Danny Tang accepts the plaudits and the trophy in a spectacular ceremony in Monaco

The stage of the Salle des Etoiles at the Monte Carlo Sporting Club this evening belonged to Danny Tang.

The popular Triton stalwart took a break from playing the latest event on this high stakes tournament series to accept a trophy and the accolades as the latest winner of the Ivan Leow Player of the Year Award.

Tang, 32, was the standout star during last season’s four stops on the Triton Series, cashing 19 times, making 13 final tables and winning two titles. They were the fourth and fifth of his glittering Triton career.

Tang accepted his award during an awe-inspiring presentation ceremony in which a spectacular new trophy, hand-crafted by London silversmiths Fox Silver, was also unveiled. As fireworks exploded and ticker-tape rained from the sky, Tang hugged his friends and supporters across the room, including Triton co-founders Paul Phua and Richard Yong, who handed Tang the trophy.

Tang thanked them first of all, stating, “Without them, a regular guy like me wouldn’t be able to come here and chase my dreams.”

Tang fulfilled a dream just to play on the Triton Series

He described how his Triton journey began five years ago in Montenegro, and about how he could only dream at first of succeeding in fields that are undisputedly the best in the world. Winning the Player of the Year trophy underlined how Tang now belongs in this company.

“In my opinion, it’s the most prestigious award in all of world poker right now,” Tang said.

He went on to pay tribute to his parents and girlfriend KD, admitting that being close to a professional poker player presents unique challenges. “The life of a poker pro can often be selfish,” Tang said. “It’s not easy having a child that decides to take poker as a living. Poker is sometimes a very selfish sport, but I’m thankful I got to meet my crew. They’re very important to me. They’re great people.”

He added of his girlfriend, “She deals with the downswings like I do.”

After again thanking Phua and Yong for “unwavering support since I first set foot through the Triton doors”, Tang once again turned to his great friend and mentor Ivan Leow, after whom the Player of the Year award is named.

“I remembered how Ivan would teach me to have the Triton spirit,” Tang said. “Keep going. We miss you bro. Thank you for looking after us and all of our brothers.”

Tang looked to the heavens as he discussed his late friend Ivan Leow

Tang, from Hong Kong via Wrexham, in the UK, amassed 3,700 points in the POY standings, more than 350 more than his closest challenger, the POY from the previous year, Jason Koon. Tang got the ball rolling with victory in a $60K event in London in 2023 (from five cashes at that stop) and never looked back. He made a further five final tables in Monte Carlo last October, cashed three times in Jeju and then made five more finals in Montenegro in May to seal the deal.

His prize is $200,000, but for all players on the Triton Series, it’s the respect of ones peers that is worth even more, as well as the knowledge that this year of play was even better than every other member of the game’s elite.

This was also a fitting and emotional success for Tang in the contest that honours the memory Leow. The Malaysian pro was not only a founder member of the Triton Series, blazing into global recognition during the tour’s earliest days, but he was also a dedicated and courageous champion of up-and-coming talents, fostering and backing them to play bigger.

Triton tournament director Luca Vivaldi delivers the new trophy

Tang was one such passion project for Leow, and the young protege was greatly affected by the untimely passing of his mentor. At the point of Leow’s death, in September 2022, Tang was yet to register a victory on the Triton Series, but channelled his grief into his efforts at the tables — with these startling results.

The latest renewal of the Player of the Year race begins here in Monaco and will include this and the next three stops on the Triton Super High Roller Series.

DANNY TANG’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR PERFORMANCES

MONTENEGRO

$50k Pot Limit Omaha – 7th place, won $146,000

$100k PLO Main Event – 6th place, won $495,000

$100K NLH 8-Handed – 5th place, won $752,000

$50K NLH 8-Handed – 15th place, won $119,200

$40K NLH 7-Handed Mystery Bounty – 7th place, won $114,000 + $100,000 bounty

$25K NLH 8-Handed – 6th place, won $ 180,500

JEJU

$50k Pot Limit Omaha – 10th place, won $92,500

$150k NLH 8-Handed – 11th place, won $ 351,000

$20k NLH 8-Handed – 11th place, won $ 78,700

MONTE CARLO

$50k Pot Limit Omaha – 2nd place, won $664,000

$30k Pot Limit Omaha Bounty – 3rd place, won $298,000

$50k NLH 8-Handed – 1st place, won $1,580,000

$100k NLH 8-Handed – 3rd place, won $1,296,000

$200k NLH Invitational – 6th place, won $875,000

LONDON

$25k Short Deck Ante-Only – 2nd place, won $193,800

$60k NLH 8-Handed – 1st place, won $1,600,000

$200k NLH 8-Handed – 5th place, won $1,247,000

$50k NLH 8-Handed – 9th place, won $134,000

$25k NLH GGMillion$ – 21st place, won $ 44,500