CHIP CHATTER: Triton Player Passes Away, Ausmus Grabs Bracelet Online, Ivey Wins, Negreanu Talks Big One Staking, & More
The poker world lost a major player last week and Phil Ivey once again found the winner’s circle for a nice score. Some big poker names also found a final table appearance in the World Series of Poker Online at WSOP.com.
Daniel Negreanu also recently offered some insight on poker staking involving a huge win in the past. Online poker also continues chalking up big numbers around the world. Chip Chatter once again takes a look at some of the headlines in the poker world.
Triton Poker regular Ivan Leow passes away at Triton North Cyprus Series
Poker lost a big player over the weekend when Triton Poker regular Seng Yee “Ivan” Leow passed away at age 41. His death apparently came while at the Triton Super High Roller Series in North Cyprus. The tour released a statement regarding Leow and his importance to the tour.
“Ivan was a hugely popular member of the Triton family,” the statement said. “He was warm, generous, and enormous fun both at the tables and off – a loyal friend to us all. He was also a fantastic poker player, with a lifelong passion for the game.
“Ivan was a very special person who lived life to the full, was always smiling, and loved the game of poker. He will be sincerely missed by his family, friends, and everyone who had the pleasure of meeting him.”
You were special in my life, you bullied me like a big brother but in a fight against the others you were always at the very front too. Thank you for everything you taught me in life. May you win all the all ins up there. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/MT8zH9BjDG
— Danny Tang (@DannyTang2) September 17, 2022
Leow, originally from Malaysia, achieved more than $13 million in live tournament winnings. That includes 12 Triton final tables and two titles.
In light of the situation, Triton officials chose to cut the series short at 12 events instead of the full 14. Numerous players offered their condolences online and remembered their time at the table with Leow.
“Ivan was one of the smartest, funniest, kindest poker players I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting,” poker pro John Juanda noted on Twitter. “He was truly one of a kind. I’ll remember forever, all the sweetest memories we’ve shared in and outside of poker: Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, and all the Triton stops. Rest in peace Ivan.”
Phil Ivey scores third Triton title this year
In other Triton news, Phil Ivey continued his big year with a win at the Super High Roller Series. The Poker Hall of Fame member scored the title in a $30,000 Short Deck event for $387,000.
“I love playing short deck,” Ivey said after the win. “It’s a great game so I’m very happy.”
This marks his third win on the Triton tour this season. Canada’s Sam Greenwood found the runner-up spot for $268,000. Ivey now has lifetime career winnings of more than $38 million. He also has a runner-up finish on the Triton tour this year.
In June, the 10-time bracelet winner finished runner-up in the $100,000 No Limit Hold’em High Roller at the WSOP for $1.2 million.
Jeremy Ausmus scores WSOP bracelet online; final table includes Schulman, Negreanu
The WSOP Online is underway at WSOP.com and Sunday’s event found quite an impressive list of names at a final table. The $365 No Limit Hold’em event saw Jeremy Ausmus scoring his fifth WSOP bracelet for $51,807. Some other interesting names found some nice finishes as well.
Three-time bracelet winner and poker commentator Nick Schulman finished runner-up for $37,792. New Jersey online grinder Ryan Dodd checked in at fifth for $14,823.
Daniel Negreanu finished eighth for $6,079 and his second cash in the series. The six-time bracelet winner recently spoke with USPoker about his WSOP Online plans and what it would be like to win a seventh piece of hardware in the online arena.
“I’ll play some (WSOP events), but won’t be available to play the vast majority because of multiple scheduling conflicts including High Stakes Poker, PokerMasters, Super High Roller Bowl, and a trip I need to make in October,” Daniel Negreanu said.
“They count,” he added about winning an online bracelet, “so I imagine I would be just as happy winning one online as I would live.”
After the WSOP finish, Negreanu is looking forward to seeing Ausmus and Schulman in PokerGO’s upcoming Poker Masters. He scored a win in the series last September as well as two third-place finishes. Ausmus scored a runner-up and also has US Poker Open and PokerGO Cup titles this year.
At the FT of WSOP online event with the high roller crew @NickSchulman @jeremyausmus in a $365 buy in.
I assume both will be in Poker Masters in a couple days with buy ins a little bigger than this one.
— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) September 19, 2022
Negreanu comments on staking status
Speaking of Negreanu, he offered poker fans some insight into the world of staking among poker pros last week. In 2014, the poker legend finished runner-up in the WSOP’s $1 million buy-in Big One for One Drop.
That win landed him $8.3 million. There’s always some speculation about how much action these high rollers sell when playing in these events. Negreanu pulled back the curtain a bit on that event. He sold 44% of his action, ensuring himself over half of those winnings.
“Sold a large piece to a few very lucky friends of mine,” he said. “No shame in sharing the wealth.”
Online poker on a roll around the world
“Online poker is dead.” That’s a refrain players hear on occasion from those looking back to the wide-open pre-Black Friday online market.
For those who still enjoy playing online, the action continues with millions and millions guaranteed each month. Players will just find a more stratified and regulated market. The online tournament offerings and major guarantees have only grown since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The month of September offers a nice look at the major cash available to players online. In the US, there are several series this month. The WSOP Online Circuit Series offers $1 million in guarantees. The WSOP Online also continues all month with millions awarded as well.
PokerStars also has the US Championship of Online Poker (USCOOP) running with $4.5 million guaranteed. BetMGM also has the Online Championships underway with another $2 million guaranteed. In total, all these American online poker series should likely top $10 million.
On the international front, GGPoker is running the WSOP Online with $47 million guaranteed. However, the total payouts should swell well beyond that as only certain events carry guarantees. The Main Event alone features $20 million guaranteed.
The World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) also runs at PokerStars with $85 million guaranteed. The company’s Ontario platform also recently ran a Bounty Builder Series with $1 million guaranteed.
At PartyPoker, the MILLIONS Online action continues with more than $6 million guaranteed. The Party Ontario platform has another $500,000 guaranteed.
Add that all up and it’s well over $150 million. That total also has the potential to top $200 million considering so many WSOP Online events without guarantees. It’s a good time for poker players around the world. In the US, online poker expansion remains slow but the market is at least seeing some positive developments.