What a yr it has been for Patrik Antonius.
The poker icon took down the $100K Tremendous Excessive Curler in April at EPT Monte Carlo. Just a few months later, he was deservingly inducted into the Poker Corridor of Fame. Then, on Saturday, Antonius reached new heights together with his best-ever match rating after taking down the $200K Triton Invitational in dominating trend.
Antonius was the final participant standing within the greatest buy-in occasion of the Triton Poker Tremendous Excessive Curler Sequence Monte Carlo, outlasting 101 different entries to lock up the lion’s share of the $20.4 million prize pool.
Antonius defeated excessive curler newcomer Vladimir Korzinin in heads-up to grab the title, trophy and $5,130,000 winner’s prize.
Korzinin first caught PokerNews’ consideration at EPT Barcelona, and he is been competing with the world’s elite at nosebleed stakes ever since. This runner-up end, solely his third recorded money, propelled his stay earnings from $76,800 to a formidable $3,546,800—securing him the highest spot on Estonia’s All-Time Cash Listing.
$200,000 Triton Invitational Closing Desk Outcomes
Antonius Denies Newcomer Korzinin to Title
The ultimate desk hosted 4 skilled gamers, with the opposite 5 being invitees. Antonius led the finalists with 121 huge blinds, virtually double his nearest challenger Roman Hrabec.
Antonius downed Norwegian investor Morten Klein in ninth place after his jack-deuce discovered a duck on the river to seal the checkmark in opposition to Klein’s ace-six. Xuan Tan was one card away from a double up as his jacks appeared like they might maintain out in opposition to Antonius’ ace-queen. However the river was form to the Finnish legend as soon as once more, because the vendor accomplished the runout with the Q♣ to maintain Antonius within the driver’s seat.
Antonius’ onslaught continued, and Konstantin Maslak was subsequent in his crosshairs. Antonius discovered himself in one other coin flip, and this time, he was the one holding pocket jacks. Maslak had Huge Slick however his 20 huge blind stack went over the eventual champion after failing to enhance.
With six remaining, every of the survivors had locked up a seven-figure windfall and Mikita Badziakouski was the primary to gather after a brutal flip card ended his deep run. Korzinin thee-bet jammed the Q-J-2 flop with king-nine and Badziakouski beat him into the pot together with his jack-deuce. Nevertheless, a ten got here in instantly to provide Korzinin a straight and the river was drama free to make it a five-handed affair.
Mikalai Vaskaboinikau was flipped out by Hrabec’s pocket fours and banked $1,506,000. 2024 has been unbelievable for the Belarussian businessman on the felt and has confirmed he is greater than only a VIP on the tables. Vaskaboinikau received the Triton Montenegro Essential Occasion in Could earlier than stringing collectively a duo of high-roller wins at EPT Barcelona.
Hrabec, who topped the sphere within the sequence’ $40K Thriller Bounty 7-Handed, bowed out subsequent, with Antonius being the eliminator. Each gamers flopped prime pair jacks, and the chips piled in. Antonius had the superior kicker and despatched Hrabec to the flawed facet of the rail.
2022 WSOP Essential Occasion winner Espen Jorstad was the quick stack at three-handed play and was ousted by Korzinin. Jorstad jammed an ace-high flop with a flush draw and was appeared up by Korzinin, who had ace-deuce. Two bricks accomplished the board, and the heads-up showdown between the Estonian and Antonius was confirmed.
Regardless of the disparity in expertise and experience, Korzinin proved a worthy adversary for Antonius. Korzinin, lovingly nicknamed “Gambledore” due to his resemblance to the Harry Potter character and aggressive playstyle, pulled forward with a straight and obtained a dynamic-shifting double-up.
The 69-year-old newbie appeared to finish proceedings with jack-ten, however Antoinus moved to the highest of the counts after his ace-seven remained greatest.
On the ultimate hand of the evening, the board confirmed J♣9♥4♥2♣. Korzinin guess with a pair of fours, however Antonius, holding a 4 with a greater kicker, pushed all in. Korzinin known as, and Antonius dodged Korzinin’s slim three-outs to clinch his career-best victory.
“I’m dwelling my dream life,” Antonius informed Triton Poker media after the win. “And I need to maintain dwelling like this.”
Poker followers won’t have to attend lengthy to see Antonius again in motion. Presumably, he’ll be hopping into the $125K NLH Essential Occasion, which accomplished its first day of motion on Saturday. To date, 142 entries have been tallied, with 77 gamers remaining. Kayhan Mokri tops the counts going into Day 2 and is gunning for his second pageant title after tasting victory within the $30K NLH 8-Handed for $1,005,000.
After Triton wraps up, Antonius heads to Las Vegas to take part in Excessive Stakes Duel V in opposition to Jared Bleznick.
Excessive Stakes Duel V will happen on Tuesday, November 12 inside PokerGO Studio and will likely be performed half no-limit maintain’em and half pot-limit Omaha with the sport switching each 10 arms. Followers can watch the motion on PokerGO at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT). Whoever wins will declare $100,000, however every spherical doubles till one of many contenders bows out. When that occurs, the winner of the ultimate match will likely be deemed the Excessive Stakes Duel V champ.
Earlier than the Duel: A Dialog with Patrik Antonius
Triton Poker Tremendous Excessive Curler Sequence Monte Carlo Winners
*signifies deal, ** consists of bounty prizes, *** notes deal & bounties
Photos courtesy of Joe Giron/Triton Poker
Senior Editor & Reside Occasions Govt
