Triton Jeju Invitational Draws Phil Ivey, Bryn Kenney and 19 Elite Pairings
The $200,000 Triton Poker Super High Roller Series Invitational in Jeju, South Korea will feature 19 VIP-pro matchups, returning stars like Phil Ivey and Bryn Kenney, and new partnerships for global streaming via the Roku Channel.
Key Takeaways
- The Triton Jeju Invitational will feature 19 VIP-pro pairings, including past winners Phil Ivey and Bryn Kenney.
- VIPs have claimed 40% of all Triton Invitational podiums, showing strong results against top professionals.
- Bryn Kenney leads all pros with $27.4 million in Triton Invitational earnings—27% of the pro total.
- Triton Poker content now streams on Roku for US and UK audiences, supplementing existing YouTube and Twitch coverage.
The upcoming Triton Poker Super High Roller Series Invitational in Jeju, South Korea will field 19 paired teams of invited VIPs and professional players, with top pros like Phil Ivey and Bryn Kenney headlining. Competitors will play for seven-figure payouts in the event running 12-14 September 2026, marking the series’ eleventh Invitational and its first in Asia.
Triton Jeju Invitational: Format, Structure and Notable Names
The Triton Invitational maintains its signature structure: invited VIPs are each paired with a professional, competing in separate fields through Day 1. From Day 2, fields merge until one player claims the trophy. Past versions have seen fluctuations in buy-ins and field sizes, but the pairing and phased structure is unchanged since the first Invitational in 2019.
For Jeju's three-day $200,000 event, there are currently 19 confirmed pairings, with more expected before play begins. Five past Invitational champions—Bryn Kenney, Dan Smith, Kayhan Mokri, Ramin Hajiyev, and Aaron Zang—are included in the player list. The full set of announced pairings includes:
- Javid Ismayilov & Aleks Ponakovs
- Xu Yang & Artur Martirosian
- Wang Yang & Samuel Mullur
- Lun Loon & Kiat Lee
- Aaron Zang & Isaac Haxton
- Sosia Jiang & Seth Davies
- Jean-Noel Thorel & Christoph Vogelsang
- Philip Sternheimer & Ben Heath
- Elton Tsang & Teun Mulder
- Ramin Hajiyev & Mikita Badziakouski
- Leonardo Drago & Bryn Kenney
- Jules Dickerson & Mehdi Chaoui
- Du Qiao & Tony Ren
- Lin Ethan Yau & Justin Saliba
- Paul Phua & Phil Ivey
- Li Yang & Kayhan Mokri
- Yu Zhang & Danny Tang
- Ilya Nikiforov & Eelis Parssinen
- Xu Liang & Jesse Lonis
The draw and the blend of returning winners and rising names reflect the event’s prestige among both VIP and professional contingents.
Triton Invitational Statistics: VIP Impact and Pro Performance
Across the first 10 Triton Invitationals, professionals have an edge on aggregate earnings and frequency of wins, but VIPs have carved out significant podium space. VIPs have claimed 12 out of 30 available podium finishes, about 40% of spots, with at least one VIP on the podium at every Invitational to date. Two events witnessed VIPs taking both first and third: Aleksa Pavicevic and Javid Ismayilov in Montenegro 2024, and Alejandro Lococo with Sinan Unlu in The Bahamas 2024.
Four players—Bryn Kenney, Dan Smith, Patrik Antonius, and Ben Heath—are the only pros to appear on the Invitational podium more than once. These professionals have dominated overall winnings, but VIPs have won larger average prizes per podium, $5.8 million compared to $5.6 million for pros. Aaron Zang and Alejandro Lococo alone contributed almost 42% of the total VIP podium earnings.
Professional winners, led by Bryn Kenney with his $27.4 million in Invitational profits (27% of pro winnings), have cumulatively earned $101.5 million, while VIP podium finishers have received $69.3 million. Kenney, Smith, and Antonius all won titles after initially finishing as runners-up or third.
Gabriel Andrade’s notable single appearance brought him a $5.2 million runner-up in The Bahamas 2025—the largest one-off VIP score on record.
Triton Invitational Results at a Glance (2019-2026)
A review of the key results and prizepools from recent Triton Invitationals:
| Event/Year | Buy-In | 1st Place | 2nd Place | 3rd Place | Prizepool |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London 2019 | £1,050,000 | Aaron Zang, £13.7M (VIP) | Bryn Kenney, £16.8M (Pro) | Dan Smith, £7.2M (Pro) | £54,000,000 |
| Cyprus 2022 | $200,000 | Sam Grafton, $5.5M (Pro) | Linus Loeliger, $3.9M (Pro) | Karl Chappe-Gatien, $2.6M (VIP) | $23,000,000 |
| Cyprus 2023 | $200,000 | Ramin Hajiyev, $4.1M (VIP) | Tobias Duthweiler, $3.6M (Pro) | Patrik Antonius, $2.1M (Pro) | $17,200,000 |
| London 2023 | $250,000 | Bryn Kenney, $6.8M (Pro) | Talal Shakerchi, $4.6M (VIP) | Punnat Punsri, $3.1M (Pro) | $29,500,000 |
| Monte-Carlo 2023 | $200,000 | Dan Smith, $3.8M (Pro) | Mario Mosbock, $2.6M (Pro) | Elton Tsang, $1.7M (VIP) | $14,600,000 |
| Montenegro 2024 | $200,000 | Aleksa Pavicevic, $6.1M (VIP) | Seth Davies, $4.1M (Pro) | Javid Ismayilov, $2.7M (VIP) | $26,600,000 |
| Monte Carlo 2024 | $200,000 | Patrik Antonius, $5.1M (Pro) | Vladimir Korzinin, $3.4M (VIP) | Espen Jorstad, $2.2M (Pro) | $20,400,000 |
| Bahamas 2024 | $500,000 | Alejandro Lococo, $12.0M (VIP) | Ben Heath, $8.1M (Pro) | Sinan Unlu, $5.3M (VIP) | $48,000,000 |
| Bahamas 2025 | $250,000 | Kayhan Mokri, $7.7M (Pro) | Gabriel Andrade, $5.2M (VIP) | Albert Daher, $3.4M (Pro) | $33,250,000 |
| Montenegro 2026 | $200,000 | Adrian Mateos, $6.3M (Pro) | Alexey Lozuyk, $4.3M (VIP) | Ben Heath, $2.8M (Pro) | $27,400,000 |
*London 2019 prize amounts converted to USD for statistics.
Triton Expands Streaming: New Roku Channel Partnership
Triton Poker continues its push for wider audiences with a new distribution deal. Beginning August 18, the Triton channel—powered by C15 Studio—streams directly to United States and United Kingdom viewers via the Live TV section on The Roku Channel.
Andy Wong, CEO of Triton Poker, called the move a milestone for the brand’s production strategy:
"Production has always been at the heart of what we do here. It's how we bring poker to life, not just for the players in the room but for millions watching from home. Getting onto The Roku Channel means more people will get to see the game the way we've always wanted it seen, played by the best in the world. That's the whole mission: growing poker through great content, and reaching people who haven't found us yet." — Andy Wong, CEO
The channel complements Triton's livestream presence on YouTube and Twitch, and is expected to bolster reach for the Jeju Invitational and upcoming events.
VIPs and Pros Face Off: What to Watch in Jeju
The Jeju Invitational draws a unique blend of established superstars, ambitious VIPs, and new talent to a format that consistently produces high-stakes showdowns. Pairings with returning champions point to competitive fields, while the track record of VIP podium appearances confirms that the format allows both sides a genuine shot at the trophy. The prizepool and player list reinforce Jeju’s place as a highlight on the Triton Poker calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the Triton Jeju Invitational held?
The 11th Triton Poker Super High Roller Series Invitational will run from September 12 to 14, 2026, in Jeju, South Korea.
How does the Triton Invitational pairing format work?
Invited VIPs are each matched with a professional, playing in separate fields on Day 1, then merging for head-to-head play on Day 2 until a winner emerges.
What is the historical performance split between VIPs and pros in Triton Invitationals?
VIPs have taken 40% of podium finishes—and at least one VIP has featured on every Triton Invitational podium—while professionals have earned larger overall sums.
Who are the top-earning Triton Invitational professionals?
Bryn Kenney tops the list with $27.4 million, followed by repeat podium finishers Dan Smith, Patrik Antonius, and Ben Heath.
How can fans in the US and UK watch Triton Poker events?
Fans can now view Triton Poker events on the Triton channel via The Roku Channel's Live TV section in the United States and United Kingdom.
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About the author
Daniel Reyes
Poker Correspondent
Daniel Reyes covers live and online poker — tournament series from the WSOP and EPT down to the daily online grind, room news, promotions, and the industry moves behind them. The reports keep every score, prize pool, and player name exactly as the record shows, and follow the story past the final hand: who qualified, what the payout structure rewarded, and how the field is shifting. For roster changes, software updates, and regulatory knocks on the poker economy, Daniel Reyes is the desk's first read.
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