Triton Reports
Patrik Antonius has been at the highest peak of poker for more than 20 years. He has seen everything, won everything, and beaten everyone on an unstoppable march to the Poker Hall of Fame and poker greatness.
But perhaps the toughest opponent of his entire career sat opposite him today in the Salle des Etoile, Monte Carlo, behind a long white beard and a rookie’s devil-may-care attitude. Antonius had to dig deeply into his vast reserves of grit to outlast Estonian newcomer Vladimir Korzinin and take down the $200,000 Triton Invitational for $5.13 million.
That is the single biggest prize of Antonius’ incredible career, and he was made to work for it by a man who only took up poker a few months ago. At 69, Korzinin is on a personal mission of dream fulfilment and learning, turning to poker to sate his unquenchable thirst for knowledge and experience.
He found the Triton Series, he entered this massive tournament, and then there he was in the final two of a 102-entry field, staring across at one of the all time greats.
Antonius was impeccable, of course, and had no room for sentimentality. He was all in and under threat a couple of times, but he rode it out and allowed himself a good deal of satisfaction.
“Obviously it feels really special at home,” Antonius, a Monaco resident, said. “A bit surreal.”
As to whether he found himself ever carried away with the situation, Antonius said: “I just came to play. As long as I’m rested, I play hand by hand. I’m aware that it’s never easy. You never win straight away all the hands. I’m kind of happy the way I focused.”
He paid tribute to all his opponents. “It was not easy today,” he said, but added that he remains passionate about poker even as he enters his third decade in the game. “I love it. I’m still getting started. I’m planning on a long time playing…Without the passion, I wouldn’t be playing so much.”
It was a wholly fitting end to the Invitational tournament, which pits specially invited players against elite pros. Antonius accepted his invitation from Finnish gambling tycoon Ossi Ketola, and immediately paid back the faith. Korzinin was from the other side of the draw, the very definition of a recreational poker enthusiast, and there was a great dynamic at the end as the pro gradually turned the screw, despite the amateur’s spirited competition.
Read the full report at triton-series.com
