tournament result was a 12th-place finish worth $52,100 in a $40K Mystery Bounty earlier in the same series at Landing Casino Jeju (Sept. 8–23).

Setting the Stage

Day 2 started with 40 contenders still alive. Only 27 made the money, with names like Ben Heath, Brandon Wilson, Sergio Aido, Ben Tollerene, Aleksejs Ponakovs, Webster Lim, and Matthias Eibinger all running deep but falling short of the final table.

Final Table Action

• 9th – Thomas Boivin ($207,000): Lost a flip with pocket fives vs. Wang’s A-J suited.
• 8th – Santhosh Suvarna ($250,000): Busted in a coin flip against Nguyen’s pocket eights.
• 7th – Tom Fuchs ($345,000): Top pair no good against Mikita Badziakouski’s kings up.
• 6th – Nang Quang Nguyen ($475,000): Shoved A-Q into Wang’s queens.
• 5th – Calvin Lee ($618,000): Ran kings into Sosia Jiang’s A-J; an ace on the board ended his run.
• 4th – Mikita Badziakouski ($774,000): Shoved K-Q into Wang’s A-J suited; board ran clean.

Rise and Fall of Filatov

Russia’s Anatoly Filatov made a big push, doubling through Wang and briefly taking the chip lead after a massive hero call against Jiang. But he lost momentum in a crucial flip (A-Q vs. tens) and finally bowed out in 3rd place for $950,000.

Filatov, who also won a $25K High Roller at Triton Jeju earlier in 2025, now boasts over $10.3 million in lifetime earnings.

The Heads-Up Battle

Wang began heads-up play with a 3:1 lead over Sosia Jiang. The duel stretched into the early morning hours with multiple double-ups on both sides.

In the final hand, Wang’s K♠9♣ held strong on a K♣7♠6♣6♠10♥ board, as Jiang bluffed all-in with J♣8♠. Wang called instantly, locking up the title and $2,046,000.

Jiang collected $1,381,000 as runner-up — the second-biggest score of her career, just behind her $1.6M at the Triton Million Invitational. Her lifetime earnings now sit at nearly $6 million.

Final Table Payouts

The UK Poker Championships (UKPC) Masters has already dealt plenty of excitement at Dusk Till Dawn (DTD) Nottingham, but the festival’s crown jewel is still to come. On September 4, cards go in the air for the £560 buy-in, £500,000 guaranteed UKPC Masters Main Event, which promises to draw another massive field to the UK’s premier poker venue.

Earlier this year, the UKPC Main Event smashed its guarantee when more than 1,300 players built a prize pool exceeding £639,000. That event ended with Jake Betts banking a career-best £85,270 after a heads-up deal with David Lloyd, who himself secured £83,730. With momentum on its side, the September edition is expected to go even bigger.

How to Play the UKPC Masters Main Event

The Main Event features four Day 1 flights, with players able to re-enter and carry forward their best stack:

• Day 1a – Sept. 4, 12:00 p.m. BST
• Day 1b – Sept. 5, 12:00 p.m. BST
• Day 1c – Sept. 6, 12:00 p.m. BST
• Day 1d (Turbo) – Sept. 6, 7:00 p.m. BST

Day 2 kicks off on Sept. 7 at noon, before the champion is crowned on Sept. 8.

For those outside Nottingham, there’s an online Day 1 flight on GGPoker running Sept. 2 at 8:05 p.m. BST. Survivors from that session will bag chips for Day 2 live at DTD. Players can fire multiple flights, but only their largest stack carries forward.

Golden Chip Promotion – Extra Value on the Line

DTD has sweetened the pot with its Golden Chip promotion.

• Earn a Golden Chip by reaching Day 2 through an online Day 1 at GGPoker or by buying into a live flight using DTD Bankroll.
• Make the final table of the Main Event while holding a Golden Chip, and you’ll win a £1,100 WSOP Circuit seat on top of your cash payout.

This added incentive gives grinders another reason to take multiple shots at the £500K guaranteed prize pool.

Qualify with Pennies via DTD Bankroll

One of the most exciting aspects of this festival is the ability to qualify using DTD Bankroll, a flexible currency earned through satellites at GGPoker.

• Start for as little as £0.01 in centrolls.
• Advance through £5.50 Phase 1 satellites.
• Reach the weekly Tuesday Final, where at least 10x £560 DTD Bankroll seats are guaranteed.

Once you have DTD Bankroll, you can spend it in different ways. Buy directly into the £560 Main Event, or split it across side events like the £280 Warm-Up and £120 PLO, keeping some balance for another tournament later.

UKPC Masters Remaining Schedule

Why the UKPC Masters Main Event Stands Out

• Affordable entry, big prize pool: For just £560, players get a shot at a £500,000 guarantee that is likely to be smashed.
• Multiple paths to qualify: From online flights to 1p satellites, there are options for every bankroll.
• Added value: The Golden Chip and WSOP Circuit seat bonus create more reasons to chase the final table.

With momentum from previous editions and a proven track record of surpassing guarantees, the 2025 UKPC Masters Main Event is set to be one of the year’s unmissable live tournaments.

Labor Day weekend in New Orleans brought more than music and parades—it crowned a new WSOP Circuit champion. Mississippi native Yousef Saleh outlasted a 510-player field in the $1,700 Main Event at Caesars New Orleans, securing the title, $149,268 in prize money, and his second career Circuit ring. The victory also earned him a seat in the prestigious World Series of Poker Paradise (WSOPP) in the Bahamas this December.

For Saleh, the triumph marks a career-best score, easily surpassing his previous top cash of $61,261. According to The Hendon Mob, his live earnings before the event totaled around $437,000. The win now pushes him well over the half-million mark and adds another chapter to his WSOP Circuit story—his first ring dates back to 2019 in Biloxi.

Road to Victory

The $772,650 prize pool showcased the growing popularity of the WSOP Circuit stop in New Orleans. Six hopefuls advanced to the final day at the newly remodeled Caesars property near the iconic French Quarter. The eliminations came quickly, with Andrew Yurchak bowing out in sixth place for $24,100, followed by Samuel Rosen in fifth ($33,161).

Alexander Jones secured $46,704 for his fourth-place finish before Saleh sent Andrew Dykeman to the rail in third ($67,291). That set up the final heads-up clash against Louisiana’s Kane Keller, an up-and-coming player with just $35,000 in prior live earnings. Keller fought hard but eventually fell short, pocketing $99,135 for his runner-up finish.

Final Table Results

Closing the Series

The New Orleans festival wrapped up with James Morris taking down the $400 Double Stack Closer for $14,348. Meanwhile, Circuit legend Maurice Hawkins—already holding a record 21 rings—narrowly missed adding another, falling short to Heath Pender in Event #16.

With his latest title, Yousef Saleh cements himself as a serious force on the WSOP Circuit, proving that perseverance and experience can turn a Labor Day weekend into a career-defining milestone.

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The PokerGO Tour Bounty Blitz festival debuted on September 1, 2025, and by the following afternoon, poker fans had their first champion. Jeremy Becker, who entered the six-handed final table as the short stack, staged an impressive comeback to win the $5,300 buy-in no-limit hold’em bounty event.

Becker captured $55,600, which included $10,000 in bounties from five knockouts. The victory also earned him his second career PokerGO Tour (PGT) trophy, adding to his 2024 Poker Masters win. Known as the “king of Las Vegas nightly tournaments,” where he once claimed eight victories in a single month at the Wynn, Becker has now surpassed $3.1 million in lifetime earnings.

In the end, Becker outlasted a 46-entry field and defeated Qin Zhao heads-up to lock up the title, along with 76 PGT leaderboard points.

A Tough Final Table Battle

The final table was stacked with talent and filled with dramatic hands:

• Josh Arieh was the first to bust, his pocket jacks losing to Zhao’s pocket queens on a brutal board.
• Darren Rabinowitz saw his deep run end in fifth when his K♦10♥ couldn’t overcome John Andress’ A♥Q♥.
• Andrew Lichtenberger, better known as “LuckyChewy,” exited in fourth after running into Zhao’s A♦K♣.

Becker gained momentum with timely doubles and seized control late, setting the stage for his heads-up duel with Zhao.

Becker Seals the Victory

Becker’s run to the trophy was capped off with two crucial eliminations. First, he knocked out John Andress, flopping a full house with A♠5♣ against Q♠6♠. Then, in the final hand, Becker’s turned straight with 5♥2♦ outpaced Zhao’s two-pair to secure the win.

The river blanked, and Becker officially became the first-ever PokerGO Tour Bounty Blitz champion.

Final Table Payouts

Photo credit: PokerGO Tour/Antonio Abrego

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The European Poker Tour (EPT) Barcelona €100,000 Super High Roller saw German poker star Leon Sturm rise to the top, capturing the title and a massive $1,696,950 payday. The 24-year-old defeated a stacked field of 47 entries at Casino Barcelona, securing his biggest career win to date.

Sturm first gained recognition in 2023 when he won a $50,000 WSOP event for his maiden bracelet and seven-figure cash. Now, just two years later, he adds another prestigious title to his resume. With this victory, his lifetime live earnings surpass $11.3 million, despite having limited results prior to 2020.

Prize Pool & Final Table Results

The high-stakes showdown created a prize pool exceeding $5.3 million, distributed among the top six finishers. Austria’s Samuel Mullur bubbled in seventh place, while several poker heavyweights reached the final table.

Final Table Payouts:

Key Hands and Turning Points

• Early Exit for Punsri: Thailand’s all-time money leader Punnat Punsri was eliminated in 6th place when his kings were cracked by David Coleman’s A-5.
• Ponakovs Out in 5th: Two-time bracelet winner Aleksejs Ponakovs fell to Espen Jorstad after his K-J lost to A-K.
• Sturm’s Fortunate Double: During four-handed play, Sturm scored a rare double-up with A♦K♦ against Coleman’s A♠K♠ when a four-diamond board ran out.
• Jorstad Falls in 4th: The 2022 WSOP Main Event champion couldn’t hold on, bowing out to Jesse Lonis.
• Lonis Secures Podium: Already the 2025 Player of the Year leader, Lonis finished 3rd for $826,956, further extending his dominance in the standings.

Heads-Up Battle: Sturm vs. Coleman

Leon Sturm entered heads-up play with a commanding chip lead over American high roller David Coleman. The two agreed to an ICM deal, leaving $234,000 and the trophy up for grabs.

In the final hand, Sturm shoved with A♥9♦, and Coleman called with A♠5♥. The board ran J♥J♦4♠6♦2♦, giving Sturm the victory and the European Poker Tour Barcelona High Roller title.

For Coleman, the $1.34M payout marked his best-ever live score and continued a remarkable streak of runner-up finishes at the festival.

European Poker Tour Barcelona: A Premier High-Stakes Stop

The European Poker Tour continues to showcase the very best in poker, and Barcelona remains one of the tour’s most iconic stops. With rising stars like Leon Sturm capturing marquee victories, the EPT proves why it stands as one of the most prestigious poker series in the world.

The 2025 Arizona State Poker Championship delivered record-breaking action at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona, where Brandon Mitchell emerged victorious to claim a life-changing $525,700 first-place prize. The $1,100 buy-in no-limit hold’em tournament drew a massive field of 3,546 players, making it the largest poker event ever held in the state.

Mitchell, a former highway patrol officer competing in his home state, outlasted the star-studded field to earn his career-best score. His backers on StakeKings also celebrated, as “Team Mitchell” shares paid off in a big way.

A Career-Defining Victory

Heading into the final table, Mitchell faced tough competition, including chip leader David Levy and rising talent Hayley Hanna. Despite starting as an underdog, he stayed patient, defended his stack, and picked his spots perfectly.

After outlasting six-figure finishers like Christopher Collins ($105,300), Zachary Powers ($131,600), and Hanna ($157,900), Mitchell turned the tables on Levy in heads-up play. A massive pot swung the momentum, and shortly after, Mitchell sealed the victory when his K-5 held strong against Levy’s K-2.

The win added to an already impressive poker résumé, giving Mitchell nearly $1.5 million in lifetime live cashes. His previous biggest score came at Wynn Las Vegas in 2023, where he won $327,817. He also posted a deep run at the 2025 WSOP, finishing fifth in the $25,000 High Roller for $303,773.

Rising Stars and Fan Favorites

One of the biggest storylines of the event was Hayley Hanna’s breakout performance. The outspoken poker player, engaged to high-stakes legend David Peters, captured the attention of poker fans everywhere. Her fourth-place finish for $157,900 more than quadrupled her previous live earnings, according to The Hendon Mob.

David Levy, meanwhile, was the dominant chip leader for most of the final table. Despite his strong position, Levy ultimately fell short of the title but still pocketed $310,000 for his runner-up finish.

Team Battle: Mitchell vs. Jones

In addition to the individual competition, the Arizona State Poker Championship also featured a StakeKings-backed Team Battle. “Team Mitchell,” led by the eventual champion, triumphed over “Team Jones,” led by 2023 WSOP Main Event runner-up Steven Jones. Investors who bought into Mitchell’s action walked away with hefty returns, making this championship even sweeter.

Arizona State Poker Championship: A Premier Event

The Arizona State Poker Championship continues to grow each year, cementing its place as one of the most prestigious mid-stakes poker tournaments in the United States. With a record turnout, huge prize pool, and a new champion who already has a strong presence on the live circuit, the 2025 edition proved why Talking Stick Resort is considered a hub for competitive poker in the Southwest.

For Brandon Mitchell, the victory was more than just money—it was validation of years of hard work, persistence, and a dream realized in front of his home crowd.

Final Table Results – 2025 Arizona State Poker Championship

Austrian poker pro Daniel Rezaei has put together the best summer of his career, scoring back-to-back seven-figure paydays on the live tournament scene. In early July, he finished third in the 2025 Wynn Summer Classic $10M GTD Main Event, banking nearly $1.2 million. Just six weeks later, he returned to the winner’s circle by taking down the $51,000 buy-in Onyx Club Super High Roller Series for $1,043,530.

With this latest win, Rezaei’s lifetime earnings now exceed $7.5 million, with over $2.6 million coming in 2025 alone from just ten cashes.

Star-Studded Field Runs Deep

The 100-player turnout guaranteed only the top four spots a payday, but plenty of big names went on strong runs. Bracelet winner Jessica Teusl (14th), two-time WSOP champion Ben Lamb (12th), three-time bracelet holder Artur Martirosian (11th), four-time Triton Poker champion Matthias Eibinger (10th), and popular French pro Johan “YohViral” Guilbert (7th) all made deep runs before falling short of the final stages.

Guilbert’s elimination came in a classic race when his pocket fours fell to David Nicholson’s A-10. Soon after, Aram Oganyan busted when his pocket kings were cracked by Armin Ghojehvand’s queens, leaving him sixth. Nicholson kept the momentum by knocking out Manuel Fritz (5th) after spiking a three on the river with 6♣3♣ against A♦Q♠.

Rezaei picked up his first knockout at the final table when his A♠K♥ held against Ghojehvand’s A♣Q♦, sending the UK-based pro out in fourth place for $445,000.

Wakil’s Breakthrough Summer

Jamil Wakil continued his breakout festival run, finishing third for $585,000. The Canadian had already scored a runner-up finish in the series opener for $650,000 and added another $670,000 for fifth in the $100K invitational. With nearly $2 million in cashes from this festival alone, Wakil has now pushed his career live earnings to $5.3 million.

The Final Duel

Heads-up play began with Nicholson holding a 31.7M-to-18.3M chip lead over Rezaei. The two agreed to an ICM deal that secured Nicholson $1,101,570 and left the title plus $55,000 to play for.

The battle saw several lead changes before the final hand sealed it. Nicholson shoved with Q♥8♠ for just under 10 big blinds, and Rezaei called with A♦3♥. The board ran out K♥9♠4♠3♠5♣, pairing Rezaei’s three and crowning him the champion.

Final Table Results