Stephen Chidwick narrows the gap with Kenny in the prize money rankings after his victory at Triton

Stephen Chidwick won the Triton Poker tournament in Jeju and became the second player in history to earn over $70 million in prize money. His success intensified the battle for the top spot in the global poker earnings ranking.

During the latest stage of the prestigious Triton Poker Super High Roller Series on Jeju Island, Stephen Chidwick once again confirmed his status as one of the strongest tournament players of our time. The Englishman not only won the $200,000 Short Deck event, but also became the second player in history to surpass $70,000,000 in career winnings. His success became the main highlight of the series and further intensified the intrigue in the race for the top spot on the all-time poker earnings leaderboard. Biggest Winnings in History: Chidwick Closes the Gap on Kenney After his victory in the Short Deck event, Chidwick increased his total winnings to $71,700,000, closing in on the long-standing leader of the rankings — Bryn Kenney, who holds first place with $78,400,000. Now, there are only two players in the elite “$70 Million Club”: Kenney and Chidwick. Although the gap between them remains significant, Chidwick is steadily closing the distance, especially given the packed schedule of high-stakes tournaments in Jeju, where both top players continue to compete. It’s worth noting that all three of Chidwick’s Triton titles have come in the Short Deck format — a poker variant where cards from two to five are removed from the deck, making the game more dynamic and increasing variance. For Chidwick, this format has truly become “golden.” Top 10 All-Time Poker Tournament Earners Here is the current top 10 ranking of players by total live tournament winnings (All Time Money List), reflecting not only success at Triton but also at other major series worldwide: 1. Bryn Kenney — $78,400,000 2. Stephen Chidwick — $71,700,000 3. Jason Koon 4. Mikita Badziakouski 5. Justin Bonomo 6. [names and amounts not specified in the source] 7. [names and amounts not specified in the source] 8. [names and amounts not specified in the source] 9. [names and amounts not specified in the source] 10. [names and amounts not specified in the source] The top three are Bryn Kenney, Stephen Chidwick, and Jason Koon. All three dominate not only the global rankings but also the Triton Poker leaderboard, which is considered the main benchmark for high rollers. The Battle for the Top: Kenney, Chidwick, and Koon Chidwick’s second place in the global rankings doesn’t prevent him from holding third place on the prestigious Triton Poker list. Jason Koon, who has twelve Triton titles, is currently second in this ranking, and third in total live earnings. In 2025, Koon already won a stage of the Triton Super High Roller Series in Montenegro and claimed his second WSOP bracelet, allowing him to surpass Justin Bonomo and enter the world top three. Nevertheless, Kenney’s lead on Triton remains impressive — his closest pursuers trail by nearly $15,000,000. Kenney himself continues to extend his advantage: this summer, he added over $2,400,000 to his winnings at the WSOP, finishing second in the $50,000 Poker Players Championship and fourth in the $250,000 Super High Roller. Already this week in Jeju, he secured his 20th ITM finish at Triton, taking 10th place in the $25,000 WPT Global Slam and earning $130,000. Such consistency from Kenney highlights just how difficult it will be for Chidwick and Koon to catch up with him in the near future, despite their successes. Chidwick’s Triumph in Detail: Victory from Start to Finish The $200,000 Short Deck event was added to the Jeju II Super High Roller Series schedule at the request of players and attracted 61 entries, creating a prize pool of $12,200,000. Chidwick started the final table as a confident chip leader and never gave up the initiative until his victory. Such a “wire-to-wire” triumph is rare even among high rollers. This win became the largest first-place prize of Chidwick’s career — $3,455,000. He has only won more for his fourth-place finish in the Triton Million for Charity in 2019, where his prize was $5,368,947. Kiat Lee from Malaysia finished second, earning $2,465,000 — his best result to date. Third place went to Rene Van Krevelen from the Netherlands, who took home $1,591,000 — also a personal record. Final Table Results — Triton Super High Roller Series Jeju II $200K Short Deck PLPF 1. Stephen Chidwick — $3,455,000 2. Kiat Lee — $2,465,000 3. Rene Van Krevelen — $1,591,000 4. [name and amount not specified in the source] 5. [name and amount not specified in the source] 6. [name and amount not specified in the source] 7. [name and amount not specified in the source] 8. [name and amount not specified in the source] The tournament became one of the most talked-about events of the series, and Chidwick’s success once again demonstrated his ability to dominate the toughest fields and the most high-variance formats. Short Deck Format and Tournament Features in Brief Short Deck (or 6+ Hold’em) is a variant of No Limit Hold’em where cards from two to five are removed from the deck, leaving only 36 cards. This increases the likelihood of strong hands and makes the game more aggressive and dynamic. This format is especially popular among high rollers, as it requires not only technical skill but also the ability to quickly adapt to changing table dynamics. Triton Poker tournaments are traditionally known for their high buy-ins, large prize pools, and the strongest player fields from around the world. Winning such a tournament is a sign of the highest level of skill and mental resilience. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players This news is a great reason to think about your own poker development. First, Chidwick’s success in Short Deck shows that mastering new formats can become your competitive edge. PPPoker clubs regularly host 6+ Hold’em tournaments — try your hand at this format to expand your poker arsenal and increase your chances of success. Second, Chidwick’s story is an example of how consistent participation in prestigious series and steady play against the toughest opponents not only increases your winnings but also takes your understanding of the game to a new level. Use the opportunities in PPPoker clubs for regular practice in different lineups and formats — this is the key to growing your skills. Finally, follow the successes of top players and analyze their style: even if you don’t play at such high stakes, many strategic approaches and decisions are applicable in your club’s online tournaments. Learn from the best and don’t be afraid to experiment — that’s how the path to big victories is built.