Nacho Barbero defeated Phil Ivey and won the Triton title in Jeju

Argentinian Nacho Barbero defeated Phil Ivey in the final and claimed his fourth title in the Triton series, winning the $30,000 PLO/NLH tournament in Jeju.

Nacho Barbero defeats Phil Ivey and claims his fourth Triton title Barbero wins $30,000 PLO/NLH at Triton Super High Roller Series Jeju II Argentinian poker pro Nacho Barbero secured his fourth Triton title by winning the $30,000 PLO/NLH event at the prestigious Triton Super High Roller Series Jeju II . In the final heads-up, Barbero faced the legendary Phil Ivey, WPT Global ambassador, and emerged victorious, earning $646,000 . This tournament was a new addition to the Triton Jeju schedule and immediately attracted many of the poker world’s stars. The final table featured players with a combined total of nearly $80 million in live tournament winnings. For Barbero, this success marked a new chapter in his career, as just a week earlier he had told PokerNews about his new ambassadorship with WPT Global, calling it “a new beginning.” In the decisive duel against Ivey, Barbero started with a four-to-one chip lead and closed out the heads-up in just three hands. This allowed him to join Fedor Holz and Matthias Eibinger on the list of four-time champions of the most prestigious poker series. The road to victory: how the final table unfolded The final table was marked by a high level of competition. In addition to Phil Ivey, well-known pros like Daniel Dvoress and Dylan Linde were also in contention. Despite tough opposition, Barbero managed to turn the game in his favor at the last two tables. An interesting episode occurred before this surge. Barbero admitted he was running bad and decided to seek support from his friend and Triton champion Dan Colman. He asked him for a photo of his dog, which, according to Barbero, brings him luck. After receiving the picture, Nacho noted that his game improved dramatically, which he humorously commented on in his post-victory interview. The final heads-up with Ivey was swift. Thanks to his large stack, Barbero put constant pressure on his opponent, leaving Ivey with little room to maneuver. Despite his experience and status as an 11-time WSOP bracelet winner, Ivey couldn’t turn the tide and finished in second place. Key hand analysis: “Dream flop” for Barbero In the tournament’s final hand, played in PLO (Pot-Limit Omaha) format, Phil Ivey opened the action with a raise to 600,000 from his stack of 1,900,000, holding A♠K♠K♦10♦ . Barbero, with a much bigger stack of 13,400,000, called with 10♥7♦6♣6♦ . The flop came 3♥5♥4♦ , immediately giving Barbero the nut (best possible) straight and a huge advantage. He checked, and Ivey checked back. The turn brought the J♦ , giving Ivey a flush draw to go with his overpair, while Barbero also picked up a flush draw. Nacho bet 600,000, building the pot to 2 million, and put Ivey to a tough decision—almost a third of his stack was at risk. After a brief pause, Ivey went all-in for his remaining 1,850,000. Barbero instantly called, being a clear favorite. Ivey needed one of the remaining diamonds to survive, but the river was the 5♠ , which didn’t improve his hand. Thus, Barbero sealed the win and became the first champion of the new $30k PLO/NLH event at the Triton Super High Roller Series Jeju II. Final table results of Triton Super High Roller Series Jeju II $30K PLO/NLH 1st place: Nacho Barbero — $646,000 2nd place: Phil Ivey — $460,000 3rd place: Daniel Dvoress — $303,000 4th place: Dylan Linde — $238,000 5th place: Elton Tsang — $188,000 6th place: Isaac Haxton — $146,000 7th place: Stephen Chidwick — $113,000 “A new beginning” for Barbero and WPT Global After his victory in Jeju, Nacho Barbero shared his thoughts on working with WPT Global. He said he was happy to become an ambassador for the online platform and believes the WPT Global team is doing a great job organizing quality cash games and tournaments. Barbero emphasized that the project is developing rapidly and is becoming increasingly prominent on the world stage. He also praised the organization of the Triton series tournaments, calling them the best of his career. According to him, Triton stands out for its high level of service: quality food, comfortable chairs, excellent treatment of VIP guests, and an overall first-class atmosphere. Winning the debut $30k PLO/NLH event was the perfect start to Barbero’s new role as a WPT Global ambassador. Context: The Triton Super High Roller Series and its significance The Triton Super High Roller series is one of the most prestigious live poker events in the world, bringing together the elite of the game and the largest prize pools. The series regularly introduces new formats, as it did with the $30,000 PLO/NLH event in Jeju. Participating in such tournaments is a mark of high status for a player, and winning them significantly boosts one’s global ranking. For Phil Ivey, this final was another attempt to claim his sixth Triton title. His last win in the series was in 2023, when he took down an event in London. However, this time the triumph went to Barbero, who now joins the elite club of four-time Triton champions alongside Fedor Holz and Matthias Eibinger. What this means for PPPoker club players This news can serve as a great source of inspiration for PPPoker club members. Nacho Barbero’s example shows that even at the highest stakes, not only technical skills matter, but also mental resilience and the ability to find support and motivation in unexpected things—be it a photo of a dog or encouragement from friends. The PLO/NLH tournament format, which debuted at Triton, may interest club players, as it combines elements of two popular disciplines—Pot-Limit Omaha and No-Limit Hold’em. It’s a great reason to try new formats in club games, broaden your poker horizons, and prepare for tougher tournaments. Moreover, Barbero’s success as a WPT Global ambassador highlights the importance of choosing the right platform for play and participating in communities that offer quality tournaments and cash games. For PPPoker players, this is a signal to make the most of club events and keep an eye on new formats appearing at major series, which can also be implemented in club settings.