Last January marked the 10th anniversary of the first Triton Poker tournament, which was won by German star Fedor Holz. The circuit has grown every year, and today its festivals attract hundreds of professional players and entrepreneurs with the bankroll to compete.
To celebrate this tenth anniversary, we’re looking back at how Triton Poker got its start, who makes up its team, its charitable initiatives, and which players hold the records for titles and winnings on the circuit.
🔱 10 Years of Triton Poker Series. Ready for 2026?
A decade at the highest level of high-stakes poker. The biggest stages, the toughest fields, the moments that define the game.
The next chapter begins. pic.twitter.com/ISddx4D9MU
— Triton Poker (@tritonpoker) December 12, 2025
The Triton Poker Story
The circuit was created in 2016 by three friends: Paul Phua, Richard Yong, and Ivan Leow. The trio wanted to establish a high-stakes tournament circuit, and the inaugural event took place that same year during the WPT National Philippines. It drew 56 entries who ponied up a $200K buy-in, resulting in a total of $10 million in prize money. The finalists included one of the founders (Paul Phua) as well as renowned players such as Phil Ivey, Mike McDonald, David Peters, and Steve O’Dwyer. The event was won by a young Fedor Holz, who took home $3 million for the victory.
In 2017, two new venues were added to what would eventually become the Triton “circuit”: Macau and Montenegro. In 2018, the Jeju venue in South Korea was added, and Short Deck tournaments were introduced alongside No Limit Hold’em. That year, Andy Wong became the CEO of Triton Poker, which was growing in popularity year by year. Among that year’s champions were Jason Koon, Phil Ivey, Mikita Bodyakovsky, David Peters, Nick Schulman, and one of the founders: Richard Yong.
In 2019, Triton Poker made history by hosting the Triton Million for Charity — the most expensive tournament ever, with a £1 million ($1.2M) buy-in — totaling £54 million ($65 million) in prize money across its 54 entries. From the prize pool, £2.7 million ($3.3M) was earmarked and donated to 15 charitable organizations. During heads-up play, the players reached an ICM deal, and Bryn Kenney secured the largest prize in poker history — £17 million ($20 million) — despite finishing in second place. The winner was Aaron Zhang, who collected £13.7 million ($16.7 million).
Continued Tour Growth Post-COVID
After a forced hiatus due to the pandemic, the circuit returned in 2022, introducing two new features that have since become staples: a “shot clock” at the tables and an innovative app for players and spectators. That year, an invitational tournament was held featuring a novel format for the circuit: amateur players and businesspeople paired up with professionals, playing separately on Day 1 before joining forces on Day 2. The inaugural event was won by Sam Grafton, who took home $5.5 million.
September 17, 2022, was a sad day for the Triton Poker family, as Ivan Leow — one of the circuit’s founders — passed away following a heart attack. The Ivan Leow Trophy was created in his honor, awarded to the player who tops the “Player of the Year” ranking each season.
From Paul & Richard,
It is with great sadness we announce that our dear friend, partner, supporter and founding Triton member, Ivan Leow, 41, passed away this morning of natural causes. pic.twitter.com/ZT0tPLfAPr
— Triton Poker (@tritonpoker) September 17, 2022
Another hallmark of Triton Poker became the high quality of its live streaming, featuring renowned commentators and players calling the action. Today, many people use tournament streams to learn from the best and study the game. In 2023, a Triton Poker tournament surpassed 100 unique players for the first time, and in 2024, events exceeded the 200 and 300 entry marks for the first time.
The Triton Million took place during the 2024 WSOP Paradise, drawing 96 entries at a $500K buy-in and awarding $48 million in prize money. Alejandro “Papo MC” Lococo won the event, securing $12 million, which he split with his partner Adrián Mateos and his investors.
Two more records were broken in 2025: the largest tournament in history with a six-figure buy-in ($100K), drawing 285 entries, and the largest-ever Triton Poker tournament, with 391 entries in a $15K event in Jeju. That year also saw the debut of Triton One, featuring lower buy-in tournaments designed to serve as a gateway to Triton Poker’s premium higher-buy-in events and attract new players.
A very special moment took place this March during the Jeju leg, which featured the Triton 10th Anniversary Special; the event was won by one of the founders, Paul Phua, who took home $3.2 million. Here is what an emotional Phua said after his victory: “I’m a bit lost for words. We have a great team, and many great supporters. Many of them are not professional tournament players. They keep coming back. I just want to thank you all.”
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The Triton Poker Team
Andy Wong came from the world of esports and became the CEO of Triton Poker in 2018. Jason Koon described him this way: “He has an incredible vision. He pays close attention to every detail and is responsible for so many of the things that make Triton such an extraordinary product and experience. He is an incredibly humble person who never seeks recognition, but, honestly, he more than deserves it.”
Paul Phua said of Andy: “The confidence Andy places in his vision, and his ability to inspire confidence in everyone around him, have made Triton a global benchmark for innovation and excellence in the poker world”. Richard Yong described it this way: “Andy’s vision and leadership have transformed Triton tournaments into a premier global event, creating an environment where players thrive through excellence and mutual respect. His unwavering dedication to innovation and professionalism has made every tournament truly special and inspiring.”
Another key figure at Triton Poker is Tournament Director Luca Vivaldi. He worked for years on PokerStars tournaments such as the European Poker Tour, and in 2024, he won the award for Best Tournament Director at the Global Poker Awards.
The Chief Operating Officer is Cathy Zhao, who joined the Triton Poker family to assist with its global expansion after a decade of working with the World Poker Tour. You can learn more about Cathy and her career in this interview we conducted with her a few months ago.
Triton Poker: The Most Successful Players
Just as Phil Hellmuth is the king of the WSOP and Darren Elias is the king of the WPT, Jason Koon reigns over Triton Poker with 12 titles. He won his first in 2018 and his latest in 2025. He came very close to winning another one this year, but finished second on two occasions. Unlike other players, Jason successfully plays Pot Limit Omaha and Short Deck in addition to No Limit Hold’em. He holds the record for the most cashes in Triton Poker history with 81 and ranks second in total earnings with $40.9 million.
These are the players with the most titles in the history of Triton Poker:
- Jason Koon: 12
- Daniel Dvoress: 7
- Mike Watson: 7
- Matthias Eibinger: 7
- Danny Tang: 6
- Punnat Punsri: 6
- Fedor Holz: 5
- Phil Ivey: 5
- Bryn Kenney: 5
- Artur Martirosyan: 5
- Mikita Badziakouski: 5
Highest-earning players in Triton Poker history:
- Bryn Kenney: $51.2M
- Jason Koon: $40.9M
- Stephen Chidwick: $34.8M
- Daniel Dvoress: $34.1M
- Mikita Badziakouski: $32.4M
- Danny Tang: $31.2M
- Punnat Punsri: $29.9M
- Aleks Ponakovs: $29.8M
- Paul Phua: $26.5M
- Dan Smith: $26M
Players with the most number of cashes in Triton Poker history:
- Jason Koon: 81
- Stephen Chidwick: 79
- Daniel Dvoress: 79
- Isaan Haxton: 77
- Danny Tang: 71
- Kiat Lee: 61
- Paul Phua: 60
- Mikita Badziakouski: 60
- Artur Martirosyan: 59
- Mike Watson: 54
Upcoming Triton Poker festivals
The Jeju leg is currently underway and runs until September 17th at the Les A Casino in South Korea. Additionally, the final two Triton Poker festivals of 2026 will take place in November at the luxurious Merit Royal Diamond in Cyprus.
First, the Triton One series will run from November 5-15, featuring 22 events with more accessible buy-ins ranging from $3K to $15K. The full tournament schedule can be viewed at this link. The main Triton Poker series will follow at the same venue from November 15-30, though the tournament schedule for that event has not yet been announced.
The Jeju and Cyprus legs will determine the “Player of the Year” rankings; the winner will receive the Ivan Leow Trophy and 20% rakeback with $200K guaranteed. Currently, Daniel Dvoress holds the top spot, followed by Isaac Haxton in second place and Punnat Punsri in third. You can view the current leaderboard here.
📸 CREDIT: All photos used in the article belong to Triton Poker
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