Phil Ivey Wins Triton Poker Montenegro $250,000 HKD Short Deck Event

Phil Ivey is a living legend in the poker world, but the ten-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner has not been seen much on the international tournament circuit in recent years. Ivey has been keeping a low profile while embroiled in a legal battle over baccarat winnings. The 41-year-old had not recorded a live cash since January of 2016, but he ended that streak this week by emerging victorious in the 2018 Triton Super High Roller Series Montenegro $250,000 HKC ($31,849 USD) short deck ante-only event. Ivey outlasted a field of 61 total entries to win $4,749,200 HKD ($617,396 USD), bringing his career live earnings to $24,083,744.

Short deck poker (also known as six-plus hold’em) utilizes only 36 cards, with the deuces, threes, fours, and fives removed. Aces play as both the top end of a broadway straight or as a five to complete a nine-high straight. As a result of the decreased number of cards, straights become more common while flushes are less likely. As a result, the game is commonly played with a flush beating a full house. The game is incredibly popular in the Asian high stakes poker scene.

The final day of the event began with nine players remaining. Alan Sass lead the way with 2,775,000 in chips, with top international poker pros like Daniel “jungleman12” Cates, Jason Koon and Ivey also sitting with large stacks.

In the end it came down to a final showdown between Ivey and Cates, with the later entering heads-up play with roughly a 4-to-1 chip lead. Ivey was able to fight his way back and eventually built a lead of his own. In the final hand Ivey raised to 700,000 with the QJ and Cates called with the A7. The flop brought the KJ10 and both players checked. The 9 on the turn gave Ivey the straight and he fired 1,000,000. Cates responded by moving all-in for just over 6.3 million with his draw to a higher staright and a flush. Ivey made the call and avoided Cates’ outs when the 6 completed the board. With that Ivey secured the pot and the title, sending Cates to the rail with $3,199,000 HKD ($415,870 USD).

Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded in this event:

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