'Statistics show that 100 men can beat a gorilla if they co-operate properly. However, this may come with injuries' – ChatGPT
Luckily, for the 101 runners in the recent Triton Montenegro Main Event, only their pride was injured during Jesse Lonis’s gorilla-fueled charge to his second Triton title and a $3,446,298 payday.
When Lonis shifts into the self-proclaimed gorilla mode within, there seems to be no stopping the beast he brings to establish full-on dominance at a final table.
The two titles Lonis captured at Triton’s recent Montenegro series, and more than $5,500,000 banked during May, proves the young adept is just getting warmed up for what could be a Hall of Fame career.
Driven to win
A combination of humble beginnings, a boatload of confidence, and a burning desire to provide the best life for his wife and three daughters has been the primary motivation for Lonis’s rapid rise in the game.
“I really came from nothing,” shared Lonis on X. “This win (Triton Main Event) is for all those people out there working every day to get by. I say this because if it weren’t for a few life events going certain ways for me, I never would have even had a chance to pursue this career. I am forever grateful for these experiences and the support from fans all over the world! Poker is a beautiful game that hasn’t even hit the tip of the iceberg yet for potential growth!”
It's a jungle out there
Lonis has adopted the persona of a chest-pounding gorilla on his X postings, primarily for fun and entertainment, to describe his uber-aggressive approach to poker.
“I was already using the gorilla emoji before the whole '100 men versus a gorilla' thing happened. People like it. It’s fun. That's my style of poker, so I've been going with it.”
PokerOrg’s Craig Tapscott caught up with the rising King Kong of poker shortly after he arrived in Vegas to compete for his third WSOP bracelet and beyond.
Watch the full video interview above now.
Lonis is already enjoying a hugely successful 2025, with major wins both live and online.Lonis cuts to the chase during our exclusive interview:
- The origin of his confidence at the table
- The healthy diet plan to maintain energy for the grind
- He shares one of his superpowers to compete at such a high level
- The plans for his 25K Fantasy team
- Who does Lonis pick to swap 5% at the series?
- The ultimate key that separates Lonis and his game from other elite players
“I have a lot of momentum coming off of Triton right now. I want to try to capitalize off of that and hopefully win a bracelet or two this summer.”
The #1 player in the world
Lonis is the current #1 ranked GPI player worldwide and, hands down, the hottest player in the game.
To that end, BetOnline.com has posted odds at 16:1 for a Lonis WSOP Main Event title in 2025. What are the odds that they’re spot on? PokerOrg will be there, covering Lonis and the Super Bowl of poker from shuffle-up to eight figures piled high on the final table.
As soon as we fired off our last question, Lonis bolted from our interview and jumped into the mix a few feet away in the Paris ballroom.
Be forewarned: It will take more than 100 players to avert this raging gorilla from taking home at least one bracelet this summer, and perhaps even the most prestigious title in poker.
Follow Jesse’s WSOP journey on X.
