2024 USOP Grand Finale Hai Phong: Ankit Bhansali Bests Kunal Patni Heads-Up to Win Event #27: VN₫ 10 Million Midweek Superstack (~₹24.15 Lakhs) For India’s First Series Title!

The 2024 U Series of Poker (USOP) Grand Finale, unfolding in the opulent Grand Ballroom of the Pullman Grand Hotel in Hai Phong, Vietnam, in partnership with the Crown Poker Club, is a spectacle of non-stop poker action. This 13-day series, the largest ever hosted in Vietnam, has already seen Team India make a significant impact, accumulating an impressive 28 cash finishes, including seven final table appearances in the first six days. But it was Ankit Bhansali (cover image) who finally achieved a long-awaited breakthrough for India last night.

Bhansali etched his name into the USOP record books by becoming the first Indian player to capture a title at this year’s Grand Finale. This victory represents India’s fourth USOP title in 2024, a clear demonstration of the country’s growing influence and skill in the Asian poker landscape.

Bhansali, riding high after his recent triumph at the DPT Grand ₹35K NLH Bounty in Goa (his first live tournament victory), entered Event #27: VN₫ 10 Million Midweek Superstack with a target on his back. This event attracted a massive field of 465 entries, all eager to claim the title and a share of the lucrative prize pool. But Bhansali, a picture of confidence in his signature vibrant attire, remained unfazed. He expertly navigated his way through the field with a combination of skill, strategy, and that indispensable touch of card-playing fortune.

And to make things even more interesting, the final showdown was an all-Indian affair, with Bhansali facing off against the formidable Natural8 India Executive Director, Kunal Patni. The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife. Patni, a seasoned veteran with a reputation that precedes him, had already made his mark on the USOP, having won the USOP Hanoi 2023 Event #34: VN₫ 66 Million High Roller – The Finale over a year ago. He was also in top form in this series, with deep runs in all four events he had played, including two final table appearances. Many expected him to cruise to victory and add another title to his impressive collection.

However, Bhansali had other plans. He engaged in a fierce heads-up battle with Patni, and the two quickly agreed to a deal to reduce the variance. In the end, Bhansali emerged victorious, capturing his first-ever USOP title and a career-best VN₫ 724 Million (~₹24.15 Lakhs) payday. This victory was made even more remarkable by the fact that it was Bhansali’s first cash and first final table finish in the series!

While Bhansali’s win was a defining moment for Team India, Kunal Patni’s performance was equally noteworthy. Despite falling short of the title, he still walked away with a substantial VN₫ 666 Million (~₹22.22 Lakhs). This impressive cash was Patni’s third final table appearance and fourth cash of the series, bringing his total earnings at the USOP Grand Finale to a staggering VN₫ 1.358 Billion (~₹45.30 Lakhs). He remains the highest-earning Indian player at the USOP Grand Finale so far.

The Indian success stories didn’t end there. Several other players from Team India made deep runs and achieved impressive results:

• Aditya Sushant: Finished 10th in Event #16: VN₫ 20 Million Mini Main Event for VN₫ 241 Million (~₹8.04 Lakhs)
• Siddharth Karia: Finished 14th in Event #16: VN₫ 20 Million Mini Main Event for VN₫ 181 Million (~₹6.04 Lakhs)
• Ashish Munot: Finished 4th in Event #29: VN₫ 14 Million Big Stack: Big Buy In for VN₫ 102.50 Million (~₹3.42 Lakhs)
• Ritwik Khanna: Finished 9th in Event #29: VN₫ 14 Million Big Stack: Big Buy In for VN₫ 40 Million (~₹1.33 Lakhs)
• Kartik Ved: Finished 4th in Event #25: VN₫ 22 Million Mini High Roller for VN₫ 98.20 Million (~₹3.28 Lakhs)

Team India Scores at USOP Grand Finale Hai Phong

India’s Ankit Bhansali Crushes Event #27: VN₫ 10 Million Midweek Superstack (~₹24.15 Lakhs) After Heads-Up Deal With Kunal Patni (~₹22.22 Lakhs)

The heads-up showdown in Event #27: VN₫ 10 Million Midweek Superstack was an all-Indian affair. Ankit Bhansali and Kunal Patni were locked in a battle for the ages. Now, Kunal Patni, the Natural8 India Executive Director and brand ambassador, has been on an absolute tear lately. The silver-haired fox has been crushing the poker scene, and many thought this would be another easy victory for him. But Ankit Bhansali, a man known for his sharp style and even sharper poker skills, had other plans.

Bhansali, already riding high after winning his first-ever live title at the Deltin Poker Tournament Grand in Goa less than two months ago, was ready to make his presence felt on the international stage. He had taken down the ₹35K NLH Bounty for ₹4.34 Lakhs, a career-best score at the time. But in Hai Phong, he was determined to write a new chapter in his poker journey.

And deliver he did! Bhansali outlasted the formidable Patni, claiming his first USOP title and a whopping VN₫ 724 Million (~₹24.15 Lakhs) payday after a heads-up deal. This victory was not only his first score in the series, but it also represented a new peak in his career, shattering his previous earnings record.

Patni, despite his recent dominance in the South Asian poker scene, couldn’t quite add a second USOP title to his trophy cabinet. He had previously conquered the VN₫ 66 Million High Roller – The Finale at USOP Hanoi last year. But even though victory eluded him this time, Patni still walked away with a hefty VN₫ 666 Million (~₹22.22 Lakhs).

The Midweek Superstack itself was a resounding success. It boasted a VN₫ 900 Million guarantee, but with 465 entries (326 unique players), the prize pool exploded to VN₫ 3.934 Billion! The top eight finishers were guaranteed a piece of the action, and India’s Sumit Sapra also got in on the money, finishing 54th for VN₫ 16 Million (~₹53,000).

Final Table Results (VN₫)

1. Ankit Bhansali – VN₫ 724,000,000*
2. Kunal Patni – VN₫ 666,000,000*
3. Khoi Nguyen – VN₫ 358,000,000
4. Duy Anh Pham – VN₫ 245,000,000
5. Xiangyu Zhao – VN₫ 190,000,000
6. Yuanxi Chen – VN₫ 159,000, 00
7. Sang Jun Lee – VN₫ 130,000,000
8. Chun Chieh Liu – VN₫ 104,000,000
9. Phi Hung Do – VN₫ 83,000,000

*denotes a heads-up deal

China’s Ma Haohui Ships Mini Main Event (VN₫ 2.835 Billion); Aditya Sushant Leads Eight Indians Across the Money Line

Event #16: VN₫ 20 Million Mini Main Event was a spectacle, exceeding all expectations, a recurring theme in this season-ending series! It wasn’t just a tournament; it was a full-blown poker phenomenon that drew a colossal 1,116 entries, shattering the VN₫ 15 Billion guarantee. This incredible turnout generated a mind-blowing VN₫ 19.729 Billion prize pool, setting the stage for some truly high-stakes action.

The final day was a pressure cooker, with players battling it out for hours on end. In the end, China’s Ma Haohui rose above the rest, seizing the magnificent USOP trophy and a life-changing VN₫ 2.835 Billion first-place prize after a heads-up deal. But let’s not forget Vietnam’s Ha Va Thien, who fought tooth and nail and walked away with a remarkable VN₫ 2.60 Billion for his second-place finish, also thanks to the deal.

Now, let’s talk about India’s Aditya Sushant. This WSOP bracelet winner had his eyes on the prize and came agonizingly close to the final table. He started Day 2 in a decent position, ranked 18th out of 144 survivors with a 380,000-chip stack (48 BBs). He navigated the field expertly and even held the seventh-largest stack of 1.985 million chips (33 BBs) when only 20 players remained.

But poker can be a cruel game. As the final table bubble approached, Sushant found himself as the short stack with a mere 1.40 million chips (12 BBs). And then, disaster struck. Li Xinze led out for 150,000 on the flop , forcing the small blind to fold. Sushant, with his tournament life on the line, called all-in for his last 100,000 with , hoping to hit a flush. Xinze, however, had flopped top pair with . The turn gave Xinze two pair, and the on the river, though giving Sushant a pair of Jacks, wasn’t enough to save him. His incredible run ended in 10th place, but he still took home a very respectable VN₫ 241 Million (~₹8.04 Lakhs).

The Indian contingent had another hero in Siddharth Karia, the PokerStars India ambassador. Karia, already having cashed three times in the series, managed a deep run in the Mini Main Event, finishing 14th for VN₫ 181 Million (~₹6.04 Lakhs). This impressive performance brought his total series winnings to a fantastic VN₫ 347.50 Million (~₹11.59 Lakhs).

The Mini Main Event was a profitable hunting ground for Indian players, with a total of eight making it into the money. Joining Sushant and Karia in the prizewinners’ circle were WSOP bracelet winner Kartik Ved (33rd for VN₫ 92 Million; ~₹3.07 Lakhs), Rising Star Ritwik Khanna (45th for VN₫ 72.50 Million; ~₹2.42 Lakhs), Harsh Bubna (62nd for VN₫ 57.50 Million; ~₹1.92 Lakhs), Young Gun Aayush Arya (100th for VN₫ 39.50 Million; ~₹1.32 Lakhs), Amit Kaushik (127th for VN₫ 37 Million; ~₹1.23 Lakhs), and Ashish Munot (141st for VN₫ 35 Million; ~₹1.17 Lakhs).

Final Table Results (VN₫)

1. Ma Haohui – VN₫ 2,835,000,000*
2. Ha Van Thien – VN₫ 2,600,000,000*
3. Jules Rohr – VN₫ 1,500,000,000
4. Irvan Pramana Iliadi – VN₫ 1,117,400,000
5. Zheng Jie – VN₫ 850,000,000
6. Wang Chen – VN₫ 682,000,000
7. Fan Yingkun – VN₫ 546,820,000
8. Haver Kamper – VN₫ 422,000,000
9. Li Xinze – VN₫ 321,000,000

*denotes a heads-up deal

China’s Wang Hao Zhao Takes Down Event #29: VN₫ 14 Million Big Stack: Big Buy In (VN₫ 411 Million); India’s Ashish Munot & Ritwik Khanna Bag FT Finishes

Event #29: VN₫ 14 Million Big Stack: Big Buy In was a showdown for the ages, and it was China’s Wang Hao Zhao who emerged as the champion. He outlasted a massive field of 115 entries (99 unique), earning a cool VN₫ 411 Million and the coveted USOP trophy. Australia’s Jennifer Cassell put up a valiant fight, ultimately finishing as the runner-up and taking home VN₫ 251 Million.

But the story doesn’t end there. India had some serious contenders in this event, and two of them made it to the final table!

Ashish Munot, who had already made a deep run in Event #11: VN₫ 120 Million Superstar Challenge, was clearly hungry for more. He battled his way to his first final table of the series in the Big Stack: Big Buy In, ultimately finishing in fourth place for a handsome VN₫ 102.50 Million (~₹3.42 Lakhs) payday. This, combined with his earlier cash in the Mini Main Event, brought his total series winnings to a very respectable VN₫ 347.50 Million (~₹11.59 Lakhs).

Ritwik Khanna also flew the flag for India, making it to the final table before bowing out in ninth place for VN₫ 40 Million (~₹1.33 Lakhs). This added to his previous successes, bringing his total for the trip to VN₫ 169.50 Million (~₹5.65 Lakhs).

Final Table Results (VN₫)

1. Wang Hao Zhao – VN₫ 411,000,000
2. Jennifer Cassell – VN₫ 251,000,000
3. Wongyu Kang – VN₫ 151,000,000
4. Ashish Munot – VN₫ 102,500,000
5. Quan Qiu – VN₫ 77,000,000
6. Maurice Vitto Laurent Jeevanji – VN₫ 60,500,000
7. Eric Lim Mao – VN₫ 51,000,000
8. Rytis Pranarauskas – VN₫ 45,000,000
9. Ritwik Khanna – VN₫ 40,000,000

China’s Shanhe Su Wins Event #25: VN₫ 22 Million Mini High Roller (VN₫ 370 Million); India’s Kartik Ved Finishes 4th (~₹3.28 Lakhs)

Event #25: VN₫ 22 Million Mini High Roller was a battleground for some of the fiercest poker minds, and China’s Shanhe Su conquered the field. He outlasted a field of 42 entries (30 unique), claiming the title and a handsome VN₫ 370 Million top prize. His fellow countryman, Zhang Xun, put up a strong fight but had to settle for second place and VN₫ 225 Million.

But amidst the Chinese dominance, India’s Kartik Ved was making a name for himself. Fresh off a ninth-place finish in Event #5: VN₫ 55 Million High Roller: Weekend Single Day, Ved continued his hot streak with another deep run. He battled his way to the final table once again, finishing fourth and adding VN₫ 98.20 Million (~₹3.28 Lakhs) to his growing bankroll.

This impressive performance marked Ved’s second final table appearance of the series. Combined with his earlier score in the Mini Main Event, his total winnings at the USOP Grand FInale soared to VN₫ 335.20 Million (~₹11.18 Lakhs).

Complete Payouts (VN₫)

1. Shanhe Su – VN₫ 370,000,000
2. Zhang Xun – VN₫ 225,000,000
3. Trung Chien Nguyen – VN₫ 140 000,000
4. Kartik Ved – VN₫ 98,200,000
5. Tien Thanh Dinh – VN₫ 77,000,000
6. Hasung Lee – VN₫ 60,000,000
7. Van Nguyen – VN₫ 45,000,000

Content & Images Courtesy: USOP & So Much Poker

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