Triton Poker Series Jeju 2025: Anatoly Filatov Scores Epic Homecoming Victory Worth $1.88 Million in Event #6: $25K NLH WPT Global Slam

Eighteen months is a long time in poker. That’s how long Anatoly Filatov (cover image) had been away from the Triton Super High Roller Series. His last appearance at the 2023 Cyprus stop was forgettable, to say the least. He played four tournaments and not a single cash. But Filatov is not one to be kept down. He’s a player with serious talent, and his return to Jeju was a perfectly timed resurgence.

After a little warm-up, cashing in Event #5, Filatov jumped into Event #6: $25K NLH WPT Global Slam. This is a new addition this season, born from the partnership between WPT Global and Triton last October. After three intense days of nosebleed-stakes action, the chips were all pushed to one man. Filatov had conquered the field, besting Calvin Lee in a final, head-to-head fight to snatch the eye-watering $1.882 Million first-place prize.

“I feel the power,” Filatov declared after his win, hinting at a deeper meaning to this victory. His mother, born in Uzbekistan, has a Korean heritage tied to Jeju Island.

🔥🔥 Anatoly Filatov is the WPT Global Slam Champion!

🇷🇺 Anatoly Filatov dominated the Final Table at 🔱 Triton Poker SHRS Jeju 2025, playing like a beast to take down Event #6 WPT Global Slam and claim his first Triton title! 🏆

After three Triton appearances, Jeju has been… pic.twitter.com/oN49QNPk9x

— Triton Poker (@tritonpoker) March 4, 2025

And what a story it became. Filatov not only scored a career-defining payday, pushing him past $7.48 Million in live tournament earnings, but he also jumped five spots to #5 on Russia’s all-time money list.

Calvin Lee held the reins through the early part of the nine-handed final day, but Filatov grabbed the lead mid-way and refused to let go.

With four players left, Filatov started taking control. He crippled Igor Yaroshevskyy in a crucial hand before Lee delivered the final blow to end the Ukrainian’s tournament run in third place for $850,000.

The final two contenders both had career-best scores locked up, but Filatov had the momentum and not Calvin Lee. He entered heads-up play with 53.7 Million chips to Lee’s 43.5 Million. Filatov dominated the match, calling down a big bluff with ace-high to extend his lead. Then, he cracked Lee’s two pair with a backdoor flush, putting his opponent on the ropes.

Lee finally made a stand with his last 14 big blinds, holding . But Filatov, holding , found what he needed on the board, and that was all she wrote.

“This win is really special, and I’m really thankful for that,” Filatov shared. “I get lucky so many times, ran so good. I can’t complain.”

He gave a special mention to his wife, who had given him a Venetian mask for good luck. Filatov wore it on his way to the final table and put it back on to lift both the Triton trophy and the WPT Global sponsor trophy.

For Lee, the runner-up prize of $1.185 Million more than doubled his previous best score. He is certainly on the prowl for that elusive first Triton championship.

The Road to Victory

The $25,000 buy-in WPT Global Slam collected $9.725 Million in the prize pool. The three-day event saw 80 players return for Day 2, with the top 63 places paid and a min-cash worth $41,000.

The first day saw 80 players survive, setting up a nerve-wracking Day 2 scramble to reach the money. Only 63 would make it, meaning two full tables of players were destined for disappointment.

Many big names fell short. Triton regulars like Kiat Lee, Eelis Parssinen, Christoph Vogelsang, and Matthias Eibinger didn’t make it. Ethan “Rampage” Yau’s vlog also ended abruptly.

While many were clinging on with short stacks, Daniel Dvoress, sitting with a middling stack, suffered the most brutal outcome. With 21 big blinds, he picked up Ace-King and four-bet jammed, only to run smack-dab into Shunjiro Kita’s pocket Kings. Kita’s hand held, and Dvoress was out in 64th, taking the unfortunate title of bubble boy. Kita took over the chip lead.

The journey to the final table is an even tougher road. Shunjiro Kita himself was a casualty, losing significant portions of his stack to Alex Theologis, Justin Saliba, and Michael Soyza before being knocked out by Christopher Park in 33rd. Only Saliba, of those three, made it to the final nine.

By that point, Calvin Lee had risen to the top. The final table lineup was a mix of four North Americans and five Europeans, players who, between them, had eight Triton titles:

You can watch the highlights of the final table action below.

Final Table Chip Counts

1. Calvin Lee – 16,025,000 (40 BBs)
2. Justin Saliba – 13,675,000 (34 BBs)
3. Orpen Kisacikoglu – 12,775,000 (32 BBs)
4. David Coleman – 12,075,000 (30 BBs)
5. Igor Yaroshevskyy – 11,800,000 (30 BBs)
6. Anatoly Filatov – 9,200,000 (23 BBs)
7. Fedor Holz – 9,100,000 (23 BBs)
8. Pascal Lefrancois – 8,375,000 (21 BBs)
9. Jon Ander Vallinas – 4,225,000 (11 BBs)

Final Table Recap

Jon Ander Vallinas, starting as the short stack, knew he had to act fast. He committed his last eight big blinds with Ace-Queen, three-bet shoving over Calvin Lee’s opening raise. Lee, with pocket tens, made the call and won the race, sending Vallinas out in ninth place for $176,000.

Orpen Kisacikoglu, a two-time Triton champion, was back at a final table for the first time since the 2023 Monte Carlo stop. He found himself in a similar situation to Vallinas, also facing Lee. Kisacikoglu, with 19 big blinds, three-bet Lee with pocket tens. Lee four-bet jammed with Ace-Queen, and Kisacikoglu called. This time, luck favoured Lee, with a queen on the turn ending Kisacikoglu’s run in eighth place for $220,000.

Pocket tens were a recurring theme, and Lee found them again just a few hands later. Pascal Lefrancois opened with Ace-King, Lee three-bet with his pair, and Lefrancois jammed. The board brought a king, giving Lefrancois top pair, but the turn completed Lee’s straight. Lefrancois took home $312,000 for seventh place.

Lee was on a roll, but the next elimination involved Igor Yaroshevskyy and David Coleman. Yaroshevskyy’s pocket nines held up against Coleman’s pocket sixes in a three-way pot. Coleman, unable to gain traction, finished in sixth place for $415,000.

Fedor Holz, the German powerhouse with four Triton titles, was looking dangerous. However, a crucial hand against Anatoly Filatov changed his fortunes. Filatov, holding Ace-Five, flopped Broadway, and Holz, with King-Queen, couldn’t escape. Filatov played it slow, and Holz’s river shove sealed his fate. Holz finished fifth for $529,000.

Then came a devastating hand for Justin Saliba. Facing Filatov again, Saliba called from the big blind with Queen-Ten after Filatov raised from the small blind with Nine-Seven. The flop delivered a nine and two sevens, and Filatov bet. Saliba called, and a queen on the turn gave him top pair. Filatov checked, Saliba bet a big chunk of his stack, and Filatov moved all-in. Saliba called, but a seven on the river gave Filatov a full house, ending Saliba’s run in a heartbreaking fashion. He took fourth place, good for $675,000.

A tornado 🌪 of emotions can only end badly for one of these hopefuls seeking their first 🔱Triton title…😨😯@Justin_Saliba pic.twitter.com/ya1G5mFORp

— Triton Poker (@tritonpoker) March 4, 2025

The final three – Yaroshevskyy, Lee, and Filatov – were all deep-stacked and ready for a battle. Igor Yaroshevskyy was the only one with a previous Triton title, but Filatov chipped away at his stack, with King-Jack beating Ace-Jack. Then, Lee finished the job, jamming with Ace-Three, and Yaroshevskyy called with King-Nine. Yaroshevskyy couldn’t connect, taking third place for $850,000.

The heads-up duel was set, with Filatov slightly ahead, 67 big blinds to Lee’s 54. It was the first truly deep-stacked heads-up contest so far in this series.

🔥 Heads-up battle! 🔥 It’s 🇺🇸 Calvin Lee vs. 🇷🇺 Anatoly Filatov for Triton Poker SHRS Jeju 2025 Event #6 WPT Global Slam title and $1.882M 💰.

Who will be the champion? Comment below with your pick! 👇🏆 pic.twitter.com/a8Iz9swsHm

— Triton Poker (@tritonpoker) March 4, 2025

But the cards didn’t cooperate for Lee. Filatov dominated, winning almost every hand, including a crucial one where his Five-Four made trips against Lee’s Ace-Queen. Filatov had found his rhythm, his stride, and a triumphant victory on his ancestral ground.

Final Table Results (USD)

1. Anatoly Filatov – $1,882,000
2. Calvin Lee – $1,185,000
3. Igor Yaroshevskyy – $850,000
4. Justin Saliba – $675,000
5. Fedor Holz – $529,000
6. David Coleman – $415,000
7. Pascal Lefrancois – $312,000
8. Orpen Kisacikoglu – $220,000
9. Jon Ander Vallinas – $176,000

Content & Images Courtesy: Triton Poker

Keep following PokerGuru for more updates from the Triton Poker Series Jeju 2025!