Argentina’s Nacho Barbero secured his fourth Triton Poker title at the $30,000 PLO/NLH event during the Super High Roller Series Jeju II, defeating fellow WPT Global ambassador Phil Ivey heads-up for $646,000. The match concluded swiftly in just three hands, with Barbero holding a dominant four-to-one chip advantage over Ivey.
The mixed-format tournament made its debut on the Triton schedule in Jeju and lived up to its billing, producing a star-studded final that brought together two icons of the game with nearly $80 million in combined live tournament earnings.
Barbero Credits Unlikely Inspiration
After the win, Barbero explained how he turned around his run at the final two tables.
“I was running bad, so I told Dan [Colman] send me a picture of your dog that I love! I’m in love with the dog! He sent me a picture and I started running good!” Barbero told Triton’s Henry Kilbane in his post-victory interview.
The change in momentum carried him through a final table stacked with elite names including Daniel Dvoress, Dylan Linde, David Wang, and Ivey himself.
Final Hand: Straight for Barbero
The deciding hand came in the PLO portion of the finale.
- Ivey opened to 600,000 from his 1.9 million stack holding A♠K♠K♦10♦.
- Barbero called with 10♥7♦6♣6♦ from a stack of 13.4 million.
The flop came 3♥5♥4♦, giving Barbero the nut straight. He checked, and Ivey checked back. The turn brought the J♦, improving Ivey with a flush draw and overpair. Barbero led for 600,000, Ivey shoved for 1.85 million, and Barbero called instantly. Ivey needed a diamond to survive, but the river fell 5♠, ending the contest and crowning Barbero the inaugural champion of the $30K PLO/NLH.
Triton Jeju II $30K PLO/NLH Final Table Results
| Rank | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Nacho Barbero | Argentina | $646,000 |
| 2nd | Phil Ivey | United States | $448,000 |
| 3rd | David Wang | Australia | $297,000 |
| 4th | Daniel Dvoress | Canada | $232,000 |
| 5th | Dylan Linde | United States | $187,000 |
| 6th | Igor Yaroshevskyy | Ukraine | $146,000 |
| 7th | Eelis Parssinen | Finland | $116,000 |
| 8th | Ben Tollerene | United States | $79,000 |
| 9th | Michael Wang | United States | $79,000 |
Ivey’s Wait Continues
For Phil Ivey, the runner-up finish extends his wait for a sixth Triton title. His last victory on the tour came at the Super High Roller Series London in 2023. Despite the strong showing, it was Barbero who joined Fedor Holz and Matthias Eibinger as a four-time Triton champion.
A New Beginning with WPT Global
The Jeju victory also marked a perfect start to Barbero’s new role as a Sponsored Pro for WPT Global, a deal he called a “fresh start”.
“I think they’re doing a great job, they’re kind of everywhere,” Barbero said. “They’re putting on really good cash games, really good tournaments. I mean, it’s growing a lot.”
He also praised the Triton experience: “I’ve never played better tournaments in my life, I’m not going to lie. Everything is so top-notch, the food, the venue, the chairs, the treatment to VIPs.”
With his latest triumph, Barbero has further cemented his position as one of the most successful high-stakes players in the world.
