Xuan Liu Wins Triton Tournament & Becomes First Woman to Do So

Xuan Liu made poker history in Montenegro at the $25,000 WPT Global Slam event by becoming the first woman to win a Triton Poker title.

Xuan Liu Emerges Victorious at Triton

Liu’s victory means she walks away with the $860,000 top prize and the Triton trophy. In what was her Triton debut, she moved past a field of 155 entries to claim the trophy, earning the biggest live cash of her career and pushing her lifetime winnings past $3 million. The win also propelled her to 15th on the Women’s All-Time Money List, surpassing Poker Hall of Famer Jennifer Harman.

In an interview following her victory, Liu reflected on the moment’s significance. She said she came to play only this one event, so she had to make it count. Despite the historic achievement, Liu remained modest about her standing among poker’s elite. She acknowledged that competing at the highest level on a daily basis is a challenge, but she emphasized that this unpredictability is part of what makes poker so special—anyone can have a breakthrough on any given day.

Liu also used the moment to advocate for increased female representation in high-stakes poker, expressing her belief that more women will soon be joining the winner’s circle at events like Triton.

How Did the Final Showdown Go?

Daniel Dvoress emerged as Liu’s biggest opponent during the tournament. Entering the unscheduled third day as the chip leader, he was just one victory away from achieving the rare Triton “Trident” titles in No-Limit Hold’em, Short Deck, and Pot-Limit Omaha. He eliminated Tom Fuchs in fifth place and David Peters in third, heading into the final heads-up battle with a dominant 4:1 chip advantage over Liu.

However, Liu began to chip away at the deficit early, turned the tables in one hand and later pulling off a massive bluff, betting twice the size of the pot with just king-high to force a fold. Her fearless aggression shifted the dynamic, putting Dvoress on the defensive for the first time all day. Although Dvoress briefly regained a slight edge, the first all-in and call soon followed. In the end, the cards didn’t fall his way, as Liu connected cleanly on the turn and river to close out the victory.

Here’s What to Look Forward To

With the WPT Global Slam concluded, attention now shifts to the final table of Event #2: $25,000 No-Limit Hold’em. Currently, Alex Foxen leads the charge into the final showdown. However, he still faces tough opposition from the likes of Jesse Lonis, Artur Martirosian, and the recently controversial Nacho Barbero.

The tournament attracted 130 entries, generating a prize pool of $3,250,000. Two-time Triton champion Ramin Hajiyev was eliminated in 24th place, bursting the money bubble. All nine remaining players are guaranteed at least $75,000, but the spotlight remains on the $755,000 first-place prize and the coveted Triton trophy.