Kayhan Mokri Steamrolls His Way to $250,000 Triton Invitational Victory

Some match victories are hard-fought slogs that final till the small hours of the morning. Kayhan Mokri’s victory within the $250,000 Triton Invitational was not one in every of them.

It was as if the desk had tilted and the chips — amassed by among the world’s greatest poker gamers — had merely dropped into his lap. By the point he had dispatched Gabriel Andrade in second place, he was nonetheless in time for the WSOP Participant’s Social gathering.

And with $7,725,000 in prize cash, there have been no questions who the drinks have been on tonight…

$250,000 Triton Invitational Closing Desk Outcomes

Winner’s Response

That being stated, a maiden WSOP bracelet, second Triton title and the prize cash was reward sufficient for 3 laborious days of effort that noticed him outlast a area of 133 — the joint-largest Triton Invitational in historical past.

“If I went again ten years and instructed myself I’d be doing this proper now, I’d not consider myself”

“I like this format,” stated Mokri. “I believe each side take pleasure in it lots. I believe the Invitees have a format the place they get to speak and play amongst themselves, after which face stiff competitors afterwards!

“It ranges the enjoying area somewhat bit, which additionally makes it extra enjoyable for them. I believe they take pleasure in each elements.”

The consequence additionally sees Mokri overtake former WSOP Major Occasion champion Espen Jorstad on the high of the Norwegian all-time cash checklist

“If I went again ten years and instructed myself I’d be doing this proper now, I’d not consider myself. I’m very lucky to have the ability to compete in these tournaments, and simply to be invited is an enormous honor in itself. I am thrilled. I am over the moon.”

That is Mokri’s sixth match win of 2025, starting from EPT Tremendous Excessive Curler titles to a maiden Triton title in Jeju simply three months in the past.

“You get proof against the happiness and adrenaline that comes with successful, however this one was actually particular. It jogged my memory of the nice outdated days once I felt good about successful, like, actually good. And this felt similar to that. This one felt nice.”

Closing Day Motion

Fifteen gamers returned for Day 3, led by Mokri, who had amassed his stack thanks partially to an elongated bubble interval on Day 2, and began the ultimate day with greater than double his nearest rival.

On the different finish of issues was Brazil’s Joao Simao, who began with simply 50,000 — half an enormous blind. Regardless of operating it as much as 550,000 within the opening quarter-hour, he turned the primary elimination of the day.

Additionally despatched to the rail have been Joseph Oren and Tom Heung, each eradicated in fast succession by Gabriel Andrade to maneuver him up the counts, earlier than Mokri bolstered his place on the high of the counts by sending excessive curler common Mikita Badziakouski residence in tenth, one in need of the ultimate desk.

With Mokri effectively clear on the head of the counts, the query turned who — if anybody — might apply stress to the chip chief.

Tyler Stafman was making strikes early and eradicated Monika Hrabec in ninth place. Additionally energetic was Cong Pham (pictured), who bumped into the worst luck at an excellent worse time, as Mokri’s two outer shattered Pham and solely served to bolster his place on the high of the counts.

A flurry of eliminations adopted as Albert Daher eradicated each Sergio Aido and Tyler Stafman earlier than Andrade despatched Thomas Boivin to the rail. Nonetheless, no sooner had Daher and Andrade added to their stacks, again got here Mokri. His elimination of Jonathan Jaffe in fourth place bolstered as soon as once more an nearly 2:1 chip lead on the high of the counts, and within the blink of a watch, the match was three-handed.

The match took a much-needed breather, with each Daher and Andrade eyeing a approach again into the competition and a method to battle again in opposition to Mokri. It appeared as if Andrade had blinked first after paying off a hefty river wager from the Norwegian, just for Mokri to desk a flush. Nonetheless, Andrade would double again Daher, resulting in Daher’s eventual elimination.

It is price remembering that all through the entire match and the ultimate desk, Daher and Mokri have been companions on this version of the Triton Invitational. However there was no love misplaced between the pair beneath the brilliant lights of the characteristic desk. Daher would double via Mokri, however was nonetheless left on life assist with simply ten huge blinds. These would ultimately go the way in which of Mokri, as he went heads-up in opposition to Andrade for the title.

In reside match poker historical past, exterior of the WSOP Major Occasion, solely six occasions have generated a bigger first-place prize than this yr’s WSOP Paradise $250,000 Triton Invitational

There aren’t many nicer locations than to be holding a 5:1 chip lead heads-up for a poker title, not to mention one with a $2.5 million pay leap between first and second. Nonetheless, heads-up play lasted lower than an hour. Andrade had battled, however, like many within the match during the last two days, did not make an impactful dent in Mokri’s chip stack.

If he could not win it slowly, then Andrade will need to have determined he wanted to win it rapidly. Flopping center pair on a Q♦9♣7♦ board, Andrade wagered all of it. This time, Mokri did not want the river to eradicate his opponent. Holding 9♥7♣ he’d flopped two pair and after the board bricked, he might solely sit again and obtain the plaudits from the excessive curler neighborhood and past.

Third-place finisher Daher congratulated him. Triton Poker Ambassador Jason Koon gave him an enormous hug. The Triton poker neighborhood is stuffed with winners, and crowns multi-million greenback winners extra usually than every other poker tour. However this win elevates Mokri to a distinct stage, one thing that he says will not affect his future plans.

“I am going to most likely nonetheless do the Tritons and among the EPTs. Other than that, I do not know. I have never deliberate that far. I do not plan till I get there.

“So let’s examine what else. Possibly I am going to think about going to the WSOP now with my new motivation.”

Nicely, I am certain $7.7 million might be fairly motivating certainly.

Primarily based in the UK, Will began working for PokerNews as a contract reside reporter in 2015 and joined the full-time workers in 2019. He now works as 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.