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Triton Montenegro $100K PLO Main: Tollerene Defends Crown

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Triton Poker Series Montenegro Maestral Resort poker tables during $100K PLO Main Event

The Triton Super High Roller Series Montenegro 2026 reaches its penultimate weekend Monday, May 25, with the headline $100,000 buy-in Pot Limit Omaha Main Event kicking off at the Maestral Resort & Casino near Budva. Defending champion Ben Tollerene returns to chase back-to-back titles in a field that already features Phil Galfond, Stephen Chidwick, Adrián Mateos, Jason Koon, and the bulk of the global high-roller elite.

Quick answer: The $100K PLO Main Event runs May 25-27 at Triton Montenegro 2026. Ben Tollerene won the same event last year for €2.1 million and is the biggest favorite based on PLO performance. Field projections sit between 80 and 110 entries with re-entry. The series wraps May 28 with the $25K PLO Bounty Quattro.

Defending Champion Returns to Maestral

Ben Tollerene's 2025 victory in this event earned him $2,164,000 and a slot among the most decorated PLO specialists of his generation. The Texas-born pro has spent the last decade as one of the few American players consistently profitable in nosebleed online PLO games on Bobby's Room and the legacy GG VIP tables. His defense will draw attention not just from poker reporters but from the high-stakes streaming community that broadcast his 2025 final table on PokerGO.

Tollerene's primary competition includes Phil Galfond, who has rebuilt his live tournament resume after a quiet 2023-2024 stretch, and Stephen Chidwick, who has cashed in 60% of Triton events he's entered since 2019. Adrián Mateos, fresh off his $200K Invitational win this month, also confirmed entry. The recent Mateos victory pushed his career earnings past $60 million as covered in our recent recap.

Schedule and Format Breakdown

Day 1 of the $100K PLO Main Event begins at 2:00 p.m. local Montenegro time Monday with a structure giving players 100,000 starting chips and 60-minute levels. Late registration extends through Level 8, allowing re-entries until roughly 9:00 p.m. local Monday night. Most participants will fire one or two bullets and reassess based on Day 1 chip-up.

Day 2 begins Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. local time, with the field expected to narrow rapidly from approximately 70-80 returning players to a money bubble in the 12-15 player range. The final table will play out Wednesday, May 27, with PokerGO providing same-day delayed coverage and Triton's YouTube channel offering free clips of key hands.

Field Projections and Prize Pool Outlook

Industry analysts and Triton's own staff project a final entry count between 80 and 110 — slightly down from 2025's 116 entries because several Asian-based regulars have committed to GGPoker's Macau festival this week. At 90 entries, the prize pool would top $9 million, with first place paying approximately $2.4 million and final-table min-cash sitting near $200,000.

The Triton Tempo shared time bank format returns for this event, having debuted with mixed reactions earlier in the series. The shared clock should accelerate Day 1 action and reduce the marathon final-table sessions that defined Triton events in 2023-2024.

Storylines to Watch

Beyond Tollerene's title defense, several narrative threads will dominate coverage:

  • Mateos chasing series sweep — His $200K win plus a deep run in the $50K PLO Mystery Bounty would make him the breakout star of Triton Montenegro 2026
  • Phil Galfond's live comeback — The Run It Once founder has openly discussed reorienting from online to live high-stakes events
  • Triton's 10-year anniversary lap — Montenegro is the second-to-last 2026 stop before the Jeju, South Korea festival closes the year

For players studying PLO theory before tuning in, our breakdown of range construction applies directly to Omaha decision-making, especially in the four-card pre-flop combinatorics that distinguish PLO from Hold'em.

Where to Watch and Follow Live

PokerGO subscribers get same-day delayed broadcast of Day 2 and final-table action. Triton's official YouTube channel uploads daily highlight packages plus a final-table replay within 48 hours of completion. Live chip counts and elimination updates flow through PokerNews and Triton's official Twitter feed.

Recreational players inspired by high-roller action can find lower-stakes online PLO games on most regulated US poker sites. Our best online poker sites roundup tracks PLO traffic and game quality across all currently legal US-facing platforms.

Post-Series Look at Triton's 2026 Trajectory

Triton Montenegro 2026 has already generated more than $40 million in prize money across the first half of its schedule, putting the series on pace to top last year's total. The $200K Invitational alone drew the largest field in Triton's invitational history and signaled how robust the high-stakes circuit remains despite economic headwinds elsewhere in poker.

The combination of luxurious venue, deep prize pools, and a global player base has made Triton the de facto premium tour for elite players. The 2026 final destination of Jeju, South Korea is scheduled for September and is expected to debut a new $250K Invitational format.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Triton Montenegro 2026 $100K PLO Main start?

Day 1 begins at 2:00 p.m. local Montenegro time on Monday, May 25, 2026 at the Maestral Resort & Casino. Late registration closes after Level 8.

How much did Ben Tollerene win last year?

Tollerene captured the 2025 $100K PLO Main Event for €2,164,000, his largest single live tournament cash to date.

Can spectators attend Triton events?

The Maestral does host a small spectator rail for major events. Spots are limited and usually allocated to family and friends of registered players.

How can I qualify for a Triton event?

Triton Super High Roller Series events are direct buy-in only — there are no satellites or qualifier paths into the headline events at the moment.

What's the Triton Tempo shared clock?

Triton Tempo is a shared time bank used across the table that gradually depletes as players tank. Once exhausted, players are forced into faster decisions and the table moves on.

Final Take

The $100K PLO Main is the heart of the Triton Montenegro schedule — three days of high-variance four-card poker with the best PLO players in the world. Whether Tollerene defends, Mateos sweeps, or a dark horse like Galfond breaks through, the storylines will dominate poker news through the end of May. Tune in to PokerGO or Triton's YouTube Tuesday afternoon to catch Day 2 chip counts and key eliminations. For ongoing coverage of high-stakes events, check our latest articles.

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