Kayhan Mokri Wins Triton Poker Invitational for First WSOP Bracelet

Atlantis Resort was buzzing this week as the World Series of Poker’s WSOP Paradise festival saw millions of dollars on the line. Perhaps no tournament was as exciting as the $250,000-entry Triton Poker Invitational, however, where the world’s best amateurs and professionals came together to create a prizepool of over $33 million. When the dust settled, it was Kayhan Mokri who walked away as the winner, claiming the $7,725,000 top prize.

Bumper Field Sees Amateurs Thrive

With such a stellar field, only 23 players from the 133 entries (including rebuys) made the money. Missing out late in the day were legends like Brandon Wilson (29^th), Nick Schulman (27^th), Alex Kulev (25^th) and the bubble boy Aleksandr Zubov. The Russian was the last player to miss out after he was forced all-in from the big blind with eight-seven, having two live cards against the king-queen of Jonathan Jaffe. A runout of A-9-2-5-3 sent the Russian to the rail and put the remaining 23 players in the money.

One of the first players to bust once the bubble had burst was Daniel Negreanu. All-i with pocket tens, Cong Pham was the original raiser and called it off with ace-king. A flop of 8-6-4 kept Kid Poker ahead, but a king on the turn changed the script dramatically, vaulting Pham into the lead. The Canadian needed a dramatic late rewrite but no new lines came, an inconsequential five landing on the river to send Negreanu home with $418,000 in 18^th place.

The final day of the event saw Kayhan Mokri storm to victory and that win began with the elimination of Mikita Badziakouski in 10^th place. All-in with ace-ten, the Belarussian couldn’t hit against Kayhan Mokri’s pocket nines as the Norwegian held through the board of K-5-2-K-7 to take out a dangerous opponent and chip up at a great time.

Aido Says Adios

With nine players left, it was Mokri in charge and at the bottom of the counts, Cong Pham was on less than a quarter of the Norwegian’s stack. He doubled up, however, and that eventually saw Monica Hrabec bust instead, cashing for $771,000. The Polish player, the last remaining female player in the event, lost with pocket eights to Tyler Stafman’s pocket aces.

Pham exited soon after for $967,000 in eighth place, winning a little less than Sergio Aido in seventh place. The Spaniard committed his chips with pocket sevens but was unable to go any further when Albert Daher’s ace-jack hot a jack on the flop and held through turn and river to reduce the field to six as Aido picked up $1.32 million.

Two Americans departed in sixth and fourth place as first Tyler Stafman busted for $1.78 million before Jonathan Jaffe cashed for $2.86 million just outside the podium places. In between those two departures, the Belgian player Thomas Boivin busted for $2.29 million when his ace-ten ran into Gabriel Andrade’s pocket tens. A flop of Q-J-T gave Andrade a set but kept Boivin’s hopes alive, as did the ace on the turn. A queen on the river ended Belgian hopes, however, and the final three was reached.

Mokri Makes his Move

“It reminded me of the good old days when I felt good about winning.”

Down to three players, Mokri really took charge and a series of stellar moves put hi into such a commanding position that it became obvious both of his opponents were playing more to come second and avoid finishing third than anything else. Albert Daher blinked first, all-in with queen-eight to lose against Kayhan Mokri’s ace-king when a queen and king landed on the flop.

Daher had gone for $3.49 million and the two remaining players could hardly be further apart in chips, with Mokri’s stack of 33.15 million way clear of Gabriel Andrade’s 6.75 million. A better than 5:1 lead wrapped up the win for Mokri when the Ecuadorian player bet his short stack with nine-five on a flop of Q-9-7 and had the misfortune to be called and defeated by Mokri’s nine-seven which had made two-pair. While Andrade’s cash of $5.24 million was impressive, Mokri had deserved his score of $7,725,000, the WSOP bracelet and Triton Poker trophy.

“You get immune to the happiness and adrenaline that comes with winning, but this one was really special,” said Mokri afterwards. “It reminded me of the good old days when I felt good about winning, like, really good. This one felt great. I’ll probably still do the Tritons and some of the EPTs. Apart from that, I don’t know. I haven’t planned that far. Maybe I’ll consider going to the WSOP now with my new motivation.”

After an immense performance, it would be strange not to.