Zhou Quan added to his increasingly impressive list of results in Jeju, earning his second career Triton Super High Roller Series title and $1,303,000 in the $25,000 buy-in Jupiter event.
Zhou outlasted a field of 262 entrants on his way to victory, defeating Ander Vallinas of Spain heads up to secure the title. His second title and fifth final-table showing of 2026 was worth an astounding 1,512 Card Player Player of the Year points. That pushed Zhou up to fourth place overall in the year-long standings presented by CoinPoker.
The Chinese player’s career earnings now exceed $16.4 million. Both of Zhou’s Triton victories have come in Jeju, and his two best live results have come in the last two years in South Korea. His previous Triton win at this stop came in a $25,000 pot-limit Omaha event back in 2024, while he finished second in a $25,000 no-limit hold’em event at this same venue last spring for nearly $1.2 million.
Calm, composed, and in complete control.
Zhou Quan, $25K JUPITER EVENT champion, reflects on his legendary run.
Presented with @JupiterExchange. pic.twitter.com/quaLzAnn6J
— Triton Poker (@tritonpoker) March 19, 2026
Vallinas’ second-place finish was a bittersweet ending to yet another impressive performance at Triton Jeju. After two deep runs in early Triton One events, Vallinas secured the first seven-figure live result of his career with a second-place finish in the $8,000 buy-in Triton One Jeju main event. Interestingly enough, Zhou finished seventh in that tournament, which had 1,230 entries.
Vallinas’ second runner-up finish of the Triton Jeju series, to Zhou, pushed him all the way up to second place in the POY standings on the strength of this one outstanding series.
On Zhou’s Way To Victory
Zhou proved his ability to navigate through a big field in the Triton One Jeju main event, but this $25,000 buy-in no-limit hold’em event was a different test entirely. By the close of registration, 173 unique players and 89 re-entries produced a final tally of 262, making for a total prize pool worth $6,550,000.
A total of 41 players reached the money, and it took two days of poker to reach a final table. The field was reduced to six during the closing hours of day 2. Zhou was stuck at the bottom of the chip counts heading into the final day of play. Vallinas held the chip lead, followed by Chinese player Wu Kuisong, France’s Jean Noel Thorel, and Jamil Wakil of Canada. Brazilian Kelvin Kerber and Zhou were well behind the rest of the pack.
Zhou picked up an early double with pocket jacks against Wu’s A♥Q♥, pulling him back towards the pack. Wu’s nightmare day ended in sixth place ($304,000) when he check-raised on a 7♥6♣6♦ flop and again on a Q♠ turn, the latter of which was an all-in shove. Wu couldn’t shake Vallinas’ pocket tens, and his A♣7♣ couldn’t find help on the river.
After winning that substantial pot, Vallinas was the overwhelming chip leader ahead of a distant Zhou in second place. Zhou picked up ground when he eliminated Kerber in fifth ($398,000), as pocket jacks snuffed out Kerber’s pocket nines with a flopped set. Zhou continued his rapid ascent by knocking out Thorel in fourth, as pocket queens flopped a set and held off A♣4♣. France’s all-time money leader extended his advantage, with the $510,000 payout in this event bringing his lifetime total to nearly $28.7 million.
Finishing The Job
Wakil made a short-stacked charge of his own, doubling through Vallinas and eventually surging to the top of a tight three-handed race. That momentum ended abruptly, though, when he open-shoved 46 big blinds with A♠5♠ and Zhou woke up with pocket kings. His pair held, leaving Wakil with crumbs.
Wakil made another comeback, only to lose his most crucial all-in pot after a cruel runout. Zhou shoved his small blind with 8♦7♠, and Wakil called in the big blind with K♥9♥. King high was good through the J♥J♦4♦ flop and 4♠ turn. But the 8♠ on the river made Zhou a superior two pair, resigning Wakil to a third-place finish ($632,000).
👑 ALL HAIL THE KING!
Zhou Quan is your $25K JUPITER EVENT Champion! pic.twitter.com/CDlpS6GFjD
— Triton Poker (@tritonpoker) March 19, 2026
It took only seven hands of heads-up play for Zhou to complete his charge to victory. Vallinas shoved with Q♠3♦ and Zhou called with A♦6♠. The K♠4♠4♥ flop was a great one for Zhou, but there was one last drop of drama to be squeezed out as the 3♥ landed on the turn. But the 6♣ river made his hand the winner, earning him the pot and the title.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Payout | Points |
| 1 | Quan Zhou | $1,303,000 | 1,512 |
| 2 | Ander Vallinas | $863,000 | 1,260 |
| 3 | Jamil Wakil | $632,000 | 1,008 |
| 4 | Jean Noel Thorel | $510,000 | 756 |
| 5 | Kelvin Kerber | $398,000 | 630 |
| 6 | Kuisong Wu | $304,000 | 504 |
Photo credit: Triton Poker.
