Joao Simao has completed an extraordinary comeback to win the $200,000 Triton Invitational in Jeju for $7.25 million. The Brazilian was reduced to just two big blinds after reaching the money, yet finished three days of poker with every chip in a record-breaking tournament.
Simao defeated Biao Ding heads-up after a two-and-a-half-hour battle at Les A Casino. Ding collected a career-best $4.94 million, while Seth Davies finished third for $3.47 million.
The Invitational attracted 173 entries and generated a staggering $34.6 million prize pool. Both numbers set new records for the exclusive Triton event, comfortably surpassing the previous benchmark set earlier this year.
Simao Goes From Two Big Blinds to Champion
Simao’s victory looked extremely unlikely during Day 2.
A preflop collision shortly after the bubble left him with only two big blinds. Tournament survival was the immediate priority, never mind a $7.25 million first prize, but Simao began rebuilding and eventually ended the day with enough chips to return for the final session.
By the time 10 players remained, his position had been completely transformed.
Simao eliminated Matthias Eibinger in 10th place to set the official nine-player final table. Eibinger earned $635,000, while Simao entered the final table with the chip lead after having been on the brink of elimination only hours earlier.
It was another dramatic turn in an Invitational that had been setting records from the start. Poker Type followed the tournament from Day 1, when Jules Dickerson led a record field containing Stephen Chidwick, Ethan “Rampage” Yau, Phil Ivey and many of the biggest names in high-stakes poker.
Triton Invitational Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joao Simao | Brazil | $7,250,000 |
| 2 | Biao Ding | China | $4,940,000 |
| 3 | Seth Davies | United States | $3,470,000 |
| 4 | Yang Wang | China | $2,820,000 |
| 5 | Emilien Pitavy | France | $2,245,000 |
| 6 | Winfred Yu | Hong Kong | $1,693,000 |
| 7 | Hannes Jeschka | Germany | $1,237,000 |
| 8 | Thomas Boivin | Belgium | $905,000 |
| 9 | Eric Tsai | Taiwan | $749,000 |
The payouts reflected the extraordinary size of the tournament. Even ninth place was worth $749,000, while everyone reaching the final seven collected at least $1.237 million.
Simao Takes Control of the Final Table
Simao did not simply survive after reaching the final table.
He continued accumulating chips and gradually built a dominant position. By the time he eliminated Triton co-founder Winfred Yu in sixth place, Simao controlled around half of all the chips still in play.
Yu collected $1.693 million, before Emilien Pitavy departed fifth for $2.245 million.
Simao then removed Yang Wang in fourth place. Wang’s run was worth $2.82 million, leaving Simao, Ding and Davies battling for places in the final heads-up contest.
Davies had already made history simply by reaching this stage.
The American became the first player to make three Triton Invitational final tables. His latest run ended when Ding eliminated him in third place, adding another $3.47 million to Davies’ formidable high-stakes tournament record.
Davies had already reached another final table during Triton Jeju II, finishing fifth in the $25,000 event won by Alex Boika.
Simao and Ding Battle for $7.25 Million
Simao started heads-up with close to a two-to-one chip lead and quickly stretched the advantage to around four-to-one.
The match was far from over.
Several unsuccessful bluffs allowed Ding to fight back and eventually reverse the situation. Simao then found himself at risk with ace-four against Ding’s ace-jack, but the board produced a chopped pot and kept the Brazilian alive.
That escape proved crucial.
Simao later made a huge queen-high hero call to regain the lead. Once back in front, he did not allow Ding to take control again.
The decisive hand saw Ding commit his tournament life after making top pair, while Simao held an overpair. The river failed to save Ding, bringing one of the biggest tournaments of 2026 to an end.
Ding’s $4.94 million runner-up prize was nevertheless the largest tournament score of his career.
$7.25 Million Sets New Brazilian Record
The victory is also historic for Brazilian poker.
Simao’s $7.25 million prize is the largest tournament score ever recorded by a Brazilian player. It also represents the biggest cash of his own career and gives him a second Triton title.
His first came at WSOP Paradise in December 2025, when Simao won the $150,000 Triton event for just over $3 million. That tournament ended with an all-Brazilian top three featuring Simao, Felipe Boianovsky and Yuri Dzivielevski.
This victory came in very different circumstances.
Eight different countries were represented at the nine-player final table, while the field of 173 entries made this the largest Triton Invitational ever held. The event was also the first Invitational staged in Asia after Triton chose Jeju for the September edition.
Lonis and Mateos Among Those Who Fell Short
Jesse Lonis had entered the final day hoping to turn his daughter’s fifth birthday into a remarkable victory.
He had posted before play that he was 10th of 16 and competing for the $7.25 million top prize, writing: “This one’s for you Harley.” Lonis ultimately finished 11th for $635,000, narrowly missing the official final table.
Defending Invitational champion Adrian Mateos also failed to make the final nine.
Mateos, who won the previous Invitational in Montenegro, finished 14th for $512,000. The Spaniard had been attempting to become the first player to win two Triton Invitationals.
Triton Jeju Moves Straight Into Main Event
The Invitational may be over, but Triton Jeju II is not.
The $100,000 No-Limit Hold’em Main Event began on September 14 and runs through September 16. It is followed by the $150,000 10th Anniversary Special before the festival concludes on September 17.
Simao, however, already owns the result that will be difficult to eclipse.
Two big blinds became a final-table chip lead, the chip lead became a trophy, and the trophy came with $7.25 million.
