Spain’s PLO takeover: Martinez and Guerra steal Finland’s crown

Step aside, Finland – it's Spain's time to shine in the Pot-Limit Omaha streets. In the last few days, two Spaniards at the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series stop in Jeju, South Korea have upset the standing order of Finnish dominance in the four-card realm. 

First, on March 12, Sergio Martinez navigated his way through a stacked field to claim victory in the $100,000 PLO Main Event. Then, less than twenty-four hours later, Martinez's countryman Lautaro Guerra took the top prize in the $30,000 PLO Bounty Quattro event. Plus, if you count Tom-Aksell Bedell's residency in Madrid as part of the Spanish takeover, there's no denying a new powerhouse has arisen. 

For both Martinez and Guerra, the taste of victory was their first on the Triton Poker tour and each of them battled through stacked fields to achieve the feat. In the PLO Main Event, 91 entrants (44 re-entries) ponied up the six-figure buy-in to generate a prize pool of $9,100,000 with 15 players paid and $2,340,000 for the eventual winner. The $30,000 PLO Bounty Quattro drew a field of 100 entrants (55 re-entries) to generate a prize pool of $3,000,000, with 17 players paid. 

Martinez's Main Event win

After cruising through the early stages of the tournament – often with a stack of well over 100 big blinds – Martinez came into the final table with a sizable chip lead over Ding Biao, Zhikang Dai, Huang Wenjie, Tom Vogelsang, Mads Amot, and Lin Wei. 

The final table finishers in Event #16: $100,000 PLO Main Event (Clockwise from top left: Ding Biao, Huang Wenjie, Mads Amot, Sergio Martinez, Zhikang Dai, Lin Wei, Tom Vogelsang)

While he started with the lead, Biao surged alongside him as he scored several eliminations at the final table. When the two players met in the heads-up portion of play, it was Biao's turn to hold the chip lead. Biao quickly managed to widen his lead, but the two players drew exactly level when Martinez scored a huge double with a superior pocket pair on a low board. 

Biao chipped away at his opponent once again, however, and reclaimed his lead – only to send another double Martinez's way. From there, the Spaniard went on a tear, winning five consecutive hands to leave Biao with only three big blinds. The final clash between the two players saw Biao get the last of his chips in way ahead with against Martinez's and it looked as though Biao would stick around a little longer. The on the flop, however, had other ideas in mind and when neither turn nor river improved Biao, the title went to Martinez. 

Triton Jeju Event #16 results

Guerra doubles Spain's joy

Less than twenty-four hours after Martinez's victory in the $100K PLO Main Event, his countryman Guerra added another Triton PLO title to the country's haul in Jeju. While Guerra's victory came in a smaller event, the final table was chock-full of known crushers who he had to outlast. 

It was Sam Greenwood who started proceedings with the chip lead, followed closely by Gavin Andreanoff and Alex Foxen. Guerra began in the middle of the pack, with Danny Tang not far behind him, while Stephen Chidwick and Nacho Barbero were the clear short stacks. 

The final table finishers in Event #17: $30,000 PLO Bountry Quattro. (Clockwise from top left: Nacho Barbero, Sam Greenwood, Danny Tang, Lautaro Guerra, Alex Foxen, Stephen Chidwick, Gavin Andreanoff)

Foxen notched the first two eliminations at the final table, taking out Barbero and then Chidwick in rather short order. With Barbero and Chidwick out of the way, it was Tang and Andreanoff's turn to take up the short stack duties. While both players held similar stacks, it was Tang who found himself at risk first – getting his chips in ahead with against Guerra's . The king-high flop left Tang drawing at the remaining aces in the deck, but none came and his run ended in fifth place. 

Guerra sent Andreanoff to the rail next, absorbing his two big blinds and the bounty. The very next hand, Guerra took all of Foxen's chips after flopping a flush and betting the whole way. When heads-up play began, Guerra held 45 big blinds to Greenwood's 5 and it only took one more hand for the Spaniard to close out the victory. 

Triton Jeju Event #17 results

^{Images Courtesy of Triton Poker}