Negreanu Doubles Through Ivey to Avoid Disaster on Triton $100,000 PLO Bubble
It was close...perhaps too close for Daniel Negreanu. But he has secured his first cash of the 2025 WSOP Paradise festival, in Event #3: $100,000 Triton PLO Main Event.
He secured the cash thanks in part to a crucial double through fellow Poker Hall of Famer Phil Ivey, all while Ben Tollerene was all-in and at risk at a neighbouring table. If Negreanu were to lose his hand, he would be at risk of at best splitting the 17th-place payout of $161,000 with Tollerene.
As it turned out, he needn't have worried as Negreanu doubled while Tollerene lost out to Nacho Barbero, with Negreanu squeaking into the money and keeping his bracelet dreams alive.
Last-Minute Entries Boost Field
A field of 77 entries gathered on Day 1, but that number was always going to grow with late registration and re-entry open until the start of play on Day 2. And so it was, with 26 extra players putting up the six-figure sum, and the final field settling at 103.
Overnight chip leader Sam Soverel was in control of proceedings from the start, eliminating the likes of Joao Simao. As the field dwindled, he dropped back only to score a huge double through Artur Martirosian to regain the chip lead.
Bubble Time
The bubble was a long one. After Robert Cowen departed in 18th place, it took almost 90 minutes until the bubble actually burst.
Negreanu wasn't the only player looking to sneak into the money, with Ivey short and Martin Kabrhel looking to avoid back-to-back Triton stone bubbles after missing out on the money in the $75,000 Triton Pot-Limit Omaha.
A crucial double for him through Richard Gryko saw him stay alive as Nacho Barbero crept into the lead.
Play was hand-for-hand, and play was paused with two all-ins in progress — Negreanu at the outer feature, and Tollerene on the main stage.
Negreanu's hand was first. On a board of K♠9♣5♦ Negreanu was all in for 250,000 and ahead holding Q♥10♥9♠7♥ for a pair of sevens.
Ivey was in bad shape with Q♠J♣7♣3♣ holding just a 19% chance to win. The turn was the 3♠ which gave Ivey a pair, but the 2♥ bricked, and Negreanu retook his seat.
Over at the neighbouring table, Tollerene raised from he cutoff and Nacho Barbero three-bet from the big blind. Tollerene called and was all in for his last nine big blinds.
Ben Tollerene: K♦K♣J♥8♠
Nacho Barbero: A♦A♠J♦10♦
The board was 10♥7♦3♠5♦5♣ with aces holding and Tollerene was eliminated.
This was the sixth WSOP Paradise cash of Negreanu's career, and his first in a tournament with a buy-in over $25,000. Having started his day playing golf with Joni Jouhkimainen and 2022 WSOP Main Event third-place finisher Michael Duek, instead of hitting for greens he's now winning it — potentially $2,594,000 if he emerges victorius later today.
Daniel Negreanu WSOP Paradise Cashes
| Year | Event | Place | Payout |
| 2024 | $5,000 The Closer Turbo Bounty | 4th | $65,200 |
| 2024 | $10,000 Pot Limit Omaha | 8th | $45,710 |
| 2024 | $25,000 WSOP Paradise Main Event | 170th | $67,300 |
| 2023 | $5,000 WSOP Paradise Main Event Championship | 98th | $19,000 |
| 2023 | $25,000 GGMillion$ | 26th | $77,000 |
$100,000 Triton PLO Main Event Winners
| Year | Field | Prize Pool | Winner | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 88 | $8,800,000 | Lautaro Guerra | $2,126,770 |
| 2025 | 103 | $10,300,000 | $2,594,000 |
