Triton Jeju: Chidwick Completes Hattrick, Japanese Obara Makes History

Chidwick's Hattrick: Unmatched Dominance in the $200K Short Deck
 

Stephen Chidwick further cemented his status as one of the planet's best tournament players. In Jeju, he secured his third Triton Poker series trophy (all in the short deck variant) and claimed his largest career victory prize of $3,455,000. The Englishman dominated the specially added Event #20: $200K Short Deck Pot-Limit Pre-Flop (PLPF), which drew 61 entries and generated a $12,200,000 prizepool. This marked the highest buy-in event at the current Triton Jeju II, and only the upcoming Main Event is expected to surpass this prizepool.

Chidwick took the lead from the start of the second day and maintained his dominance until the very end. In heads-up, he easily handled Malaysian pro Kiat Lee, thus completing a triumphant 'hattrick' in Triton short deck events. "In short deck, having a big chiplead carries immense weight. I felt at ease and didn't face many tough decisions. It's funny that I didn't prepare for this tournament at all," Chidwick admitted after his win. Not only Chidwick but several finalists also achieved their largest career earnings, including the mentioned Kiat Lee ($2,465,000) and third-place Rene Van Krevelen ($1,591,000).

Jonathan Jaffe Claims Second Triton Title
 

After a two-year hiatus, Jonathan Jaffe has once again ascended to a Triton Poker Series podium. The American pro triumphed in the Event #2: $30,000 + 1,800 NLH 8-Handed final. With 183 entries, the tournament generated a massive $5,490,000 prizepool, awarding a seven-figure sum to the winner.

The victory came after a pre-heads-up deal that guaranteed Jaffe $1,021,672 and the runner-up Renji $882,328. The remaining $40,000 and prestigious trophy were fiercely contested in a direct showdown, which saw a thrilling exchange of all-ins and lead changes, despite the deal.

The decisive hand initially appeared grim for Jaffe, delaying the game's conclusion. Renji went all-in with Q c J d, and Jaffe called with A c 5 c. The flop 9 s J s 5 s put Renji ahead, maintaining his lead after the turn Q h. Yet poker often tells unexpected stories – the river A h turned the tide in Jaffe's favor, commencing his celebration.

"It was fun. We agreed to play for forty, but it was tough to win them. There were a lot of all-ins. In the end, it went my way," Jaffe reflected on the challenging heads-up.

Jun Obara Shatters Competition and Makes History
 

Jun Obara achieved a historic moment in Jeju, becoming the first Japanese winner of a Triton Poker Series. He did so in grand style in Event #3: $40,000 NLH Mystery Bounty, claiming the main prize of $699,000 and an astonishing 17 bounties, each worth at least $40,000. In total, he earned another $1,040,000 from bounty prizes.

Throughout the tournament, Obara was an unstoppable force. He built a dominant stack even before the final, entering the final table with over 100bb. There, he unleashed a storm, eliminating all his opponents and turning the event into his own exhibition. "Always luck. Just luck!" Obara humbly replied when asked about his tournament performance. But the truth was different – he played boldly, creatively, and confidently. After his victory, he added: "There is a strong Japanese poker movement. In a year or two, you might see more Japanese players." Obara thus sealed an unprecedented dominance, earning not only a prestigious trophy but also a pioneer status for the Japanese poker scene.

Expectations Before the Main Event: Another Record on the Horizon?
 

Jeju made poker history in March 2025, as the Triton Super High Roller Series there shattered numerous world records. The most attention went to the $100,000 Main Event, which with 285 entries became the biggest poker tournament in history with a six-figure buy-in. The prizepool reached an astronomical $28,500,000, and the winner, Wen Jie Huang from China, took home $5,555,555 after a swift heads-up with the legendary Dan 'Jungleman' Cates.

Triton's tournament director Luca Vivaldi admitted then that "it will be very difficult to break this record, even for us," and it is for this reason that the start of the next Main Event, set to begin in just a few days, is awaited with huge anticipation.

The current edition in Jeju has already shown there's no shortage of participation – Event #1 WPT Global Slam attracted 311 entries, indicating strong player demand. Nevertheless, challenging the March record will be tough. Whatever happens, the atmosphere at Landing Resort & Casino will once again be worthy of the 'poker festival of the year,' and the winner will join the elite Triton champions' club.

Sources: Triton Poker Series, Triton Poker Plus, X