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

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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 Ak
j
4
and Watson raised from the big blind with Q
j
7
6
. Lyubovetskiy then reraised to 720,000, leaving himself about 1.2 million behind. Watson called and the flop came J
5
2
. 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:
Place | Player | Earnings | POY extension Points |
1 | Michael Watson | $347,000 | 336 |
2 | Andrey Lyubovetsky | $239,500 | 280 |
3 | Nagi slang | $153,000 | 224 |
4 | Laszlo Bujtas | $117,000 | 168 |
5 | Eddie Trans | $92,000 | 140 |
6 | Daniel Percusic | $71,500 | 112 |
Photo credit: Triton Poker / Joe Giron.