Aleksejs Ponakovs wins first Triton Poker Tour title after years of near misses

From runner-up to champion: Ponakovs’ relentless drive finally pays off. A $4.75M win cements his legacy in high-stakes poker.

, and Administrator

2025 December 12 . 1:12 PM

1 min read

Here we can see a table full of cards and coins and there is a bottle and tin there are people... — Here we can see a table full of cards and coins and there is a bottle and tin there are people sitting on chairs here and there and some people are standing here and there

Aleksejs Ponakovs wins first Triton Poker Tour title after years of near misses

Aleksejs Ponakovs has claimed his first Triton Poker Tour title after years of near misses. The Latvian pro outlasted a 237-player field to win the $100,000 Triton Main Event at World Series of Poker Paradise. His victory also secured a third WSOP bracelet and a top prize of $4,750,000.

Ponakovs entered the tournament with an impressive record on the Triton circuit. Despite 30 cashes, 19 final table appearances, and over $19.5 million in earnings, a Triton title had eluded him—until now. His two previous runner-up finishes made this win even more significant.

The $23,700,000 prize pool made this one of the most lucrative events of the series. Ponakovs’ performance solidifies his reputation as one of poker’s top competitors. His third WSOP bracelet and first Triton title further cement his place among the game’s elite.