Joao Simao won a record $7.25 million at the Triton Invitational 2026

Brazilian Joao Simao achieved a historic victory at the Triton Invitational 2026, winning a record $7.25 million after a comeback from 2 BB.

The second stage of the prestigious Triton Super High Roller Series Jeju II 2026 witnessed a historic event. The Main Event with a $200,000 buy-in — the Triton Invitational — broke all records for number of entries and prize pool, attracting 173 entries and forming a prize pool of $34,600,000. After three intense days of play, Joao Simao from Brazil emerged victorious, not only claiming his second Triton title but also winning $7,250,000 — the largest prize in the history of Brazilian tournament poker. Tournament Context: Triton Invitational and Its Features The Triton Invitational is the flagship event of the Triton Poker series, traditionally attracting the world’s top professionals and wealthiest amateurs. The $200,000 buy-in makes this tournament one of the most expensive in the world, and the Super High Roller format guarantees the highest level of competition. In 2026, the tournament was held at LES A Casino in Jeju, South Korea, and set records for both number of participants and total prize pool. The tournament featured 173 players, creating a prize pool of $34,600,000. This event became a true magnet for the global poker elite, and the final table brought together representatives from eight different countries, highlighting the international status of the Triton series. Joao Simao’s Road to Victory: From Two Big Blinds to Champion Joao Simao’s path to the title was full of dramatic moments. On Day 2 of the tournament, shortly after making the money, he was on the verge of elimination, left with just two big blinds. However, the Brazilian pro didn’t give up and managed to rebuild his stack, bringing it up to 25 big blinds by the start of the final day. Simao recalled: “Of course, I didn’t think I would win. When you register for a tournament, you always hope to win, but after 20 years of playing, I know that first place is a rare thing. It’s an incredible feeling.” Throughout the third day, Simao gradually built his stack and eventually became the chip leader at the final table, knocking out Matthias Eibinger on the final table bubble. Eibinger finished 10th and received $635,000, while Simao started the final table with the biggest stack. Key Hands and Final Table Dynamics The final table featured players from eight countries, making the battle especially intense and exciting. Simao took every opportunity to increase his advantage. One of the key moments was eliminating Winfred Yu — one of the founders of Triton Poker — in 6th place. After that, Simao held about half of all chips in play. Soon after, Simao knocked out Yang Wang in 4th place, while Biao Ding from China eliminated Seth Davies in 3rd place. Notably, Davies became the first player to reach the Triton Invitational final table three times. In heads-up, Simao started with about a two-to-one chip lead and quickly increased it to four-to-one. However, a series of unsuccessful bluffs allowed Ding to turn the tide, and Simao found himself at risk of elimination when his ace-four (A-4) faced Ding’s ace-jack (A-J). Nevertheless, the board split the pot, and Simao stayed in the game. The turning point was Simao’s successful hero call with queen-high (Q-high), after which he regained the lead and never looked back. In the decisive hand, Ding was all-in with top pair against Simao’s overpair on the turn, and the river didn’t change the outcome. Thus, Simao became the champion, taking home the trophy and a record prize. After his victory, Simao said: “I think we both played very well, but I managed to adjust, change my strategy, and of course, I was lucky to become the champion.” Their duel lasted about two and a half hours and was a true highlight of the tournament. Final Table Results of Triton Invitational Jeju II 2026 Below are the official final table results, including player names, countries, and prize amounts: Place Player Country Prize 1 Joao Simao Brazil $7,250,000 2 Biao Ding China $4,940,000 3 Seth Davies USA Not specified 4 Yang Wang Not specified Not specified 5 Not specified Not specified Not specified 6 Winfred Yu Not specified Not specified 7 Not specified Not specified Not specified 8 Not specified Not specified Not specified 9 Not specified Not specified Not specified 10 Matthias Eibinger Not specified $635,000 14 Adrian Mateos Not specified $512,000 Please note that not all prize amounts and player names at the final table were specified in the original source. However, the key participants and top prize amounts are listed in full. Joao Simao: Achievements and Playing Style This victory was Joao Simao’s second in the Triton series. His previous success was in the $150,000 event at WSOP Paradise, where Brazilians took all top three spots. This time, the final table was international, which made the win even more significant. Simao is known not only as a No Limit Hold’em specialist but also as one of the strongest Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) players. In particular, he recently won the $50,000 PLO event at the WSOP, earning $1,368,700. Simao himself notes that his passion for different poker variants changes over time: “Honestly, I’ve always wavered between loving PLO and Hold’em. For the last 15 months, I was completely focused on Hold’em and barely played Omaha. But after a big win in the $50K PLO at the Super High Roller Series, my passion for Omaha returned. Now, after this victory, I want to play more Hold’em again.” Despite this life-changing win, after the tournament Simao admitted that what he wanted most was to see his family: “I want to enjoy every moment and see my loved ones. I’ve been here for 12 days and miss them very much. At times like this, you especially want to be close to your family. More than anything, I want to go home and celebrate with them.” Other Notable Participants and Tournament Records Many well-known players took part in the tournament. For example, last year’s Triton Invitational champion Adrian Mateos finished 14th and received $512,000, but was eliminated fairly quickly on Day 3. Seth Davies achieved a unique milestone by becoming the first player to reach the Triton Invitational final table three times. Other finalists and prize winners included Emilien Pitavy, Eric Tsai, Hannes Jeschka, Thomas Boivin, and others whose names were mentioned in Triton’s official materials. The Significance of the Record-Breaking Triton Invitational for the Poker World The Triton Invitational Jeju II 2026 became the largest in the series’ history in terms of both prize pool and number of participants. Joao Simao’s victory brought him not only a record win for Brazil but also cemented his status as one of the strongest tournament players of today. The showdown with Biao Ding, who also earned his biggest prize ($4,940,000), was the highlight of the final day and a showcase of top-level play. The scale of the event, the diversity of participants, and the dramatic final table made this tournament one of the most notable poker events of the year. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players For PPPoker club members, this news offers several practical lessons. First, Joao Simao’s story is a clear example that even with a minimal stack (two big blinds), it’s possible to come back and win a tournament. It’s a great demonstration of the importance of discipline, maintaining focus, and making the most of every chance to survive. Second, the dynamics of the Triton Invitational final table show how crucial it is to adapt your strategy and stay mentally strong. Simao not only managed to adjust after unsuccessful bluffs but also made a key hero call that changed the course of the heads-up. For PPPoker club players, this is a reason to focus on developing decision-making skills under pressure and working on mental resilience. Finally, the success of players with different styles and experience proves that there’s always room for new records and achievements in poker. Taking part in PPPoker club tournaments is a great way to improve your skills, learn from the best, and maybe one day find yourself at the final table of a major international series.