Poker legend Phil Ivey experienced a heartbreaking exit on the money bubble of the $200,000 buy-in Triton Poker Montenegro Invitational, narrowly missing out on a $6.18 million payday.
The Hand That Ended Ivey’s Run
With 24 players remaining and only 23 slated to receive payouts, Ivey found himself in a tense blind-versus-blind confrontation. After Maher Nouira raised from the small blind, Ivey moved all-in from the big blind holding A♥K♠. Nouira called with J♠J♦. The board ran out 7♣5♣4♥8♦8♠, offering no assistance to Ivey, who was eliminated as the final player to leave empty-handed.
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Earlier in the tournament, Ivey suffered another significant setback when his pocket kings were cracked by Brian Kim’s ace-four, which hit quad aces in a three-way all-in pot.
Tournament Highlights
- Field Size: 133 entries, a record for the Triton Invitational.
- Top Prize: $6.18 million.
- Final Table Leader: Javid Ismayilov of Azerbaijan.
- Notable Eliminations Before the Money: Steve O’Dwyer, Kristen Foxen, Bryn Kenney, Dan Smith, Jessica Teusl, Daniel Dvoress, and fan-favorite Vladimir “Gambledore” Korzinin.
Despite the setback, Ivey’s performance continues to demonstrate his enduring skill and competitiveness in high-stakes poker.