The atmosphere was electrifying once again yesterday in Montenegro as the Triton Super High Roller Series crowned a new champion, with Mike Watson clinching his fourth career Triton title in a nail-biting finale. This victory not only adds a substantial $1,023,000 to his earnings but also marks a significant milestone as Watson becomes only the second player to win in all three Triton disciplines: no limit hold’em, short deck, and pot limit Omaha.
The $30,000 8-handed tournament saw 154 players aiming for glory, but it was Mike Watson and Kiat Lee who made it to the final showdown, which proved to be a battle of wit and resilience. Lee, hailing from Malaysia, entered the final table as the chip leader, a position he maintained from the first day, signaling what seemed an impending victory. Yet, Watson’s tactical prowess turned the tables in a thrilling comeback.
2024 Triton Poker Montenegro $30,000 8-Handed Final Results
| Position | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mike Watson | Canada | $1,023,000 |
| 2 | Kiat Lee | Malaysia | $691,000 |
| 3 | Ding Biao | China | $475,000 |
| 4 | David Yan | New Zealand | $387,400 |
| 5 | Morten Klein | Norway | $309,000 |
| 6 | Sirzat Hissou | Germany | $238,000 |
| 7 | Leon Sturm | Germany | $173,000 |
Final Table Highlights
It was Stephen Chidwick who was the first that had to leave the final table, as he exited in ninth place with $103,400. Chidwick’s tournament run ended when he lost a crucial flip to Hissou’s K♣Q♣, and then the rest of his stack dwindled away to Watson, who made quad nines with A♥9♦ against Chidwick’s Q♠10♦.
Daniel Rezaei from Austria managed to outlast Chidwick, securing eighth place and $125,000. Rezaei initially doubled through Watson with Q♥Q♦ against 7♥7♦, but his luck ran out against Klein. Rezaei’s A♠6♠ fell to Klein’s A♦J♣, and then his K♥J♠ lost to K♦A♦, marking his departure from the tournament.
Leon Sturm was next to leave the table when he pushed all-in with K♣7♣ and was called by Lee who held Q♥Q♠, knocking Sturm out in seventh place for $173,000. Shortly thereafter, Sirzat Hissou from Germany exited in sixth place, pocketing $238,000, after his K♥Q♣ was beaten by David Yan’s J♥Q♦.
Morten Klein of Norway claimed the fifth spot and $309,000, losing to Yan’s 9♥9♦ with his A♦K♣ failing to improve. The action intensified as the players vied for the higher payouts.
David Yan, having been a significant force at the table, fell in fourth place with a prize of $387,400. In a pivotal hand, Yan put his chips in the table well with his A♣K♥, but the table turned as a queen on the flop paired Lee’s K♠Q♠, giving Lee the pot and dashing Yan’s hopes for a higher finish.
The three remaining players then battled it out until Biao was ousted in third place, securing $475,000. In his final hand, Biao’s J♦J♣ looked promising against Lee’s A♣7♦, but an ace on the flop gave Lee the winning hand, pushing him into a strong lead going into heads-up play against Watson.
Heads-Up Battle
Watson started the heads-up duel at a disadvantage with only 15 big blinds to Lee’s 47. However, he quickly evened the stakes. The turning point came when Watson, with 8♥6♠, completed a straight on the turn against Lee’s Q♠6♣ on a board off 9♣Q♣7♥5♦. Watson’s strategic shove on the river elicited a reluctant call from Lee, shifting the momentum decisively.
Watson’s eventual victory was clinched when he flopped a set against Lee’s short stack, sealing the deal. Mike Watson’s latest victory not only underscores his mastery over the game but also sets the stage for more thrilling gameplay at future Triton events. For daily recaps and updates from the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series in Montenegro, PokerPro is your go-to source. Keep tuned to witness how the biggest names in poker perform at this elite gathering.
