If you spend three days watching the world’s greatest professional poker players competing against a selection of successful business people, entrepreneurs and philanthropists in a poker tournament, the presence of luck and skill blinds.
Bryn Kenney arrived in London with more than $9m locked up in winnings since Christmas. He had won seven of his past eight heads-up confrontations, with only Timothy Adams able to dodge the Lone Wolf’s eclectic mix of missile systems and mines in Jeju recently.
Dr Aaron Zhang was born in China and moved to New Zealand when he was 11 years old. He obtained his medical degree from the University of Otago in New Zealand, and moved to Melbourne. He spent the next few years working in various hospitals around Victoria, before realising that only general practice would allow him to embrace all aspects of. Champion Aaron Zang. If you spend three days watching the world’s greatest professional poker players competing against a selection of successful business people, entrepreneurs and philanthropists in a poker tournament, the presence of luck and skill blinds. Aaron Zang (born 21 June 1982; as Shu Nu Zang) is a Chinese poker player currently residing in Macau. He won the £1,050,000 No Limit Hold'em Triton Million for Charity event which has the largest single payout in poker tournament history. Aaron Zang - WikiMili, The Free Encyclopedia - WikiMili, The. Aaron Zang is the champion of the most expensive poker tournament ever - Triton Million £1.05 million buy-in - and with his £19 million score, but Bryn Kenney is now the all-time winningest. Aaron Zang (born 21 June 1982; as Shu Nu Zang) is a Chinese poker player currently residing in Macau. He won the £1,050,000 No Limit Hold'em Triton Million for Charity event which has the largest single payout in poker tournament history.
Coming into Triton Million: A Helping Hand For Charity, Kenney was adamant that he would win, and take his rightful place at the head of the All-Time Money List.
“Poker needs someone like me to represent the game,” he told me in one of our many discussions this week.
The reigning Aussie Millions Champion and two-time Triton Champion used that confidence, sprinkled with experience, skill, and gangster poker to make it to the heads-up stage of the event.
Standing in his way was Aaron Zang. In the minutes before Zang settled down to face Kenney, he told me that he had ‘no idea what he was doing,’ that he never realised these players would be ‘so good,’ and it would be ‘a miracle’ if he overturned Kenney’s 4:1 chip lead and became the Triton Million champion.
A miracle?
Let’s see what we can do.
Eight players landed on the shores of the Triton Million Final Table each hoping to win the £19m first prize and to own a small piece of poker’s history, and the overwhelming favourite was Vivek Rajkumar who began proceedings with more than double the stack of Stephen Chidwick, in second.
Final Table Seat Draw
Seat 1: Timothy Adams – 5.735m
Seat 2: Bryn Kenney – 5.54m
Seat 3: Alfred DeCarolis – 5.455m
Seat 4: Vivek Rajkumar – 18m
Seat 5: Bill Perkins – 2m
Seat 7: Stephen Chidwick – 9.79m
Seat 8: Dan Smith – 2.35m
Seat 9: Aaron Zang – 5.06m
A Poor Start For Rajkumar; Perkins Doubling
Bill Perkins had the shortest stack in the room, and his strategy was a simple one – choose your spots wisely, and ship it. The entrepreneur stuck with the plan, doubling through Vivek Rajkumar twice – a sign of the times to come for the cash game pro.
The man of the level was Dan Smith, who added 4m chips to his stack with some well-timed moves and intelligent plays. Alfred DiCarlos also showed that the razzmatazz of the final table wouldn’t phase him, after running a successful bluff on Timothy Adams and showing the table.
Smith & Chidwick Soar; Rajkumar Plummets
Smith’s incredible run continued in the next two-levels, although he needed some luck along the way. Smith went into the second break of the day with the chip lead, after doubling through Rajkumar in fortunate circumstances.
With blinds at 125k/250k/250k, Smith opened from the first position to 500k holding pocket jacks, and Rajkumar called on the button with Th9h. The flop was a perfect looking Tc9s4h for both players, and they got it in. After the inconsequential 3d hit the turn, Smith was one card away from elimination before a third jack hit the river to change everything.
Chidwick also moved into the frame at this time, and once again Rajkumar was the man handing out chips. With blinds at 100k/200k/200k, Rajkumar opened to 450k on the button holding As8c, and Chidwick called from the big blind holding Jd5d. The flop fell Jc9s4h to give Chidwick top pair, and he called a 300k bet from Rajkumar. The Qs landed on the turn, and this time Chidwick called an 850k Rajkumar double-barrel. Rajkumar then fired a third barrel of 2.9m at the sight of the 6h. Chidwick moved all of his time bank chips into the middle, and when he had finished thinking, he had made the right call.
Rajkumar’s only slice of luck arrived with the elimination of Timothy Adams. The Triton Jeju Champion had a horrible final table, encapsulated by his final hand finding pocket kings, only for Rajkumar to find an ace on the flop when all-in, pre holding ace-ten, to send the Canadian to the rail in eighth.
Alfred DeCarolis joined Adams, in seventh place, after running Ah3h into the pocket aces of Chidwick. The UK All-Time Money Earner was chosen by DeCarolis to compete in this event, so it was with a twist of irony that the real estate developer would fall at his hands.
Rajkumar Falls; Kenney Leads
The fifth and sixth levels spelt the end of a dreadful final table experience for Rajkumar, although you would never have thought it if you had seen the smile on the man’s face as he left the competition.
The demise began when Perkins doubled through Rajkumar for the third time when AK beat A3 in a blind on blind thing. Perkins, however, couldn’t keep hold of those chips, eventually handing them to Bryn Kenney, running KT into aces in a standard spot.
After eliminating Perkins, Kenney turned his attention to Rajkumar. It could have been a tough spot for Kenney with the big stack to his left, but it wasn’t to be. Kenney found aces for the second time in succession. Rajkumar held A8ss, and five community cards later the pre-final table favourite was out.
In between eliminations, Kenney had also faced elimination, doubling through Aaron Zang nines versus 87dd, dodging a myriad of outs on a Jh9d3h6d board. The Qs on the river forcing Kenney to come to the rail to tell his mother he needed a break because he was on such a rush.
Zang recovered from his smash on the nose by winning a flip against Dan Smith.
Zang Takes The Lead
When four-handed, the only non-pro left in the field suddenly found himself with the chip lead. First, Zang doubled through Kenney when flopping two pair against top pair, and then he doubled through Smith for the second time when AK flopped a king against pocket eights.
Kenney Emerges as The Major Contender; Chidwick and Smith Struggle
Zang didn’t hold the lead for too long before Kenney began to take over. Chidwick and Smith couldn’t seem to put anything together, and as their chip stacks dwindled, Kenney’s increased.
Smith doubled through Zang when 97o flopped a seven against the A3o of Zang in a blind on blind confrontation, and then we lost Chidwick when he called a shove from Kenney holding pocket sevens against KJo, only for the deck to produce a second king on the flop to send the man from the UK home in fourth.
Smith exited in the third spot when his ATo lost to Kenney’s QThh in a race to the death, and Kenney’s rail erupted in jubilation, a sense of victory in the air, as he prepared to take on Zang with a 4:1 chip lead, all of the momentum, and all of the experience.
Heads-Up: Kenny v Zang
Kenney: 44.2m
Zang: 9.8m
As soon as Smith exited in third, Zang asked Kenney for a deal, and a nod and handshake later, here were the scores on the doors.
Kenney: £16.89m
Zang: £12.6m
The Tournament Director insisted that the pair play for £1.1m, and the finale of Triton Million: A Helping Hand For Charity contained two main scenes.
In the first, Zang doubled through Kenney when pocket sixes beat KQo, reducing the gap between them to 7m chips. Then Zang took the chip lead, before the final all-in and call.
Zang moved all-in on a flop of 8s4s3c, holding 8d5d for top pair, and Kenney made the call with As6s for the drawing hand. The 9c was black, but the wrong emblem for Kenney. The Kd on the river was another card that Kenney didn’t want to see, and Zang took the title.
It was a strange feeling at the end. Typically, we have a winner and a loser, but today, we had two winners. Zang banked £13,779,491 and the title of Triton Million winner. Kenney collected £16,890,509, meaning he wears the All-Time Money List crown with $55.5m in lifetime earnings. He also broke the record for most earnings in a calendar year with $29.8m and the most significant single prize in poker with $20,563,324.
“I lost two flips,” said Kenney. “That’s what it boils down to. It’s poker. I’m happy. I would have loved the title, but I told you, I wanted that spot on the All-Time Money list, and now I have it. I couldn’t be happier.”
During the closing ceremony, Triton co-founder, Paul Phua, grabbed the microphone and told the crowd that he had played with Zang in Macau for the past nine years.
“It goes to show, that anyone can win,” said Phua.
Zang and Kenney weren’t the only winners, so were Triton.
The production and the action matched the pre-tournament buzz around the event. Let’s hope that in the future if they ever do this again, more successful people in business will find hope and inspiration from Zang’s win, and join the fray, but will they ever do this again?
Final Table Results
- Aaron Zang – *£13,779,491.
- Bryn Kenney – *16,890,509
- Dan Smith – £7,200,000
- Stephen Chidwick – £4,410,000
- Vivek Rajkumar – £3,000,000
- Bill Perkins – £2,200,000
- Alfred DeCarolis – £1,720,000
- Timothy Adams – £1,400,000
*Indicates a heads-up deal.
Poker events with million-dollar or higher buy-ins don't come around often, but when they do, they sure are exciting. The Triton Million - A Helping Hand for Charity was no exception as it brought together some of the world's best professionals to play alongside avid poker 'recreationals' — all putting up their £1,050,000 buy-in to compete for the title in the richest tournament in poker history.
The fifty-four hopefuls created a £54 million prize pool with a brilliant £2.7 million going to charitable causes. But only one player walk away with the victory, and after three days of intense action, China's Aaron Zang claimed that post.
When heads-up play started, Zang and Bryn Kenney took a moment to spark up a deal. Kenney had over five times the chips at the time and took £16,890,509 to Zang’s £13,779,491, meaning although Zang would take down the title, it was Kenney claiming the lion's share of the money, securing a score of approximately $20,537,000.
With a crowd of supporters surrounding Zang, he was presented with the Triton Million trophy by co-founder Paul Phua and was unable to contain his joy. 'This feels like a dream come true!' said Zang with echoes of applause filling the arena.
Phua congratulated his friend on his achievement and reminisced about their cash games together in Macau over the past nine years. 'Aaron is not a tournament player normally; I hope this shows to all non-pros they can win. Aaron is good but I didn't think he was that good!' joked Phua.
Zang admitted he felt he made mistakes at the final table, but despite falling to just three million chips at one stage, he said he refocused on his game and his dream.
'Bryn (Kenney) played better than me, but I always thought maybe the dream can come true. I am so happy and also very honored to have played against everyone.'
Triton Million Final Table Payouts
| Position | Player | Country | Prize (GBP) | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aaron Zang | China | *£13,779,491 | $16,754,497 |
| 2 | Bryn Kenney | United States | *£16,890,509 | $20,537,187 |
| 3 | Dan Smith | United States | £7,200,000 | $8,719,164 |
| 4 | Stephen Chidwick | United Kingdom | £4,410,000 | $5,340,488 |
| 5 | Vivek Rajkumar | India | £3,000,000 | $3,632,985 |
| 6 | Bill Perkins | United States | £2,200,000 | $2,664,189 |
| 7 | Alfred DeCarolis | United States | £1,720,000 | $2,082,911 |
| 8 | Timothy Adams | Canada | £1,400,000 | $1,695,393 |
Triton Million Final Table
There was no shortage of action at the final table as aggressive bets and monster bluffs started happening on just the second round of the final day. Timothy Adams opened and received a call from only Alfred DeCarolis. Adams fired on the jack-high flop and again when the board paired on the turn.
The river saw two pair come on the board and Adams slowed down, checking to DeCarolis who without hesitation moved all in with ace-high. Adams mucked his pocket nines and DeCarolis instantly turned over his ace-three of diamonds, showing the first, but definitely not the last, major bluff of the day.
Adams built his stack back up to almost that of where he started the final day and found a great spot against the start of the day chipleader Vivek Rajkumar. The Canadian raised it up, DeCarolis called and Rajkumar pushed all of his chips into the middle. Adams made the call in what was the biggest pot of the day so far and DeCarolis thought hard, ultimately letting his hand go.
Adams tabled kings against the ace-ten of Rajkumar and DeCarolis then acknowledged that he folded an ace, leaving Rajkumar with just two aces left in the deck. An ace appeared regardless and Adams was the first on the day to exit in eighth place.
The very next hand saw Rajkumar try to pull a fast one on Stephen Chidwick with the dead man's hand. Chidwick showed no sign of budging as he called Rajkumar without ease until the river when Rajkumar pushed the Brit all-in.
Chidwick threw all of his time extension chips into the pot instantly to buy himself some time holding just second pair on the board. Only a minute later Chidwick found it in him to call and was spot-on as Rajkumar tabled ace-high, sending a massive double-up to one of the most dangerous poker players in the world.
Chidwick continued on the very next hand, putting DeCarolis all in with his pocket aces. DeCarolis called for his remaining stack, holding ace-three. DeCarolis picked up a wheel draw on the turn, but the river was an ace and Chidwick pulled in another pot, sending DeCarolis out in seventh place.
Everyone's favorite poker-playing businessman Bill Perkins came into the final table as the short stack and grinded all the way to sixth before his eventual departure. Perkins grabbed a few doubles on his way, outlasting two of his foes, but could not crack the aces of Kenney with his king-ten and he was sent on his way.
The start-of-day chipleader Rajkumar played the Triton Million like a home game, enjoying every minute and creating action during every hand he played. Rajkumar had a rollercoaster of a final day, dropping early, bouncing back through the Adam's elimination, and right back down with a bluff into the Chidwick.
Rajkumar's biggest low came when he flopped top two against Dan Smith who was holding an overpair. The two put it all in the middle with Rajkumar a favorite to eliminate Smith and take a commanding chip lead in the process.
Instead, it was Smith who took the lead after finding an unlikely jack on the river, leaving Rajkumar short. Rajkumar started a comeback but found himself as the second to run into the aces of Kenney. He was unable to catch up and took an exit in fifth place.
Aaron Zang Has Won The Largest Buy-In Poker Tournament Ever ...
It took just over two hours of four-handed play before another casualty would hit the rail. Kenney and Zang took over for those two hours, leaving Smith and Chidwick on the lower end of things. Shortly after the dinner break, Chidwick opened with a pair of sevens and Kenney instantly moved all in over the top with king-jack.
Chidwick thought for a couple of minutes but in the end, he called and the two took to a classic flip situation. Kenney flopped a king and Chidwick failed to catch up, leaving the tournament in fourth place.
Kenney continued his terror just eight hands later, moving all in from the button with queen-ten of hearts and Smith called for his remaining stack with ace-ten. Smith was in a favorable spot positioned to secure a double. The cards had other plans though as Kenney flopped top pair with a flush draw. Smith had straight possibilities but failed to connect as Kenney took down the pot, sending Smith out in third for a respectable £7,200,000.
Aaron Zang Twitter
After the elimination of Smith, there was a new leader of the all-time money list as Kenney secured at least a second-place cash and was going to surpass Justin Bonomo no matter the outcome.
'You have to detach yourself from the money and get your mindset right into thinking it's just another day at the office. I don't really care about the money, I just want to win the biggest tournament in poker history.'
Speaking on the opportunity to take over as the all-time money list leader Kenney said: 'I always told everyone I was going to be number one and the thing is once I do hit number one, no one is ever going to touch it again. If I get a little bit of luck here today, then good luck to anyone taking it back from me.'
The heads-up play started with Kenney having over a five-to-one chip lead. Kenney came out swinging but Zang stayed patient and waited for his spot. Zang won the first all in with his pair of sixes against the king-queen of Kenney. Zang called a raise of Kenney with king-seven and flopped three kings just a couple of hands after.
Kenney check-raised the turn, Zang called and fired out on the river with nothing. Zang moved all in and Kenney instantly released. The very next hand Kenney flopped the nut flush draw after calling a raise preflop and check-raised. Zang moved all in and Kenney instantly called. Zang dodged the spades and Kenney had to settle for second place in title, after securing the biggest payday of the tournament.
Zang Poker Player
That's it for the PokerNews live coverage of the Triton Million - A Helping Hand for Charity. Tune in tomorrow for coverage on the £100,000 Triton Main Event.