The Triton Times — Invitational Edition

By the Editorial Desk · Maestral, Montenegro

It's time once again for the Triton Invitational

The event that means more than any other to poker players and supporters across the world.What’s more, it’s the 10th Invitational Triton Poker has hosted since its inception in 2019. And it falls by happy chance as Triton Poker continues its 10th anniversary celebrations.

"WE'RE SO PROUD TO HOST YET ANOTHER ONE OF OUR ICONIC INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT IN MONTENEGRO, A PLACE THAT HOLDS SUCH SIGNIFICANCE TO TRITON." — Andy Wong, CEO

“These events represent all of what’s so great about the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series,” Wong continues. “It’s the place where poker enthusiasts get to play the game they love on the biggest stage and for the highest stakes. This is our 10th Invitational, and to host this in the 10th year of Triton is an incredibly special milestone.”

Cathy Zhao, Triton Poker COO, is similarly excited to welcome players for what is certain to be another outstanding event.

"AT TRITON POKER, WE TAKE PRIDE IN BRINGING TOGETHER A TRULY GLOBAL POKER COMMUNITY" — Cathy Zhao, COO

“The Invitational is always a highlight for us, and we hope everyone playing enjoys the experience here at Maestral, with fans around the world sharing in the excitement as well.”

Hotel resort at dusk — The Maestral Resort & Casino · Adriatic Coast, Montenegro

WELCOME TO THE TRITON TIMES - INVITATIONAL EDITION, a special souvenir newspaper to commemorate the occasion. Here’s where you’ll find news, interviews, photos, stats, features, puzzles and some messages from our sponsors, all focused on celebrating the 10th Triton Invitational.

Many players have contributed to the newspaper over the previous few weeks, and the editorial staff expresses thanks for sharing your time and memories and photos of your pets. We hope you enjoy reading the newspaper in between pots, and feel free to take it home at the end of the day.

THE TRITON INVITATIONAL FIRST CAME ABOUT IN 2019 after some of Triton’s founding players came up with the idea of a tournament that would bring together high-rolling non-professional poker enthusiasts and somehow allow them to compete on a level playing field against top pros

After working through the concept with Luca Vivaldi, Senior Director of Live Events, the unique format was born.

THE FIRST EVENT WAS THE TRITON MILLION - A HELPING HAND FOR CHARITY, where players also pledged £50,000 each to worthwhile causes. The balanced field of pros and recreational players, split into two distinct pools for the first day, became the most talked- about event in the poker world. It was an exceptional success, and was clearly something to repeat.

Through eight further renewals, in four more destinations, the Triton Invitational has changed only very slightly in its format. It’s testament to the strength of the concept, and the loyalty of Triton’s dedicated players, that it continues to go from strength to strength.

On behalf of everyone at Triton Poker, I’d like to welcome you once again to this wonderful resort in Montenegro and another fantastic Invitational tournament.” — Paul Phua, Founding Player

“It gives us all so much pleasure to see so many familiar faces alongside so many new players, all here to play the game we love so much.”

He adds: “The Triton Invitational is the best of the best. It’s a very special tournament and I hope you enjoy it as much as I always do.”

COMING SOON
TO TRITON POKER SAVE THE DATE!

JEJU, SOUTH KOREA

Les A Casino, Shinhwa World

September 4-21, 2026

Super High Roller Series, including Triton Invitational

Les A Casino, Shinhwa World, Jeju, South Korea

NORTH CYPRUS

Merit Royal Premium Hotel, Kyrenia

November 4-28, 2026

Triton ONE & Super High Roller Series

Merit Royal Premium Hotel, Kyrenia, North Cyprus

03Champion Gallery

THE TRITON INVITATIONAL – 10 YEARS OF CHAMPIONS

Page 03 · The Exclusive

Through 10 years of exceptional high-stakes action, there have been nine previous winners of Invitational events on the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series. The first tournament, the Triton Million for Charity took place in London in 2019 and there have been similar events in Northern Cyprus, Monte Carlo, Montenegro and the Bahamas.

TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THE GALLERY OF CHAMPIONS. WHO WILL JOIN THE EXCLUSIVE CLUB THIS WEEK?

Triton Invitational confirmed for Jeju

Twin lion dancers perform with sparks flying as Triton celebrates at LES A Casino, Jeju — *Invitees and pros will lock horns for the first time in Jeju*

The Triton Invitational will visit Asia for the first time this September after officials from the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series confirmed its addition to the stop in Jeju.

While the buy-in and precise dates are yet to be announced, the news that the 11th Invitational will take place at the busiest stop on the Triton Poker calendar will be greeted with great excitement among all players.

"This is truly exceptional news," says Triton Poker CEO Andy Wong, confirming the event for September, exclusively to The Triton Times.

"Jeju is one of our most popular destinations and the Triton Invitational is the standout event of any series. A Triton Invitational in Jeju is going to be amazing for all players and poker fans."

The first Triton Invitational took place in London in 2019, since which point it has grown into a semi-regular fixture on the schedule. Subsequent Invitational events have taken place in Monte Carlo, Cyprus, the Bahamas and Montenegro, but never in the Super High Roller Series' home continent of Asia.

Meanwhile, LES A Casino in Jeju, South Korea, has become synonymous with vast fields and huge buy-ins at all levels, regularly breaking attendance records not just for Triton Poker, but the global game more generally. An Invitational event held in the region has the potential to be the biggest yet.

Triton founding player Paul Phua says:

"There are so many high-stakes poker players in Asia who have been desperate to play the Invitational format. My advice to pros is to start their networking now and do everything they can to get involved in what is sure to be an enormous event."

Players are advised to monitor Triton Poker's social channels and website for further details.

High-stakes matchmaking

How the pros' interest list works

It's like the Oscars, the Super Bowl and the World Cup Final — but even more exclusive. Seats at the table in the Triton Invitational are extremely limited for poker pros, and an invitation is usually the hottest ticket in town.

But how do you get one?

While potential Invitees can state their case to the Triton selection panel, poker pros need to wait for one of those Invitees to get in touch. But organizers are also aware that some Invitees may not have a particularly long contacts list among poker pros, leaving them unsure who to invite.

Enter, Kate Badurek, Triton Poker's VIP Relations Director, who (among many other things), helps introduce Invitees to pros in something resembling high-stakes matchmaking. Badurek maintains the so-called "pros' interest list", a list of players keen to join the action. If an Invitee isn't immediately certain who they want as a partner, Badurek can go to the list and help them find a match.

"As the Triton Invitational format evolved, alongside the community's understanding of it, I became the go-to person for connecting Invitees and pros," Badurek says.

"While pros and Invitees are encouraged to find each other, it can be difficult for some, especially those who are less connected or less comfortable pushing to get invited." Badurek continues: "The core objective of this tournament is to maintain the most balanced field possible."

Kate Badurek, Triton Poker VIP Relations Director — *Kate Badurek, VIP Relations Director*

In the early days of Triton Invitationals, some pros reached out asking if anyone was looking for a pro, and vice versa. To keep things clean and fair, and because not everyone thought of simply asking, Badurek produced the pros' interest list and promoted it to all players in the database.

The process is now well refined. Any pro can request to be added to the list and, when an Invitee asks about available pros, they are presented with the current list in alphabetical order. Badurek can then assist in connecting the two parties, with the selected pro receiving an invitation along with information about who invited them.

"The list of confirmed Invitees who do not yet have a pro remains strictly confidential for integrity reasons," Badurek says. "We know that in the weeks leading up to the Invitational, many previous Invitees who are not yet announced receive multiple messages from the pro players. We want to make sure they are not being pressured."

No Invitee contact details are shared with any pros from the moment the Invitational is announced, with the Triton team well-drilled in maintaining confidentiality. Similarly, the names on the pros' interest list are only shared when an Invitee makes a relevant enquiry.

With balance again at the forefront of considerations, players from across the Triton community are encouraged to suggest potential Invitees, while Invitees are asked to make sure they find a suitable pro.

"We're keen for everyone to help contribute to the event's growth, which means bringing in new players," Badurek says. "I have seen many cases, especially with first time Invitees, where they do not know and sometimes do not even care who their pro will be. While we allowed an exception in the past, such as Rick Salomon playing without a pro, we will avoid doing this again even if such requests come my way."

The Triton Invitational seat draw, where Invitees are matched with pros — *Balance is the top priority in helping the Invitees find a pro.*

She adds: "It is in the best interest of all participants and the balanced field that a pro is invited by each invitee."

The Invitational Migrants

Leaving the Invitees to join the pros

Punnat Punsri, left, alongside his friend Danny Tang in Cyprus — *Punnat Punsri, left, first played alongside his friend Danny Tang in Cyprus.*

It must be a common thought among poker pros sitting down to play the Triton Invitational and gazing to other side of the tournament room:

"I wish I was over there."

But for some pros who have joined the field in recent Invitationals, the longing might have felt especially acute. Punnat Punsri and Kayhan Mokri, among a few others, began their Triton Invitational journey as Invitees, before migrating to the pros' side of the field.

It's testament to their skills, of course, that these days they no longer qualify as Invitees. But they're also uniquely placed to offer an insight into how the other half lives.

"I was obviously starstruck at first, then started to pay lots of attention to every hand that was going on whether I was in the pot or not to try and get a glimpse of how their mind/strategy works," Punsri says, describing the moment he first started playing as a pro.

"Despite the initial nervousness, I always told myself to do my best for my current ability and enjoy the challenge."

Punsri is now a six-time Triton champion and it's perhaps easy to forget that his first introduction to the Triton Poker Series came as an Invitee in Cyprus in 2022, playing with his good friend Danny Tang. At that point, his primary income came from investments and lower-stakes cash games, but he was keen to test the tournament waters — and was already a fan of Triton.

"I was very new to tournament poker, especially high stakes," Punsri says. "Two fellow Thais were also invited as Invitees, so I thought it would be a great opportunity for me to take part in the biggest high-stakes event post Covid, especially after watching all of the Triton Million streams."

By the time he played in London a year later, Punsri was reliant on an invitation from fellow Thai Kannapong Thanarattrakul and played among the pros, where he's been ever since.

Like Punsri, Mokri was already playing a lot of poker when he made his debut as an Invitee in 2023, but also had interests in real estate and crypto as a source of income.

"Robert Flink said that we could play together as a team in London, which was my first one," Mokri says. "It was very fun joking around all day with Karl Chappe-Gatien."

Kayhan Mokri, who migrated from the Invitee side to play among the pros — *Kayhan Mokri is now more than happy to play among the pros.*

Mokri describes the Invitee side of the draw as "more relaxed", adding that it "doesn't feel super-serious." He says, "I like a lot how the atmosphere of the tournament is. VIPs seem happy, many pros joking and battling on Day 1. It's the best event for me, a lot of fun."

He would say that, of course. He won the Invitational in Paradise in 2025 for a career-best $7.725 million, even though he played the event from the pro side of the draw.

"I think being on both sides everybody talks a lot and are enjoying the moment," he says. "The biggest difference is probably the topics of what they are talking about."

According to Mokri now, the only way the format could be improved is if the $1 million buy-in returned.

For Punsri, playing on each side has presented unique merits. "The Invitees side is obviously more relaxed and energetic, but lately the pro side has been more relaxing, probably due to the fact that we're now more familiar with one another," he says.

"Each person is competitive but also respectful to one another. It creates a thriving yet amicable atmosphere.

"I tried to play a lot more pots when I was in the Invitee side, but resort to a lower variance approach on the pro side. Although this is table dependent -- when everyone is playing too tight, it does pay off to be more aggressive."

07The Architect

From idea to reality.

Page 05 · How the Invitational was built

From its very earliest days, the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series has brought together two distinct but symbiotic groups of poker players: elite pros and high-rolling recreationals. It is never more obvious than at the Triton Invitational, where the unique format initially places a dividing line between the two groups, before encouraging them to mingle more freely on the tournament's second day.

It may seem obvious now that such a format would be perfect for Triton Poker — and nine successful events proves it beyond doubt. But wind the clock back to 2019 and the whole thing was just a very loose concept that needed a lot of planning to bring to fruition.

The Triton Invitational stage — *The Triton Invitational has redefined how high-stakes poker brings together pros and Invitees.*

It's lucky, therefore, that Luca Vivaldi, Senior Director of Live Events for the Triton Poker Series, likes a challenge. After the idea germinated in casual poker-table conversation, it was Vivaldi who became the architect of the Triton Invitational, and who brought the vision to reality.

"I won't lie, when the idea was first brought to me, I had my doubts," Vivaldi says, casting his mind back to the earliest discussions. "The rough concept came from some of our founding players, and when they asked for my opinion and, more importantly, how to actually make it work operationally, I had to go straight to the drawing board."

He continues: "My first instinct was to think about the psychology of it all. Poker tournaments are usually open and unrestricted. That's part of the beauty of tournament poker. Anyone can take a shot, anyone can sit down and compete. But then again, at our level, especially with a £1 million buy-in, it's already restrictive in its own way."

After running a few simulations and thinking it through in more depth, Vivaldi says he "started to like the concept more and more." He continues: "The idea of forcing the field to be as level as possible, and having the Invitees play roughly a third of the tournament in a separate field, actually created something very interesting competitively."

It was already clear that the event would require a few special rules to separate it from the other tournaments on the schedule, and Vivaldi was keenly aware of the difficulties they might present. He says, "I'm a big believer that details are what separate good formats from great ones. The only downside is those same details usually make the gaming staff hate me, because in practice they can be incredibly difficult to implement on the floor."

However, the Triton Million for Charity — the first invitational event — attracted 27 pairs and offered the largest first prize in tournament history, immediately redefining what was possible for a high-stakes poker tournament. It was clear from the outset that the format could last the distance — even if it had gone from faint idea to tangible product in record speed.

"Normally, taking something from a simple 'this is what we have in mind' conversation to a fully operational tournament that people now see as iconic would take much longer than it did," Vivaldi says. "And to be honest, it wasn't one of those ideas that immediately looked like genius from the first moment. But part of my character is that I never say no to an idea until it proves itself to be a bad one; even if it fails, there's always something valuable to learn from it. In this case though, it turned out to be a genuinely great idea."

He adds: "What started as just a concept became, in my eyes, something iconic within the super high roller scene. Most importantly, it's something that continues to attract fresh faces to the field."

Luca Vivaldi, Senior Director of Live Events and Invitational architect — *Luca Vivaldi: Invitational architect*

Players are unanimous
in their agreement.

"It's a unique field composition that makes it exciting for both players and spectators," says Leon Sturm, who played his first Invitational in 2024. "The tournament is also a great way to get more non-pro players interested in the game. On top of that, it's a high prestige event."

Michael Soyza says: "It showcases the beauty of the game of poker in all its glory, on the largest stage possible. It features the perfect blend of the best players in the world against some of the most passionate poker enthusiasts in the world."

Here's to another 10 years. Here's to another 10 years. Here's to another 10 years. Here's to another 10 years.

08Partner Editorials

From our partners.

Pages 02 · 03 · 05 · The Triton Times

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Partner Story · Jacob & Co.

The only dual-melody musical timepiece. The Godfather II.

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Limited to 74 pieces, a deliberate reference to the 1974 release of The Godfather Part II directed by Francis Ford Coppola, the watch draws its identity from the film’s enduring legacy. At its core, it features an integrated music box capable of playing two compositions by Nino Rota, “The Godfather’s Waltz” and “The Godfather Love Theme.” Both melodies are programmed onto a single barrel, an important technical advancement that enables the compact architecture of the watch while maintaining acoustic performance. A selector positioned at 10 o’clock allows the wearer to alternate between melodies, while a pusher at 8 o’clock activates the mechanism, each sequence playing for approximately 15 to 20 seconds.

The newly developed JCAM62 caliber houses this complication alongside a one-minute flying tourbillon, integrating musical and horological complexity within a streamlined structure.

This is supported by dual power reserve indicators, separating the energy required for timekeeping from that of the musical function, ensuring both performance and clarity.

Aesthetically, the watch adopts a curved rectangular case influenced by Art Deco design, offering a more ergonomic profile without compromising presence. The black lacquer dial, engraved details, and sculptural elements evoke the visual codes of the film, translating narrative into form.

The Godfather II stands as a focused expression of Jacob & Co.’s philosophy, where storytelling, engineering, and design converge into a singular and uncompromising object.

Explore the timepiece →

— In Pictures —

Ten years on the felt.

Trophy lifts, table-side embraces, and the moments that defined every Invitational since 2019.

All photographs · Triton Poker Series

10The Puzzle Page

Take a break from the tables.

Page 06 · Crossword · Sudoku · Trivia

Three games to play between hands. Tap any card to open the full puzzle in a new window.

The Triton Crossword

13 × 13

A crossword themed around ten years of Triton — players, places, hands and history. Across and down clues drawn from every chapter of the Invitational story.

Play the crossword →

Stars

Two puzzles

Two grids, two challenges. In Puzzle 1, place exactly one star in each row, column and region. In Puzzle 2, place exactly two. Stars can never touch — not even diagonally.

Play Stars →

Sudoku

Classic 9 × 9

A standard 9 × 9 grid with a fresh set of clues each issue. Fill every row, column and 3 × 3 box with the digits 1 to 9 — no repeats, no guessing required.

Play Sudoku →

11Last Call

A few jokes on the house.

Triton Trivia and a couple of poker one-liners to send you off. Tap a trivia card to reveal the answer.

Triton Trivia Tap to reveal

01.Which two players have won the WSOP Main Event and a title on the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series?

Chris Moneymaker, Espen Jorstad and Koray Aldemir.
02.Only one player born in the 21st century has won a tournament on the Super High Roller Series. Who is it?

Mehdi Chaoui.
03.Vladimir Korzinin is from what country?

Estonia.
04.Which Finnish player won half of all PLO events the first time Omaha was played in Montenegro in 2024?

Samuli Sipila.

Jokes Three for the felt

01.What’s the difference between a poker player and a pizza?

A pizza can feed a family of four.
02.What’s the difference between a bad poker player and a vacuum cleaner?

The vacuum cleaner only sucks when you turn it on.
03.A man walks into a doctor’s office and says, “Doc, my wife is trying to lose weight by riding a horse every day.” The doctor nods and asks, “And what’s the result? Has it helped her lose any weight?”

The husband replies, “Well, so far the horse has lost 25 pounds”.

12Pets Corner

Triton at home.

Page 09 · Tritonpokerseries.com

The Triton Invitational field is full of animal lovers. Here's a selection of some of the wonderful pooches that share a home with some of our players.

Bella

5 years old (Maltipoo)
Owner: Igor Yaroshevskyy

She's "incredibly sweet, like my only daughter, because I have two sons :)"

Coco

(Cavapoo)
Owner: Vinny Lingham

Greta

9 years old (Yorkshire terrier)
Owner: Sergio Aido

Oscar

5 years old (Bernadoodle)
Owner: Haralabos Voulgaris

Bela & Thor

(Pit bulls)
Owner: Joao Simao

Brian

13 years old (Border collie)
Owner: Sosia Jiang

Abby

Owner: Alex Theologis' mum

Money & Ferrari

Owner: Danny Tang's girlfriend, Cadee

Kiyoshi

2 years old (Shiba-Inu)
Owner: Michael Soyza

"She is the smartest and cutest dog in the world."

Mickey

Owner: Kristen & Alex Foxen

"Mickey is our new Yorkshire Terrier. He is 7 months old and is named Mickey because when we first got him he whined constantly and sounded just like a mouse."

12Horoscopes

Even the pros need luck.

Twelve signs · One felt

Even the most skillful poker player needs some luck. What does your horoscope have in store this week?

Aries

May you be on the button when you need to make a move, and may you have the boldness to carry you through every big decision.

Taurus

May your patience be rewarded with a soft lineup and steady accumulation throughout the day.

Gemini

May your quick thinking and table talk keep opponents guessing while the pots quietly come your way.

Cancer

May your good fortune guide you to the right seats and the kindest tables, and your instincts steer you away from danger.

Leo

May your bluffs go undetected, and may they call when you have it.

Virgo

May your precision and discipline turn every small edge into lasting momentum.

Libra

May balance keep you composed, especially when the decisions matter most.

Scorpio

May your reads be sharp, your presence feared, and your edge unmistakable.

Sagittarius

May you remain fearless when under pressure, and may you find the perfect timing for your creative plays.

Capricorn

May your focus stay strong, and may your stack be too heavy for the bag at the end of the day.

Aquarius

May your creativity confuse the field and put you ahead of the game.

Pisces

May your Triton Tempo timebank never run out.

13Player Quotes

What makes the Invitational such a special event?

In their own words · 21 voices from the felt

"As a pro it's an honor to be selected - many would like to play this event, only few can!"

— Manuel Fritz

"It is special because it showcases the beauty of the game of poker in all its glory, on the largest stage possible. It features the perfect blend of the best players in the world against some of the most passionate poker enthusiast in the world, whereby everyone has a realistic shot at winning the title due to the mechanics of the tournament."

— Michael Soyza

"The atmosphere is incredible"

— Igor Yaroshevskyy

"It's usually one of the biggest of the year in terms of prize pool and promo"

— Danny Tang

"Opportunity to meet new people"

— Aleksejs Ponakovs

"The Invitational is unique because it brings together top professionals and passionate recreational players in the same field. That mix creates a different dynamic—high-level competition combined with fresh energy and personalities you don't usually see in regular high roller events."

— Kiat Lee

"It's a unique field composition that makes it exciting for both players and spectators. The tournament is also a great way to get more non-pro players interested in the game. On top of that, it's a high prestige event."

— Leon Sturm

"Huge stakes and weak competition"

— Adrian Mateos

"Several things make the Invitational a special event. First, it has generated exclusivity, as it's a tournament everyone wants to play in, but few have access to it. The buy-in and the field, with half VIPS players, make it a unique format. The event's organization, the seat allocation lottery, and the fact that it takes place in separate time slots make the Invitational a completely different event from the rest."

— Roberto Perez Gomez

"Super deep stacked, soft field, great coverage and associated prestige"

— Jonathan Jaffe

"Very unique atmosphere and ultimately high stakes"

— Joni Jouhkimainen

"The field and buy in. Unique mix of top performers in poker and life"

— Alex Foxen

"The atmosphere less stressful"

— Joao Simao

"It's an unique event given the format"

— Sergio Aido

"Not everyone can play/ it is exclusive, there is a lot of hype leading up to the event, the buy in is huge, and it is very prestigious. You also ensure a good mix of players from both and it is a great networking opportunity as well."

— Jamil Wakil

"The prestige, the mutual respect of having to be invited. And also the highest buyin level in the world, brings out the competitor in all of us"

— Brandon Wilson

"The way the event is designed makes it a much more prestigious and unique tournament. First, the fact that not everyone is eligible to participate gives it an air of exclusivity. Then, the high buy-in also makes it that much more distinct, as not many tournaments in the world have a buyin at this level. Finally, separating the Pros/Invitees on Day 1 makes the first day much more competitive for us pros, while making advancing to Day 2 a very attractive proposition."

— Alexandros Theologis

"The buyin+ field size and the separate fields on day 1"

— Ben Tollerene

"The build up with anticipation, seat draw and everyone playing from the start"

— Christoph Vogelsang

"Lots of weaker players"

— Seth Davies

"Unique format, huge stakes and interesting day 1 dynamics."

— Jason Koon

13The Numbers

Nine Invitationals · by the book.

Every Invitational and Million event from 2019 to 2025. Scroll horizontally — the row labels stay pinned.

Event	Triton Million 2019	Coin Rivet Cyprus 2022	Luxon Invitational Cyprus 2023	Luxon Invitational London 2023	Triton Invitational Monte Carlo 2023	Triton Invitational Monte Carlo 2024	Triton Million Bahamas 2024	Triton Invitational Montenegro 2025	Triton Invitational Bahamas 2025
# of Pairs	27	45	31	45 pairs + 1 invitee	29	40	37	48	49
Format	Freezeout	Single Re-entry	Single Re-entry	Single Re-entry	Single Re-entry	Single Re-entry	Single Re-entry	Single Re-entry for Pros / Max 3 Entries for Invitees	Single Re-entry for Pros / Max 3 Entries for Invitees
Buy-in	£1,000,000	$200,000	$200,000	$250,000	$200,000	$200,000	$500,000	$200,000	$250,000
Reg Fee	$50,000^*	$10,000	$10,000	$12,500	$10,000	$10,000	$25,000	E – $12,000 / RE – $8,000	E – $12,500 / RE – $10,000
Entries	54	90	62	91	58	80	74	96	98
Re-entries	0	25	24	27	15	22	22	37	35
Total Entries	54	115	86	118	73	102	96	133	133
Prizepool	£54,000,000	$23,000,000	$17,200,000	$29,500,000	$14,600,000	$20,400,000	$48,000,000	$26,600,000	$33,250,000

14The Clock

The revolutionary Triton Tempo.

Page 07 · Chess-clock for poker

At the Super High Roller Series’ most recent trip to Jeju, Triton Poker unveiled Triton Tempo, the tour’s new chess-clock style time management system for tournament poker. Player response was overwhelmingly positive, and Triton Tempo will be used again here in Montenegro. But for anyone still unsure on what Triton Tempo is, what it means for gameplay, and why it’s been welcomed so enthusiastically, Here’s an overview in the form of some Frequently Asked Questions about the system.

Live Demo · Decision clock

Triton Tempo Time Bank Standing by

60s

+100s at registration close · +100s at the final table

A way of keeping the game moving while giving players sufficient thinking time. Similar to chess: each player has the same time-bank allocation at the start, which reduces as they use it during decisions. Time follows the player through the entire tournament. It replaces the old time-bank cards.

A common criticism of live poker is that it's too slow — both for players and spectators. Shot clocks and time banks are known to speed up play. Triton Tempo improves on the existing time-bank-card model to keep play at an agreeable pace.

Triton Tempo is granular. With cards, each card represented 30 seconds — even if a player only needed five extra seconds. Tempo measures the exact thinking time used. It's also neater: no more cards beside chips, no chip-bag overnight storage.

Players have an allocated "base decision time": 15 seconds pre-flop (20 in PLO), 25 seconds on the flop, 30 seconds on turn and river. Once base time expires, additional time deducts from the time bank.

Yes. +100 seconds in the time bank when registration closes, and another +100 at the start of final-table play (50 in turbos and satellites). Main Events get specific additional Tempo allocations.

Poker tournaments run most smoothly when players arrive and are seated in a timely manner, and anything tournament organisers can do to encourage this is considered worthwhile.

The Triton Tempo terminal sits in front of the dealer. Every Triton dealer is fully trained on the time clock, shifting it from one player to the next as action progresses.

The Triton Poker Series uses a bespoke tournament tracking system — a specially-tailored version of the popular kHold'em Card Room Management System — to follow a player's progress through the tournament. It is synced with the Triton Poker Plus app, which gives real-time hand-tracking, chip-count and table allocation information to players and staff. Triton Tempo draws from the same information source, with floor staff updating the app whenever tables are broken or a player moves seats.

We are confident that errors of this kind will be incredibly rare, and most likely will never happen. In the very unlikely event it occurs, tournament officials are able to rectify time banks on an ad hoc basis.

A hand is only declared dead if the base decision time AND time bank are both expired. When the bank is empty, players still get the base decision time on every future hand.

15Tale of the Tape

Invitees vs. Pros.

Page 09 · After nine Invitationals

Special rules, separate draws, and a thumb on the scale. After nine editions, the numbers tell us whether all that engineering actually works.

The Tale of the Tape.

The Triton Invitational is a special tournament, and it brings with it some special rules. For the first day (10 levels), Invitees and pros play in separate halves of the tournament fields, and it only reverts to what might be called a "regular" tournament table draw at the start of the second day. (Even then, Invitees cannot play on the same table as their selected pro, unless they reach the final.)

There are further regulations that aim to favor the Invitees, including the stipulation that all players must be seated at the very start of play, removing the option of late registration. Furthermore, pros can re-enter the tournament only twice and must do so within an hour of being eliminated. It's to ensure that players don't try to miss as much of Day 1 as they can and only sit down when the field is supposedly softer.

Invitees, on the other hand, can re-enter up to three times, and can do so at their leisure.

While there is some mild, understandable irritation that the thumb is on the scale to disadvantage the pros, players also seem to understand the broader purpose. As pro Alex Theologis says, "The environment in the high stakes scene can appear predatory, so allowing some leeway for people that truly enjoy the game and are willing and able to commit to the high buy-ins has no downside."

Invitee Talal Shakerchi says, "This is certainly important in attracting genuine VIPs to play. They know they are underdogs versus the pros and don't want to be surrounded by sharks."

Champion lifts the Triton Invitational trophy under falling confetti — *Players from both sides of the draw have had great success in previous Invitationals.*

But do these attempts at balance work? Do the pros come out on top in the end, or do the Invitees have it too good?

Let's look at the numbers.

Through nine Triton Invitationals to date, four have been won by Invitees and five have been won by pros. That's as balanced as it's possible to get.

And if we drill deeper, the pattern tends to continue. Invitees have cashed 79 times for $119,092,157, while pros have cashed 78 times for $159,200,055. Of the 81 final table seats through nine Invitationals, Invitees have occupied 35, with pros in 46.

In other words, Invitees and pros are pretty much neck-and-neck for ITM finishes, with the pros managing to eke out more final table appearances and a higher cash total. Again, it makes sense, with the pros' greater emphasis on ICM and their mastery of short stack tournament strategy.

But, all things considered, the balance seems just about right. And tournament variance accounts for the rest.

As says Jessica Teusl, an Invitee at the three most recent Invitationals, says: "What I especially like about the Invitational is that it brings new faces into these high stakes. It creates a more relaxed and fun atmosphere, while still being competitive, where everyone wants to win."

"And what I love most about poker is that, when you sit down at a table — especially in a tournament — everyone has a chance to win." — Jessica Teusl, Invitee

The Invitees

Patient.
Hopeful.
Welcomed.

Invitational wins 0

In the money 0

Final-table seats 0

Total cash $0

vs.

The Pros

Sharp.
Studied.
Stacked.

Invitational wins 0

In the money 0

Final-table seats 0

Total cash $0

16In Numbers

The Triton Invitational in numbers.

Page 08 · The data tells the story

It started with

54 PLAYERS

& £1 million buy-in

But the past two Triton Invitational tournaments have attracted 133 entries, and the interest list just keeps getting longer. As we gather now for the 10th Triton Invitational in Montenegro,

Here's a look at some of the key stats from the previous nine.

$0

Closing in on $30m: Bryn Kenney

leads the Triton Invitational Money List thanks to two cashes.

His $20,563,324 score in the Triton Million in London in 2019 is still the biggest single cash,

but he was the official runner-up in the event behind Aaron Zang.

0

First-time cashers:
All of Aleksa Pavićević, Gabriel Andrade, Tobias Duthweiler, Vivek Rajkumar, Thomas Boivin, Bill Perkins, Chris Moneymaker, Tyler Stafman, Ebony Kenney, Robert Flink, Alexander Shelukhin, Chance Kornuth, Cong Pham, Joni Jouhkimainen, James Chen, Tom Vogelsang, Thomas Santerne, João Simao, Vadzim Godzdanker, Stanley Tang, Clemen Deng, Wei Nan, Mark Hammond, Eric Worre, Alex Boika and Murray Williams

made the money
in the only Triton Invitational that have played to date.

0

Perfection: Aleksa Pavićević is the only player with a perfect

Triton Invitational record:
Played 1, Won 1.

0

Entries through nine Invitationals

0

In the money again and again
and again and again

Linus Loeliger is the only player to have cashed four times in Triton Invitationals.

0

A record in waiting:
Nobody has ever won two Triton Invitationals.

$0

Total prize pools
across nine Triton Invitational tournaments

0

Must do better:
Eight players have played more than five Triton Invitationals and never cashed.

$0

Combined prizes
for nine Triton Invitational champions

0

FTs for Latvian No 1:
Aleks Poņakovs holds the record for the most final table appearances in Triton Invitationals.

The all-time Invitational money list

Player	Country	Side	ITM	FT	Prize
1Bryn Kenney	USA	Pro	2	2	$23,750,509
2Aaron Zang	China	Invitee	1	1	$13,779,491
3Alejandro Lococo	Argentina	Invitee	2	1	$12,610,000
4Dan Smith	USA	Pro	2	2	$11,070,000
5Benjamin Heath	UK	Pro	2	2	$8,641,000
6Kayhan Mokri	Norway	Pro	2	2	$8,585,000
7Patrik Antonius	Finland	Pro	3	2	$7,685,000
8Aleksa Pavićević	Montenegro	Invitee	1	1	$6,180,000
9Aleks Poņakovs	Latvia	Pro	3	3	$6,030,000
10Sinan Unlu	Turkey	Invitee	2	1	$5,722,000

17Always There

The Triton Invitational Perfect Attendance Club.

Phua, Tang, Badziakouski, Chidwick & Petrangelo

Paul Phua, Triton Invitational champion, with the trophy — *'Boss' has played every Invitational since the start*

Who's the one person at any party who never needs an invitation? That's right: it's the host. And while Triton Poker, and its flagship Triton Invitational, is significantly more than just a one-person operation, the man who best plays the role of host is Triton Poker founding player Paul Phua.

What's more, he's the only Invitee who has played all nine previous iterations of the Triton Invitational.

That's right, the man commonly referred to as "Boss" has been the first player confirmed for every single Invitational event ever hosted on the Triton Poker Series. He was there in London in 2019, partnering with Tom Dwan. And he'll take his seat again in Montenegro this week, with Phil Ivey lucky enough to be invited as Phua's pro.

"Relationships and friendship matter a great deal to me," Phua says, describing how he picks the person he wants to invite. "You can't play if you are not invited, and that's why this tournament is so special and different."

He adds: "It's also special because you get to play with many players from many different countries and walks of life, especially on the Invitee side. There's so much excitement and good vibes. In my opinion, it will be a popular event for years to come, maybe even be bigger."

Talal Shekerchi, Sosia Jiang and Wai Kin Yong played the first four Invitational events, alongside Phua, but have subsequently missed at least a couple each. It meant Phua was already the only ever-present on the Invitee side of the draw in Monte Carlo in 2023. Ramin Hajiyev and Santhosh Suvarna have now played eight in succession, but missed the very first.

It's a different story on the pros side of the draw where each of Mikita Badziakouski, Stephen Chidwick, Nick Petrangelo and Danny Tang have played all nine previous Invitationals. Patrik Antonius, Isaac Haxton, Fedor Holz, Aleks Ponakovs and Christoph Vogelsang have played eight. The commitment and loyalty points once again to the enduring appeal of the Super High Roller Series and this tournament in particular.

"The tournament feels like the Champions League," says Vogelsang, who will partner with his friend Jean-Noel Thorel in Montenegro. He says he supports the format, which offers the Invitees a few advantages over the pros.

"The longer I have played poker the more I have felt that being part of a community is more important than making as much money as possible," Vogelsang says.

Meanwhile Tang relishes the opportunity to bring new players to the tour. Having first introduced Punnat Punsri to Triton via the Invitational, he'll partner this time with another fresh face, the Filipino entrepreneur Chase Cokaliong. "I met him at another tour, and told him the Invitational is perfect for him," Tang says.

The Invitational Ever-Present Club

Paul
Phua

(Invitee)
Danny
Tang

(Pro)
Mikita
Badziakouski

(Pro)
Stephen
Chidwick

(Pro)
Nick
Petrangelo

(Pro)

STILL MAKING HEADLINES

IT'S MAY. IT'S MONTENEGRO. IT'S THE MAESTRAL RESORT AND CASINO.