Roman Hrbaec Conquers Jeju for Triton Poker Series Win Worth Over $4 Million

A record-breaking field of 216 entries including 77 re-entries arrived to play the $100,000 buy-in Triton Poker Series Main Event in Jeju and when the dust settled, it was a case of ‘Czech, please!’ at the felt. Czech Republic player Roman Hrabec is a seasoned poker professional and the former hockey player turned poker pro earned every cent of the $4.33 million top prize he claimed in Jeju after beating French player Jean-Noel Thorel heads-up.

Early Exit for Brewer

The prizepool of $21.6 million was the biggest in $100,000 poker events on such a scale. With tens of millions in prize money award to the final nine alone, a hugely dramatic conclusion to the action in South Korea saw Roman Hrabec celebrate hardest. With 39 players paid, plenty of others could celebrate profit, however, with min-cashes worth $151,000 for stars such as Mike Watson, Henrik Hecklen, Timothy Adams, Ren Lin and Biao Ding.

After others left, such as young German pro Leon Sturm (26^th for $190,000), hardened American high roller Sean Winter (21^st for $212,000) and footballer-turned-poker-player Mario Mosboeck (15^th for $298,000), the final table was close. When British superstar Stephen Chidwick missed out in 10^th, claiming a score of $378,000 in the process, Hrabec took a healthy lead into the final table, with only Frenchman Jean-Noel Thorel hanging onto his coattails.

Nine became eight quickly as the first of two Bulgarians to reach the last nine busted. Alex Kulev moved all-in with pocket queens but lost a big flip to Roman Hrabec when the Czech player’s ace-king flopped an ace, with nothing coming to help the Bulgarian. Kulev cashed for $451,000 in ninth place.

Eibinger is Killed by Quads

Eighth place belonged to the double WSOP bracelet winner from 2023, Chris Brewer. The American ran short and moved all-in with a legitimate hand of king-jack but Hrabec woke up with pocket queens and made the call. The flop brought a third queen, giving Hrabec top set and eventually sending Brewer home for a result worth $543,000.

The next player to bust was the Ukrainian professional Yaroshevskiy. He shoved with ace-six and was called by Elton Tsang with ace-queen. Losing that hand, Yaroshevskiy only had spare change left and when that went soon after, he departed, cashing for $739,000 in seventh place.

In sixth place, Bulgarian Fahredin Mustafov lost out for the first seven-figure score of half a dozen at the final table, winning $1.08 million when his king-nine was topped by Eibinger’s ace-king. The Austrian player was, however, next to leave, all-in with pocket threes only to run into Hrabec, who called with pocket tens. One on the flop and another on the river meant Eibinger lost as ‘Death by Quads’ sent him home with $1.33 million.

Hrabec the Hero as French Legend Goes Close Yet Again

“I will say, it feels quite amazing – is that real money?”

Finnish poker icon Patrik Antonius was left short soon after four-handed play began and moved all-in with the best hand of pocket queens. Hrabec called with pocket jacks and got extremely lucky, another jack landing on the flop to take care of Antonius, forcing one of the most dangerous players still in the hunt out in fourth for $1,697,000.

Elton Tsang has already won big several times on the Triton tour and he almost lifted the famous ‘trident’ trophy again, only to fall two places short. All-in with ace-ten, he was called and busted by French legend Jean-Noel Thorel with ace-queen as a clear board sent the Hong Kong player home with $2,105,000.

Heads-up, Hrabec still had a good lead and put it to use every quickly, never allowing Thorel to get back into the battle. All-in with queen-four of clubs on a board showing J-9-3-K, Thorel had bluffed with a gutshot against Hrabec’s turned set of kings as the champion-elect made the call with two black kings in his hand. No ten came on the river and that was it – Hrabec was the winner, to the tune of $4.33 million.

“I play a little bit [of a] different style; some people say I’m a punter,” laughed Hrabec as the confetti fell in Jeju. “Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t [but] I just play my game. I will say, it feels quite amazing – is that real money?”

It most certainly was, and in winning the latest Triton Poker Series Main Event, Roman Hrabec has carved his name into the history books of this comparatively new and exciting poker series in some style.