The 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Paradise, which is taking place on Paradise Island in The Bahamas, got off to a big start with the $500,000 buy-in Triton Million, which marked the WSOP's first partnership with Triton Poker.
It was a unique tournament that paired an invitee with a poker pro – each putting up a $500,000 buy-in – and then competing in respective fields on Day 1 before combining on Day 2. The tournament, which was being live reported by PokerNews, featured 74 players (37 pairs) and much to our surprise saw two players get their chips all in on the very first hand of the tournament.
It was a big hand, but just one captured by the PokerNewsLive Reporting Team. Here is a look at five other either big or game-changing hands from the Triton Million.
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On Day 1, it was Level 5 (3,000/6,000/6,000) when reporter Tyler Boyer watched action fold to Phil Ivey raise to 13,000 from early position before Alex Kulev three-bet to 36,000 from middle position. It then folded to Danny Tang in the small blind, who called, and Ivey called as well.
After the flop came 6♣J♣Q♦it checked to Kulev, who bet 40,000. Tang folded and Ivey made the call. The turn brought the K♥and Ivey checked. Kulev bet out 75,000. Ivey then raised all in for his stack of 229,000, and Kulev snap-called.
Phil Ivey: K♦J♥
Alex Kulev: Q♠Q♣
Ivey turned two pair but was dominated by the flopped set of Kulev, needing a king to stay in the tournament. The 7♣brought no help, and the set of queens of Kulev remained best to eliminate Ivey, who opted to reenter.
Fast forward to Level 11 (10,000/25,000/25,000) on Day 2 and Boyer caught Ivey busting again. It happened action folded to "Texas" Mike Moncek on the button with Q♠Q♣, and he raised to 60,000. He was called by Ivey in the big blind with Q♥4♠.
After the 9♥6♠4♥flop, Ivey check-called a bet of 55,000.
The turn brought the 3♦and Ivey again check-called a bet from Moncek, this time for 130,000.
After the 6♥on the river, Ivey checked to Moncek who bet to put Ivey all in for his stack of 255,000. After using multiple time banks, Ivey elected to make the call. He was shown the pocket queens of Moncek and Ivey was sent to the rail early on Day 2.
https://twitter.com/PokerNews/status/1865842041315373149
In another hand from Level 11, reporter Connor Richards saw Kannapong Thanarattrakul was all in for 1,225,000 on the button against Michael Addamo in the big blind.
Kannapong Thanarattrakul: J♦J♣
Michael Addamo: K♥K♣
Thanarattrakul was in bad shape and got no help from the 4♥2♣A♥flop or A♦turn. However, the J♥landed on the river as Addamo was delivered a cruel two-outer to double up his opponent. The Australian high-stakes pro was left with crumbs and hit the rail shortly after.
In Level 13 (20,000/40,000/40,000), Boyer reported that Juan Pardo opened the action with a raise to 80,000 from the hijack, which Moncek called in the cutoff, and Jared Bleznick in the big blind.
The flop came 4♦7♦J♥and after Bleznick checked, Pardo bet out 100,000, before Moncek raised to 375,000. Bleznick got out of the way, and Pardo decided to three-bet to 700,000. Moncek then four-bet all in for Pardo's stack of 2,100,000, and Pardo made the call to put himself at risk.
Juan Pardo: A♠A♣
Michael Moncek: K♦J♦
Moncek flopped top pair and a flush draw, but the pocket aces of Pardo were still in front. That was only momentarily, as the K♥on the turn put Moncek ahead with two pair. The 2♥on the river gave Moncek the massive pot with his two pair, successfully cracking the aces of Pardo, and sending him to the rail in brutal fashion.
In Level 18 (50,000/125,000/125,000), Richards reported that Jessica Teusl open-jammed for around 1,200,000 in the cutoff and Phillip Nagy re-shoved in the small blind with a bigger stack.
Jessica Teusl: A♠10♠
Phillip Nagy: A♦10♦
A chop seemed imminent before the flop landed 5♣J♦3♦to give Nagy a flush draw. The 5♦turn then had Teusl drawing dead to the A♣river to be eliminated from the tournament.
In Level 19 (75,000/150,000/150,000), 20 players remained but two of them busted at a table, leaving just 18 remaining on the money bubble. That is when Richards captured the bubble hand. In a heads-up pot on a flop of A♥Q♣J♣, Ryan Feldman was all in for 1,325,000 in the big blind against Alejandro Lococo in early position.
Ryan Feldman: 10♣7♣
Alejandro Lococo: K♣Q♦
Feldman had plenty of equity with a combo draw and picked up even more outs on the 8♠turn. Unfortunately for the Hustler Casino Live co-founder, the 5♠river marked his elimination on the stone bubble of the biggest tournament of his career.
It turns out Feldman didn't realize he was on the stone bubble after the double elimination at another table.
https://twitter.com/TheRyanFeldman/status/1865971614258774092
Here is a look at the bubble hand:
https://twitter.com/PokerNews/status/1866166190688678313
Click here to learn who won the Triton Million!
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