5 standout performances at Triton Jeju II: why we love poker

The second Triton Poker series in Jeju amazed with spectacular hands and outstanding results. Here are the top five performances of the tournament.

The second stop of the prestigious Triton Poker Super High Roller Series 2024 on Jeju Island, South Korea, has already provided the poker community with plenty of spectacular moments. Over the first two weeks of tournaments at Landing Casino, players from around the globe have demonstrated exceptional skill, with several performances serving as a reminder of why poker continues to inspire and captivate millions. In this article, we take a detailed look at five of the most impressive results that have shaped the course of Triton Jeju II and set the tone for the entire series. Doyle Kwan Fu Lee: Triumphant Debut and the Launch of Triton ONE The name Doyle has long been intertwined with poker history, and this time fortune favored Hong Kong’s Doyle Kwan Fu Lee. He became the inaugural champion of the new Triton ONE tournament format, taking down the debut event of the series — the $5,000 One Night NLH on Jeju Island. For reference: Triton ONE is a brand-new tournament format in the Triton series, designed for players who prefer single-day events with relatively affordable buy-ins and a fast-paced structure. Many well-known regulars from the Super High Roller Series took part in the tournament, which only added to the significance of Lee’s victory. In the final heads-up, Doyle Kwan Fu Lee faced one of Russia’s most prominent professionals — Anatoly Filatov . The win earned Lee not only the honor of being the first Triton ONE champion, but also a prize of $67,000 . Among the other finalists, three-time Triton champion Webster Lim deserves mention, finishing fourth and cashing for the first time in a Triton ONE event. However, the evening clearly belonged to Lee, who opened a new chapter in Triton Poker history. Rising Star [Removed:608]: The New Generation’s Class Austrian player [Removed:608] , a graduate of the renowned Pokercode Grindhouse school, continues to prove himself as one of the brightest young stars in the poker world. At Triton ONE in Jeju, he confidently won the $2,000 Bounty Quattro event, adding another title to his collection and boosting his winnings by $72,000 . The Bounty Quattro format allocates part of the prize pool for knocking out opponents. In this tournament, [Removed:608] managed to score eight knockouts , earning an additional $18,000 in bounties. He took home a total of $72,000 from this event, and his Hendon Mob profile continues to grow rapidly. Such a performance did not go unnoticed among professionals and fans: at just 27 years old, [Removed:608] has already showcased his high-level play several times on the world’s biggest stages this year. James Mendoza: Debut and Victory Against the Elite Another standout at Triton Jeju II was James Mendoza — a professional from the Philippines now residing in California. His Triton Poker Series debut began with mid-stakes Triton ONE events, where he managed to cash in the Main Event. After that, Mendoza decided to stay on Jeju and take a shot at the marquee Super High Roller tournaments. This decision proved pivotal: in the $25,000 WPT Global Slam , James Mendoza emerged victorious, earning an impressive $1,515,000 . For context, prior to this, his total live tournament winnings were just under $3 million. The final table of this event brought together the true elite of world poker, including stars like Alex Foxen and Punnat Punsri . Despite the fierce competition, Mendoza displayed composure and tactical flexibility, allowing him to claim his first Super High Roller Series title right on his debut. Jun Obara: Record Bounty Haul and a Historic Win Japanese player Jun Obara created a real sensation at Triton Jeju II. In the $40,000 Mystery Bounty event, he not only became the first Japanese player to win a Super High Roller Series title, but also set a record for the number of bounties collected — 17 envelopes ! The Mystery Bounty format means that for each player you eliminate, you receive an envelope with a cash prize, the amount of which is unknown in advance. As the organizers noted, Obara “collected more envelopes than a postman,” becoming the star of the final table by knocking out every one of his opponents. For his victory, he received $699,000 in prize money, while his bounty haul brought in another $1,040,000 . At one point, his stack exceeded 100 big blinds — a sign of absolute dominance at such a tough final table. This performance not only entered the history books of Triton Jeju II, but also stands as one of the most memorable achievements in the tour’s history. Stephen Chidwick: Surpassing $70 Million and a Third Triton Title British pro Stephen Chidwick once again confirmed his status as one of the game’s greatest. At Triton Jeju II, he became only the second player in poker history to surpass $70 million in live tournament earnings. This milestone was achieved thanks to his victory in the $200,000 Short Deck — a format where only cards from six to ace are used, making the game more dynamic and aggressive. All three of Chidwick’s Triton titles have come in this discipline. At the final table, he delivered a flawless performance, never relinquishing the chip lead at any stage. For first place, Chidwick received $3,455,000 , and his total live tournament earnings now exceed $70 million — a feat achieved by only a select few. Prize Money and Results Table Doyle Kwan Fu Lee — $5,000 One Night NLH: 1st place, $67,000 [Removed:608] — $2,000 Bounty Quattro: 1st place, $72,000 (including $18,000 in bounties, 8 knockouts) James Mendoza — $25,000 WPT Global Slam: 1st place, $1,515,000 Jun Obara — $40,000 Mystery Bounty: 1st place, $699,000 + $1,040,000 in bounties (17 envelopes) Stephen Chidwick — $200,000 Short Deck: 1st place, $3,455,000 (third Triton title, total live earnings surpassed $70,000,000) Webster Lim — $5,000 One Night NLH: 4th place, first ITM in Triton ONE Anatoly Filatov — $5,000 One Night NLH: 2nd place Finalists of $25,000 WPT Global Slam: Alex Foxen , Punnat Punsri (exact places and payouts not specified) Context: The Triton Poker Series and Landing Casino The Triton Poker Super High Roller Series is one of the world’s most prestigious high-stakes poker series, bringing together the best players from around the globe each year. The second leg of the 2024 season is being held at Landing Casino on Jeju Island, South Korea. Here, both innovative formats like Triton ONE and classic Super High Roller Series events with buy-ins ranging from $5,000 to $200,000 are on the schedule. Playing in Triton Poker is not just about competing for massive prize pools, but also about testing your skills against the world’s elite and measuring yourself against the most experienced and renowned opponents. For many players, making the money or winning at Triton is the pinnacle of their career. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, these stories are a great source of inspiration and practical lessons. First, Triton Poker clearly shows that even in the most prestigious series, a newcomer or lesser-known player can achieve outstanding results. The examples of James Mendoza and Doyle Kwan Fu Lee prove that with the right preparation and strategy, the path to final tables is open to everyone. Second, the tournament formats featured at Triton (One Night NLH, Bounty Quattro, Mystery Bounty, Short Deck) are rapidly gaining popularity in online clubs as well. By mastering these disciplines on PPPoker, you not only expand your skill set, but also prepare yourself for live series where such formats are becoming the standard. Finally, by analyzing the play of top professionals, you can adopt many tactical techniques: aggressive stack building, smart bounty strategy, and adapting to different tournament structures. Follow the Triton results, study the moves of the leaders — and apply the best strategies in your own games on PPPoker.