Event #5: $250,000 Triton Invitational Day 1 | 2025 WSOP Paradise

12-07-2025 16:42 UTC-4

Wakil Busts Set Over Set

Will Shillibier

Level 3 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Nacho Barbero raised to 3,500 from under the gun and got calls from three players: Stephen Chidwick, Jamil Wakil, and Punnat Punsri.

The flop came A♠10♣3♦. It checked to Wakil, who bet 7,000. Punsri and Barbero both folded, and Chidwick check-raised to 30,000. Wakil called.

Chidwick then bet 67,000 on the 9♥ turn, and Wakil called.

The river was the 5♠. Chidwick shoved, covering his opponent, with Wakil calling for his last 187,000.

Jamil Wakil: 3♣3♥ All in
Stephen Chidwick: 10♦10♥

It was a classic set over set confrontation, with Wakil coming out second-best and being sent to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Stephen Chidwick	644,000 344,000	344,000

Punnat Punsri	352,000 52,000	52,000
Dejan Kaladjurdjevic	329,000 29,000	29,000
Sergio Aido	278,000 22,000	22,000

Aleksejs Ponakovs	276,000 24,000	24,000

Nacho Barbero	229,000 71,000	71,000

Jamil Wakil	Busted

Tags: Jamil Wakil Nacho Barbero Punnat Punsri Stephen Chidwick

12-07-2025 16:30 UTC-4

Hammond Takes from Lehr

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Josh Noy

Level 3 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Mark Hammond opened to 3,500 in middle position, and Keith Lehr defended his big blind to see the 4♦J♥6♥ flop.

Lehr checked to Hammond, who continued for 6,000. Lehr made the call, and both players checked the 2♥ turn.

Another check from Lehr followed the 5♣ river, and Hammond opted to check it down. Lehr tabled 7♣5♠ for a pair of fives, while Hammond showed Q♠J♦ to take the pot with his pair of jacks.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mark Hammond	268,000 32,000	32,000
Keith Lehr	182,000 118,000	118,000

Tags: Keith Lehr Mark Hammond

12-07-2025 16:21 UTC-4

Car Dealer Busts to Quads in First Level of $250k Triton Invitational

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Connor Richards

Level 3 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Brandon Steven has had quite a December. The car dealer and longtime high roller started off the month with a $2 million loss on Hustler Casino Live, which he followed up today by busting the $250,000 buy-in Triton Invitational at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Paradise festival in under an hour.

Despite being one of the most prestigious events of the year, three players, including Steven, were eliminated during Level 1.

The unique invitational, which pairs wealthy invitees with the world's top poker pros, drew 98 players. Though the field was three players smaller by the end of the first level, all three were quick to buy back into the action.

Click Here to Read More!

_{*Photo courtesy of Triton}

Tags: Brandon Steven

12-07-2025 16:19 UTC-4

Chip Counts from Feature Tables

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Will Shillibier

Level 3 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Sameh Elamawy	795,500 154,000	154,000
Mikita Badziakouski	398,000 53,000	53,000

Alex Foxen	396,000

Gabriel Andrade	393,500 105,500	105,500
Joseph Oren	378,500 46,000	46,000
Richard Yong	344,000 3,500	3,500
Ye Wang	328,500 28,500	28,500

Yu Zhang	326,500 26,500	26,500
Michael Moncek	324,500 24,500	24,500

David Einhorn	310,500 10,500	10,500
Manuel Fritz	309,500 9,500	9,500
Ben Tollerene	305,500 5,500	5,500
Christoph Vogelsang	284,500 3,500	3,500
Mark Hammond	282,500 17,500	17,500
Masashi Oya	266,500 33,500	33,500

Wai Kiat Lee	225,500 74,500	74,500
Eric Wasserson	218,000 53,500	53,500

Tyler Moncek	194,500 12,500	12,500
Keith Lehr	193,000 107,000	107,000

Mike Watson	181,000 9,000	9,000

Xiaoyao Ma	149,500 73,500	73,500

12-07-2025 16:18 UTC-4

Antonius Wins Raising War

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Josh Noy

Level 3 : 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Sean Winter raised to 3,500 from under the gun before Patrik Antonius three-bet to 12,000 on the button. Winter made the call, and the dealer delivered the 2♦3♣8♦ flop.

Winter checked to Antonius, who continued for 14,000. After taking a moment, Winter check-raised to 48,000. Antonius then took some time before announcing a three-bet to 115,000.

That produced a quick fold from Winter, and Antonius claimed the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Patrik Antonius	324,000 54,000	54,000

Sean Winter	255,000 45,000	45,000

Tags: Patrik Antonius Sean Winter

12-07-2025 16:12 UTC-4

Top Ten Counts

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Josh Noy

Level 3 : Blinds 1,000/1,500, 1,500 ante

Player	Chips	Progress
Philip Sternheimer	650,500 40,500	40,500

Sameh Elamawy	641,500 125,500	125,500
Artur Martirosian	622,000 8,000	8,000

Charles Hook	553,000 253,000	253,000

Joseph Oren	424,500 124,500	124,500
Nick Petrangelo	410,000 110,000	110,000

Alex Foxen	396,000 26,000	26,000

Taylor von Kriegenbergh	385,000 284,000	284,000
Santhosh Suvarna	380,000 75,000	75,000

Orpen Kisacikoglu	371,000 81,000	81,000

Level: 3

Blinds: 1,000/1,500

Ante: 1,500

12-07-2025 15:59 UTC-4

First Break

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Josh Noy

Level 2 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Players have been sent on the first break of Day 1.

Action will resume in 15 minutes, with blinds of 1,000/1,500 and 1,500 big blind ante.

12-07-2025 15:58 UTC-4

Ivey Busts in Cooler vs Von Kriegenbergh

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Will Shillibier

Level 2 : Blinds 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

On the feature table, Taylor von Kriegenbergh raised to 3,000 from under the gun and Phil Ivey called on the button. Jonathan Jaffe three-bet to 18,000 from the small blind and both opponents called.

The three players saw a 10♦8♣2♥ flop dealt and Jaffe checked. Von Kriegenbergh bet 20,000 and Ivey raised to 60,000. Jaffe folded and Von Kriegenbergh made the call.

The turn was the 6♣ and Von Kriegenbergh checked. Ivey shoved for 176,000 into a pot of around the same amount and Von Kriegenbergh called.

Phil Ivey: 10♠8♠ All in
Taylor von Kriegenbergh: 2♣2♠

Ivey had flopped top two pair, but unfortunately for him, Von Kriegenbergh had flopped bottom set. The river J♦ bricked for Ivey, sending him to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Taylor von Kriegenbergh	669,000 369,000	369,000
Jonathan Jaffe	259,000 41,000	41,000
Phil Ivey	Busted

Tags: Jonathan Jaffe Phil Ivey Von Kriegenbergh

12-07-2025 15:49 UTC-4

Foxen Bets Out Badziakouski

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Josh Noy

Level 2 : 500/1,000, 1,000 ante

Alex Foxen slid out a pot-sized bet of 20,000 from the button on the J♦K♥8♠7♠ turn, and Mikita Badziakouski check-called in the big blind.

Another check from Badziakouski followed the 8♦ river, and Foxen counted out a bet of 60,000. After using two time banks, Badziakouski sat back in his chair before deciding to give up his hand. That allowed Foxen to collect the pot shortly before break.

Player	Chips	Progress
Alex Foxen	422,000 164,000	164,000

Mikita Badziakouski	345,000 5,000	5,000

Christoph Vogelsang	288,000 12,000	12,000
Mike Watson	190,000 110,000	110,000

Tags: Alex Foxen Mikita Badziakouski