button in SafariAlex "Pwndidi" Theologis Conquers Stacked FT to Win Maiden Triton Title
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One of the most successful online poker players of all time, Alexandros "Pwndidi" Theologis, can now add a Triton title to his stacked list of achievements after taking down the very first event of the Triton Super High Roller Series Jeju II.
Theologis collected $642,000 for winning the $15,000 NLH 8-Handed, securing his maiden title on the game's biggest high-stakes tour, after outlasting a star-studded final table featuring reigning GPI Player of the Year Punnat Punsri, Adrian Mateos, and Wai Kiat Lee.
"I was really looking forward to winning a Triton trophy," Theologis told PokerNews after his victory. "I have a second place and a few third places, so to finally close one out definitely feels great."
"I was very fortunate to manage to win. As you said, it was very swingy. I lost a lot of chips and then came back, so yeah, it all worked out in the end," added a beaming Theologis after the post-victory snaps and celebrations.
Triton SHRS Jeju II $15k NLH 8-Handed Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alex Theologis | Greece | $642,000 |
| 2 | Victor Chong | Malaysia | $431,000 |
| 3 | Punnat Punsri | Thailand | $302,000 |
| 4 | Wai Kiat Lee | Malaysia | $245,500 |
| 5 | Yin Tao | China | $194,500 |
| 6 | Daniel Rezaei | Austria | $147,000 |
| 7 | Ehsan Amiri | Australia | $108,000 |
| 8 | Adrian Mateos | Spain | $79,000 |
A Fast & Frenetic Start
The action was fast and frenetic to start the day, with four big eliminations coming in the opening 15 minutes as Xu Yang, Ethan "Rampage" Yau, Daniel Dvoress, and Xuan Liu all made swift exits, each collecting $25,500 for their deep runs. Rampage got the last of his chips in preflop against Daniel Rezaei and flopped the nut-flush draw, but unfortunately for the popular streamer, Rezaei paired his king and the turn and river offered no help.
From there, the action barely slowed, with the field of 28 rapidly shrinking to three tables and then two. Triton debutant Liu Qiang exited in 17th place after running into Theologis' quad kings, bringing the Chinese player's stylish debut run to an end for $40,000.
Kings would prove to be worth their weight in gold for Theologis throughout the day, and shortly afterward his cowboys claimed an even bigger scalp as Bernhard Binder's aces fell victim to their very own Greek tragedy, with flopped trips for Theologis spelling the end for the Austrian crusher. Jesse Lonis and Nick Petrangelo followed soon after, before the elimination of Joao Simao confirmed that the final nine was set.
Theologis Leads Stacked Final Table
There are no corners cut at Triton when it comes to making a final table feel special, and this one was certainly worthy of all the dry ice and LED spotlights.
The ceremonial walkouts included a cast led by chip leader Theologis, six-time Triton champion Punnat Punsri and poker endboss Adrian Mateos, among others. Yet despite all the star power on show, perhaps the story of the day belonged to Yin Tao, who, like his countryman Qiang, was making his Triton debut and had expertly navigated his way to a final table.
Wang Yang was the first to depart in 9th, adding another impressive cash to his Triton record, although that elusive first title continues to evade him. He was followed by Mateos in 8th, whose impressive Event #1 form could prove ominous for the rest of the competition here in Jeju, and Ehsan Amiri in 7th, who entertained right until his very last card.
Rezaei was next to leave in 6th at the hands of the new chip leader Victor Chong, who had perhaps gone slightly under the radar earlier in the day but looked to be making a perfectly timed run at the title. Meanwhile, the fairytale story of Tao finally came to an end in 5th, bringing a staggeringly impressive Triton debut to a close.
While the chip lead of the final table changed hands several times, the ever-consistent and ever-present figures of Kiat Lee and Punsri were next to go in 4th and 3rd respectively. Both are hugely successful and popular figures on the Triton tour, and given the pair's remarkable records, it would be no surprise to see either, or indeed both, add yet more dollars to their Hendon Mob totals over the next fortnight.
A Comeback Win
And then there were two.
A new Triton champion would be crowned, with chip leader Chong facing off against Theologis, who had been there or thereabouts throughout the entire day. Would it be the crusher looking to follow in the footsteps of some of Triton's most renowned Malaysian stars, or all-round poker guru Theologis, who would claim the title?
Gradually, Theologis would gain the upper hand on Chong, eroding his lead in several key showdowns until the second of two all-in and calls saw the Greek's J♥10♦ hold vs. 8♥4♣ and confirm him the title. With it, Theologis claimed $642,000, his first Triton trident, and the honor of being the festival's first overall champion in Event 1 here at the Super High Roller Series Jeju II.
