March 29-31
The number of players who have won Triton Main Event titles in two separate disciplines, as Eibinger joins the hallowed company of Ben Tollerene and Mikita Badziakouski.
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1ST
Matthias Eibinger
$1,787,000
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2ND
Richard Gryko
$1,270,000
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3RD
Klemens Roiter
$833,000
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4TH
Dan Dvoress
$640,000
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5TH
Patrik Antonius
$507,000
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6TH
Eelis Parssinen
$396,000
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7TH
Nino Pansier
$312,000
When heads-up play between Matthias Eibinger and Richard Gryko kicked off, the latter held a greater than 2-to-1 chip lead and looked poised to claim his second Triton title. As we all know, however, it's never that simple – especially in the four-card streets where equities run close, and the turn of a card can change the entire outlook of the match.
After winning the first two hands of the clash, Gryko had Eibinger on the ropes with less than five big blinds to work with – but the Austrian refused to go quietly.
Eibinger's triple double
In the first of three key double ups, Eibinger's 
held up against Gryko's 
on a 
runout.
From there, it was all downhill for Gryko. In the very next hand dealt, he was one card away from ending it, but the poker gods wanted blood.
Eibinger's pot-sized raise with 
was met with a re-pot from Gryko with 
and the chips went in. The 
flop provided Eibinger with a full wrap and plenty of outs to crack Gryko's aces.
The 
turn reduced those outs as Gryko picked up a straight draw of his own, but ten of the remaining cards in the deck would still improve the Austrian to the winner.
"Let's compromise: I won't hit my straight draw if you don't hit yours," Gryko joked.
Eibinger smiled but did not agree to the proposed compromise, and the 
river completed his straight draw to secure a second double up. Gryko, to his credit, took the beat like the seasoned veteran he is.
"There it is," he said with a smile on his face. "So, how much is it this time?"
Eibinger's third and final double up came in a limped pot. Gryko called from the button with 
and Eibinger checked his option with . The 
connected with both players as Eibinger made bottom two pair while Gryko picked up flush and straight draws to go with his bottom pair.
In the face of a check from his opponent, Gryko fired a small bet and Eibinger made the call to bring in the turn.
Eibinger checked again, and Gryko kept his foot on the gas with a pot-sized bet. Eibinger re-potted for the rest of his stack, and Gryko quickly called to put his opponent at risk for a third time.
With a myriad of outs to the winner, it was Gryko who hoped to spike a fortunate river card this time around. The river wasn't one of them, however, and Eibinger's hand held up to deliver him the chip lead.
'That was lucky'
In order to win a tournament of this magnitude, you have to play top-level poker – there's no doubt about that. At the same time, you need luck on your side.
Eibinger had luck on his side, and the final hand of the heads-up clash proved it.
It was another limped pot that brought about the Brit's demise. Eibinger came in from the button with and Gryko checked his option with .
The flop went check-check despite both players smashing the board – Gryko with the nut straight and a re-draw and Eibinger with bottom set. On the turn, Gryko sought to build a pot with a two-thirds sizing. Eibinger made the call, hunting a board pair to improve to a full house. And his hunting paid off as the completed the board.
Gryko believed his holding was strong enough to pursue further value, and he fired in a pot-sized bet, leaving himself only a few big blinds behind.
Eibinger re-potted with his full house to put Gryko all-in and a pained expression spread across the Brit's face. After agonizing over the decision, he made the call and saw the bad news.
"That was lucky," Eibinger said as the two players shook hands.
