Joao Simao Wins Record $200,000 Triton Invitational After Two-Big-Blind Comeback

Last updated on September 17th, 2026

Poker trophy and chips representing Joao Simao’s $7.25 million Triton Invitational victory in Jeju.

Joao Simao lifts the Triton Invitational trophy on the final-table stage at LES A Casino, Jeju Island, South Korea.

Brazil’s Joao Simao won the record $200,000 Triton Invitational in Jeju, South Korea, for a career-best $7,250,000.
He rallied from a two-big-blind stack on Day 2 to win his second career Triton title.
China’s Biao Ding took second for $4,940,000; American Seth Davies finished third for $3,470,000.
Simao’s payday is the largest any Brazilian has ever won in tournament poker.

Brazil’s Joao Simao won the record-breaking $200,000 Triton Invitational at the Triton Super High Roller Series Jeju II in South Korea, banking a career-best $7,250,000 after clawing back from a two-big-blind stack (barely enough chips to cover two forced bets). The Invitational is a Pro-Am staple, pairing invited recreational players with professionals. It drew 173 entries and built a $34,600,000 prize pool over three days at LES A Casino on Jeju Island. Simao’s payday is the largest in Brazilian tournament poker history and his second Triton victory. China’s Biao Ding finished runner-up for $4,940,000, and American pro Seth Davies took third for $3,470,000, becoming the first player ever to reach three Triton Invitational final tables.

Inside The Record $200,000 Triton Invitational

Triton Poker runs high-stakes Super High Roller series, meaning tournaments with six- and seven-figure buy-ins, at exclusive venues around the world. If you want the background on how these fields come together, see our earlier coverage of Triton’s high-roller events.

This Invitational drew 173 entries and a $34,600,000 prize pool, playing out over three days. The $200,000 buy-in and invited amateur mix make it one of the richest recurring events on the high-roller calendar.

From Two Big Blinds To Champion

Simao’s run nearly ended before it started. After reaching the money on Day 2, the point where the remaining players are guaranteed a payout, a preflop hand left him with just two big blinds. The big blind is the larger of two forced bets that seed each hand, so holding two of them is close to nothing.

He battled back to bag 25 big blinds for the final day. He then burst the final-table bubble, the last elimination before the final table forms, sending Matthias Eibinger out in 10th for $635,000, and walked into the nine-handed final table as chip leader.

How The Final Table Played Out

Simao kept applying pressure at the final table. He eliminated Triton co-founder Winfred Yu in sixth, then sent Yang Wang out in fourth. Ding busted Seth Davies in third for $3,470,000, setting up a heads-up battle that ran about two and a half hours.

Simao led roughly 2:1, then stretched his edge to near 4:1. A run of unsuccessful bluffs flipped the momentum, and the roles reversed. He survived an all-in holding A-4 against Ding’s A-J when the board split the pot, then made a hero-call (calling a big bet with a weak hand you believe is still best) with queen-high to retake the lead. Ding finally committed his chips with top pair against Simao’s overpair on the turn, the river came clean, and Simao had the title. Notably, the two did not strike a deal to split the prize money before playing it out.

Triton Invitational Final Table Results

1. Joao Simao (Brazil) – $7,250,000
2. Biao Ding (China) – $4,940,000
3. Seth Davies (USA) – $3,470,000
4. Yang Wang (China) – $2,820,000
5. Emilien Pitavy (France) – $2,245,000
6. Winfred Yu (Hong Kong) – $1,693,000
7. Hannes Jeschka (Germany) – $1,237,000
8. Thomas Boivin (Belgium) – $905,000
9. Eric Tsai (Taiwan) – $749,000

A Record Payday For Brazil

The $7,250,000 top prize is the most any Brazilian has ever won in tournament poker, and it is Simao’s largest career payday. It also marks his second Triton title. His first came in the $150K event at 2025 WSOP Paradise, where all three podium finishers were Brazilian.

Ding’s $4,940,000 runner-up finish was also the biggest score of his career. Adrian Mateos, the most recent prior Invitational champion, finished 14th for $512,000 after busting early on Day 3.

“It’s unreal, really. There are no words, you know? I feel so, so lucky, so blessed. It’s the type of stuff that happens once in your life,” Simao said. On the heads-up match, he added: “I think we both played very well, but I came back, readjusted my strategy, did well, and got lucky to be the champion.”

A Two-Game Threat With Deep PLO Roots

Simao has played poker for 20 years and is equally dangerous in Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO), a four-hole-card cousin of Hold’em. He recently won the $50,000 High Roller PLO event at the 2026 WSOP for $1,368,700, and you can read more about that series in our WSOP guide. If you want to sharpen the same skills, our PLO tips from a pro break down the fundamentals.

Simao says he swings between loving PLO and Hold’em, though he has focused on Hold’em for about the last 15 months. After roughly 12 days on-site, his priority was simple: “I want to enjoy every second of it and see my family. I can’t wait to see them – I’ve been here for maybe 12 days already and miss them a lot.”

Simao’s Comeback Caps A Record Invitational

The Triton Invitational uses a restricted Pro-Am format and is played live outside the US, so it isn’t a tournament US players can simply enter online from home. The story still matters for US players. Many of these same pros, Seth Davies included, also compete at major US events, most visibly the WSOP. If you’re planning your own schedule, our guide to online poker tournaments is a good next stop. Simao’s comeback is your reminder that a short stack is never dead until the last chip is gone.

The Legal US Poker Sites Editorial Team covers online and live poker, industry news, and legal updates for US players. We report results without hype and clearly distinguish regulated US poker from offshore options. Read more of our poker news and guides.

Paul Seaton, an esteemed figure in the poker community with over ten years of experience, has provided live coverage from renowned poker tournaments like the World Series of Poker, European Poker Tour, and World Poker Tour. His involvement goes beyond observation; he has served as the Editor of BLUFF Europe Magazine and Head of Media for partypoker.