Nine Blinds To Nine Figures: Ben Tollerene’s Comeback To A Second Main Event Title

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Updated: 2026.03.27

The Triton Poker Super High Roller Series Jeju 2026 in Les A Casino crowned its flagship champion as American pro Ben Tollerene took down the $100,000 NLH Main Event.

Ben Tollerene Takes Down Triton Jeju $100K NLH Main Event

Tollerene outlasted a field of 178 entries to secure a $3,766,000 first-place prize, marking the largest live score of his career. This marks his second Triton Main Event victory, following his PLO Main Event win in Montenegro last year.

I had no cashes going into today on this trip. Then everything aligned and I somehow did it again.

With this win, Tollerene joins his close friend Jason Koon as a two-time Main Event champion, earning his second Jacob & Co timepiece, an honor reserved exclusively for the tour’s flagship winners.

A Resilient Path To Victory

Tollerene’s run to the title was far from a smooth ascent. Despite entering the final table as the chip leader with 73 big blinds, he had to navigate a significant setback on Day 2. A massive cooler against Philip Sternheimer saw Tollerene flop trips against Sternheimer’s full house, leaving the American with just nine big blinds.

Tollerene managed to rebuild his stack, reclaiming the lead by the end of Day 2 and maintaining his composure throughout the final table.

I just did my best the whole tournament when something was happening to me. After that hand I thought, okay I have nine big blinds now, how do we play nine big blinds? Try to just reset and stay focused.

Final Table Highlights

$100K NLH Main Event - Final Table — $100K NLH Main Event – Final Table

The final nine featured a mix of Triton regulars and breakout performers. The first elimination at the final table saw Felipe Ketzer go all-in for 8 big blinds with queen-jack of spades. Elton Tsang called with pocket tens, only for Sternheimer to re-shove with pocket jacks.

Kristen Foxen , holding pocket kings, tanked for a moment before folding, letting the action unfold without contest. Sternheimer’s jacks held, sending Ketzer out in 9th place for $385,000.

Foxen’s fold immediately became a talking point, sparking discussion about her cautious approach in a high-pressure ICM spot at the very start of the final table.

🤯 MADNESS AT THE MAIN EVENT!

Watch the chaos unfold between @TheMannheim, Felipe Ketzer, Elton Tsang, and @krissyb24poker. pic.twitter.com/nQvcHIVs21

— Triton Poker (@tritonpoker) March 26, 2026

The middle stages of the final table saw a battle for momentum between Tollerene and Sternheimer. Following Ketzer’s exit, German pro Tom Fuchs was the next to fall in 8th place. China’s Xu Yang put in a career-best performance, finishing 7th for $635,000 after his pocket queens ran into Tollerene’s kings. Shortly after, Sean Winter (6th) and Punnat Punsri (5th) were eliminated in back-to-back hands. Punsri, a former Main Event winner, saw his hopes for a second title end when Sternheimer turned quads to beat his flopped set of fours.

Foxen finished in 4th place for $1,449,000. The result moves her within a few thousand dollars of the top spot on the Triton all-time female money list. Hong Kong’s Tsang, a staple of the high-stakes cash games in Jeju, finished 3rd for $1,787,000 after failing to improve with ace-three against Tollerene’s king-six.

Heads-Up: Closing It Out

The final duel saw Tollerene face off against Sternheimer, the player who had nearly eliminated him earlier in the tournament. Tollerene held a 4-to-1 chip lead starting the match.

The final hand saw Tollerene completed from the small blind with ten-deuce versus Sternheimer’s king-seven. He flopped two pair, and Sternheimer picked up a nut flush draw on the turn, calling both bets. The river paired the board, giving Tollerene a full house. He fired for value, and Sternheimer bluff-shoved his remaining stack.

Tollerene didn’t need to think long before snapping him off, showing the boat and taking it down.

#10 Triton JEJU 2026 - NLH Main Event - USD 100,000 ($106,000)

Total Prize

$17,800,000

Entries

178

ITM

#	Payout	Player	SPI
1	$3,766,000	BT Ben Tollerene United States of America	6,192.65
2	$2,535,000	PS Philip Sternheimer United Kingdom	4,378.87
3	$1,787,000	ET Elton Tsang Hong Kong	3,575.33
4	$1,449,000	KF Kristen Foxen Canada	3,096.33
5	$1,146,000	PP Punnat Punsri Thailand	2,769.44
6	$870,000	SW Sean Winter United States of America	2,528.14
7	$635,000	XY Xu Yang China	2,340.60
8	$464,000	TF Tom Fuchs Germany	2,189.43
9	$385,000	FK Felipe Ketzer Brazil	2,064.22

Check the 31 Payouts & Results ...

Tollerene’s results on the Triton series continue to build. Since first appearing on the tour in 2022, he has now collected multiple titles and more than $16 million in Triton earnings alone.

I think playing really big gets my focus up. I want to show I can compete with the best players here.

In Jeju, he did exactly that once again.

Upcoming Schedule: Triton Super High Roller Series Jeju

Click to collapse: Remaining Jeju Schedule (March 24 – April 1)

Date	Event	Buy-in
Mar 26-27	Event #12 – 10th Anniversary Special	$150,000
Mar 27-28	Event #13 – PLO/NLH Mix	$30,000
Mar 28-29	Event #15 – PLO Mystery Bounty	$50,000
Mar 29-31	Event #16 – PLO MAIN EVENT	$100,000
Mar 30-31	Event #17 – PLO 6-Handed	$25,000
Mar 31-April 1	Event #18 – PLO 6-Handed	$75,000
Apr 1	Event #19 – PLO Turbo Bounty Quattro	$30,000

What’s Next For The Triton Poker Series?

With the action in Jeju winding down, the high-stakes world is already shifting its gaze toward the next major stop. The Triton Poker Series returns to Europe this spring, touching down in Montenegro from May 13 to 28, 2026.

The world’s best will gather at the stunning Maestral Resort and Casino for another two-week marathon of the highest-stakes tournaments on the planet.

All quotes, images, and figures courtesy of Triton Poker Series.