Triton’s Heart And Soul: Paul Phua Dedicated $150K Triton 10th Anniversary Win To Ivan Leow

The Triton Poker Super High Roller Series Jeju 2026 in Les A Casino reached a significant milestone as tour co-founder Paul Phua  secured the title in the $150,000 Triton 10th Anniversary Special . Phua outlasted a field of 81 entries to claim a $3,226,000 first-place prize. The victory occurred on the 10th Anniversary of the tour he helped establish in 2016.

Paul Phua Wins $150K Triton 10th Anniversary Special

It was nearly 2 a.m. at Les A Casino, but the room felt more alive than it had all day. As Phua closed in on the title, the neighboring tables went quiet; dealers, floor staff, and players drifted toward the rail to see the boss finish what he started ten years ago. Phua has been the constant thread in the Triton fabric since its 2016 inception, present for every logistical meeting and every high-stakes battle.

I’m a bit lost for words. We have a great team, and many great supporters. Many of them are not professional tournament players. They keep coming back. I just want to thank you all.

The win held personal significance for Phua, who dedicated the performance to the late Ivan Leow , a fellow Triton co-founder. During the final table, Phua’s Triton Tempo clock notably sat at 2:22, a number frequently associated with Leow. Phua noted the symmetry of the moment while accepting the special anniversary trophy, marking his first Triton title since his 2022 win in Madrid.

I also want to thank Ivan, who is upstairs. Ivan was one of our founding players, thank you Ivan.

Final Table Highlights

The final table of the $150K Triton 10th Anniversary Special featured a high-caliber lineup, with Brandon Wilson entering as the chip leader at 69 big blinds. The early action saw reigning Player of the Year Artur Martirosyan exit in ninth place for $340,000 after his queen-jack failed to catch Wilson’s ace-ten.

Phua began his ascent shortly after, eliminating Klemens Roiter in eighth place for $450,000 when his pocket aces held against Roiter’s ace-king.

For me, I came in near the bottom of the chip count so it was quite easy for me to play, just wait for hands. The turning point was when I had aces and Klemens Roiter had ace-king on the big blind and I doubled up. From then on the cards just ran my way.

Phua continued his run by knocking out Aleks Ponakovs in seventh place for $577,000, his ace-three staying ahead of Ponakovs’ queen-jack. The middle stages of the final table saw the departure of two five-time Triton champions in quick succession. Mikita Badziakouski fell in sixth place for $729,000 when his king-jack could not overcome the pocket nines of Elton Tsang . Triton Ambassador Daniel “Danny” Tang followed in fifth place for $936,000, losing a crucial race with ace-king against Wilson’s pocket sixes. Johannes Straver then secured the first seven-figure payout of the event, finishing fourth for $1,161,000 after Wilson turned a straight against his king-ten.

The Nut Flush vs. The Second Nut Flush

The tournament reached a turning point during three-handed play in a massive flush-over-flush confrontation between the two Asian superstars. Both Phua and Tsang turned high flush draws, but Phua’s ace-high flush took the entire pot on the river. Tsang exited in third place for $1,482,000, marking his second consecutive third place finish in Jeju.

The Boss’s Intuition: A Hero Call and Pocket Queens

This set up a heads-up battle with Wilson holding a nearly 2:1 chip lead. However, Phua regained the advantage after a decisive hero call with ace-high against a Wilson bluff. In the final hand, Phua’s pocket queens held firm against Wilson’s ace-eight, securing the $3,226,000 top prize. Wilson earned $2,241,000 for his second runner-up finish of the series.

From the first planning meeting in 2016 to the winner’s circle in 2026, the circle is finally complete for the heart and soul of Triton Poker.

#12 Triton - NLH - 10th Anniversary Special - USD 150,000 ($157,500)

Total Prize

$12,150,000

Entries

81

ITM

13

#	Payout	Player	SPI
1	$3,226,000	PP Paul Phua Malaysia	4,781.96
2	$2,241,000	BW Brandon Wilson United States of America	3,381.36
3	$1,482,000	ET Elton Tsang Hong Kong	2,760.87
4	$1,161,000	JS Johannes Straver Netherlands	2,390.98
5	$936,000	DT Daniel Tang Hong Kong	2,138.56
6	$729,000	MB Mikita Badziakouski Belarus	1,952.23
7	$577,000	AP Aleks Ponakovs Latvia	1,807.41
8	$450,000	KR Klemens Roiter Austria	1,690.68
9	$340,000	AM Artur Martirosyan Russia	1,593.99

Check the 13 Payouts & Results ...

Upcoming Schedule: Triton Super High Roller Series Jeju

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.