The Triton Super High Roller Series kicked off its latest Monte Carlo stop with a thrilling $25,000 buy-in event, showcasing the high-stakes excitement the tour is known for. The tournament concluded with a dramatic heads-up showdown between two contrasting players: Brian Kim, a seasoned pro and recent World Series of Poker final table finisher, and Enrico Camosci, a rising star from Italy making his Triton debut. After a nail-biting back-and-forth, Kim emerged victorious around 2:40 am local time, claiming the trophy and $941,000, while Camosci took home $634,000 as runner-up.
For Kim, the victory was a long time coming. A Triton regular with eight prior final tables on the tour, he’d frequently come close but never managed to clinch the title until now. Speaking to Triton interviewer Marianella Pereyra, Kim expressed a mix of relief and joy, acknowledging the fierce competition he’d faced in his Triton journey. “It’s elusive,” he reflected, adding, “With all these great players, it’s possible I could have been coming to Triton for another seven years and not winning one.”
Named the WPT Global Ultimate Slam, the event marked Triton’s new sponsorship with WPT Global. Despite being the smallest buy-in of the week, the tournament drew 170 entries, generating a prize pool of $4.25 million. The action was intense, with players carefully navigating each level and scrutinizing every decision, especially as the blinds ran high.
In the final hand, after a lengthy duel in which both players faced elimination multiple times, Camosci was forced to go all-in with Q♠-7♦ against Kim’s K♣-J♠. With no miracle cards on the board, Kim finally claimed victory, visibly thrilled to take home the hard-won trophy. “I’m just so happy to be here and talking to you,” he said. “I never knew if I would have one of these conversations. I’m going to take the trophy home and put it somewhere special.”
TOURNAMENT ACTION
From a starting field of 170, just 34 players returned for Day 2, led by China’s Xu Liang, who entered with a massive chip lead. His advantage allowed him to dominate early and play aggressively, which contributed to the tournament’s bubble phase. Only 27 players would be paid, so as the short stacks maneuvered, Liang’s position helped ensure he remained safe. In a critical hand, Pieter Aerts’ queens couldn’t survive Elton Tsang’s aces, eliminating him and leaving only one more player before the bubble burst.
The tournament’s bubble saw several close calls, including a hand where Aleks Ponakovs’ pocket jacks held strong against Roberto Perez’s deuces. Ultimately, it was Liang who burst the bubble in dramatic fashion. French player Jeremy Zouari went all-in with A♠-K♠ against Liang’s J♣-3♥ and initially looked secure with top pair on a Q♦-5♥-K♣ flop. But the turn and river brought Liang an unlikely straight, sending Zouari out in 28th and marking the tournament’s official money phase.
With the bubble behind them, eliminations came quickly. Top names like Ike Haxton, Nacho Barbero, and Artur Martirosian, who’d clung to a short stack to survive the bubble, were eliminated. Liang continued to lead until structural adjustments and some bad beats ultimately sent him out in 13th.
As the tournament whittled down to its final nine, new frontrunners emerged, led by Alex Theologis, with players ready to battle it out for one of poker’s most coveted titles.
Alex Theologis – 9.325m (47 BBs)
Brian Kim – 8.075m (40 BBs)
Roberto Perez – 7.575m (38 BBs)
Tom Fuchs – 5.75m (29 BBs)
Dominykas Mikolaitis – 3.725m (19 BBs)
Aleks Ponakovs – 2.325m (12 BBs)
Enrico Camosci – 2.3m (12 BBs)
Elton Tsang – 2.05m (10 BBs)
Ranno Sootla – 1.375m (7 BBs)
