Michael Watson wins the Triton Poker Cyprus $30,000 Pot-Limit Omaha title

Michael Watson has been a world-class neighbor in 2023. The Canadian poker pro has made seven final tables so far this year and has managed to walk away from four of those events with a title. Most recently, he topped a field of 34 entries in the Triton Super High Roller Series North Cyprus $30,000 buy-in Omaha pot-limit event to earn $347,000.

This win came less than three weeks after Watson defeated the Monte Carlo European Poker Tour €5,300 main event for $801,885 and its second EPT main event title. He has already amassed more than $3.1 million POY extension earnings this year. With 3,876 Card player Player of the Year betting on his name, Watson is now the fifth-ranked player in 2023 POY extension race classification presented by Global Poker.

Watson now has two Triton Poker victories, after winning a $50,000 short deck event at the Newt Vietnam festival in March for $695,000. The Toronto resident who is also a Poker World Tour champion, he now has more than $21 million in total tournament earnings.

This PLO extension The event took place over two days at the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel & Spa. Only the top six finishers went on to cash, with $25,000 PLO extension event winner Chris Brewer busted from the money bubble at the end of day 1. Daniel Perkusic (6th – $71,500) and Eddie Tran (5th – $92,000) were also sent home before the remaining players folded for the night.

Day 2 began with two-time bracelet winner Andrey Lyubovetskiy in the lead and Watson in second place among the final four contenders.

Watson won a big hand early on with pocket aces against Lazlo Bujtas’ double-suited KQQJ. The Hungarian gasped after the hand and was soon eliminated with $117,000 for his efforts.

Gergo Nagy was next to fall. He moved all-in with an open-ended straight draw and overcard to face Watson’s middle pair and gutshot. The turn gave Watson a seven high straight, and the river didn’t help Nagy, who earned $153,000 for his third-place finish.

Heads-up play began with Watson holding an approximately 3:2 chip lead over Lyubovetskiy. Watson was able to extend that lead in time for the final hand. Lyubovetskiy limped in from the button with Akj4 and Watson raised from the big blind with Qj76. Lyubovetskiy then reraised to 720,000, leaving himself about 1.2 million behind. Watson called and the flop came J52. Watson bet the pot and Lyubovetskiy called all-in. The Q the turn gave Watson queens and the lead, and the 7 on the river he secured the pot and the title for Watson. Lyubovetskiy received $239,500 as runner-up.

Here’s a look at payments and POY extension points awarded in this event:

Photo credit: Triton Poker / Joe Giron.