It was supposed to be another deep run for one of poker’s most iconic figures. The tension was palpable inside the luxurious venue of Triton Poker Montenegro. As the $200K No-Limit Hold’em Invitational marched toward the money bubble, Phil Ivey, the ten-time WSOP bracelet winner and living legend of the game, was right in the mix. But then came the hand that no poker player ever forgets — a heart-stopping cooler. Just one card away from locking up a minimum cash and continuing his run, Phil Ivey was eliminated on the stone-cold bubble of one of the richest events of the year.
This wasn’t just an exit. This was a reminder that even the greatest players in the world are not immune to the brutal nature of poker.
The $200K NLH Invitational: A Star-Studded Arena
The $200,000 NLH Invitational, one of the flagship events of the 2025 Triton Super High Roller Series in Montenegro, attracted 132 of the world’s wealthiest and most skilled players, generating a jaw-dropping prize pool and a room full of elite-level tension. This exclusive tournament mixed business tycoons with seasoned professionals, creating a dream battlefield for the ultra-high-stakes community.
By Day 2, the tournament had thinned down to just 21 hopefuls, with only 20 slated to cash. That’s when the infamous hand unfolded — with everything on the line and the lights shining the brightest.
The Hand That Broke the Room — Ivey vs. Tollerene
According to multiple reports, the pivotal hand began with Ivey holding pocket kings, a dream spot in any situation — but especially near the bubble. Across the table sat Ben Tollerene, another titan of the high-stakes poker world, with a chip stack ready to go to war.
The chips went in fast and furiously preflop, with Tollerene revealing pocket aces. It was the classic Kings vs. Aces cooler, a matchup where survival requires divine intervention.
As the rail crowded in and cameras zoomed, the board ran out clean for the aces. Ivey stood up, stoic as always, nodded to Tollerene, and left the room as the tournament’s most heartbreaking elimination — the bubble boy.
The Emotional Impact: A Rare Ivey Exit Without a Payout
For the average poker player, bubbling a $200K buy-in event would be a devastating financial loss. For Phil Ivey, whose net worth is in the tens of millions and whose poker career spans over two decades, the money may not have been the primary sting.
It’s the game itself.
“This is poker,” a fellow pro was heard saying on the rail. And it truly is — the game that gives and takes in equal measure, regardless of titles or trophies. Even Phil Ivey, a man who has stared down legends and crushed fields around the world, must bow to the variance gods every now and then.
Bubble Drama: The Human Cost of High-Stakes Poker
The bubble phase in any tournament is intense, but in a $200K buy-in event, it’s borderline cinematic. Players tighten up, pressure builds, and every decision feels like a coin toss for life or death. Ivey’s exit, as cruel as it was, highlighted just how razor-thin the edge is in modern-day poker, especially in super high roller tournaments like Triton Poker Montenegro.
This wasn’t just a cooler. It was a moment — a collision of strategy, risk, and chance that defines the essence of tournament poker.
Who’s Left Standing?
With Ivey out, the focus shifted quickly to the remaining 20 players — now guaranteed a slice of the multi-million-dollar prize pool. Thomas Santerne of France emerged as the chip leader heading into the money, stacking up over 1.16 million chips, closely followed by Leon Sturm, Aleksa Pavicevic, and Ben Tollerene — the same player who delivered the knockout blow to Ivey.
The field still includes a who’s who of international poker talent, and with the blinds escalating and the average stack shrinking, every pot carries enormous implications.
Phil Ivey’s Triton Legacy Continues — Despite the Setback
While this particular Triton event didn’t end in glory for Ivey, his name remains synonymous with elite poker. He has had strong showings in previous Triton stops, including final tables and high six-figure scores. For fans and players alike, seeing Ivey mix it up in these ultra-high-stakes games is still a spectacle, and his mere presence elevates the prestige of any tournament.
There’s no doubt he’ll be back — focused, fearless, and ready to remind everyone why he’s considered one of the greatest to ever play the game.
Final Thoughts
Phil Ivey’s bubble exit from the $200,000 NLH Invitational at Triton Poker Montenegro 2025 will go down as one of the most talked-about moments of the festival. It was a brutal cooler, one of those rare instances where even perfect play offers no escape.
But that’s poker.
And in tournaments of this magnitude — in the game of sharp minds, steel nerves, and fate’s fickle hand — it’s the risk of heartbreak that makes the victory so meaningful.
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Sources: WTP GLOBAL
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