“By Far the Happiest Moment of My Career”: Joao Simao Wins Biggest-Ever Triton Invitational for $7.25 Million in Jeju

Sometimes poker comes down to timing, and Joao Simao seemed to have it exactly when he needed it.

The Brazilian has added another major title to his resume, taking down the $200,000 Triton Invitational at Triton Poker Super High Roller Series Jeju II S5 in LES A Casino , for a massive $7.25 million. It was the biggest field ever assembled for the event, and Simao had to survive some serious swings before finding his way to the top.

The victory gives Simao his second Triton title, following his $3 million victory in the Bahamas last December. His latest result pushes his lifetime Triton earnings past $13 million and marks the biggest score of his career.

For Simao, however, the money was only part of what made this win special.

“There’s no comparison,” Simao said when asked where the victory ranks among his career achievements. “I’ve had so many good results that I’m very proud of, but this is by far the happiest moment of my career.”

#10 $200k - Triton Invitational ($200,000)

Total Prize USD

$34,600,000

Total Prize

34.6M USD

Entries

173

ITM

31

#	Payout	Player	SPI
1	$7,250,000	JS Joao Simao Brazil	7,691.89
2	$4,940,000	BD Biao Ding China	5,438.99
3	$3,470,000	SD Seth Davies United States of America	4,440.91
4	$2,820,000	YW Yang Wang China	3,845.94
5	$2,245,000	EP Emilien Pitavy France	3,439.92
6	$1,693,000	WY Winfred Yu Hong Kong	3,140.20
7	$1,237,000	HJ Hannes Jeschka Germany	2,907.26
8	$905,000	TB Thomas Boivin Belgium	2,719.49
9	$749,000	TY Ting Yi Tsai Taiwan	2,563.96

Check the 31 Payouts & Results ...

Joao Simao Finds His Way Back

Joao Simao’s path to the title was far from straightforward.

He admitted that he had been close to elimination earlier in the tournament, but a well-timed break gave him a chance to reset before returning to the table. That small moment turned into a major shift in the tournament.

The 37-year-old also spoke about the lessons he shares with his children, particularly the importance of continuing to fight when things are not going your way.

That mindset became particularly relevant in Jeju, South Korea .

Simao eventually reached the final table alongside his official Invitee, Winfred Yu , who finished sixth. The Invitational format pairs elite professionals with recreational players who invite them into the tournament, creating a different dynamic from a regular Triton event.

At the other end of the final table was Biao Ding , a three-time Triton champion.

A Record-Breaking Invitational

The $200,000 Triton Invitational had already made history before the final table was set.

Triton had previously recorded 48 pairings in Montenegro , but interest in the first Asian edition of the Invitational pushed the field beyond 50 and eventually all the way to 60 pairings.

That meant 120 unique players and a $24 million prize pool before re-entries were even counted.

Once re-entries were added, the numbers climbed further. The tournament eventually reached 173 entries, creating a massive $34.6 million prize pool with $7.25 million reserved for the champion.

It was another record for the Triton Poker Series and a fitting way to mark the series’ 10th anniversary.

The Final Table Takes Shape

Nine players returned for the final table, with Joao Simao leading the way on 11,725,000 chips, followed by Yang Wang , Emilien Pitavy , Seth Davies , Thomas Boivin , Winfred Yu , Biao Ding , Ting Yi Tsai and Hannes Jeschka .

The table featured five professionals and four Invitees, with Simao and Yu also continuing their partnership all the way into the final nine.

Tsai was the first player eliminated, followed by Boivin. Ding then found a crucial double through Davies after Davies flopped an eight against Ding’s pocket aces.

Jeschka eventually bowed out in seventh place for $1.237 million, marking the first seven-figure payout of his career. Yu’s run ended in sixth when he ran ace-seven into Simao’s pocket tens. Five players remained, and Simao’s chip lead continued to grow.

Biao Ding Stands in the Way

The final three included Simao, Ding and Davies, with Davies eventually finishing third for $3.47 million.

That left Simao heads-up against Ding, setting up a battle between two Triton champions with a $7.25 million first prize waiting for the winner. Simao started with 66 big blinds against Ding’s 38.

The two players briefly discussed a potential deal, but no agreement was reached.

They played on.

Ding initially took control, picking off a bluff from Simao and later building a substantial lead. At one point, Ding held a 71-to-15 big blind advantage, putting Simao in serious danger.

But the tournament was not finished.

Joao Simao Wins $200,000 Triton Invitational in Jeju

Two all-ins then went Simao’s way without producing an elimination. The first ended in a split pot, while the second also resulted in a chop after Simao held the better ace.

Instead of fading away, Simao came back with another surge.

After the next tournament break, he won several of the most important pots of the match. He flopped trip eights with queen-eight to take a key pot, then picked up pocket kings at exactly the right moment.

Ding had top pair with ten-nine on a nine-five-five flop, and Simao managed to extract the rest of his opponent’s stack. This time, there was no chop to save Ding.

The Chinese No. 1 finished runner-up for $4.94 million, while Simao secured the biggest win of his career and his second Triton title. For a player who had nearly been out earlier in the tournament, the timing could hardly have been better.

Photos, quotes, and information courtesy of Triton Poker Series.

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