Event #9: $100,000 Triton Main Event
Day 3 Completed
2025 WSOP Paradise
Event #9: $100,000 Triton Main Event
Day: 3
Event Info
2025 WSOP Paradise
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
Players Info - Day 3
Buy-in
$100,000
Prize Pool
$23,700,000
Entries
237
Level
30
Blinds
400,000 / 800,000
Ante
800,000
Entries
11
Players Left
1
Players Left 1 / 237
Filter
Level 30
: Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
The big question for Aleksejs Ponakovs heading into the final day of the $100,000 Triton Main Event at World Series of Poker Paradise was whether he could finally shake his Triton hoodoo. He entered the finale as chip leader, but history suggested that closing the deal would be anything but straightforward.
Since first appearing on the Triton Poker Tour in 2022, Ponakovs had built one of the strongest résumés on the circuit, with more than 30 cashes and over $19.5 million in Triton earnings. What was missing was a title. Despite 19 previous final table appearances and two runner-up finishes, the Latvian had never quite managed to close one out.
On his 20th Triton final table, that question was finally answered.
Ponakovs outlasted a 237-entry field to win his first Triton title, a third WSOP bracelet, and the $4,750,000 top prize from the $23,700,000 prize pool, defeating Pedro Padilha heads-up after a final day that tested him at every stage.
WSOP Paradise Triton Main Event Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aleksejs Ponakovs | Latvia | $4,750,000 |
| 2 | Pedro Padilha | Brazil | $3,160,000 |
| 3 | Manuel Fritz | Austria | $2,311,000 |
| 4 | Ye Wang | China | $1,865,000 |
| 5 | Klemens Roiter | Austria | $1,462,000 |
| 6 | Eelis Parssinen | Finland | $1,107,000 |
| 7 | Yang Wang | China | $813,000 |
| 8 | Jean-Noel Thorel | France | $597,000 |
| 9 | Adrian Mateos | Spain | $495,000 |
From Survival to Control
“When I got to the final table, I knew I would have to work a lot,” Ponakovs said. “I lost the big pot right away, and I was just sitting there watching Pedro [Padilha] doing his job.”
Despite starting the day with the chip lead, Ponakovs found himself sliding down the counts as momentum shifted elsewhere.
“I was like, this is going to be tough,” he admitted. “Now I need to get some luck.”
That moment arrived at five-handed play when Ponakovs doubled through Ye Wang with pocket aces, a hand he described as a turning point.
“After that,” he said, “I get aces. And that was a great moment.”
Once Ponakovs regained control, the finish came quickly. After wrestling the chip lead, he eliminated Klemens Roiter, Wang, Manuel Fritz, and finally Padilha to close out the title.
While the ending reads as dominant, Ponakovs was quick to stress the quality of opposition throughout the day.
“When we play in the Bahamas, I know most of my opponents because we play online,” he said. “But when we play live, it’s a completely different story. Some of them played really good. I’m just like, where are they getting all these reps?”
For Ponakovs, finally securing a Triton title brought a sense of satisfaction rather than release.
“That’s the nicest thing,” he said. “When you’re trying to achieve your goals, it’s actually the journey. I don’t feel much when I achieve it, but the journey was a lot of fun.”
And with the Triton hoodoo finally gone, his sights are already set on what comes next.
“It hasn’t stopped,” Ponakovs added. “I need more titles. I see Jason Koon having, what, twelve? So I have high motivation to get more.”
After years of close calls, Ponakovs has finally turned consistency into a Triton Main Event title. Judging by his own words, it will not be the last.
This concludes PokerNews coverage of the Triton Main Event, but as always, stick around to keep up with all the action from Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas.
Level 30
: Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
Aleksejs Ponakovs has defeated Pedro Padilha heads up to claim his first career Triton Poker title, and the $4,750,000 top prize,
Stay tuned for the winner's reaction and full day recap.
Final Table Payouts
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aleksejs Ponakovs | Lativa | $4,750,000 |
| 2 | Pedro Padilha | Brazil | $3,160,000 |
| 3 | Manuel Fritz | Austria | $2,311,000 |
| 4 | Ye Wang | China | $1,865,000 |
| 5 | Klemons Roiter | Austria | $1,462,000 |
| 6 | Eelis Parssinen | Finland | $1,107,000 |
| 7 | Yang Wang | China | $813,000 |
| 8 | Jean-Noel Thorel | France | $597,000 |
| 9 | Adrian Mateos | Spain | $495,000 |
Level 30
: Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
Aleksejs Ponakovs limped in on the button, and Pedro Padilha moved all in for 17,000,000, which Ponakovs quickly called, to put Padilha at risk.
Pedro Padilha: A♦9♠ 
Aleksejs Ponakovs: 9♥9♣
Ponakovs set the trap, and now was in a great position to claim his first Triton title. The 4♣7♠3♦ flop kept Ponakovs in front, and the Q♥ on the turn changed nothing. The river was the 10♠ which gave Ponakovs the pot, and eliminated Padilha.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
59,000,000
16,700,000
|
16,700,000 |
|
||
|
Busted | |
Level 30
: Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
Aleksejs Ponakovs raised to 2,000,000 with J♣7♥ on the button, and Pedro Padilha made the call with 9♣7♦
The flop came 9♣Q♦10♠ giving both players straight draws. Padilha then check-called a bet of 3,000,000 from Ponakovs.
After the 2♠ on the turn, Padilha check-folded to the bet of 6,000,000 to give the pot to Ponakovs.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
42,300,000
5,000,000
|
5,000,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
17,000,000
5,000,000
|
5,000,000 |
Level 30
: Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
Heads up action is now underway.
Level 30
: Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
The two remaining players are taking a short break before heads up play begins.
Level 30
: Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
It folded to Aleksejs Ponakovs in the small blind who moved all in for the big blind Manuel Fritz's stack of 6,600,000, which Fritz snap called.
Manuel Fritz: A♦Q♦
Aleksejs Ponakovs: A♣5♦
Fritz had Ponakovs dominated, but the roles quickly reversed after the 5♣2♣3♠ flop. The 3♦ and 8♠ runout could not improve Fritz, and he was sent to the rail in third place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
37,300,000
1,700,000
|
1,700,000 |
|
|
||
|
|
22,000,000
11,200,000
|
11,200,000 |
|
Busted | |
Level 30
: Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
Ye Wang was all in for 11,000,000 and Aleksejs Ponakovs putting him at risk.
Ye Wang: A♣J♠
Aleksejs Ponakovs: 3♥3♣
It was a flip for Wang's tournament life, but he was flopped nearly dead on the 3♦7♠4♥ flop, after Ponakovs hit a set. He was drawing dead after the8♥ turn and officially eliminated after the 10♣ on the river.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
39,000,000
11,000,000
|
11,000,000 |
|
|
||
|
Busted | |
|
||
Level 30
: Blinds 400,000/800,000, 800,000 ante
It folded to the small blind Klemens Roiter who moved all in for his stack of 5,700,000, which was snap-called by Aleksejs Ponakovs in the big blind.
Klemens Roiter: K♠7♠
Aleksejs Ponakovs: A♠K♣
Ponakovs had Roiter crushed, and when the board ran out 3♣10♠J♣J♥2♦ the ace-king remained best, eliminating Roiter in fifth place.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
28,000,000
5,700,000
|
5,700,000 |
|
|
||
|
Busted | |
|
||
