Mikita Badziakouski Wins Triton Poker Jeju $2 Million HKD Main Event

Mikita Badziakouski has won the 2018 Triton Poker High Roller Series Jeju $2,000,000 HKD ($254,839 USD) no-limit hold’em main event, defeating a field of 55 total entries to win $41,250,000 HKD ($5,255,077 USD). This was the Belarusian’s second straight main event victory on the Triton tour, having won the $1,000,000 HKD marquee tournament in Montenegro back in May for more than $2.5 million USD.

This was Badziakouski’s third title and sixth final table finish of 2018, bringing his year-to-date live tournament earnings to more than $10.5 million USD. The 600 Card Player Player of the Year points he earned as the champion of this event were enough to see him climb into 25th place on the overall POY leaderboard with 2,916 total points.

Here are five key hands that propelled Badziakouski to victory.

Tournament: Triton High Roller Jeju
Buy-In: $2 million HKD ($254,839)
No. of Entries: 55
Prize Pool: $110,000,000 HKD ($14,013,538)
1st Place Prize: $41,250,000 HKD ($5,255,077)

The Action

With five players left, Badziakouski completed from the small blind and Chan checked his option from the big blind. The flop was A 8 2 and Badziakouski bet 60,000. Chan called, and the turn was the 4. Badziakouski bet 175,000, and Chan raised to 525,000. Badziakouski tanked for nearly 30 seconds before making the call. The river was the 8, pairing the board, and Badziakouski bet 200,000. Chan then moved all-in, putting Badziakouski to the test for his final 1,000,000 in chips. Badziakouski used all of his time extension chips to make his decision, eventually making the call with A Q. Chan could only reveal Q 7 for a bluff, and Badziakouski surged into the chip lead.

The Action

Badziakouski raised to 120,000 from under-the-gun and Koon three-bet to 410,000 from the small blind. Badziakouski called, and the flop fell 5 4 3. Koon bet 230,000 and Badziakouski moved all-in. Koon had about 1,600,000 behind, and eventually decided to make the call for his tournament life with A 6 and an open-ended straight draw. Unfortunately for him, Badziakouski not only held one of his outs with A 7, but he also held a flush draw. The turn and river fell Q 5, and neither player improved, however, Badziakouski’s seven kicker was enough to scoop the pot. Koon added another seven-figure payday to his tournament resume, banking $1,079,042 for fifth place.

The Action

Badziakouski raised to 160,000 from under-the-gun, and Greenwood three-bet all-in for his last 525,000 from the small blind. Badziakouski made the call with A 8, which was slightly ahead of Greenwood’s K 9. The board ran out Q Q 5 10 8, giving Greenwood a sweat with a straight draw to go with his live cards, but ultimately end his tournament in fourth place. Greenwood picked up $1,471,421 for taking fourth place.

The Action
Yong raised to 165,000 from the small blind and Badziakouski three-bet to 500,000 from the big blind. Yong responded with an all-in for 1,945,000 and Badizakouski immediately called with A K. Yong dejectedly revealed A Q, having been coolered. His only consolation was the fact that the money would have probably gotten all-in on the flop even if he had slow-played it preflop. The dealer put out a board of A 7 3 8 10, and Yong hit the rail, earning $2,130,058 for third place.

The Action

After starting heads-up play with a big lead, Badziakouski was aiming to finish off his opponent when he raised to 175,000 on the button. Chan moved all in for a total of 1,885,000 from the big blind, and Badziakouski made the call with A Q. Chan was flipping for his tournament life with pocket sixes, but a flop of A 10 7 left him drawing to two outs or a runner-runner straight. The turn and river fell 5 2, and Chan was eliminated, earning $3,251,141 for his runner-up performance. Badziakouski took home the title, and the massive $5,255,077 payday.

Final Table Results

1. Mikita Badziakouski — $41,250,000 HKD ($5,255,077)
2. Chan Wai Leong — $25,520,000 HKD ($3,251,141)
3. Richard Yong — $16,720,000 HKD ($2,130,058)
4. Sam Greenwood — $11,550,000 HKD ($1,471,421)
5. Jason Koon — $8,470,000 HKD ($1,079,042)
6. Sergio Aido — $6,490,000 HKD ($826,799)