 First of Triton Series Jeju events has finished. The final of it was quite surprising though. Eventually it was Nick Schulman who won the tournament although he has never played this variation before!
On the final day of Short Deck Holdem Ante Only for HKD 100,000 ($13,000) there were as many as 16 players left. Schulman had 10th stack and could have been eliminated quickly, but he went all-in with Q9 against Ivan Leow's AQ and luckily hit his 9!
On the final table Nick was seated next to a friend Ben Lamb. His high stakes games pal eliminated Wai Kin Yong, and then on the bubble also Tom Chio. He was about to start the final phase with a huge lead, it seemed!
However Schulman took large part of his stack with AQ when the opponent had kings. He was lucky, but there was skill involved as well. He mixed his play, trapped rivals and outplayed all of them.
When there were five people left there happened a hand that would make this event long remembered for. It all started with a few limps. The board was J68 and Lamb bet with his TT. Schulman called with KK. Chow Hing Yaung decided to go along for a ride with Q9. Turn was another 8. Lamb bet once more and Schulman called to see the river 9. Schulman checked and Lamb bet big. Nick thought for about three minutes and called to take even bigger lead!
– He is a great player, but I decided I would not fold. I could beat bluffs there and some mediocre hands that kings would win with – says Schulman.
He was untoppable in the finals. When Chow Hing Yaung caught a pair of tens with JT, Schulman caught an out on the river with his ace.
Heads-up against Kenneth Kee was beginning with a 9 to 1 lead for Nick. The opponent managed to double up but then Kee limped QT and caught two pair on T7Q board when Schulman was holding… a set with QQ. Turn was 9. River A. This meant the end of the event and victory for Nick Schulman.
Yesterday Schulman said he had no idea how to play Short Deck Holdem. This was his first event and he was able to win the first of Triton's tournaments!
– I was a bit lucky and the game is really great. (…) Still do not know how to play it, but when you win plenty of all-ins, winning the whole event is not so hard – says Schulman.
HKD 100,000 event results (prizes converted to USD):
Nick Schulman – $272,084
Kenneth Kee – $168,140
Chow Hing Yaung – $111,484
Ben Lamb – $78,920
Foo Sze Ming – $59,415
Kim Chin Wei – $47,403
Ivan Leow – $39,941
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First of Triton Series Jeju events has finished. The final of it was quite surprising though. Eventually it was Nick Schulman who won the tournament although he has never played this variation before!
