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Hungary’s 22-year-old Benedek Farkas claimed his first major live poker title at Triton ONE North Cyprus 2026, overcoming a massive heads-up chip deficit to win the $10,000 NLH 7-Handed event at Merit Royal Diamond Hotel & Spa.
The Triton ONE North Cyprus 2026 festival delivered another memorable championship moment as rising Hungarian talent Benedek Farkas completed an extraordinary comeback to secure the trophy and a career-best $572,000 first-place prize.
The $10,000 NLH 7-Handed tournament attracted 324 entries, generating a total prize pool of $2,945,484. Originally scheduled for two days, the event required an additional day of competition before its champion could be crowned.
Farkas faced an enormous challenge against Russia’s Dmitrii Kukhtarev, who entered heads-up play with approximately a 12-to-1 chip advantage. Despite the overwhelming deficit, the Hungarian remained composed, gradually recovered his stack, and eventually turned the match around with a series of impressive decisions.
The victory marked a major milestone in Farkas’ young poker career, with his latest result exceeding his previous best live tournament cash by approximately ten times.
$10,000 NLH 7-Handed Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benedek Farkas | $572,000 |
| 2 | Dmitrii Kukhtarev | $362,000 |
| 3 | Igor Provkin | $261,484 |
| 4 | Yu Zhang | $211,000 |
| 5 | Cedric Schwaederle | $168,000 |
| 6 | Lyudmil Ivanov | $128,000 |
| 7 | Wu Jun Hao | $96,000 |
Kukhtarev Dominates the Early Final Table
The final day began with Kukhtarev holding a commanding 28,625,000 chips, representing more than 40% of all chips in play.
Farkas entered the seven-handed final table in third position with 9,025,000, while Igor Provkin occupied second place with 10,725,000.
The opening stages moved quickly, with four players eliminated in less than 45 minutes.
Wu Jun Hao became the first casualty in seventh place, followed shortly afterward by Lyudmil Ivanov, whose tournament ended against Kukhtarev.
Farkas secured his first elimination of the final day by knocking out Cedric Schwaederle in fifth place. Kukhtarev then eliminated Yu Zhang in fourth, further extending his already substantial advantage.
With three players remaining, Kukhtarev controlled 108 big blinds, while his two opponents held approximately 27 big blinds each.
Farkas Survives as the Field Narrows to Two
The three-handed battle proved more competitive than the chip distribution initially suggested.
Farkas and Provkin attempted to navigate their shorter stacks while Kukhtarev continued applying pressure.
Eventually, Provkin moved all in holding pocket fours against Kukhtarev’s ace-ten. Kukhtarev won the confrontation, eliminating Provkin in third place for $261,484.
The result left Farkas facing one of the most difficult heads-up situations of the festival.
With only seven big blinds remaining against Kukhtarev’s overwhelming stack, the Hungarian needed a remarkable turnaround to keep his championship hopes alive.
An Extraordinary Heads-Up Comeback
Farkas immediately began rebuilding, winning five of the first six hands of heads-up play.
A crucial double-up followed when he flopped two pair with queen-eight and improved to a full house on the turn. After check-raising the flop, Farkas allowed Kukhtarev to continue betting before calling an all-in wager on the river.
The massive pot transformed the match, bringing Farkas back to 34 big blinds against Kukhtarev’s 47.
With the stacks suddenly much closer, Farkas began putting his opponent under pressure.
Another decisive moment came when Farkas made a courageous call with six-five after facing bets on every street. His read proved correct, allowing him to overtake Kukhtarev and seize the chip lead.
What had appeared to be a nearly certain victory for Kukhtarev was now slipping away.
A Straight Seals the Championship
The final hand provided a dramatic conclusion to the tournament.
Farkas entered the pot holding five-four, while Kukhtarev connected with the flop holding ten-seven.
The turn delivered a six, completing a straight for Farkas. The river then brought a ten, improving Kukhtarev to two pair.
Farkas moved all in on the river, putting Kukhtarev to a difficult decision. After considering his options, the Russian made the call, only to discover that Farkas held the winning straight.
With that final pot, Benedek Farkas completed an extraordinary comeback and became the $10,000 NLH 7-Handed champion, collecting $572,000 and his first Triton ONE trophy.
A Career-Defining Victory for Hungary’s Rising Star
At just 22 years old, Farkas has already established himself as an emerging talent on the international poker circuit.
Making only his second appearance at Triton ONE, following his debut in Jeju earlier in 2026, he demonstrated impressive composure under pressure and a strong understanding of heads-up strategy.
Reflecting on his performance, Farkas explained that shorter-stack situations suit his playing style and that his experience competing against Kukhtarev earlier in the tournament helped him make important decisions during the final duel.
He also credited his friends and fellow players for supporting his development, emphasizing the importance of learning from experienced players and having a strong team around him.
Another Major Championship at Merit Royal Diamond
The conclusion of the $10,000 NLH 7-Handed event marked another highlight of Triton ONE North Cyprus 2026, with the international poker community continuing to gather at Merit Royal Diamond Hotel & Spa.
With a field of 324 entries, a prize pool approaching $3 million, and an unforgettable heads-up comeback, the tournament delivered one of the standout championship stories of the festival.
Merit Poker congratulates Benedek Farkas on his outstanding victory and wishes all remaining competitors the best of luck throughout Triton ONE North Cyprus 2026.
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