German online crusher returns to Triton three years later — and wins it all
JEJU, South Korea — Sebastian Gaehl captured the $50,000 buy-in NLH Seven Handed event at the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series, defeating Brandon Wilson heads-up to take home $1,392,000.
The 28-year-old German, who first appeared on the Triton stage as an online qualifier at the tour’s Vietnam stop three years ago, closed out the title on the fourth hand of heads-up play. His A-10 held against Wilson’s A-9 in a pre-flop all-in, and the dealer offered no drama. It was Gaehl’s first outright win.
“I played so many years for this moment, and finally we are here,” Gaehl said. “Still have to let it sink in.”
The result added to an already strong week for Gaehl in Jeju. He cashed three times on Triton ONE before going deep in the SHRS $20,000 opener, signaling he was firmly in form before this title run.
The 116-entry field built a $6,960,000 prize pool. Gaehl began the seven-handed final fourth in chips at 37 big blinds, with two-time Triton champion Zhou Quan holding the commanding stack at 89 BBs. Over the course of the final, Gaehl picked off three eliminations, steadily working his way to the top.
“You have to have patience and wait for your spots,” he said. “I think I got really lucky and I took my spots.”
Final Table Breakdown
Matthias Eibinger, the five-time Triton champion, was first to go in seventh. Holding Q-5 with 11 blinds in the big blind, Eibinger picked up a flush draw on a J-6-10 flop and check-jammed Gaehl’s continuation bet. Gaehl called and tabled K-J for top pair. The draw missed on both the turn and river, and Eibinger collected $243,000.
Gaehl then sent Anatoly Zlotnikov home in sixth. Zlotnikov raised from the button with 12 blinds holding Q-J; Gaehl shoved from the big blind with pocket eights, and Zlotnikov called. The flop came 8-J-Q, giving Gaehl a set while simultaneously pairing Zlotnikov’s cards, but the set was best. Zlotnikov earned $325,000.
Zhou Quan, who had been among the most active players throughout the day, blinded down to three big blinds before getting the last of his chips in with A-5 against Alex Kulev’s A-8. Kulev’s kicker played, ending Zhou’s bid for a third Triton title. Zhou took $516,000 in fifth.
Wilson knocked out Kulev in fourth when his pocket kings flopped a set against Kulev’s three-bet shove holding A-10 for 11 blinds. Kulev, the last former champion left in the field, collected $516,000.
Felipe Boianovsky three-bet shoved with A-5 into Gaehl’s pocket jacks to bust in third. A five landed on the flop, but the jacks held up. Boianovsky earned $626,000 for his run.
Gaehl took a 38-to-20 blind edge into heads-up after Wilson declined to discuss numbers. The match lasted just four hands before it was over.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Sebastian Gaehl | $1,392,000 |
| 2nd | Brandon Wilson | $948,000 |
| 3rd | Felipe Boianovsky | $626,000 |
| 4th | Alex Kulev | $516,000 |
| 5th | Zhou Quan | $516,000 |
| 6th | Anatoly Zlotnikov | $325,000 |
| 7th | Matthias Eibinger | $243,000 |
