The Triton Poker Series SHRS Jeju 2025 witnessed an unforgettable debut by Artem Kobylynskyi, who claimed victory in Event #18 – $30K Short Deck. Kobylynskyi, an emerging poker star, faced off against some of the world’s top players to secure his win, earning $492,000 and joining the exclusive ranks of Triton champions.
🛣️ Artem Kobylynskyi’s Path to Victory
Kobylynskyi’s remarkable victory is even more impressive considering the fierce competition he faced at the final table. Legendary players like Mike Watson (with the chip lead) and other Triton champions made for a daunting challenge. Yet, Kobylynskyi maintained his composure, adapting his strategy to each opponent and slowly but surely carving his way to the top.
In his post-game interview, Kobylynskyi remarked, “It was not easy,” acknowledging the challenges posed by such experienced players. Despite a few mistakes, his performance was nearly flawless, proving his expertise in Short Deck poker.
💰 Total Payouts for Event #18 – $30,000 Short Deck
The total prize pool for Event #18 was a massive $1.68 million, drawn from 56 entries, including 27 re-entries. Here’s a breakdown of the top payouts:
- Artem Kobylynskyi (Ukraine) – $492,000
- Mike Watson (Canada) – $353,000
- Dan Dvoress (Canada) – $229,000
- Lun Loon (Malaysia) – $173,000
- Jason Koon (USA) – $134,000
- Stephen Chidwick (UK) – $104,000
- Paul Phua (Malaysia) – $82,000
- Danny Tang (Hong Kong) – $64,000
- Winfred Yu (Hong Kong) – $49,000
These payouts showcase the high-stakes nature of the tournament, with Kobylynskyi taking home the largest share of $492,000 and cementing his place in Triton history.
⚡ Tournament Action
After two weeks of intense Hold’em and PLO events, Short Deck made a highly anticipated return to the Triton Poker Series. Players, both specialists and all-rounders, quickly adapted to the game’s unique rule set, and the tournament area buzzed with excitement. Despite Short Deck’s waning popularity, it still delivered thrilling action, and the prize pool of $1.68 million proved that the game is far from dead.
🔥 Early Eliminations & Rising Stars
The action heated up fast! Sam Greenwood was the first to bubble out just before the final table, eliminated by Mike Watson. Danny Tang also fell early on the final day, leaving only 8 players to vie for the top prize.
🌟 Loon’s Surge & Shocking Eliminations
Lun Loon had a dramatic rise from short stack to chip leader, but after Kobylynskyi regained his momentum, Loon was eliminated in 4th place, earning $173,000. Meanwhile, Paul Phua was knocked out in 7th by Dan Dvoress after a stunning quad queens hand. Stephen Chidwick and Jason Koon also struggled with short stacks, falling in 6th and 5th places, respectively.
🤺 Heads-Up Battle: Artem Kobylynskyi vs Watson
The stage was set for an epic heads-up battle between Kobylynskyi and Watson. Watson held a slight chip lead at the start, but Kobylynskyi began to chip away at him, securing several key pots. In the final hand, Kobylynskyi’s AdKc outplayed Watson’s Ah8s, sealing his victory and the $492,000 first-place prize.
Mike Watson earned a well-deserved $353,000 for his runner-up finish, but it was Kobylynskyi who made a statement with his flawless debut.
🏅 Kobylynskyi’s Unstoppable Debut
With his debut victory, Kobylynskyi joins an elite group of players who have a 100% win rate in their first-ever Triton event. His performance at the Triton Poker Series Jeju 2025 has made him a player to watch in future poker tournaments.
Source: Triton Poker
