Jonathan Jaffe surges as Triton Poker $125K Main sets finale

triton monte carlo ME Jonathan Jaffe
Haley Hintze
Haley Hintze
Posted on: November 10, 2024 22:17 PST

American pro Jonathan Jaffe surged late on Day 2 of the 2024 Triton Series Monte-Carlo $125K NLH Main Event on Sunday to take a dominant lead into Monday's final table. 

Jaffe, who has one previous Triton Series victory, finished Sunday's lengthy session with a 2,650,000 chip stack, more than twice that of his closest competitor, Malaysia's Wai Leong Chan. Chan finished the day at 6,200,000, while three-time Triton winner Bryn Kenney led the rest of the pack with 4,075,000 in chips.

Jaffe, who has the inside track to the main event's $4,410,000 winner's payday, finished the day in style, rivering a flush to send Mikita Badziakouski to the rail on the final-table bubble. The two players went all in after the flop where Badziakouski had top pair, while Jaffe flopped a gutshot draw to a royal flush. Badziakouski faded a trey on the turn, but the river brought the five of hearts to give Jaffe a flush and end Day 2 play. Had Badziakouski also faded the river, he would have drawn nearly even in chips with Jaffe.

The final nine will return with blinds at 50K/125K/125K. The final nine will return with blinds at 50K/125K/125K.

Money bubble burst early on Day 2

Sunday's first major order of business was playing into the money. Twenty-seven players would make the cash, and begin divvying up the event's $19,875,000 prize pool. Day 1 leader Kayhan Mokri encountered difficulty early on and busted in 41st, well short of the money, and the bubble finally burst when Ole Schemion exited in the 28th spot.