Chan Wai Leong finally has a Triton Poker title.
The 39-year-old Malaysian pro, one of the original players on the Triton Super High Roller Series, won Event 19, the $25,000 PLO in Jeju, for $387,000. It ended a wait that stretched across 23 previous cashes and 14 final tables without a win on the tour since his debut at the second-ever Triton event in the Philippines in 2016.
Chan dominated the 53-entry field from early on Day 1, held the chip lead through nearly the entire tournament, and survived a difficult heads-up deficit against Sean Rafael to close out the title.
Day 1 and the Bubble
Chan established himself as the clear chip leader early and never lost that status for long. Twelve players bagged chips at the end of Day 1, with nine places paid.
The money bubble produced an extended hand-for-hand period of around two hours. With multiple players in desperate shape, Isaac Haxton briefly overtook Chan at the top, while Ben Tollerene (12 BBs), Lautaro Guerra (10 BBs), Paul Phua (9 BBs), Philip Sternheimer (9 BBs), Danny Tang (5 BBs), Laszlo Bujtas (4 BBs), and David Wang (3 BBs) were all fighting to survive.
Thomas Eychenne and Gruff Jones had already been eliminated in 12th and 11th before the bubble began.
Tang was the player who couldn't hold on. Haxton raised him off his big blind, then Tang went for a stand from the small blind with AQ97. Haxton held J965 and turned a flush. Tang departed in 10th.
Into the Money
David Wang busted to Phua. Then two pots resolved almost simultaneously to reshape the leaderboard.
Lautaro Guerra's AJ96 lost to Chan's QQ66 all-in pre-flop. Laszlo Bujtas's AQ106 went the same way against Sean Rafael's AKJ2. Both pots moved all the money in before the flop, and both went to the favorites.
Chan reclaimed the chip lead. Rafael became his nearest challenger. The six-handed final table opened with these stacks:
| Player | Chips | BBs |
|---|---|---|
| Chan Wai Leong | 3,845,000 | 77 |
| Sean Rafael | 2,395,000 | 48 |
| Isaac Haxton | 2,070,000 | 41 |
| Paul Phua | 1,170,000 | 23 |
| Philip Sternheimer | 720,000 | 14 |
| Ben Tollerene | 405,000 | 8 |
Final Table
Sixth place: Ben Tollerene ($82,000)
Tollerene, the NLH Main Event champion at this series, entered the final as the short stack. He shoved his last six blinds from the button with KQJJ. Haxton three-bet from the big blind with AA65. The board brought no help for Tollerene, and he was out in sixth.
Fifth place: Philip Sternheimer ($106,000)
Sternheimer, runner-up to Tollerene in the NLH Main Event, became the new short stack. He got the money in pre-flop with AKK7 against Rafael's AAK2. Rafael's aces held, and Sternheimer took $106,000 in fifth.
Fourth place: Isaac Haxton ($136,000)
Rafael continued on a charge. He opened with AK98 double-suited. Haxton three-bet from the small blind with AKJ2, and they went to the 9♣7♦Q♦ flop. Haxton put in his last eight blinds and was called. Rafael's pair of nines stayed best through the 7 turn and 4 river. Haxton, who also cashed the PLO Main Event during the same series, earned $136,000 for fourth.
Third place: Paul Phua ($181,000)
Phua had already won the $150,000 10th Anniversary Special earlier in the festival and reached another final table at the series. He was looking for a third Triton title. Rafael opened AKQ10 from the button. Phua moved in from the big blind with AK85. Rafael called and paired his queen on the turn to win the pot. Phua earned $181,000 and completed a gold, silver, and bronze finish across the series.
Heads-Up
Rafael held a significant lead when play went heads-up, 81 BBs to Chan's 25. He pushed hard and had Chan down to 11 BBs.
Chan's AJ52 beat Rafael's J932 in the first of three double-ups that turned the match around. He then doubled again with KKQ7 over Rafael's 9882, getting back to around 35 BBs against Rafael's 50. A third double followed: Chan's KKJ6 against Rafael's KQ109. The flop came 7♣K♦J♥, giving Rafael top pair and a wrap draw, but Chan's top set held through blanked streets. Chan went from a deficit to the chip lead.
The final hand saw Chan call from the small blind with 10♠5♣6♦K♥. Rafael raised and Chan called. The flop fell 5♣9♦5♦, giving Chan trips. He called Rafael's c-bet. The 10 on the turn made it a full house. Rafael checked, Chan bet, and Rafael jammed. Chan called. The river changed nothing.
Chan Wai Leong, a first Triton title after nine years on tour.
