Triton Poker Super High Roller Series Vietnam: Andrew Leathem Wins Event #8: $25K NLHE Turbo For $670K

Andrew Leathem, a 43-year-old software developer from Edinburgh, Scotland, emerged as the champion of Event #8: $25K NLHE Turbo at the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series Vietnam. Leathem topped a 104-strong field (79 unique players), eventually defeating Nacho Barbero (2^nd for $460,000) heads-up to win a career-best $670,000 prize money and the Shamballa Jewels bracelet.

According to his Hendon Mob profile, Leathem had $322,951 in tournament winnings coming into the event, and the win more than doubled his lifetime earnings to $992,951.

???????? Andrew Leatham a Triton Poker SHRS newcomer, is CROWNED CHAMPION of EVENT #8 25k TURBO NLH – 8 HANDED, leaving with 670,000! CONGRATULATIONS on the impressive win! ????@GGPoker @pokerstakecom @secretlabchairs #shamballajewels pic.twitter.com/Flnz7diVum

— Triton Poker (@tritonpoker) March 8, 2023

Despite usually playing only small buy-in tournaments, Andrew Leathem decided to take a chance and test his skills against some of the best players in the world. The bet paid off handsomely.

“I’m just an amateur, really, but I try to play in different places, different countries,” he said.

He money-bubbled the first tournament he played. He said, “That was pretty horrible.”

Leathem had a bumpy ride to the final table but was determined not to bubble this time. “I sort of hung in to the final table, and it worked out. I’m super happy, but I’m also tired. It will sink in tomorrow probably,” he said.

The first single-day tournament of the inaugural Triton stop in Vietnam drew 104 entries (including 25 re-entries), collecting $2,600,000 in the prize pool, and 15 players were due to be paid. The field quickly began to shrink as the day wore on, and many top players were eliminated as they edged closer to the money.

Isaac Haxton (11^th for $54,600), Biao Ding (12^th for $48,000), Kiat Lee (13^th for $48,000), Wai Kin Yong (14^th for $44,200), Anson Ewe (15^th for $44,200) crossed the money line.

Kannapong Thanrattrakul (10^th for $54,600) was eliminated on the final table bubble.

When the heads-up began, Nacho Barbero won a few small pots initially, but Leathem gained momentum and won a crucial hand with a middle pair against Barbero’s flush draw. On the next hand, Barbero had the advantage with against Leathem’s , but Leathem came from behind to win the pot. Leatham ended things with his stacking Barbero’s five-high.

Complete Results (USD)

1. Andrew Leathem – $670,000
2. Nacho Barbero – $460,000
3. Dao Minh Phu – $301,000
4. Matthias Eibinger – $245,000
5. Sebastian Gaehl – $196,000
6. Talal Shakerchi – $153,500
7. Jeffrey Sluzinski – $121,000
8. Ana Marquez – $92,300
9. Lun Loon – $67,600
10. Kannapong Thanrattrakul – $54,600
11. Isaac Haxton – $54,600
12. Biao Ding – $48,000
13. Kiat Lee – $48,000
14. Wai Kin Yong – $44,200
15. Anson Ewe – $44,200

Content & Images Courtesy: Triton Poker, Poker Photo Archive & Joe Giron

Keep following PokerGuru for more updates from the 2023 Triton Poker Super High Roller Series Vietnam!