Ageless Richard Yong Becomes the First Champion
The festival's opening event was a $50k Short Deck tournament, drawing 47 entries and creating a prize pool of $2,350,000. In a field filled with poker legends and Short Deck specialists, it was Richard Yong, the Malaysian entrepreneur and co-founder of the Triton series, who emerged victorious. Yong took home $705,000, securing his third Triton title.
Known as “Mr. Richard,” Yong had to overcome a remarkably tough field, including former Triton champions and high-stakes regulars such as Winfred Yu, Dan Dvoress, Mikita Badziakouski, Martin Nielsen, and Kiat Lee. Particularly noteworthy was England's Michael Zhang, a Short Deck expert who has often narrowly missed the top spot. Eventually, Zhang faced Yong in a heads-up duel for the title. The more experienced Yong prevailed, leaving Zhang with a second-place finish and $510,000. For Yong, this was another significant achievement in the series he co-founded, celebrated by his colleagues and fans in the tournament hall.
Richard Yong couldn't hide his excitement about the victory: “I want to play poker until I’m 80! It feels great. Becoming a Triton champion is very hard because of the incredible professionals here. I was very lucky,” the legendary player stated after his win.
Final Table Results – Event #1: $50k Short Deck:
| Position | Name | Country | Winnings |
| 1 | Richard Yong | Malaysia | $705,000 |
| 2 | Michael Zhang | United Kingdom | $510,000 |
| 3 | Mikita Badziakouski | Belarus | $329,000 |
| 4 | Martin Nielsen | Denmark | $249,000 |
| 5 | Ruslan Khadartsev | Russia | $193,000 |
| 6 | René van Krevelen | Netherlands | $150,000 |
| 7 | Kiat Lee | Malaysia | $120,000 |
Second Title for Elton Tsang
The second event in Jeju carried even higher stakes with a $100,000 buy-in, once again featuring the popular Short Deck format. The tournament registered 58 entries, generating a massive prize pool of $5,800,000. The final table of this event had quite a family-like atmosphere, with many regular Triton players who know each other well. Besides the winner, players like Wang Ye, Ferdinand Putra, Tan Xuan, Michael Zhang, and Winfred Yu were present—names frequently seen at Triton final tables.
This time, Hong Kong's Elton Tsang climbed to the top, securing first place and $1,697,000 after an electrifying run. Known for his victory in the million-dollar WSOP One Drop in 2016, this marked Tsang's second Triton title. The path to victory wasn't easy, as the final table was brimming with tough opponents. Particularly impressive was American top professional Isaac Haxton, who led much of the final. Yet, even after 36 final table appearances, Haxton's elusive Triton championship still awaits—he finished third this time, securing $792,000.
Wang Ye from China advanced to the heads-up battle, aiming for his first title. The Tsang vs. Wang duel was dramatic: Wang doubled up initially to take the lead, but Tsang retaliated and gained a decisive advantage with a big all-in, holding a set of jacks against Wang’s kings. Ultimately, Elton Tsang emerged victorious, with Wang Ye taking the second spot for $1,218,000.
After his win, Elton Tsang expressed immense tension and joy: “It was very, very thrilling. I was so nervous—my heart always races during tournaments. I feel great, and the victory is immensely satisfying,” commented the experienced Hong Kong regular.
Final Table Results – Event #2: $100k Short Deck:
| Position | Name | Country | Winnings |
| 1 | Elton Tsang | Hong Kong | $1,697,000 |
| 2 | Wang Ye | China | $1,218,000 |
| 3 | Isaac Haxton | USA | $792,000 |
| 4 | Ferdinand Putra | Indonesia | $598,000 |
| 5 | Tan Xuan | China | $464,000 |
| 6 | Michael Zhang | United Kingdom | $359,000 |
| 7 | Winfred Yu | Hong Kong | $284,000 |
Stellar Debut for James Mendoza
The third tournament, the $25,000 WPT Global Slam, delivered gripping drama with a record turnout of 199 players. The event offered a $7,775,000 prize pool, with $1,515,000 awaiting the winner. Day 2 saw numerous familiar faces advance, with elite players securing their slice of the prize pool. The unfortunate bubble boy of the final table was all-time money list leader Bryn Kenney, exiting in 10th place with $130,000.
Nine players reached the final table, featuring stars of the highest caliber. American Alex Foxen started as a strong chip leader (17.15 million), gunning for his fourth Triton title. Also in the mix were Thai pro Punnat Punsri, Russian high roller Viacheslav Goryachev, and ambitious Chinese players Xue Song and Yan Yingyao.
From the outset of the final day, Foxen solidified his lead and set the pace, but the competition didn't back down. In the later stages, lesser-known names made a significant impact—American Calvin Lee quietly worked his way to the heads-up, while the favored Foxen finished third with $721,600. Despite being a Triton debutante, Mendoza displayed confidence, holding steady to his strategy and gradually gained control.
For Mendoza, this was his very first outing in the high-stakes Triton series, turning it into a title and a dreamlike payday. “I’m incredibly happy. I never imagined I’d win at my very first Triton,” said an emotional Mendoza after his win.
Final Table Results – Event #3: $25k WPT Global Slam:
| Position | Name | Country | Winnings |
| 1 | James Mendoza | USA | $1,515,000 |
| 2 | Xue Song | China | $962,000 |
| 3 | Alex Foxen | USA | $721,600 |
| 4 | Emilien Pitavy | France | $584,000 |
| 5 | Viacheslav Goryachev | Russia | $460,000 |
| 6 | Yan Jingyao | China | $350,000 |
| 7 | Ho Bao Qiang | Singapore | $260,000 |
| 8 | Dai Ming | China | $190,000 |
| 9 | Punnat Punsri | Thailand | $155,000 |
Sources: TritonPokerSeries, TritonPokerPlus, YouTube, X
