Adrian Mateos Wins Triton Invitational Event for Third Title in Montenegro

Adrian Mateos’ third Triton Poker title proved to be the greatest tournament win of his career in monetary terms, as he won $6.37 million in Montenegro last night. The Spaniard, who beat Triton first-timer Alexey Lozuyk heads-up, also outlasted Ben Heath, Anatoly Zlotnikov and Isaac Haxton at the final table.

Here’s how the Triton Poker Series Montenegro $200,000 Invitational 2026 finished.

Amateurs and Pros Mix in Montenegro

There were 48 pairs of amateurs and professionals confirmed ahead of the $200,000-entry Triton Montenegro Invitational this week, and with the re-entries involved, the total field was confirmed at 137. That set a prize pool of $27.4 million in place, with a top prize of $6.37 million one of the biggest on offer in 2026. After Day 1, Ethan ‘Rampage’ Yau was in charge, but busted before the bubble burst on Day 2 with 23 players left, 15 of them being professionals, with eight amateurs still in the hunt.

Day 2 ended with 12 players and the Tunisian player Maher Nouria in the lead, but he was unable to keep that momentum up on the final day. Jason Koon, as well as Alex and Kristen Foxen, busted inside the money places but outside the final day field. By the time the final table began, just nine remained, with Anatoly Zlotnikov on 84 big blinds and everyone else having less than half his stack.

The first player to bust was Isaac Haxton and in unfortunate circumstances. All-in with pocket kings, he was beaten by Zlotnikov’s ace-jack, as an ace came on the flop and the American could never recover. The reigning Ivan Leow Player of the Year won $635,000 in ninth place. Soon, Haxton was joined by another high roller regular, as Finnish pro Eelis Parssinen busted for $797,000.

Mateos the Matador

Short-stacked, Adrian Mateos doubled up with ace-ten against the pocket tens of Nouira, as an ace on the river came to save his tournament life and propel him ultimately towards victory. The card essentially earned him another $5.2 million given how far he then went, but the Malaysian Wai Kiat Lee wasn’t so lucky, crashing out in seventh place for $1,085,000.

Nouira had endured bad luck against Mateos, and his fortunes didn’t improve against the golden Zlotnikov. Committing his stack with pocket kings, Nouira was downcast as his cowboys were shot down by Zlotnikov’s ace-eight. Soon, Nouira’s luck completely ran out, losing with jack-nine when Mateos’ ace-nine proved good enough to send the Tunisian to the rail with $1,466,000.

Zlotnikov had enjoyed plenty of luck along the way, but it all ran out when he busted in fifth place for $1.89 million. All-in with king-five on a board of 8-7-2-6-5, he lost to Mateos’ ace-eight which had him beat from the flop. Soon, Andre Berg joined him on the rail in fourth place for $2,357,000. Shoving with seven big blinds with pocket sixes, he lost to Ben Heath’s pocket jacks, and the podium places were confirmed with two pros and one amateur remaining.

Lozuyk the Lucky Amateur

“I think I played great – I’m pretty happy with my performance.”

With three players left, the British player Ben Heath once more proved that he is by far the closest rival to his countryman Stephen Chidwick from the British Isles. All-in for 12 big blinds with queen-eight, he lost to Mateos’ pocket sevens, as a king-high board with no help for the Brit played out. The pot was pivotal in chip terms, giving Mateos 33 big blinds, not too far behind Lozuyk’s stack of 36 big blinds.

Heath had departed for $2,877,000 but there were two even bigger payouts left. Mateos started his march to glory when picking up a small lead after winning a couple of small pots. All-in shortly after with ace-six, Mateos was well behind Lozuyk’s ace-jack, but the Spanish player got lucky one more time, a flop of A-9-6 putting him ahead with two-pair. The Belarussian couldn’t hit any of his outs on the river and the two men shook hands, Lozuyk won the runner-up prize of $4,316,000 while Mateos claimed a career-high score of $6,370,000.

“These tournaments are super special for me, and I always come super motivated to play Invitationals,” Mateos told Triton presenters after victory. “There were many hands where I felt the pressure, the emotions, but I think that’s good to feel emotions and perform after that. I also think I played great. I’m pretty happy with my performance.”

Asked about what it mean for him to have his parents in the cardroom watching him from the rail (below), Mateos was full of love.

“They are the reason why I am here,” he said. “They always trust me in everything I do in life and I really love them a lot. They try to help me; I try to help them. I’m happy to have amazing parents.”

Watch Adrian Mateos win the latest Triton title in Montenegro for his biggest ever top prize here.