Canadian Poker Stars Strong Triton Montenegro 2025 High Rollers

The Triton Super High Roller Series Montenegro 2025, held from May 13th to May 27th at the Maestral Resort & Casino in Budva, Montenegro, showcased the depth of Canadian poker talent on the global high-stakes stage. The Triton series isn't like the poker tournaments at Kahnawake's Playground or other venues, as the entry fees are exclusive.

With buy-ins ranging from $22,000 to $212,000, the series drew the world’s elite. Canadians like Xuan Liu, Daniel Dvoress, Kristen Foxen, Jamil Wakil, and Michael Watson delivered standout performances, collectively amassing millions in cashes - and a historic title.

Xuan Liu led the Canadian charge with a monumental win in Event #1, the $25,000 WPT Global Slam No-Limit Hold’em tournament. She topped the 155-entry field, outlasting a stacked final table to claim $860,000, becoming the first woman to win a Triton Poker Series event. Her victory in the $3,875,000 prize pool event came after a heads-up battle against fellow Canadian Daniel Dvoress, one that Liu dominated despite a massive disadvantage for chips when heads-up play started.

Liu’s triumph will go down as more than just a career highlight for her. It was a defining moment for Canadian poker and a milestone for women in the Triton tournaments. Hopefully, the achievement leads to growth in poker.

Daniel Dvoress, despite the crash in Event No. 1, still performed well overall. He is a Triton regular and one of Canada’s most accomplished high rollers.

In Event #1, Dvoress earned $579,000 after his heads-up duel with Liu. He continued his strong run with a third-place finish in a Bounty tournament, pocketing $248,000 plus $120,000 in bounties, and a sixth-place finish in Event #5. Dvoress also secured 12th place in Event #12 ($292,000), 13th in Event #3 ($75,000), and eighth in the Pot-Limit Omaha Event #13 for a smaller cash prize. His consistent deep runs underscored his reputation as a formidable force in high-stakes poker.

At Event #1 in Triton Montenegro, she took fourth place for $325,000. Foxen also finished fifth in Event #3 for $304,000 and seventh in the Bounty tournament for $90,000, though she didn’t collect bounties in the latter. Her performances highlighted her consistency and skill, reinforcing Canada’s strong presence in the series.

Jamil Wakil and Michael Watson added to Canada’s Triton Montenegro 2025 haul with seven cashes between them. Wakil earned $188,000 (Bounty, 4th), $108,000 (Event #5, 7th), $103,000 (Event #9, 11th), and $38,000 (Event #2, 22nd), plus $100,000 in bounties. Watson cashed for $199,000 (Event #1, 6th), $52,000 (Event #3, 21st), and $176,500 (Main Event, 26th). He was the last Canadian survivor in the Main Event in Triton, one that was a bit disappointing for Canadians.

Despite no Canadian breaking through in the Main Event, the collective performance of Liu, Dvoress, Foxen, Wakil, and Watson at Triton Montenegro 2025 was a testament to Canada’s poker prowess. Liu’s historic win, coupled with over $2.5 million in combined cashes from these players, highlighted the country’s depth of talent. As the poker world turns its eyes to the World Series of Poker 2025, these performances set the stage for even greater Canadian achievements.

Of course that event, the 2025 World Series of Poker will feature a massive Canadian name that was not present in Montenegro: Daniel Negreanu. It will be interesting to see how Canada's most proven poker player does in what will be his first year as a poker senior (defined as someone at least 50 years old).