Phil Ivey Denied Triton Title as Biao Ding Wins Big in Jeju

With players such as Jared Bleznick, Stephen Chidwick and Ole Schemion all in the mix, the final table of the $50,000 Event #15 on the 2024 Triton Poker Series in Jeju threw together some of the best poker players in the world. At the end of a thrilling event, Phil Ivey was toppled by Ding Biao as the underdog won a top prize of over $1.1 million and sent the poker legend home as the runner-up in the Pot Limit Omaha tournament.

Danny Tang Taken Out Before the Final

Of the 84 official entries, 41 of those buy-ins were re-entries, as a field of real talent battled to the conclusion of a star-studded event. Only 14 players were paid and among them were some legends of the felt who couldn’t quite make the final table of eight. After Tomas Ribeiro busted in 15^th place on the stone bubble, the remaining players all earned a minimum of $76,000.

First to bag that amount was the West Virginian poker crusher Jason Koon. Having gone into the bubble stages short, he managed a double up to survive once but inside the money couldn’t repeat the trick. Nor could Dylan Linde survive, busting outside the final dozen players for the same amount as Koon. Others fell quickly as Killian Loeffler (12^th for $82,500) and Sam Greenwood (11^th for $92,500) both departed. Only ten remained, with two eliminations required to make the final eight and British-based Hong Kong player Danny Tang was next to fall, ousted in 10^th place for $101,250.

Inside the final nine, it was the Japanese player Kosei Ichinose who left next in 9^th place. When he was busted, Phil Ivey led the final eight players, but an official photograph had to wait until seven remained. That was some time, as Paul Phua doubled to survive and Ding Biao did likewise to take the overall lead. Nacho Barbero was the unlucky player to miss out on the camera flashes, busting to Biao for a score of $152,500 in eight position.

Chidwick Chased Down

Seven terrific players remained in with a chance, but soon, a trio of top talent was sat on the rail. The first clash that left a legend on the outside looking in was between Phil Ivey and an old foe from the Full Tilt Poker days, Finnish poker icon Patrik Antonius. It was the Finn who was on the wrong side of the elimination as Ivey sent his old friend home with a cash worth $200,000.

British professional and WSOP bracelet winner in PLO Stephen Chidwick dropped down the ranks but as he battled for his tournament life, another player who was short lost out. German player Ole Schemion is a known regular at these nosebleed stakes and takes on the GG MILLION$ seemingly reaching the final table every week. Here, however, the German player missed out on the final five when his pocket aces were shot down by Ding Biao’s cowboys, his pocket kings meeting another on the board for top set. Out in sixth for $247,500, Schemion wouldn’t have long to wait for company on the rail.

Stephen Chidwick was unable to ladder any longer and lost out in fifth place for $317,500. His Q-8-6-2 started and ended his final hand behind Biao’s A-Q-J-5 as the man from Kent was struck out with Biao climbing even higher on the leaderboard, a clear chip leader with only three men standing between him and victory.  

Four Become One as Big Phil Fades

Next to go was the Malaysian businessman Paul Phua. A Triton Poker Series winner in the past, Phua was hoping to hit a club to make a flush but couldn’t do as he took on Phil Ivey’s two-pair in a hand which included three clubs. Those blocking clubs were enough to stave off the flush and Ivey chipped up, sending Phua to the rail for $401,000 in fourth place in the process.

Down to three, Ivey claimed another scalp as Jared Bleznick took home $490,000 but missed out on the final heads-up. Ivey had been well behind Biao with four left but after busting both the subsequent players in fourth and third place respectively, Ivey had 10.5 million chips to Biao’s 6.25 million.

With nothing to lose, Biao went on an all-out attack and took a slight lead with the final duel catching fire. With two pair and the chip lead, all the chips went in with Ivey chasing a flush. It came in on the turn and the American was one card from doubling up and putting himself in the box seat with all the momentum. That card gave Biao a full house, however, and that gave the Chinese player the trophy and top prize of $1.1 million, relegating Ivey to a runner-up score of $755,000.

“Phil Ivey is a very good player – there’s always a lot of luck,” Biao said in the aftermath of his signature win. “I got the cards this time. The more I play, I am getting better and better.”