Michael Watson Wins Triton Poker Cyprus $30,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Title

Michael Watson has been a world-class closer in 2023. The Canadian poker pro has made seven final tables so far this year and has managed to come away from four of those events with a title. Most recently, he topped a field of 34 entries in the Triton Super High Roller Series North Cyprus $30,000 buy-in pot-limit Omaha event to earn $347,000.

This victory came less than three weeks after Watson took down the European Poker Tour Monte Carlo €5,300 main event for $801,885 and his second EPT main event title. He has already accrued more than $3.1 million in POY earnings this year. With 3,876 Card Player Player of the Year points to his name, Watson is now the fifth-ranked player in the 2023 POY race standings presented by Global Poker.

Watson now has two Triton Poker victories, having won a $50,000 buy-in short deck event at the Triton Vietnam festival in March for $695,000. The Toronto resident, who is also a World Poker Tour champion, now has more than $21 million in lifetime tournament earnings.

This PLO event ran over the course of two days inside the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel & Spa. Only the top six finishers made the money, with $25,000 PLO event winner Chris Brewer being knocked out on the money bubble late on day 1. Daniel Perkusic (6th – $71,500) and Eddie Tran (5th – $92,000) were also sent home before the remaining players bagged up for the night.

Day 2 began with two-time bracelet winner Andrey Lyubovetskiy in the lead and Watson in second chip position among the final four contenders.

Watson won a big hand early, with pocket aces facing the double-suited K-Q-Q-J of Lazlo Bujtas. The Hungarian was left on fumes after the hand and was soon on the rail with $117,000 for his efforts.

Gergo Nagy was the next to fall. He got all-in with an open-ended straight draw and overcards facing the middle pair and gutshot of Watson. The turn gave Watson a seven-high straight, and the river was no help to Nagy, who earned $153,000 for his third-place showing.

Heads-up play began with Watson holding roughly a 3:2 chip lead of Lyubovetskiy. Watson was able to extend that advantage in time for the final hand. Lyubovetskiy limped from the button with AKJ4 and Watson raised from the big blind with QJ76. Lyubovetskiy then reraised to 720,000, leaving himself with around 1.2 million behind. Watson called and the flop came down J52. Watson bet the pot and Lyubovetskiy called all-in. The Q on the turn gave Watson queens up and the lead, and the 7 on the river secured the pot and the title for Watson. Lyubovetskiy was awarded $239,500 as the runner-up.

Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded in this event:

Photo credit: Triton Poker / Joe Giron.