2024 USOP Grand Finale Hai Phong: Team India Makes a Statement With Strong Starts From Kartik Ved, Kunal Patni & Siddharth Karia

The Asian poker scene is a whirlwind of non-stop excitement, and the storm’s epicentre is again Vietnam! Hot on the heels of the APPT Cambodia and the record-shattering Poker Dream 13 Malaysia, the excitement has landed in the coastal city of Hai Phong for the 2024 U Series of Poker (USOP) Grand Finale Hai Phong. This 13-day poker extravaganza, being held in collaboration with Crown Poker Club, is going down in the luxurious Grand Ballroom at the Pullman Grand Hotel, and it’s already living up to the hype.

This Grand Finale isn’t just the culmination of the USOP season; it’s a poker spectacle like no other. With a mind-blowing VN₫ 100 Billion (~$4 Million) guarantee – the biggest in Vietnam and USOP history – and 69 events on the schedule, including the coveted USOP Player of the Series Ring up for grabs, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

As the fourth and final stop of the 2024 USOP season, this Grand Finale is attracting a truly elite international field, all eager to etch their names into poker history.

India’s Poker Elite Storms the Scene

Indian players have been crushing the USOP circuit this year, racking up three titles and over 20 final table appearances in the last three stops. And with the phenomenal success Indian players have been having all over Asia, it’s no surprise that a strong contingent of Team India pros have made the trip to Hai Phong, and they are already making waves!

Eight champions have been crowned so far, and Indian players have already snatched three impressive scores, including two final table finishes. If history is any indication, we’re about to witness a surge of Indian dominance.

The Return of a Legend

After a mysterious vanishing act, WSOP bracelet winner Kartik Ved has resurfaced in Hai Phong. And he’s not here to play games. He instantly made his presence known with a ninth-place finish in Event #5: VN₫ 55 Million High Roller: Weekend Single Day, pocketing a cool VN₫ 145 Million (~₹4.84 Lakhs).

Familiar Faces, New Ambitions

PokerStars India Ambassador Siddharth Karia, who turned heads at the last USOP Hai Phong stop in September and has been on a tear from APT Taipei to Manila, is back with a vengeance. After his Won Poker Cup Mini High Roller victory in July, he’s hungry for another trophy. He kicked off his campaign in the High Roller: Weekend, cashing in 15th place for VN₫ 100 Million (~₹3.34 Lakhs).

Natural8 India Executive Director Kunal Patni, riding high on two recent APT title victories, came within a whisker of his first USOP title. He stormed the final table of Event #7: VN₫ 22 Million Mini High Roller, finishing a respectable third for VN₫ 130 Million (~₹4.34 Lakhs). He may have slipped to #10 on India’s all-time money list after Nishant Sharma‘s historic Poker Dream 13 Malaysia run, but you can bet he’s determined to reclaim his position.

Madness Kickoff: Records Shattered, Dreams Ignited

The first major showdown of the series, Event #1: VN₫ 11 Million Madness Kickoff, was an explosion. The VN₫ 10 Billion (~$400,000) guarantee was obliterated as a mind-boggling 1,582 entries flooded in, creating a colossal VN₫ 14.72 Billion (~$580,000) prize pool – almost VN₫ 5 Billion more than the previous record!

After four intense starting flights, 198 players survived to reach the Madness Kickoff Day 2 Final, all guaranteed at least VN₫ 18.5 Million (~$730). But the real battle is for the champion’s trophy and the whopping VN₫ 2.15 Billion (~$85,000) up top!

China’s Yuan Xu currently leads the pack with a monstrous stack of 647,000 from Day 1C, but five Indian warriors remain in the hunt, ready to seize the crown.

India’s Hopes Rest on These Shoulders

Siddharth Karia is spearheading the Indian charge with a formidable 378,000 (47 BBs), followed closely by Rising Star Ritwik Khanna with 332,000 (42 BBs). Kunal Patni is also a strong contender with a respectable 254,000 (32 BBs). Harsh Bubna (129,000) and WSOP bracelet winner Aayush Arya (50,000) are still in the game, hoping to spin their short stacks into gold.

Big Winners So Far

Malaysia’s Sean Ooi Wins High Roller Weekend Single Day (VN₫ 1.45 Billion)

While the Madness Kickoff was setting records, Event #5: VN₫ 55 Million High Roller: Weekend Single Day was quietly building to a thrilling climax. The tournament, which boasted a VN₫ 1.50 Billion (~$60,000) guarantee, smashed expectations as 126 entries poured in, generating a massive VN₫ 5.92 Billion (~$233,000) prize pool—almost four times the initial promise!

The top 19 players got a share of the prize money, but when all was said and done, Malaysia’s Sean Ooi stood tall as the champion. Ooi expertly manoeuvred through a tough final table, eventually taking down Vietnam’s Xuan Trong Bui in a tense heads-up match. This win got Ooi his second USOP title this year and a hefty VN₫ 1.45 Billion (~$57,000) cash prize. Bui, though he didn’t win, played a great game and took home a respectable VN₫ 997.5 Million (~$40,000) for his second-place finish.

This wasn’t just a Malaysian victory parade. India’s poker players continued their hot streak, with WSOP bracelet winner Kartik Ved making a deep run and finishing in a respectable ninth place for VN₫ 145 Million (~₹4.84 Lakhs), another impressive showing in a high roller event.

And let’s not forget PokerStars India Ambassador Siddharth Karia, who added another feather to his cap with a 15th-place finish for VN₫ 100 Million (~₹3.34 Lakhs). This poker pro is on fire! With six top-ten finishes in the last three months, Karia is proving that he’s not just an ambassador; he’s a constant threat at the tables.

Final Table Results (VN₫)

1. Sean Ooi – VN₫ 1,450,000,000
2. Xuan Trong Bui – VN₫ 997,500,000
3. Ivan Deyra – VN₫ 710,000,000
4. Trung Chien Nguyen – VN₫ 507,500,000
5. Yingrui Ge – VN₫ 367,000,000
6. Pingfeng Wu – VN₫ 273,000,000
7. Calvin Kean Wei Tan – VN₫ 217,000,000
8. Nang Quang Nguyen – VN₫ 175,000,000
9. Kartik Ved – VN₫ 145,000,000

Australia’s John Perry Conquers VN₫ 44 Million High Roller: Warm-Up Single Day (VN₫ 839.282 Million)

The USOP Grand Finale kicked off with a bang, crowning three champions on its very first day! The action was red-hot, and none more so than in Event #2: VN₫ 44 Million High Roller: Warm-Up Single Day, which originally had a VN₫ 1.20 Billion (~$50,500) guarantee. But with 105 hopefuls ponying up the VN₫ 44 Million (~$1,735) buy-in, the prize pool ballooned to a whopping VN₫ 3.95 Billion (~$155,700)—over three times the initial guarantee!

After intense gameplay, Australia`s John Perry emerged victorious, claiming the championship trophy after a hard-fought heads-up battle against Taiwan`s Yu Chung Chang. These two struck an ICM deal before playing for the trophy, with Perry earning VN₫ 839,282,000 (~$33,100) and his third USP title. Chang, though, walked away with the bigger payday of VN₫ 909,318,000 (~$35,850).

Final Table Results (VN₫)

1. John Perry – VN₫ 839,282,000*
2. Yu Chung Chang – VN₫ 909,318,000*
3. Jiaming Zhao – VN₫ 428,600,000
4. Anh Tai Do – VN₫ 313,200,000
5. Quang Trinh Do – VN₫ 244,800,000
6. Trung Chien Nguyen – VN₫ 196,400,000
7. Hon Cheong Lee – VN₫ 161,600,000
8. Quang Thang Do – VN₫ 132,800,000
9. Nguyen Dai Dong – VN₫ 110,000,000

*denotes a heads-up deal

Vietnam’s Hoang Anh Nguyen Wins VN₫ 22 Million Mini High Roller For VN₫ 320 Million

The VN₫ 22 Million Mini High Roller, with its VN₫ 500 Million (~$20,000) guarantee, was another scorcher. It exceeded expectations as 49 players joined the fray, createing a VN₫ 921 Million (~$36,000) prize pool. The top seven players shared the spoils, with Vietnam’s Hoang Anh Nguyen emerging as the champion. Nguyen outlasted the competition, defeating New Zealand`s Natalia Rozova heads-up to claim the VN₫ 320 Million (~$12,500) top prize and his first USOP title. Rozova also played well, finishing second for VN₫ 200 Million (~$7,800).

India’s Kunal Patni, riding high on back-to-back APT titles just weeks ago, continued his stellar form, finishing third in the Mini High Roller for VN₫ 130 Million (~₹4.34 Lakhs). While he narrowly missed out on the title, this podium finish is another impressive result for Patni, who’s proving to be a consistent force in live tournaments.

Complete Results (VN₫)

1. Hoang Anh Nguyen – VN₫ 320,000,000
2. Natalia Rozova – VN₫ 200,000,000
3. Kunal Patni – VN₫ 130,000,000
4. Bao Qiang Ho – VN₫ 96,000,000
5. Hai Long Hoang – VN₫ 75,000,000
6. Youkan Li – VN₫ 55,200,000
7. Phua Chern Chze Isaac – VN₫ 45,000,000

Here’s a quick rundown of the other side event champions so far:

• Xinxing Tang took down Event #3: VN₫ 4.50 Million Double Board – Single Winner, pocketing VN₫ 10.027 Million.

• Hao Sun blazed to victory in Event #4: VN₫ 4 Million 7-Handed Hyper Turbo. This fast-paced format requires quick thinking and aggressive play, and Sun proved they had what it takes, winning VN₫ 70 Million.

• Chee Pun conquered Event #6: VN₫ 7 Million Weekend Event. This event drew a solid field, but Pun navigated their way through the competition and emerged victorious, taking home VN₫ 96.70 Million.

• Guangrui Meng showed their Pot Limit Omaha skills in Event #8: VN₫ 6 Million Pot Limit Omaha – Turbo, winning the trophy and VN₫ 70 Million.

• Chenglin Shi was the last player standing in Event #9: VN₫ 4 Million Win The Button – Hyper Turbo. This exciting format keeps the action moving, and Shi proved they could adapt and conquer, earning VN₫ 59.50 Million.

Content & Images Courtesy: USOP & So Much Poker

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