The Triton Poker Super High Roller Series has crowned several big winners over the years, but there has never been a female winner. This changed a couple of days back when WPT Global Ambassador Xuan Liu topped a field of 155 entries to win the 2025 Triton Poker Montenegro $25K WPT Global Slam in Montenegro, becoming the first-ever woman win a Triton title and claiming a new career-high $860,000 in her first Triton event.
The final table of the 2025 Triton Poker Montenegro WPT Global Slam $25K buy-in no-limit hold’em event witnessed several thrilling hands. One of the key hands at this final table unfolded during the heads-up between Xuan Liu and Daniel Dvoress.
This particular hand marked an epic comeback moment for Liu, who started with just 16 BB against 61 BB stack of Dvoress, a high-stakes pro already holding two Triton titles and 45 cashes.
The Hand
With so much on the line, the pressure was high going into what would become the decisive hand of the thrilling heads-up duel.
Blinds: 400,000/800,000/800,000 Ante
Heads-Up Chip Counts: Dvoress (61BBs) & Liu (16 BBs)
The Hand: Liu (Button) with 5♥5♦ & Dvoress (BB) with A♣Q♦
Action
This pivotal hand began with Canadian pro Liu limping for 800,000 and Dvoress raised to 3,200,000. In reply to the raise, Liu moved all-in for 17,275,000 and Dvoress made the call.
Liu’s Limp with 5♥5♦:
Pocket fives are too good to fold but not that strong to shove or raise big. Liu’s decision to limp was understandable. It was a strategic move to see a cheap flop or potentially trap on the flop.
Dvoress’ Raise with A♣Q♦:
Following a limp from Liu, Dvoress probably wanted to apply some pressure with A♣Q♦, which often plays well against limp-calling ranges. So, his raise was justifiable in a move to deny equity to hands like K-J, Q-10, or even suited connectors.
Liu’s Shove
After inducing a raise, Liu opted for a standard limp-shove line. She decided to shove, potentially considering it a profitable move.
Dvoress’ Call
Calling a shove with AQ is generally not a bad play, especially in heads-up. Given his position, A-Q was too strong to fold here, so it was an expected move from Dvoress to call the shove from Liu.
Board Runout:10♥ 8♠ 8♣ 2♦ 4♣
Unfortunately for Dvoress at the showdown, he found no help from the board. Liu’s pocket fives held up, shifting the momentum in her favour. The victory in this hand surged her into the massive chip lead, leaving her opponent with just 4 big blinds to work with.
Final Outcome
Left with just a few big blinds, Dvoress committed his remaining chips with 10-3 suited, which actually failed to beat the 7-6 of Liu.
Liu flopped a pair of sevens and held from there, winning the coveted title and becoming the first woman in history to win a Triton Super High Roller Series title. Dvoress had to settle in second place for $579,000, which took his live earnings to $44.6 million.
Conclusion
This hand shows the power of limping strategy in heads-up play and balancing ranges with mid pairs. The hand not only helped Liu to make a comeback but also changed the outcome of the tournament, leading her to becoming Triton’s first female champion.
Keep following PokerProNews for more such thrilling hands from the prestigious live poker tournaments.
