Triton Poker Series Jeju 2025: 64-Year-Old Tom-Aksel Bedell Becomes Second-Oldest Triton Champ; Outlasts Star-Studded Final Table to Win Event #13: $25K PLO ($709,000)

The 2025 Triton Poker Super High Roller Series in Jeju has seen its share of dramatic showdowns, but Event #13: $25K PLO, the first Pot-Limit Omaha tournament of the festival, became the stage for an inspiring victory. The $25,000 buy-in event attracted a strong field, but Norway’s Tom-Aksel Bedell (cover image) prevailed, capturing his first Triton title and writing his name into the tour’s history books.

🇳🇴 Tom-Aksel Bedell has claimed victory in Event #13 $25K PLO at 🔱 Triton Poker Series SHRS Jeju 2025, securing his first Triton title and a $709,000 payday!

Battling through a tough final table, he proved his skills in the high-stakes PLO arena and now etches his name into… pic.twitter.com/R3qBaQb4lj

— Triton Poker (@tritonpoker) March 10, 2025

The Landing Casino was the setting for this captivating story. Having waited patiently for their moment, PLO specialists had arrived, rested, and were ready to put their four-card skills to the test. A total of 117 entries (63 unique) created a staggering $2.925 Million prize pool. The ultimate winner would walk away with $709,000.

That victor was Bedell, a 64-year-old Norwegian and a familiar, friendly face on the Triton circuit. Bedell’s Triton journey began in Madrid in 2022, and he quickly became a regular, especially when PLO events are on the schedule. His presence is always a welcome one – his cheerful demeanour, trademark bucket hat, and penchant for wearing “lucky” shirts always add a touch of personality to the intense atmosphere. With this win, Bedell not only claimed his first Triton title but also became the second-oldest champion in Triton history, a feat surpassed only by tour co-founder Richard Yong. He was older when he claimed his second title at 65.

This Triton victory was a long time coming for the Norwegian. In his post-win interview, he revealed that some previous hotel booking issues had kept him from attending some other Triton events. “I love these tournaments for sure,” he exclaimed, adding with a grin, “Now they are forgiven, and I’m back!” The emotion was clear as he hoisted the trophy, a symbol of years of dedication and a hard-fought victory.

A Career-Defining Performance

With this victory, Bedell achieved the largest payday of his career—$709,000—bringing his total live tournament earnings past an impressive $4.47 Million. From the outset, Bedell displayed his PLO expertise, navigating the complexities and swings of four-card poker with remarkable precision. He arrived in Jeju well-prepared, having already won a €10,300 PLO event at the PLO Grand Slam Tirana in Albania earlier in the year. That earlier success clearly boosted his confidence as he faced a field packed with poker’s elite.

On the other side of the final table’s narrative was Shi Ning Dan. Playing in his first-ever Triton event, delivered an outstanding performance, collecting $486,000 for his runner-up finish. It was a remarkable debut on the high-roller scene.

A Wild Ride to the Top

The top 19 finishers made it past the money bubble in this two-day event with even a minimum cash worth $39,000.

While early action in the tournament was lively, the approach of the money bubble brought a period of tense, cautious play. Short stacks managed to find crucial double-ups, prolonging the suspense. Eventually, the bubble burst in a dramatic hand, leaving 19 players in the money.

Several big names navigated their way deep into the tournament, including Nacho Barbero (9th for $71,000), Seth Davies (11th for $59,000), Jeremy Ausmus (12th for $53,000), Sam Greenwood (16th for $43,000), Andras Nemeth (18th for $39,000), and Martin Zamani (19th for $39,000).

The final table was a star-studded affair, featuring poker royalty like 11-time bracelet winner Phil Ivey and 10-time bracelet winner Erik Seidel, alongside renowned PLO specialist Eelis Parssinen.

🚨 Final Table Set for Event #13 $25K PLO! 🚨

Seven players remain in the fight for the Event #13 $25K PLO title at 🔱 Triton Poker Series SHRS Jeju 2025. With $709,000 up top, a stacked lineup is ready to battle it out for the first PLO trophy of the series.

🔥 Final Table… pic.twitter.com/lgVhgOVIks

— Triton Poker (@tritonpoker) March 10, 2025

Final Table Chip Counts

1. Tom-Aksel Bedell – 7,100,000
2. Richard Gryko – 5,175,000
3. Wei Lin – 3,725,000
4. Phil Ivey – 3,675,000
5. Shi Ning Dan – 2,950,000
6. Eelis Parssinen – 550,000
7. Erik Seidel – 225,000

Final Table Recap

The drama began immediately. Erik Seidel, a player respected for his incredible consistency and longevity in the game, found himself all-in on the very first hand. His was a desperate attempt to climb out of the danger zone. Phil Ivey, holding , made the call. The board ran out dry for Seidel, and the poker world watched as one of its icons departed in seventh place, taking home $123,000.

Seidel’s elimination seemed to energize Ivey. Wei Lin, down to just eight big blinds, made his move with . Ivey, lurking in the big blind with , pounced. The flop came down – trips for Ivey. Two jacks on the turn and river made Ivey a full house. In his first Triton appearance, Wei Lin was out in sixth place, earning $166,000.

But the poker gods are fickle. Phil Ivey, who had looked to be building momentum, soon found himself on the wrong end of a crucial pot. A clash with the surprising Shi Ning Dan, who held against Ivey’s . The board changed nothing, and Ivey was eliminated in fifth place for $213,000. His bid to become only the second player to win Triton titles in all three game variants (Hold’em, Short Deck, and PLO) was over.

Meanwhile, Eelis Parssinen, the Finnish PLO expert, was putting on a masterclass in survival. Starting with one of the shorter stacks, he doubled up twice, defying the odds and keeping his hopes alive. But the rollercoaster was far from over. The chip lead was changing hands with almost every pot between Bedell and Gryko.

Parssinen was eventually busted by Bedell, who opened the button with . Parssinen, defending his big blind with , saw the flop open . Both checked. The turn was the . Parssinen committed his last chips. Bedell, with a pair and a monster draw, made the call. The river completed Bedell’s flush, sending Parssinen to the rail in fourth place with $264,000, and setting up a three-way battle.

With three players left, Bedell had seized control, holding more chips than his two opponents combined. The pressure he applied was relentless. Richard Gryko, in a blind-versus-blind confrontation, found himself all-in, his , at risk against Bedell’s [h]. The board ran out . Bedell improved to a straight, eliminating Gryko in third place for $320,000.

The heads-up match between Bedell and Shi Ning Dan was, in many ways, a foregone conclusion. Bedell’s massive chip advantage – 37 big blinds to Dan’s 10 – made a comeback highly improbable. Although, Shi Ning Dan managed to prolong it for 20 minutes. It all came down to the final hand when Bedell, with and Shi holding . The board of , sealed Bedell`s victory. Shi Ning Dan, the Triton newcomer who had defied expectations, finished as the runner-up, collecting a remarkable $486,000.

An AMAZING moment as Tom-Aksel Bedell takes down the 🔱 Triton Poker Series $25K PLO in Jeju! 🏆🎉 pic.twitter.com/cNFh45WtGu

— Triton Poker (@tritonpoker) March 10, 2025

Final Table Results (USD)

1. Tom-Aksel Bedell – $709,000
2. Shi Ning Dan – $486,000
3. Richard Gryko – $320,000
4. Eelis Parssinen – $264,000
5. Phil Ivey – $213,000
6. Lin Wei – $166,000
7. Erik Seidel – $123,000

Content & Images Courtesy: Triton Poker

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