History Made as Aaron Zang Wins Momentous Triton Poker Event in London

August 5th, 2019 | by Greg Shaun

The Triton Poker Tour’s latest offering has raised the bar for the game at large by offering up the largest prize in history.

Aaron Zang could spark another revolution after winning the Triton Poker Tour event in London. (Image: Partypoker)

After announcing its ambitious plans to host a £1.05 million/$1.27 million buy-in event, Triton’s team began assembling a star-studded roster. Inviting business owners and investors, the team gave entrants the opportunity to bring a guest.

As it transpired, these guests were some of poker’s top pros. From Andrew Robl and Bryn Kenney to Tom Dwan and Timothy Adams, the event was set to be epic.

London Calling for Triton Poker Regulars

When the first cards were dealt inside London’s Hilton Park Lane on August 1, 54 players were in the mix. Even though previous reports suggested 56 players had paid the seven-figure entry fee, the final turnout was still enough to make history.

Having already set the record for largest buy-in ever, Triton London also made its mark by generating the biggest payout in history.

Shattering the record held by the 2012 Big One for One Drop ($18,346,673), the Triton Poker event fixed its top prize at 19,000,000/$23,019,609.

Although winner Aaron Zang cut a deal with Bryn Kenney and take home $16,754,497, the dynamics were still impressive.

Triton London Result

1 – Aaron Zang – $16,754,497*

2 – Bryn Kenney – $20,537,187*

3 – Dan Smith – $8,719,164

4 – Stephen Chidwick – $5,340,488

5 – Vivek Rajkumar – $3,632,985

6 – Bill Perkins – $2,664,189

7 – Alfred DeCarolis – $2,082,911

8 – Timothy Adams – $1,695,393

*Denotes a deal.

As well as giving away $66 million to poker’s elite, Triton London also raised $3.2 million for charity.

On paper, these results have made the tournament a huge success. However, the impact it could have on poker as a whole may be more significant.

Win for Zang Could Prompt Asian Poker Revolution

Although only the richest players in the world could take part, the outcome should bode well for everyone. By attracting 54 players all willing to part with $1.27 million, Triton has shown the current state of the game.

Following the events of Black Friday in 2011, hosting such an event would have been unthinkable. Today, however, with the WSOP and other tours setting records, Triton Poker has been able to raise standards.

Beyond the implications for tournament poker, Zang’s win could help the game in China. Although it’s still illegal on the mainland, the high-profile win may inspire others to follow suit.

While that will mean playing aboard or in underground games, Zang’s victory could have a Moneymaker effect in China. Indeed, even if a small fraction of the population pays attention, that could result in millions of new players entering the community.

Moreover, Zang’s historic achievement could reverberate across Asia. Again, even if it leaves a small impression on the region, it could bolster the game’s current surge in popularity and lead to another poker boom.