The Finnish PLO specialist came out on top of an unpredictable short stack melee to become the first from his nation to win a title on this trip. Surprising, given that the Finns are notoriously good at the four-card variant at the highest level.
Even more surprising was that the Finn fired 14 bullets in Jeju and was set for a barren trip until this seven-figure score saved him.
At an incredibly tough final table, one that included Triton’s most successful player, Jason Koon, Joukimainen was forced to come up with creative strategies to stay on the most profitable path towards victory.
Jouhkimainen explained in his winner’s interview how he strived to keep Koon in the event so he could abuse the medium stack.
“Wow, it was like the craziest final table ever. I was lucky enough to be standing here.
“It’s a tricky concept. I didn’t do it because Jason is my good friend. I just did it because keeping Jason in I’m able to steal chips from Danny. In PLO, when these guys are neck and neck, I can just pot, pot, pot and these guys have to fold.
“In the beginning it looked like it will be some deep-stacked poker. We had a decent average stack. But then things changed dramatically…It was a little bit too much of a flip-fest for my taste.”
Action Recap
From the 67 entries there were many familiar faces. PLO events at the Triton Super High Roller Series tend to attract the same crowd for the most part; they’re almost like family.
Yesterday they had $5,025,000 to fight over and it would go to the final 11 finishers.
Sixteen players returned for Day 2 and the field thinned quickly as the final table of seven approached. Three-time Triton winner Alex Foxen fell in ninth, and PLO legend Ben Tollerene fell victim to an unfortunate couple of hands.
Sat at the top of the standings, the American clashed with PLO Main Event champion Ike Haxton and then lost his final big blind on the bubble after doubling through Jason Koon earlier.
This set up an all-star final table where you wouldn’t want to try and pick a winner.
| Player | Chips | BBs |
| Isaac Haxton | 4,090,000 | 82 |
| Jason Koon | 2,215,000 | 44 |
| Martin Dam | 2,160,000 | 43 |
| Punnat Punsri | 1,955,000 | 39 |
| Joni Joukimainen | 1,165,000 | 23 |
| Danny Tang | 1,155,000 | 23 |
| David Wang | 655,000 | 13 |
At the bottom of the standings, David Wang was the guy who is known the least here but he’s already impressed many with his talents. Here though, he was out quickly in seventh for $241,000.
Usually when the eliminations begin, they come thick and fast in this variant, but rather weirdly we saw everybody’s stack converge as the average stack dwindled to only 18 blinds.
Chips passed around the table until Jason Koon started to make waves, first by sending home Denmark’s Martin Dam after Joukimainen doubled up through him. Sixth place, winning $307,000, was still a nice couple of days’ work.
Punsri doubled through Haxton and then the American charged to the top of the standings, there were still no more than seven blinds between all of the remaining players.
Having got the Triton monkey off his back in the PLO Main Event, Haxton ran out of luck against Joukimainen’s A♠ J♦ J♥ 10♦ when the Finn rivered a straight. Another final table and $392,000 for fifth for Ike Haxton.
The players then returned from a break with four players averaging only 13 blinds and Tang, who was leading, with only 17.
Punsri didn’t last much longer before getting his A♣ K♥ 5♣ 5♦ all-in against Joukimainen’s K♣ :K♦ 8♦ 2♥ which came out on top.
Fourth for $495,000 will help the Thai star continue his climb on the all-time winner’s list.
Minutes later, there was a three-way all-in and Koon was on the rail in third for $643,000. No 13th Triton title for him.
This left Joukimainen with 50 blinds to Danny Tang’s 3. The Hong Kong native recently relinquished his Ivan Leow Award to Artur Maritosian and soon he also gave up his challenge for the final title at Triton Jeju.
On the first hand of heads-up, Joukimainen’s 3♦ 6♦ 9♣ A♣ ran against Tang’s 6♥ J♥ J♦ K♥.
The board ran out 2♦ 3♠ 6♣ Q♦ A♠ to seal the win for Joni Jouhkimainen and a $1,381,000 prize. Tang banked $982,000 for his efforts.
Event #16: Triton Jeju $75,000 PLO 6-Handed Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
| 1st | Joni Jouhkimainen | Finland | $1,381,000 |
| 2nd | Danny Tang | Hong Kong | $982,000 |
| 3rd | Jason Koon | United States | $643,000 |
| 4th | Punnat Punsri | Thailand | $495,000 |
| 5th | Isaac Haxton | United States | $392,000 |
| 6th | Martin Dam | Denmark | $307,000 |
| 7th | David Wang | Australia | $241,000 |
| 8th | Ben Tollerene | United States | $189,000 |
| 9th | Alex Foxen | United States | $143,000 |
