Dan Dvoress topped the Triton Season 5 leaderboard after his triumph in Montenegro

Dan Dvoress became the leader of the Triton Season 5 Player of the Year race thanks to an impressive performance at the Montenegro stop. Learn about the key events of the series and the changes in the rankings.

The latest stage of the prestigious Triton Poker Series has concluded in Montenegro, where over $100,000,000 in prize money was awarded over several action-packed days. The festival became one of the season’s brightest events, gathering the world’s best players and significantly impacting the points race for the Triton Player of the Year (Ivan Leow Player of the Year Award) in Season 5. Leaders of the Triton Season 5 Player of the Year Race The Triton Poker Series traditionally attracts the poker community’s attention thanks to its high buy-ins, large prize pools, and the participation of top professionals. In the fifth season, the Player of the Year title, named after Ivan Leow, is awarded to the most consistent and successful participant of the series. After the Montenegro stop, the tournament leaderboard saw significant changes. In total, 35 players at the festival received payouts of $1,000,000 or more, and 16 participants claimed championship titles. The main intrigue remains the battle for the overall lead, where, after the Montenegro stage, Daniel Dvoress confidently took the top spot. Daniel Dvoress: Triumph in Montenegro and Leader in the Rankings Canadian pro Daniel Dvoress was the main star of the stage, claiming three victories and cashing in two other tournaments. His result—1,741 points—put him in first place in the Triton Player of the Year race, overtaking Isaac Haxton. Dvoress started the series with a win in the Golden Decade Opener, then completed the so-called Triton Trident—winning titles in three different disciplines: No-Limit Hold'em, Pot-Limit Omaha, and Short Deck. Midway through the series, he became the PLO Main Event champion with a $100,000 buy-in, and finished his run with a victory in the final event on the schedule—the $25,000 PLO Turbo Bounty Quattro, earning $367,500. Currently, he leads Isaac Haxton by 664 points. For comparison, last season the gap between winner Artur Martirosyan and runner-up Alex Foxen was 700 points. Although Dvoress’s advantage looks significant, it does not yet guarantee overall victory—his rivals will need equally outstanding performances to catch up, especially since the season is not over and Dvoress could further extend his lead. Mike Watson: Two Titles and a Return to the Top 10 The Montenegro stage was also extremely successful for Mike Watson. He reached six final tables and won two titles, bringing his total Triton titles to seven. This puts him level with Matthias Eibinger, who also added a title to his collection in Montenegro. Only Jason Koon is ahead in number of wins, with 12 Triton titles. Eibinger was one of five players from the current top of the Player of the Year rankings to win a tournament at the Montenegro stage. Along with him and Watson, these were Daniel Dvoress, Danny Tang (winner of the $100,000 NLHE Main Event), and Aleksejs Ponakovs (champion of the $150,000 10th Anniversary Special). Successes of Other Ranking Leaders Ben Tollerene, confidently positioned in the middle of the top 10, also had a chance to significantly improve his standing. Although he did not win his fifth Triton title, he showed consistent play and set a stage record for most cashes—eight times. His best result was fifth place in the $30,000 NLHE/PLO event for $127,000, and his largest payout was $238,000 for 14th place in the $100,000 NLHE Main Event. Jason Koon and Punnat Punsri, also in the top 10, cashed seven times each at the Montenegro stage, and both reached six final tables, confirming their consistency throughout the season. Full Results of Triton Montenegro 2026 The festival, held at Maestral Resort & Casino, set records for both prize pool size and number of millionaires. Below are the main results and achievements of players who influenced the distribution of points in the Triton Player of the Year race: Daniel Dvoress — three titles (NLHE, PLO, Short Deck), winner of the $100,000 PLO Main Event, winner of the $25,000 PLO Turbo Bounty Quattro ($367,500), total of 1,741 points. Isaac Haxton — two final tables from three cashes. Mike Watson — six final tables, two wins, total of seven Triton titles. Matthias Eibinger — added a title, now also has seven Triton wins. Danny Tang — winner of the $100,000 NLHE Main Event. Aleksejs Ponakovs — winner of the $150,000 10th Anniversary Special. Ben Tollerene — eight cashes, fifth place in the $30,000 NLHE/PLO ($127,000), 14th place in the $100,000 NLHE Main Event ($238,000). Jason Koon — seven cashes, six final tables, leader in Triton titles (12). Punnat Punsri — seven cashes, six final tables. In total, 35 players at the stage received payouts of $1,000,000 or more, and 16 different players became champions. Explanation of Formats and Terms No-Limit Hold'em (NLHE) — the most popular form of poker, where there is no limit on bet size. Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO) — a type of poker where players receive four cards and the maximum bet is limited to the size of the pot. Short Deck — poker with a short deck (36 cards instead of 52), where twos, threes, fours, and fives are removed, increasing the game’s dynamics. Turbo Bounty — a tournament with a fast structure and additional rewards (bounties) for knocking out opponents. Main Event — the main event of the series, with the largest buy-in and prize pool. Final Table — the final table, where the best players of the tournament compete for the biggest prizes. Cash — making it into the money, meaning the player receives a cash prize for their result. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players The results of the Triton Montenegro 2026 stage show that even among the world’s elite, success comes from versatility and the ability to play different formats. Daniel Dvoress became the ranking leader thanks to victories in three disciplines, while Mike Watson and other top players demonstrate consistent results in NLHE, PLO, and Short Deck alike. For PPPoker club members, this is a great example: develop your skills in different types of poker, don’t limit yourself to just Hold’em. PPPoker clubs regularly host tournaments in PLO, Short Deck, and other formats—participating in them will help expand your arsenal and increase your chances of success in major series and club leagues. Moreover, consistency and frequent cashes, like those of Ben Tollerene, Jason Koon, and Punnat Punsri, are more important than a single lucky win. Strive for regular final table appearances and analyze your performances—this will help you gain experience and confidently move toward your own poker achievements, regardless of your opponents’ level.