Joao Simao was already the highest poker event earner from his dwelling nation of Brazil. Now, he’s operating away with the lead on that nation’s all-time cash listing after successful the 2026 Triton Jeju Invitational $200,000 no-limit maintain’em occasion for a staggering $7,250,000.
This was the biggest payday but for the 37-year-old poker professional, greater than doubling the $3,067,000 he earned because the champion of the $150,000 Triton occasion finally yr’s World Series of Poker Paradise. The four-time bracelet winner and two-time Triton champion now has greater than $28.2 million in profession cashes, placing him over $12 million forward of second-ranked Yuri Dzivielevski within the Brazilian earnings race.
“There’s no comparison. I’ve had so many good results that I’m very proud of, but this is by far the happiest moment of my career,” Simao instructed Triton reporters after popping out on high.
As an invitational affair, this occasion didn’t award Card Player Player of the Year factors. Despite that truth, Simao is at present ranked among the many high 100 within the 2026 POY standings offered by CoinPoker. He had two POY-qualified victories and 7 such final-table finishes earlier than recording this monumental win.
Thinning The Record Field
This event encompasses a distinctive format by which the sphere is cut up in two for the early motion, with 60 pairs of gamers divided into two halves: the official Triton invitees and the professionals. The fields later mix as one and play to a winner, with 5 execs finally making the ultimate desk to 4 contenders from the invitee pool, which is essentially composed of businessmen. Simao mentioned his enjoyment of this uncommon occasion after closing out the title.
“It’s completely different but a lot more fun,” stated the champion. “It’s a great experience. Of course, because of the buy-in and the prize it’s more special, but if it was a $10k, or a $1k buy-in, I would love to play this tournament. It’s a really, really special tournament.”
The occasion drew a report subject of 173 entries to Les A Casino in South Korea, the biggest displaying ever for the nosebleed-stakes affair. That meant 120 distinctive gamers and one other 53 re-entries. The unprecedented turnout made for a prize pool of $34,600,000, with the highest 31 finishers incomes a share. As a consequence, the highest seven all earned seven figures, with a number of tens of millions for every of the ultimate 5.
The $305,000 cash bubble burst with the elimination of Semi Sun, who ran a bluff into the sevens filled with aces of Wang Yang. Plenty of massive names had been then despatched packing, together with Ben Heath (twenty first), Daniel Rezaei (twenty seventh), David Coleman (twenty fifth), Alejandro Lococo (twenty fourth), Alisson Piekazewicz (twenty third), and the one girl to money on this occasion: Jessica Teusl (twenty second).
The lengthy listing of fallen stars grew as the ultimate desk approached, with Stephen Chidwick (nineteenth), Eric Wasserson (fifteenth), Adrian Mateos (14th), Teun Mulder (twelfth), and Jesse Lonis (eleventh) all hit the rail.
Nine To Five
The final 9 had been selected day 3, with seven-time Triton champion Matthias Eibinger eradicated on the final-table bubble. Simao was out in entrance when the ultimate desk started. Eric Tsai (ninth – $749,000) was the second shortest-stack, however the first to be eradicated. He was left on fumes after getting a bluff picked off by Simao, with the final of his meager holdings finally seized by Ding Biao. Thomas Boivin then ran A♦J♦ into the A♠Ok♦ of Seth Davies to complete eighth for $905,000. The Belgian’s profession earnings grew to over $19.5 million with this newest deep run.
Davies slid again down the leaderboard after a dramatic hand that pitted his pocket eights towards the pocket aces of Ding. Davies flopped a set after the chips went in preflop, however Ding turned the next set and held from there to safe a double-up.
🤯 NOW THAT’S A FINAL TABLE RUN OUT!
Aces towards eights, and Ding Biao and @Sdavies22 with nothing left to do however watch.
The Triton Invitational last desk continues. pic.twitter.com/juCuFqyiLM
— Triton Poker (@tritonpoker) September 14, 2026
Hannes Jeschka was the primary to stroll away with over one million. He received his previous few blinds in with Ok♦7♠ and misplaced to the Ok♠10♠ of Winfred Yu to complete seventh ($1,237,000).
Despite scoring that knockout, Yu was finally the following to move to the payout desk. He ran A-7 into the pocket tens of Simao for his final half dozen blinds to complete sixth ($1,693,000). The two-time Triton winner now has over $13.8 million in profession cashes.
Setting The Final Showdown
Emilien Pitavy received the final of his chips in with Ok♣J♠ in honest form towards A♣8♥ for Ding. Pitavy was unable to attach in any significant means, although, and was eradicated in fifth place ($2,245,000). He was quickly joined by Wang, who received all-in with 5♦5♣ racing towards A♦10♦ for Simao. The J♥9♠4♦Ok♥Q♦ runout noticed Simao make a straight on the river to slender the sphere to a few. Wang earned $2,820,000 because the fourth-place finisher, his largest consequence but on the stay circuit by far.
Davies was down to only 13 large blinds when he known as all-in from the large blind going through a small-blind shove from Ding, who had Ok♦J♥. Davies was loads stay along with his Q♥9♣, however the 8♦6♠5♦A♣8♥ whiffed each gamers. Ding’s king earned him the pot and a spot within the last battle for the title. Davies, a bracelet winner and Triton champion, cashed in for $3,470,000 with this podium end. He now boasts over $50.6 million in lifetime earnings.
Simao entered heads-up play with 66 large blinds to Ding’s 38. A deal was mentioned, however finally not agreed to. Ding turned the tables because of a giant pot early, calling down a multi-street bluff try by Simao with high pair.
After a Simao bounce again, an analogous state of affairs quickly performed out. This time round, Ding seemed up one other Simao bluff with second pair to take practically a 5:1 lead.
Simao Fights Back, Closes It Out With Pocket Kings
The Brazilian remained resilient, although, and started to climb again into the match. He quickly received worth with Q♠10♥ on a 10♣9♥9♣3♥3♣ board, drawing one other hero name from Ding (with Ok♦6♥) on the top to all however shut the hole.
Simao received a hefty pot with journey eights to then soar out to a large lead. Ding was down to only over 10 large blinds when the ultimate hand arrived. He limped the button for 1,000,000 with 10♥9♠ and Simao raised to 2,300,000 with Ok♠Ok♦. Ding known as and the flop got here down 9♥5♠5♦. Simao led out for 1,400,000 and known as when Ding raised to three,000,000. The 2♠ flip drew a verify from Simao. Ding moved all-in for five,600,000 and Simao rapidly known as. The 7♦ accomplished the board, bringing Ding’s run to an finish in second place ($4,940,000).
🔱 VAMOS! The last hand of a marathon heads-up duel. And the Triton Invitational belongs to João Simão. Take all of it in, champion. pic.twitter.com/AG8pyuAwLN
— Triton Poker (@tritonpoker) September 14, 2026
Ding, a three-time Triton champion, now has over $20.1 million in recorded scores. This was his largest but, topping the $2.9 million he earned for a runner-up end in a $150,000 occasion at this cease within the spring of 2024.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Payout |
| 1 | Joao Simao | $7,250,000 |
| 2 | Ding Biao | $4,940,000 |
| 3 | Seth Davies | $3,470,000 |
| 4 | Wang Yang | $2,820,000 |
| 5 | Emilien Pitavy | $2,245,000 |
| 6 | Winfred Yu | $1,693,000 |
| 7 | Hannes Jeschka | $1,237,000 |
| 8 | Thomas Boivin | $905,000 |
| 9 | Eric Tsai | $749,000 |
Photo credit score: Triton Poker.
