Pieter Aerts Triumphs at Triton Super High Roller, Secures $2.3 Million Win in Monte Carlo

Pieter Aerts emerged victorious in the $100,000 buy-in, eight-max no-limit hold’em event at the Triton Super High Roller Poker Series, held at Sporting Monte-Carlo. With this win, the Belgian poker pro not only pocketed $2.2 million but also saw his career earnings soar to over $7.3 million—marking his fourth major tournament win.

Reflecting on his challenging day, Aerts commented, “It was definitely really long. We made a deal four-handed, which shifted the dynamic. I was down to five big blinds at one point, but I fought back. That’s how it goes sometimes.” Despite early setbacks in the series, Aerts emphasized the importance of maintaining composure, adding, “Staying calm is key. I didn’t let it affect me too much, so bringing home the trophy after a marathon session feels good.”

The tournament saw 131 entries, creating a massive $13.1 million prize pool with payouts for the top 23 players, each securing at least $152,000. The second day of play whittled down the field to the money, featuring big names like Phil Ivey, Orpen Kisacikoglu, Luc Greenwood, and others with deep career earnings records.

As the final table kicked off, Aerts held a leading position, while Christoph Vogelsang was the first to exit in eighth place, followed by Roland Rokita in seventh. During seven-handed play, Michael Soyza briefly took the chip lead before Kiat Lee was eliminated in sixth, and Steve O’Dwyer, a highly ranked professional, finished fifth, taking home $904,000 and boosting his career earnings to almost $46 million.

Aerts gained momentum by eliminating O’Dwyer, setting the stage for the final four to negotiate a prize pool deal, leaving the Triton trophy to compete for. Mario Mosbock’s departure in fourth place followed quickly by Fedor Holz’s exit in third place, added suspense to the final showdown between Aerts and Soyza. Holz’s finish brought him $1.5 million, moving him to 14th on the all-time money list with $45 million.

Although Soyza began the heads-up round with a slight advantage, Aerts doubled up early, initiating a back-and-forth battle with multiple lead changes late into the night. With blinds shrinking, Aerts fought back from just four big blinds, managing two key double-ups to claim the lead. In the decisive hand, Soyza went all-in with J-10 suited but was outmatched by Aerts’s A-10 offsuit, securing the win for Aerts.

Soyza earned $2,305,000 for his runner-up finish, pushing his career total beyond $18.4 million.

Final Table Payouts:

1. Pieter Aerts – $2,234,587 (1,320 POY points)
2. Michael Soyza – $2,305,000 (1,100 POY points)
3. Fedor Holz – $1,528,097 (880 POY points)
4. Mario Mosbock – $1,544,316 (660 POY points)
5. Steve O’Dwyer – $904,000 (550 POY points)
6. Kiat Lee – $701,000 (440 POY points)
7. Roland Rokita – $519,000 (330 POY points)
8. Christoph Vogelsang – $381,000 (220 POY points)

The Triton Super High Roller Poker Series continues through Nov. 14 on the stunning Mediterranean coast in Monte Carlo, bringing together some of the world’s top poker players. Stay tuned for more updates as the action unfolds in this high-stakes tournament series.