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The 2026 Triton Poker Super High Roller Series has kicked off in Jeju, South Korea, marking the tour’s second stop on the island this year. The $15K NLH 8-Handed event opened the festival on Friday and quickly delivered one of the year’s most memorable hands.
Nevan Chang raised with 7♥5♥ and was called by Li Yiming’s K♥Q♣. The 6♥8♥9♥ flop gave Chang a straight flush, while Yiming picked up a flush draw. Both players checked, and the action escalated after the 2♥ turn completed Yiming’s flush. On the 6♠ river, Chang unleashed a massive overbet that Yiming called, only to see he had been trapped by the flopped straight flush.
Another cooler unfolded when Triton champion Aleksejs Ponakovs flopped two pair against Wang Yang’s turned nut straight, before the board paired on the river to give Ponakovs a rescuing full house and a crucial double-up.
Phil Ivey also made his return to the Triton circuit, seeking to add to his five titles and 46 cashes since debuting in 2016. His day included losing a big pot to Artur Martirosian while bluffing with pocket threes, and he ultimately exited just short of the money.
The opening flight attracted 204 entries, building a $3,090,000 prize pool. Alisson Piekazewicz’s elimination burst the bubble, guaranteeing at least $25,500 to the remaining 28 players who advanced to Saturday’s final day, competing for a $642,000 first-place prize.
Wai Kiat Lee leads with 3,500,000 in chips, ahead of Punnat Punsri, Alex Theologis, Bernhard Binder and Adrian Mateos. Other notable names still alive include Nick Petrangelo, Jesse Lonis, Daniel Dvoress and Xuan Liu as the festival continues toward its marquee events.
