Triton SHRS Montenegro: Aleks Ponakovs Dominates Anniversary Special for $3 Million

Star-Studded Lineup

The tournament, celebrating a decade of the Triton series, attracted a total of 76 entries, boosting the prize pool to an impressive $11,400,000. The final table showcased the crème de la crème of poker, with the nine finalists boasting a collective 32 Triton titles, including four Main Event champions.

Originally planned as a three-day event, a schedule change saw it conclude by the second day. Thanks to a deep structure with an average starting stack of 56 blinds at the final table, players had significant room to maneuver. This setup particularly suited Ponakovs, known for his aggressive play, who opted for a surprisingly more conservative strategy this time.

You can enjoy the recap of this exceptional final day here:

In the heads-up, he faced Jonathan Jaffe, who started with a slight lead. The players declined to discuss a deal, which turned out costly for the American. The turning point came in a massive pot where Ponakovs, holding Q h 8 d, made two pair on a board of 8 h 5 s 2 c K s Q d and went all-in on the river. Jaffe, after a lengthy consideration, made a daring hero call with A d 2 s, which proved to be a fatal mistake. Ponakovs sealed his victory in the next hand, holding A s 4 h against Jaffe's K d 6 d.

For the 34-year-old Ponakovs, this milestone lifted his total tournament winnings past the $40 million mark. He deeply appreciates his rise to the elite poker ranks: “I never expected to play such high-stakes tournaments in 2026. Back in 2017, I was nearly broke. I'm happy to be here, playing against the smartest minds in the world.”

Regarding his strategy, he added: “Today, I approached the game more conservatively. I didn't have many opportunities to bluff; instead, I received strong cards when others went all-in before me. I was fortunate.”

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Results of the $150K Triton Anniversary Special final table:

Sources: Triton Poker, YouTube