VPT Championship 2025: Deepak Bothra Ends Long Live Title Hiatus With VN₫ 33 Million Single Day High Roller 8-Max Victory (₹18.62 Lakhs)

After a season focused heavily on the virtual felt, the spotlight swings back to live poker with a bang! India’s poker talent is making serious noise right out of the gate at the first-ever standalone Vietnam Poker Tour (VPT) Championship 2025. This brand-new festival has taken over the stunning Corona Resort & Casino on Phu Quoc’s beautiful Pearl Island from April 5 to 13.

With 38 tournaments and a generous VN₫ 35 Billion (~$1.40 Million) prize pool guarantee, this nine-day festival promises heart-pounding action! And just three days in, Team India is already making headlines with four big scores—including a long-awaited title and a close second-place finish!

Deepak Bothra Breaks the Dry Spell: A Live Title After 7.5 Years

Stepping back into the live tournament spotlight in a big way, Deepak Bothra (cover image) has put his name in the lights early in the series. This long-time pro, a qualified CA from Mumbai, navigated a competitive field in Event #5: VN₫ 33 Million Single Day High Roller 8-Max, going all the way to claim his third career live trophy. This victory is particularly sweet, being his first live win in over seven and a half years!

Facing down 68 opponents, Bothra claimed the top prize of VN₫ 562.30 Million (~₹18.62 Lakhs). This strong score boosts his career live tournament earnings past the ₹1.40 Crore point and stands as his second-highest live cash, slotting in just behind his third-place finish in the 2022 APT Summer Festival Hanoi Championships Event (~₹36.64 Lakhs).

Local player Minh Thang Tra put up a strong fight, finishing as the runner-up for VN₫ 387.50 Million (~$15,030). The high roller event itself was a roaring success, attracting enough players to create a VN₫ 2.001 Billion (~$77,870) prize pool – smashing the original guarantee by double! The top 11 finishers earned a payday, with even the min-cash being a respectable VN₫ 54.20 Million (~$2,100).

Kunal Patni Stays Consistent: Early Cashes Keep the Momentum Going

The Indian momentum kept rolling with Kunal Patni. Known for his consistent play, the Natural8 India Executive Director & Ambassador is carrying forward the form that brought him two APT Manila Classic wins earlier this year and other solid finishes straight into the VPT. Patni has already notched up two cash finishes in the opening days, further building on his strong record!

He finished ninth in the very same Event #5: VN₫ 33 Million Single Day High Roller 8-Max that Bothra won, collecting VN₫ 62.20 Million (~₹2.06 Lakhs). Before that, he took fourth place in Event #2: VN₫ 22 Million Single Day High Roller 8-Max for VN₫ 76.80 Million (~₹2.54 Lakhs). That’s a quick VN₫ 139 Million (~₹4.60 Lakhs) added to his tally, demonstrating his knack for deep runs in these competitive fields in Vietnam!

‘JD Bhaiya’ Goes Deep: Runner-Up Finish For the Poker Veteran

Elsewhere in the high roller action, the well-respected Jaydeep Dawer, fondly called ‘JD Bhaiya’ in the community, came incredibly close to adding a second live title (he won the DPT Grand ₹40K NLH Re-Entry in October last year) to his name. Dawer made a determined push through the 36-entry field in Event #2: VN₫ 22 Million Single Day High Roller 8-Max.

He reached the heads-up stage but ultimately finished as the runner-up, earning VN₫ 167.60 Million (~₹5.55 Lakhs). Taiwan’s Bo Zhu took down the event for VN₫ 244.40 Million (~$9,480). This VN₫ 22 Million buy-in event generated a prize pool of VN₫ 698.40 Million (~$27,085), paying the top six finishers with a min-cash of VN₫ 45.40 Million ($1,760).

Dawer’s influence extends far beyond his results. As a co-owner of the Gujarat Falcons (Poker Sports League), co-founder of The Indian Poker Series, and past poker room operator, his dedication has helped nurture the Indian poker ecosystem. Strong results like this on the Asian stage reflect that broader impact.

Strong Start for Team India, More Action Ahead

Just a few days into the nine-day VPT Championship 2025, the Indian contingent has already made a significant impact. With four scores logged, including a major High Roller title for Bothra and a close call for Dawer, the signs are looking very positive for Team India as the festival unfolds. There’s plenty more poker action to come from Phu Quoc.

Team India Cashes at the VPT Championship

VPT Championship Title Winners

Content & Images Courtesy: Vietnam Poker Tour & Vietnam Poker News

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