Koray Aldemir Wins the 2017 Triton Super High Roller Series Manila
The 2017 Triton Super High Roller Series Manila has determined its Main Event champion and it was Koray Aldemir who emerged victorious in the 39-entry strong field. A total of 29 unique players ponied up the buy-in of HK$1,000,000 (approx. $128,800) with 10 players entering a second time.
Within two days, the event was reduced to the final six hopefuls and the money was reached. Such big names as Phil Ivey, Six-Max champion Daniel Colman and 2016 Big One For One Drop Extravaganza champion Elton Tsang fell short at the end of Day 2. Only six hopefuls returned to the final table at the stunning Solaire Resort and Casino in the capital of the Philippines, and ultimately it was Aldemir who defeated start-of-day chip leader Sergio Aido heads up to claim the trophy.
It is the first major title for the 26-year-old German, who calls Vienna home these days. Aldemir had a golden summer of 2016 when he first finished second in the $ 1,500 No Limit Hold'em Summer Solstice (Event #33) in Las Vegas and then entered the $ 111,111 No Limit Hold'em High Roller for One Drop, banking another $2,154,265 for coming third.
On top of that, Aldemir came tenth in the 2017 Aussie Millions Main Event this year and has now added a score of HK$10,032,869 ($1,292,653) to his poker resume after cutting a three-way deal with Aido and 2016 Triton Super High Roller Series SunCity Cup champion Daniel Cates.
Final Result 2017 Triton Super High Roller Series Manila
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (HKD) | Deal Prize (HKD)* | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Koray Aldemir | Germany | 13,717,400 | 10,032,869 | 1,292,653 |
| 2 | Sergio Aido | Spain | 8,898,000 | 10,378,375 | 1,337,186 |
| 3 | Dan Cates | United States | 5,561,000 | 7,765,156 | 1,000,490 |
| 4 | Bryn Kenney | United States | 3,893,000 | - | 506,090 |
| 5 | Devan Tang | China | 2,780,000 | - | 361,400 |
| 6 | Wai Kin Yong | Malaysia | 2,224,000 | - | 289,120 |
*denotes deal of the last three players
At the start of the six-handed final table, Aido and Aldemir were separated by just two big blinds while Bryn Kenney, who finished second to Wai Kin Yong in this very tournament in November 2016, was at the bottom of the counts with just 20 big blinds.
However, it was defending champion Wai Kin Yong who'd become the first casualty of the day. Yong was the most active player at the table early on and saw his stack fluctuate a lot, while Aldemir and Aido were pulling away from the rest of the finalists.
Kenney won a big pot off Devan Tang before doubling through Yong with pocket kings versus ace-jack. Yong was left with just four antes and bowed out one hand later with nine-seven against Aido's queen-deuce and Kenney's queen-seven suited on an ace-high board.
Devan Tang would follow soon after. The third-place finisher of the very first Triton Super High Roller Event here in Manila in January 2016, was left with just three big blinds. He first doubled through Aldemir with ace-jack suited versus eight-six suited.
One hand later, Tang moved all in again, this time from the cutoff with ace-jack off suit. Aldemir called from the small blind with king-queen suited and bested the flopped two pair of his opponent by making broadway with a ten on the turn.
Half an hour later, Bryn Kenney was sent to the rail in fourth place. After falling below a million in chips, Kenney open-shoved the small blind for fewer than 15 big blinds with king-six off suit. Dan Cates found ace-king in the big blind and called. The board ran out king-high and the kicker played in favor of Cates.
Down to the last three players, the stacks very similar and deal discussions started. Cates ultimately couldn't agree and soon after lost half of his stack in a big pot with ace-queen against the turned set of tens of Aido. The trio sat down for deal talks again and agreed on ICM numbers, with HK$400,000 and the trophy left aside to the eventual winner.
Dan "jungleman" Cates bowed out in third place when he three-bet jammed out of the small blind with king-jack off suit. Initial raiser Aido called with king-queen suited and the kicker played to eliminate Cates.
While Sergio Aido had a solid lead at the start of the heads-up, Aldemir soon closed the gap and ran well to build his lead further and further. The first all in and call of the duo saw both players turn over ace-jack suited and there would come no sweat on the board.
Aido was reduced to all but 14 big blinds when he limp-called a shove by Aldemir with king-ten off suit. Koray Aldemir had ace-deuce suited and faded the two live cards, gutshot and turned flush draw of Aido to claim the title in Manila.
After all the hard work was done, the winner pictures were taken and Aldemir was presented with the trophy by Founder of Triton Poker Richard Yong, Tony Boglic representing Solaire Resort and Casino, and Maria Riza Riego de Dios-Torres representing Hublot as official timekeeper of the high-stakes festival in Manila.
The Triton Super High Roller Series promised to be even bigger than the last edition by doubling its Main Event buy-in and provided all the high-stakes players with an excellent location and exclusive service.
The next edition of the festival is already being planned and will be held later this year in Macau. All further information about that stop can be found on the Triton Poker Series website.