Battle for a Whopping $6.37 Million
The Triton Invitational once again confirmed its uniqueness and prestige. The 2026 edition in Montenegro attracted a total of 137 entries, making it the largest Invitational in the series' history. The colossal prize pool soared to $27.4 million, marking the fifth-largest pot in the history of the Triton Poker Series. An astronomical reward of $6.37 million awaits the winner.
The second day of play brought immense drama. The initial chipleader, vlogger Ethan "Rampage" Yau, was eliminated before the money spots, finishing 42nd after a series of unsuccessful hands. Shaneil Stokes had a heartbreaking finish as the bubble boy, missing out on his first-ever Triton cash by finishing 24th.
The final day sees the last 12 players compete, led by Tunisian player Maher Nouira. In second place is Anatoly Zlotnikov, aiming for his second title in Montenegro, having triumphed in Event #2 a week ago.
Big names like Adrian Mateos, Isaac Haxton, and Ben Heath are still in contention. You can follow the tournament via livestream on the official Triton Poker YouTube channel, where you can also find a Day 2 recap:
Current Standings of Event #8: $200,000 NLH Triton Invitational (After Day 2):
|
Position |
Player |
Country |
Stack |
BB |
|
1. |
Maher Nouira |
Tunisia |
9,900,000 |
66 |
|
2. |
Anatoly Zlotnikov |
Russia |
7,250,000 |
48 |
|
3. |
Eelis Parssinen |
Finland |
6,420,000 |
43 |
|
4. |
Danilo Velasevic |
Serbia |
3,185,000 |
21 |
|
5. |
Adrian Mateos Diaz |
Spain |
2,450,000 |
16 |
|
6. |
Isaac Haxton |
USA |
2,300,000 |
15 |
|
7. |
Linus Loeliger |
Switzerland |
2,190,000 |
15 |
|
8. |
Benjamin Heath |
United Kingdom |
1,865,000 |
12 |
|
9. |
Andre Bye Berg |
Norway |
1,785,000 |
12 |
|
10. |
Kiat Lee |
Malaysia |
1,405,000 |
9 |
|
11. |
Ilya Nikiforov |
Estonia |
1,250,000 |
8 |
|
12. |
Alexey Lozuyk |
Belarus |
1,105,000 |
7 |
Leonard Maue Tops Star-Studded Field
Alongside the battles in the Invitational, Event #9: $50K NLH 7-Handed has kicked off. This tournament with a "more accessible" buy-in saw 118 entries, creating a prize pool of $5.9 million.
The winner will pocket $1.416 million, with the top 20 players earning a payout. As 23 players advance to the final day, three will still leave empty-handed since the bubble hasn't burst yet.
German pro Leonard Maue is in the best position, bringing 80 big blinds into the final. Close behind him are American stars Jesse Lonis and Bryn Kenney, as well as Norwegian Kayhan Mokri.
Top 10 Stacks in Event #9: $50,000 NLH 7-Handed (After Day 1):
|
Position |
Player |
Country |
Stack |
BB |
|
1. |
Leonard Maue |
Germany |
2,400,000 |
80 |
|
2. |
Jesse Lonis |
USA |
2,005,000 |
67 |
|
3. |
Wang Ye |
China |
1,670,000 |
56 |
|
4. |
Matthias Lipp |
Austria |
1,585,000 |
53 |
|
5. |
Bryn Kenney |
USA |
1,425,000 |
48 |
|
6. |
Alex Theologis |
Greece |
1,415,000 |
47 |
|
7. |
Wiktor Malinowski |
Poland |
1,400,000 |
47 |
|
8. |
Igor Yaroshevskyy |
Ukraine |
1,275,000 |
43 |
|
9. |
Kayhan Mokri |
Norway |
1,255,000 |
42 |
|
10. |
Thomas Muehloecker |
Austria |
1,255,000 |
42 |
Sources: Triton Poker, YouTube
