The recent 2025 Triton Poker Jeju festival saw several historic moments. Event #11 – $100,000 NLH Main Event of the series was one for the books as it drew a record field featuring the world’s best high-stakes players. While several top pros were seen in action, it was China’s Huang Wenjie who emerged victorious, etching his name as the champion of this historic event and banking a career-best score of $5,555,000.
The final table of this event was a star-studded affair and saw many thrilling hands unfolding in between. Among the many hands played, one clash between Martirosian and Huang Wenjie is still talk of the town. Here is how it unfolded.
Preflop Action
With blinds running 300k-600k and 600k, Martirosian limped from the small blind with J♠10♠ and Huang Wenjie raised to 2,000,000 with 5♣ 5♥, which Martirosian called. Martirosian’s move was a strategic play as he wanted to seek a cheap flop with a suited connected hand. Although vulnerable, pocket fives act a strong hand against limping range. Huang used his hand to apply pressure and raised, expecting a fold with a weaker hand or a call with a stronger one. Since J♠10♠ has good playability postflop with straight and flush possibilities, Martirosian called.
Flop: 10♦5♥3
Martirosian checked, a good move to the aggressor, allowing Huang to continue to bet. Huang flopped a set and bet 2,000,000, a standard-sized continuation bet, looking to extract maximum value from the lucrative flop for him. With a top pair, Martirosian continued and called the massive bet.
Turn: A♦
With the scare card Ace hitting a significant portion of his range, Martirosian checked again. Huang, still ahead with a flopped set, decided to increase his bet to 6,000,000, sensing that the ace may have improved Martirosian’s calling range. Since Martirosian’s hand still had showdown value with a top pair and a kicker, he called, probably sensing potential bluffs in Huang’s range.
River: 3♥
The river did not improve Martirosian, so he decided to check once more. Huang shoved to maximize value with his full house. Considering the previous action, he expected Martirosian to have a strong enough hand to call.
Martirosian tank-called for his last 8,000,000, probably sending a bluff. Unfortunately, he ran into the full house (5-5-5-3-3). Martirosian got eliminated in 3rd place, earning $2,644,000, and Huang went on to win the pot and eventually ship the Triton Poker Jeju Main Event for $5,555,000.
Conclusion
Martirosian’s approach was a balanced one, but his move to call the river shove ultimately cost him his tournament life. His decision was probably based on an assessment of Huang’s potential bluffs, but he was up against a monster hand. On the other hand, Huang’s playing style was well-executed. He got the goods on the flop and went to cash in the opportunity with well-timed aggression, successfully navigating the board.
Huang’s well-calculated bet sizing ultimately paid off to eliminate a tough opponent from the final table and he finally managed to beat Dan Cates in heads up to claim the record-breaking tournament for a career-best $5.5 million. This hand highlights that calculated moves in high stakes events with strategic patience and aggression often lead to massive rewards.
Keep following PokerProNews for more such thrilling hands from live events.
Source: Triton Poker Blog
