Kayhan Mokri did not simply double his all-time largest money this yr, he did it twice.
The overwhelming majority of Mokri’s $13.1 million cashes are break up throughout two extraodinary Triton victories — in Jeju and at WSOP Paradise — placing him on target to topping the 2025 Cash Checklist.
However Mokri says he is not like most excessive rollers, and has a special strategy to enjoying within the largest tournaments on the world’s poker stage.
No Slouch on the Excessive Curler Scene
“I feel the distinction between me and most different Excessive Curler gamers,” Mokri instructed PokerNews. “Is that they really feel obliged to go to play poker at these occasions, as a result of they really feel prefer it’s their job.
“Once I arrive at a poker event, I am 100% motivated”
“For me personally, I attempt to go [to events] once I really feel like going, and I feel that makes me get pleasure from it extra.”
Mokri’s strategy appears to have paid off in 2025, successful six occasions from simply ten cashes this yr.
“Once I arrive at a poker event, I am 100% motivated. I nonetheless have the identical spirit and pleasure for the tournaments as a result of I do not play them as a lot, and possibly that simply works for me.”
After beginning out enjoying in Norway’s native underground poker golf equipment, Mokri pivoted to tournaments and finally transitioned to Excessive Curler tournaments because of an unlikely supply.
“It was truly Adrian Mateos who acquired me to begin enjoying these Excessive Rollers once I was simply beginning to burst onto the event scene. If it wasn’t for him, I won’t even be right here proper now.”
Even within the brief time interval that Mokri’s been enjoying at poker’s prime tables, he says he is observed the gamers within the area shift and alter with time, with newcomers like Samuel Mullur and Tom Fuchs arrive. Nonetheless, he nonetheless considers himself a newcomer on the scene.
“If you happen to speak to the outdated excessive rollers, like Nick Petrangelo and these guys, they are saying it is regular for individuals to shift out and in. The poker financial system is all the time altering; over a two- or three-year span, you will see some gamers cease enjoying, and you may see up-and-comers begin.
Triton: The Pinnacle of Poker
Mokri now counts three Triton titles on his poker resume, after bagging two in 2025.
“For apparent causes, you possibly can name Triton the top of poker as of late. Triton is, for me, the primary event sequence. They only do every little thing nice, and I am simply blissful to be part of it. “
At Triton Jeju in September he performed 5 occasions with out cashing. In the end, it was going in opposition to one in every of his core tenets noticed him return to winner’s row.
“Previously, there have been occasions once I play a event that I did not really feel like enjoying, however ended up enjoying anyway. And I do not suppose that is ever been successful.
“It sounds contradictory, however after I bricked all of the tournaments in Jeju I used to be feeling actually motivated and simply needed to play by way of every little thing. So after we acquired to the $150k, I simply ended up successful it! It labored out for me. I assumed I performed nicely, however clearly was fortunate, particularly on the closing desk.”
The Triton Invitational
Mokri had cashed within the Triton $100,000 PLO Major Occasion at WSOP Paradise, ending seventeenth for $161,000, earlier than becoming a member of the $250,000 Triton Invitational alongside Invitee companion Albert Daher.
“The Invitational is a really particular event, and I feel each the Invitees and the Execs get pleasure from themselves. After which there are different elements: the workers are having fun with themselves, the sellers are having fun with themselves. And I’d assume PokerNews is having fun with themselves! It is a fantastic occasion and a fantastic idea.”
“For the Invitees, it is probably not in regards to the cash. It is in regards to the competitors and the glory. And as a Professional, particularly on Day 1, it’s a must to present what you are product of, since you’re not going to get any free chips from anybody. You are on their own there, it’s a must to carry out, and it’s worthwhile to give it your finest.”
Mokri calls being invited to the Triton Invitational “one of many biggest honors” a professional event poker participant may obtain.
“And it would not occur that always. You could possibly actually experience this idea and attempt to squeeze the juice out of it, however the best way it has been carried out now, you’ve gotten it 2-3 occasions a yr, and also you all the time get good numbers. It is a really particular idea.”
Will Shillibier
Managing Editor
He graduated from the College of Kent in 2017 with a B.A. in German. He additionally holds an NCTJ Diploma in Sports activities Journalism.
