James Mendoza wins $1.5 million at the WPT Global Slam in Jeju

American James Mendoza claimed victory at the WPT Global Slam during the Triton Super High Roller Series Jeju II, earning a record $1,515,000.

The second part of the prestigious Triton Super High Roller Series Jeju II has kicked off on Jeju Island (South Korea), running from September 9 to 23. The opening event was the $25,000 WPT Global Slam tournament, which attracted 199 participants and created a prize pool of $7,775,000. The winner of this tournament was American James Mendoza, for whom this result was not only his second cash in a Triton event but also the biggest win of his career — $1,515,000. How the Final Table Unfolded: Dramatic Endings and Key Hands The final table of the WPT Global Slam was packed with unexpected twists and big hands. The chip leader going into the final day was Alex Foxen, one of the most successful players in the Triton series, who had twice outplayed opponents with pocket kings the day before and confidently made it to the final. However, luck turned away from Foxen right at the start of the final day. In one of the first hands, his Ace-King ran into the pocket aces (Pocket Rockets) of Frenchman Emilien Pitavy, who, despite having a short stack, managed to double up thanks to this cooler. This seriously complicated Foxen’s position and marked the beginning of his unlucky run at the final table. The drama for Foxen didn’t end there. When only three players remained, he went all-in with Ace-Jack against James Mendoza’s King-Six. An ace came on the flop, giving Foxen a great chance to double up, but a seven on the turn gave his opponent a straight draw, and a four on the river completed Mendoza’s straight. As a result, Foxen finished the tournament in third place, earning $721,600. The Road to Victory: Mendoza and Key Rivals James Mendoza, who took down the tournament, managed to capitalize on several key opportunities at the final table. In heads-up play, he faced China’s Xue Song, who also played excellently and finished second for $962,000. In one of the decisive hands of heads-up, Mendoza’s Ace-Eight went up against Xue Song’s Queens. Mendoza hit an ace on the flop and another on the river, which secured his lead and sealed the victory. The final table also featured well-known players such as Emilien Pitavy from France, who finished fourth and took home $584,000, Russian Viacheslav Goryachev, who finished fifth and added $460,000 to his bankroll, and Thailand’s Punnat Punsri, who finished ninth ($155,000). Notably, Punsri had earlier finished second in the Triton ONE Main Event this week, where he won $1,205,775. Tournament Table: Final Table Results of the $25,000 WPT Global Slam Place Player Country Prize 1 James Mendoza USA $1,515,000 2 Xue Song China $962,000 3 Alex Foxen USA $721,600 4 Emilien Pitavy France $584,000 5 Viacheslav Goryachev Russia $460,000 6 Dai Ming China $355,000 7 Yan Yingyao China $262,000 8 Ho Bao Qiang Singapore $200,000 9 Punnat Punsri Thailand $155,000 Notable Participants and Interesting Moments of the Tournament The $25,000 WPT Global Slam tournament brought together many famous players, each contributing to the event’s dynamic. Bryn Kenney’s performance deserves special mention — on Day 2, he was fighting to extend his lead on the all-time poker money list. However, his run ended in 10th place, earning him $130,000. Another notable participant was Michael Wang, who finished in 16th place. His tournament fate was decided in a classic “coinflip”: his Ace-Ten couldn’t beat Bryn Kenney’s pocket sixes. It’s also worth noting that the final table was broadcast live with commentary from well-known experts Randy Lew and Ali Nejad, allowing fans to follow every hand in real time. Series Context and Player Achievements The Triton Super High Roller Series Jeju II continues the tradition of hosting elite tournaments with large buy-ins that attract the world’s best players. Buy-ins for this series range from $25,000 to $150,000, making it one of the most prestigious and expensive in the poker world. Despite his misfortune in this tournament, Alex Foxen remains one of the most successful Triton players, with three titles and over $12.7 million in winnings from this series alone. His wife, Kristen Foxen, also had a successful run at Triton ONE, cashing in the $10,000 NLH Mystery Bounty event for $116,000. For many participants, the Triton series is not only a chance to compete with the best but also to significantly boost their bankroll and gain recognition in the global poker community. Poker Terms and Formats Featured in the Tournament Buy-in — the amount a player pays to enter a tournament. In this case, the buy-in was $25,000. Final table — the last stage of the tournament, when only the last 8-9 players remain to play for the top prizes. Cooler — a situation where a strong hand runs into an even stronger hand, almost inevitably resulting in a big loss of chips. Runner-runner — a combination made by hitting the needed cards on both the turn and river, as happened in the hand between Mendoza and Foxen. Heads-up — the final stage of the tournament, when only two players remain to play for the top prize. Coinflip — a situation where both players have roughly equal chances to win the hand, for example, a pair versus two overcards. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, news from the Triton Super High Roller Series Jeju II can be a great source of inspiration and practical lessons. First, the tournament clearly showed the importance of discipline and mental resilience: even experienced pros like Alex Foxen can face a streak of bad luck but continue to fight and show a high level of play. Second, analyzing hands from the final table, especially cooler situations and runner-runner combinations, can help PPPoker players better understand tournament poker dynamics and prepare for unexpected outcomes. Following such events and breaking down key moments is a valuable practice for developing your own strategy. Finally, participating in PPPoker club tournaments is a way to gradually build up your experience and bankroll, so that one day you can try your hand at major live events. The success stories of Triton players prove that the journey from online clubs to world finals is entirely possible for those who are willing to learn and improve.