The Brunch & Breakthrough panel (l-r) Punnat Punsri, Jessica Teusl and Danny Tang

A visit to the Triton Poker Series is about more than just playing poker. These events take place in some spectacular destinations in luxurious resorts, where the spirit of adventure is richly rewarded. The networking opportunities are also second-to-none. Where else will you find so many elite poker brains ready to share their knowledge?

This final point has never been more obvious than on Tuesday morning in North Cyprus, where Triton laid on an exclusive panel discussion titled "Brunch & Breakthroughs" and invited three leading lights of the Super High Roller Series to detail some of the wisdom they have accrued on their journey to the top.

Six-time Triton champions Danny Tang and Punnat Punsri, alongside one of Triton's form players and Invitational regular Jessica Teusl, talked for an hour with Triton host Stanley Ma about their careers, their highs and lows, and their strategies for staying one step ahead. They also fielded questions from an enthusiastic crowd of fascinated players and fans, despite the very un-pokerly hour of 10.30am.

Each of the three panellists has taken a steep but steady ascent to poker's top table. Tang went from low-stakes tournament grinder, distracting himself from a university degree to visit the casinos of North West England. Punsri started out as a recreational cash-game player before accepting a speculative invitation to play with Triton here in Cyprus, where he landed the Main Event. Teusl, meanwhile, graduated from games for candy in the family home in Austria to three European Ladies Championship titles and a WSOP bracelet.

An hour spent in their company was worth thousands in EV.

"You need to overcome the fear of losing," Punsri said, describing how he has now managed to settle into the life of a pro player after a whirlwind start to his high-stakes career. "Preparing your mind for that is pretty important."

Punnat Punsri bounced back from a wretched start to his first Triton stop to win the Main Event

Punsri admitted that he had been exceptionally lucky at his first Triton stop, bricking the Invitational and losing a massive cash-game pot with aces-full going down to Jungleman's quads, but then bouncing back with a spectacular Main Event win worth $2.6 million. He said things might have been very different had he not come out of that event with the top prize, but it quickly taught him to analyze his play and learn from the many mistakes he had made.

Punsri struck a humble tone throughout, giving credit to the friends he has surrounded himself with since becoming a Triton regular, and consistently attempting to test himself more and more. He said performing at the top level requires a balance of theory and observation, with a certain amount of diligent study required as a baseline, with an ability to adjust to various opponents also crucial. "Theory alone doesn't cut it at this level," he said.

Tang was similarly realistic about the fortune he enjoyed on his journey to becoming a Triton ambassador, but detailed an inspirational story about being a poker fan boy that somehow got to sit down with Mike Mizrachi and Mike Sexton at a tournament in the UK. "That was my Rounders moment, my Johnny Chan moment," he said.

He has since gone on to develop a unique game, which he says he now plays with confidence. He said players should not be afraid to take a step forward if they think their skills merit it. "You kind of know if you are dominating a table," he said.

Tang also offered some invaluable advice to a Hong Kong-based fan named Jaydon, who was keen to know how to climb the stakes from his regular $3K game up to $10Ks and beyond. "Find some friends, make some swaps," Tang said, adding that it's crucial to study the global poker calendar and target specific events in which to take your shots. He also pointed to players such as Adrian Mateos, who has the courage of his convictions regardless of the size of the game or the tournament situation.

Danny Tang was a low-stakes tournament grinder before hitting the big time with Triton

Punsri agreed and added: "To be successful, you need to not be scared to be wrong."

Teusl's perspective was equally insightful. She still runs a PR agency in Austria, but is becoming an increasingly familiar sight at the Triton tables, particularly after cashing both the Invitational and the Main Event in Jeju earlier this year. Nonetheless, she said she it's vital to understand the variance in poker, and how to gather information from those around you.

Detailing her first Invitational event, which represented a significant hike in her usual buy-in, Teusl said: "I asked experienced players what I should do. I said, 'Do you have some tips for me?'" She said she has learned how to adapt her game to the numerous different fields she plays in, from lower buy-in women's events, all the way up to the Triton Main Event.

Discussing how she manages her bankroll and arranges swaps, Teusl said: "I look at the field, the structure and ask, 'What is my ROI?'" Referencing a few early successes, she added: "You can win with luck, but if you want to play on a higher level, you have to work on your game."

Teusl also opened up on the particular challenges of being a high-profile female player in what remains a male-dominated world. "As a woman, sometimes it's easier, but sometimes it's harder," she said, discussing how any play a woman makes on a live stream is analyzed and criticised for months on end by the droves of keyboard warriors online.

"Live poker is not only playing on the tables, it's all the other stuff around," Teusl said. The panel agreed with Tang's statement that most players don't study the game enough, but some over-study it and simply try to emulate the solver outputs. Teusl said: "Never forget you are playing against people."

Jessica Teusl still balances numerous business pursuits with a booming poker career

With the floor open to questions, the panel had to field enquiries about everything from Manchester United's most recent matches to their Pokemon collections. Perhaps most pertinently, they were asked why they chose poker above all other possible avenues to pursue. "I just fell in love with the game," Tang said. "Having passion and dedication, putting in 10,000 hours, you can be good at it. It will be a long, rocky road, but you never know."

The breakfast had been served. The breakthroughs are now to follow.

Follow the Triton Poker Series social media channels for footage from the Brunch and Breakthroughs event.