Phil Ivey Captures Fifth Triton Poker Title

Phil Ivey secured his fifth Triton Poker title, making him only the second player in history to achieve this milestone. The 46-year-old member of the Poker Hall of Fame emerged victorious in the 2023 Triton Poker Super High Roller Series London’s $25,000 short deck turbo event. He outplayed a field of 33 participants in the high-paced competition, earning a substantial prize of $280,500.

Although Phil Ivey was previously tied for second place on the tour’s title leaderboard, this triumph now positions him as the sole holder of that spot. Only Jason Koon, who also clinched his ninth Triton title on the same day, has garnered more victories in this high-stakes-focused tour.

Following his win, Phil Ivey expressed his deep affection for the game of poker to Triton commentator Ali Nejad, stating, “I love the game of poker, I always have. I love to play. Hopefully, I’ll get a few more.”

With this victory, Ivey’s total career tournament earnings have reached an impressive $40.2 million. His ten World Series of Poker bracelets have propelled him into the exclusive circle of players who have crossed the $40 million earnings mark, a feat accomplished by only twelve individuals in the history of the game. As a result, he now occupies the 12th position on the all-time poker money list.

Ivey’s triumph in this event earned him 336 Card Player Player of the Year points. This marked his second title and sixth final-table appearance in the current year. Accumulating a total of 3,064 points and amassing almost $2.5 million in Player of the Year earnings to date, Ivey currently holds the 45th spot in the 2023 Player of the Year race presented by Global Poker.

Given the smaller turnout for this event, the top six finishers were the only ones to receive prize money. Triton co-founder Paul Phua was eliminated on the bubble, guaranteeing a minimum payout of $57,800 for the remaining contenders. Ultimately, Anson Ewe claimed this amount after losing a three-way all-in against Ivey and four-time Triton champion Danny Tang. Ivey dominated the situation with pocket kings, giving him a substantial lead as the game transitioned to five-handed action.

Subsequently, bracelet winner Thai Ha was eliminated from the tournament when his A♣J♣ failed to overcome Stephen Chidwick’s pocket tens in a preflop showdown. Ha earned $74,200 for his fifth-place finish.

Daniel Dvoress’ pursuit of a second Triton victory fell just short this time. The Canadian poker professional’s A-9 was overcome by Ivey’s A-Q suited, resulting in a fourth-place finish ($94,900). Dvoress’ career earnings now approach $27.7 million.

Chidwick entered the fray with A♠K♠, facing Ivey’s Q♣9♣. The flop, a nine, gave Ivey the lead, a position he maintained through the turn and river. Chidwick’s third-place performance awarded him $123,800 in addition to 224 Player of the Year points. With four titles, 17 final tables, and a sum exceeding $6 million in Player of the Year earnings, Chidwick currently holds the fifth spot on the 2023 Player of the Year leaderboard.

The heads-up battle commenced with Ivey holding a considerable 7:1 chip advantage over Tang. In the final hand, Tang’s Q♠J♥ faced off against Ivey’s A♠Q♥. The stronger starting hand prevailed, resulting in Tang securing the second-place position with a prize of $193,800. This just narrowly eluded his fifth Triton title of the year. As a consequence, Tang moved to the 16th position in the Player of the Year standings after achieving his 12th qualifying score for 2023.

Here is a look at the payouts awarded a the final table: