USA’s Ben Tollerene, who was playing his first live tournament after three years, puled out a smashing run, winning Event #2: $30K No Limit Hold ’em 6-Handed of the 2022 Triton Poker Super High Roller Series Cyprus for $ 807,000 after a swingy heads-up with Brazil’s Yuri Dzivelevski (2nd for $749,073).
🎉🎉 Congratulations to the newcomer 🇺🇸 Ben Tollerene, winner of the #TritonCyprus2022 Event 2: USD 30K NLH 6-Handed, taking home USD 807,927 after a heads-up battle with 🇧🇷 @YuriNerdguy!@GGPoker @secretlabchairs #TritonPoker #poker pic.twitter.com/rrsmVbPZyf
— Triton Poker (@tritonpoker) September 7, 2022
The last time Tollerene cashed in a live poker tournament was a £100,000 buy-in event win at the 2019 British Poker Open. Three years after that victory, Tollerene made a triumphant return to the live scene by winning $30,000 No Limit Hold ’em 6-Handed of the ongoing Triton Poker series.
“I’m very tired,” Tollerene told Triton Poker reporters after winning the event. “I was sort of stressed because I haven’t played poker in a while and I was struggling to remember everything.”
The tournament recorded an impressive 123 entries for a prize pool of $3,698,100. Only the top 17 finishers were paid out, with recent WSOP Online bracelet winner Pieter Aerts bubbling the event.
Plenty of big names cashed, including Paul Phua (17th for $58,000), reigning WSOP main event champion Espen Jorstad (15th for $60,900), EPT Sochi main event winner Artur Martirosian (13th for $66,400), bracelet winner and four-time Triton event champion Jason Koon (12th place for $75,000), bracelet winner Sam Greenwood (9th for $92,100), and Wai King Yong (8th place for $123,500).
The final day of the two-day event began with 17 players returning with Viktor Kudinov in the lead. Kudinov ultimately finished in 7th place, setting up the official six-handed final table led by two-time bracelet winner Yuri Dzivielevski. Ignacio Chavero was the first to fall at the final table. After more than 90 minutes of six-handed action, the Spanish player shoved for a little shy of five big blinds with K-9 and got a caller in Dzivielevski with Q-10. The latter spiked a ten on the river to win the hand.
Poker coach and two-time bracelet winner Fedor Holz whose stack had dwindled to around seven big blinds was the next player to exit. His A-7 were bested by Tollerene’s K-Q with the latter flopping a queen pair to take it down and bust Holz in 5th place. Triton first-timer Alex Keating’s run in this event came to an end when he jammed with K-2 suited from the button. Tollerene called all-in with A-10. Tollerene flopped an ace and then held from there, thus eliminating Keating in 4th place.
Stephen Chidwick was the next to hit the rail. On the flop Qd 9h 4h, he shoved with Jh 8s and Dzivelevski called with Ah 5d. The 9s and 7s changed nothing and Chidwick went out in 3rd place.
The heads-up began with Tollerene having a slight chip lead over Dzivelevski. While the lead changed hands a few times, but in the end, it was Tollerene who shipped it. On the final hand, he limped with As Qc and Dzivielevski from BB checked his option with his Qh 8h. The flop opened Qs 6s 2h where Dzivielevski checked and Tollerene bet with top pair, top kicker. Dzivielevski check-raised. Tollerene called and the 8d on the turn improved Dzivielevski to two pair. Dzivielevski bet out for three big blinds and Tollerene made the call. The Ac on the river gave Tollerene a higher two pair. Dzivielevski moved all-in for over seven big blinds and Tollerene made the call to secure the pot and the title.
The champion took home $807,000, while Dzivelevski earned $749,073, courtesy of a heads-up deal.
Final Table Results (USD)
- Ben Tollerene – $807,000*
- Yuri Dzivelevski – $749,073*
- Stephen Chidwick – $408,000
- Alex Keating – $337,500
- Fedor Holz – $272,300
- Ignacio Moron Chavero – $215,000