WPT Prime Debuts in Asia With WPT Vietnam (May 19 – 30), Sizable Indian Continent Expected to be in Attendance!

WPT Prime Vietnam 2022
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  • Namita Ghosh May 19, 2022
  • 7 Minutes Read

We’re looking at an explosive month ahead for live MTT regulars. While most of the domestic crowd is already in Jhapa, Nepal, for the ongoing IPC Megastacks, starting today, i.e., on May 19, is the WPT Prime’s inaugural stop – WPT Vietnam.

WPT has hosted three editions in Vietnam through 2018 and 2019, but this is the first time the prestigious stop is coming back as part of WPT’s all-new global poker brand –WPT Prime. WPT Prime was launched in February, a month after the brand came out with the partial schedule of the WPT Season XX.

Being hosted at the Crown Poker Club, Hanoi, the 12-day series comprises 24 events, and guarantees VND 15 Billion (~$649,645) in prize money. Headlining the series will be the VND25,000,000 ($1,100) buy-in Main Event that features a VND 8 Billion GTD ($346,477) prize pool and three starting flights taking off on May 26, all the way to Day 2 on May 30.

While you’ll find old favorites like Deepstacks, SuperStacks, Freezeout tourneys, and the Main Event Warm-Up, the most expensive tournament on the schedule is the VND 210 Million ($9,100) buy-in Super Stars Challenge Invitational (May 21). Another featured attraction is the High Roller 2-Day Event (May 29 – 30) with a VND 2.5 Billion ($108,274) guarantee.

 

WPT Prime Vietnam Schedule

Date & TimeEventGTD
May 19, 10 AM₫1,000,000 + ₫100,000 No Limit Hold'em - Opener Satellite3 Seats GTD
May 19, 11 AM₫8,000,000 + ₫800,000 No Limit Hold'em - WPT Opener (Event 1 - Day 1A)₫2.5 Billion
May 19, 3:30 PM₫4,000,000 + ₫400,000 No Limit Hold'em - Deepstack (Event 2)-
May 19, 6:45 PM₫3,000,000 + ₫300,000 No Limit Hold'em - Hyper Turbo (Event 3)-
May 19, 7 PM₫1,000,000 + ₫100,000 No Limit Hold'em - Opener Satellite-
May 20, 10 AM₫1,000,000 + ₫100,000 No Limit Hold'em - Opener Satellite-
May 20, 11 AM₫8,000,000 + ₫800,000 No Limit Hold'em - WPT Opener (Event 1 - Day 1B)₫2.5 Billion
May 20, 3:30 PM₫3,000,000 + ₫300,000 No Limit Hold'em - Deepstack Cheap Freeze (Event 4)-
May 20, 6:45 PM₫4,000,000 + ₫400,000 No Limit Hold'em - Turbo (Event 4)-
May 20, 7 PM₫1,000,000 + ₫100,000 No Limit Hold'em - Opener Satellite2 Seats GTD
May 21, 10 AM₫1,000,000 + ₫100,000 No Limit Hold'em - Opener Satellite3 Seats GTD
May 21, 11 AM₫8,000,000 + ₫800,000 No Limit Hold'em - WPT Opener (Event 1 - Day 1C)₫2.5 Billion
May 21, 3:30 pm  ₫6,000,000 + ₫600,000 No Limit Hold'em - 2M VND Bounty (Event 6)-
May 21, 7 pm  ₫700,000 + 70,000 No Limit Hold'em - SuperStack Satellite3 Seats GTD
May 21, 7:30 pm  ₫200,000,000 + ₫10,000,000 No Limit Hold'em - Super Star Challenge Invitational-
May 22, 10 AM ₫700,000 + ₫70,000 No Limit Hold'em - SuperStack Satellite3 Seats GTD
May 22, 11 AM No Limit Hold'em - WPT Opener (Event 1 - Day 2)₫2.5 Billion
May 22, 12 PM₫6,000,000 + ₫600,000 No Limit Hold'em - SuperStack (Event 7)-
May 22, 1 PM₫50,000,000 + ₫5,000,000 No Limit Hold'em - Single Day High Roller (Event 8)-
May 22, 4:15 PM₫1,850,000 + ₫200,000 No Limit Hold'em - Mystery Bounty Satlelite2 Seats GTD
Mon 23, 10 AM  ₫1,850,000 + ₫200,000 No Limit Hold'em - Mystery Bounty Satlelite2 Seats GTD
Mon 23 - 24, 11 AM₫10,000,000 + ₫1,000,000 No Limit Hold'em - Mystery Bounty (Event 9 - Day 1A)₫1 Billion
May 23, 3:30 PM  ₫10,000,000 + ₫1,000,000 No Limit Hold'em - Mystery Bounty (Event 9 - Day 1B)₫1 Billion
May 23, 6:15 PM₫3,000,000 + ₫300,000 No Limit Hold'em - Hyper Turbo (Event 10)-
May 24, 10 AM₫21,000,000 + ₫200,000 NoLimit Hold'em - 8 Max Main Event Warm Up Satellite2 Seats GTD
May 24, 11 AMNo Limit Hold'em - Mystery Bounty (Event 9 - Day 2)₫1 Billion
May 24 - 25, 12 PM₫15,000,000 + ₫15,000,000 No Limit Hold'em - 8 Max Main Event Warm Up (Event 11 - Day 1)-
May 24, 4:15 PM₫6,000,000 + ₫600,000 No Limit Hold'em - Short Deck (Event 12)-
May 24, 6:15 PM₫3,600,000 + ₫400,000 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event Satellite3 Seats GTD
May 25, 10 AM₫700,000 + ₫100,000 No Limt Hold'em - Feeder to Mega Satellite5 Seats GTD
May 25, 11 AMNo Limit Hold'em - 8 Max Main Event Warm Up (Event 11 - Day 2)-
May 25, 12:30 PM₫3,600,000 + ₫400,000 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event Mega Satellite10 Seats GTD
May 25, 1:30 PM₫5,000,000 + ₫500,000 No Limit Hold'em - Megastack (Event 14)-
May 25 - 26, 4:15 PM₫10,000,000 + ₫1,000,000 Pot Limit Omaha (Event 15 - Day 1)-
May 26, 10 AM₫3,150,000 + ₫350,000 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event Satellite2 Seats GTD
May 26, 10:30 AMPot Limit Omaha (Event 15 - Day 2)-
May 26 - 30, 11 AM₫22,730,000 + ₫2,270,000 No Limit Hold'em - WPT Main Event (Event 16 - Day 1A)₫8 Billion
May 26 - 28, 1 PM₫100,000,000 + ₫7,000,000 No Limit Hold'em - Super High Roller (Event 17 0 Day 1)-
May 26, 4:15 PM₫5,000,000 + ₫500,000 No Limit Hold'em - Superstack Turbo-
May 26, 6:15 PM₫3,600,000 + ₫400,000 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event Satellite-
May 27, 10 AM₫3,150,000 + ₫350,000 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event Satellite-
May 27, 10:30 AMNo Limit Hold'em - Super High Roller (Event 17 - Day 2)-
May 27, 11 AM₫22,730,000 + ₫2,270,000 No Limit Hold'em - WPT Main Event (Event 16 - Day 1B)₫8 Billion
May 27, 4:15 PM₫7,000,000 + ₫700,000 No Limit Hold'em - Freezeout (Event 19)-
May 27, 6:15 PM₫3,600,000 + ₫400,000 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event Satellite5 Seats GTD
May 28, 10 AM₫3,600,000 + ₫400,000 No Limit Hold'em - Main Event Satellite2 Seats GTD
May 28, 11 AM₫22,730,000 + ₫2,270,000 No Limit Hold'em - WPT Main Event (Event 16 - Day 1C)₫8 Billion
May 28, 5:15 PM₫6,000,000 + ₫600,000 No Limit Hold'em - Tag Teams Freezeout (Event 20)-
May 28, 6:15 PM₫8,000,000 + ₫800,000 No Limit Hold'em - High Roller Satellite1 Seat GTD
May 29, 10 AM₫1,000,000 + ₫100,000 No Limit Hold'em - Superstack Classic Satellite3 Seats GTD
May 29, 11 AMNo Limit Hold'em - WPT Main Event (Event 16 - Day 2)-
May 29, 12 PM₫7,000,000 + ₫700,000 No Limit Hold'em - Crown Poker Club Superstack Classsic Freezeout - Event 21 - Day 1)-
May 29 - 30, 2 PM₫60,000,000 + ₫6,000,000 No Limit Hold'em - High Roller (Event 22 - Day 2)₫2.5 Billion
May 30, 10 AM₫700,000 + ₫70,000 No Limit Hold'em - Closer Satellite3 Seats GTD
May 30, 11 AMNo Limit Hold'em - Crown Poker Club Superstack Classic Freezeout (Event 21 - Day 2)-
May 30, 12 PMNo Limit Hold'em - WPT Main Event (Event 16 - Final Table)-
May 30, 12:30 PM₫7,000,000 + ₫700,000 No Limit Hold'em - WPT Megastack Closer (Event 23)₫1 Billion
May 30, 12:30 PM₫60,000,000 + ₫6,000,000 No Limit Hold'em - High Roller (Event 22 - Day 2)₫2.5 Billion
May 30, 4:15 PM₫15,000,000 + ₫1,500,000 No Limit Hold'em - WPT Superstack Closer Turbo-

For the first time in the stop’s history, action clocks will be used in the series. Techno production ShareHand, will provide live updates and live-stream the Main Event final table.

Now that live poker is back with a bang, we can expect a sizable Indian contingent at the upcoming WPT Vietnam, given Vietnam’s popularity as a preferred poker destination for Indian players.

The desi pros have met with massive success as previous WPT Vietnam edition, especially players like Akshay Nasa, Sumit Sapra, Aditya Agarwal, Zarvan Tumboli, Rubin Labroo, Abhinav Iyer, Kalyan Chakravarthy, Jaideep Sajwan, PokerGuru Ambassador Laksh Pal Singh, and Vaibhav Sharma – to name a few.

Topping the list of Indian finishes at WPT Vietnam is the MPL Poker Pro Dhaval Mudgal, who championed the 2018 WPT Vietnam Main Event for a personal-best VND 2,427,580,000 (~₹76.02 Lakhs) on October 2, 2018. Talking to us about his travel plans for the series, Mudgal said, “I will be traveling to WPT post the IPC Megstacks, so the schedule is hectic. I will play most events after getting there. Numbers ought to be huge. I am looking forward to playing all events with a shot clock; it seems a large Indian contingent will be there.”

Dhaval Mudgal
Dhaval Mudgal

 

From May 15, Vietnam has lifted all precautionary requirements related to COVID-19. All players need now is proof of vaccination to enter the country. All the more reason we can count on a bumper edition at the Crown Poker Club in Hanoi!

 

Series Highlights

The first-ever WPT Prime Vietnam is a 12-day affair with 24 events on the tap, offering a combined VND 15 Billion (~$649,645) guarantee.

Here are the series highlights:

> WPT Prime Vietnam Main Event (May 26 – 30): Buy-in – VND 25M ($1,100), 3 starting flights, features a VND 8 Billion ($346,477) prize pool guarantee

> WPT Opener (May 19 – 22): Buy-in – VND 8.8 M ($381), 3 starting flights, features a VND 2.5 Billion ($108,274) guarantee

> Mystery Bounty (May 23 – 24): Buy-in VND 11M ($476), 2 starting flights, features a VND 1 Billion ($43,310) guarantee

> High Roller 2 Day Event (May 29 – 30): Buy-in – VND 66M ($2,858), features a VND 2.5 Billion ($108,274) guarantee

> WPT Megastack Close (May 30): Buy-in – VND 7.7 M ($33), features a VND 1 Billion ($43,310) guarantee

> High Roller events: There are three High Rollers on the schedule

  • Super Stars Challenge Invitational (May 21): Buy-in – VND 210 Million ($9,100)
  • Single-Day High Roller (May 22): Buy-in – VND 55 Million ($2,380)
  • Super High Roller (May 26): Buy-in – VND 107 Million ($4,635)

The series has a well-rounded schedule, balancing the big buy-in flagships with the more affordable crowd pullers like Deepstacks, SuperStacks, and Freezeout events. There is also a Tag Team and Short Deck event and 2-day PLO events on the schedule.

 

Indian Participation – What to Expect?

The series will be the first well-attended Asian live tournament series by Indians after the COVID-19 pandemic. PokerGuru spoke to several domestic pros and found that many are already at the IPC Megastacks and are planning to fly out to Vietnam directly from Bagdogra after the series.

An old hand at the APT and WPT Vietnam stops in Vietnam, Sumit Sapra is among the Indians who have confirmed his attendance at the WPT Vietnam. Sapra, who finished runner-up in the 2018 WPT Vietnam Welcome Event, is playing the IPC Megastacks and heading to Vietnam right after. Sharing his plans, Sapra said, “I’m expecting 10-15 Indian players at WPT. Planning to play the Main and the HR, not sure about other events right now, will depend on the schedule, but I might stay back for APT in June and Hanoi.”

Sumit Sapra
Sumit Sapra

 

The WPT Vietnam 2018 Ho Chi Minh Cup champion Zarvan Tumboli is another top pro confirmed not only for IPC Megastacks and WPT Vietnam, but he plans on staying back in Hanoi for APT Vietnam (June 7 – 19).

Zarvan Tumboli
Zarvan Tumboli

 

Another seasoned international poker traveler, Kunal Patni, is currently participating at the IPC Megastacks and planning to head straight to Vietnam on May 25. “Playing only the Main Event, High Roller, and a couple of side events for WPT,” Patni told us.

Kunal Patni
Kunal Patni

 

Spartan Poker Team Pro Nikita Luther will be skipping the upcoming WPT Vietnam altogether. While Luther is busy at IPC Megastacks, the 2019 WPT Vietnam Kickoff runner-up finisher Rubin Labroo and fourth-place finisher Jaideep Sajwan will not be playing IPC Megastacks and WPT Vietnam.

The two-time annual leaderboard topper Young Gun Gaurav Sood was honeymooning in Bali and has reached Hanoi for WPT Vietnam directly from there. According to him, “It will be pretty good IMO as live poker’s coming back after a while.”

Alok Birewar, who had finished third in the Superstack Turbo at the September 2019 WPT Vietnam, has also confirmed his participation at the Asian stop.

Among the other Indian pros confirmed to attend the upcoming series are Young Gun’s Kanchan Sharma and Shardul Parthasarathi, India’s first bracelet winner Aditya Sushant, Romit Advani, and Vaibhav Sharma.

From PokerGuru Staking, MTT pros Mithun Mahesh, Vishal Bajaj, Ashish Munot, Ashish Ahuja, Ankit Wadhawan, Kartik Ved, and Laksh Pal Singh will be in attendance.

 

WPT Vietnam – A Peek at Indian Finishes at Past Editions

WPT has run three previous editions in Vietnam. The inaugural WPT Vietnam was held at Pro Poker Club in Ho Chi Minh City in September – October 2018, and the following year, the series made two runs, in March and September 2019.

Here are top Indian achievements from the past three WPT Vietnam editions:

> On September 27, 2018, Sumit Sapra finished runner-up in the WPT Vietnam Welcome Event for VND 163,720,000 (~₹5.06 Lakhs)

> On September 29, 2018, Zurvan Tumboli won the Ho Chi Minh Cup for VND 246,950,000 (~₹7.70 Lakhs)

> On October 1, 2018, Abhinav Iyer placed sixth in VND 44M GTD NLHE – High Roller for VND 346,780,000 (~₹11.68 Lakhs)

> On October 1, 2018, Akshay Nasa won VND 4.4M GTD Deepstack Turbo for VND 144,030,000 (~₹4.85 Lakhs)

> On October 2, 2018, Dhaval Mudgal championed the WPT Vietnam Main Event for a career-best VND 2,427,580,000 (~₹76.02 Lakhs)

> On March 17, 2019, Kalyan Chakravarthy finished eighth in the Super High Roller for VND 200,230,000 (~₹5.91 Lakhs)

> On September 5, 2019, Ronak Vyas finished third in NLHE Bounty for VND 129,728,000 (~₹4.37 Lakhs), and Vaibhav Sharma came fifth for VND 42,802,000 (~₹1.31 Lakhs)

> On September 3, 2019, Jaideep Sajwan finished fourth in Event #1: Kickoff for VND 369,267,000 (~₹12.43 Lakhs), and PokerGuru Ambassador Laksh Pal Singh finished sixth for VND 235288000 (~₹7.92 Lakhs)

> On September 5, 2019, Rubin Labroo finished runner-up in the WPT Vietnam Kickoff for VND 862,923,000 (~₹26.68 Lakhs)

> On September 8, 2019, Alok Birewar placed third in Superstack Turbo for VND 107,088,000 (~₹3.60 Lakhs)

> On September 10, 2019, Akshay Nasa won the VND 16.50M Kickoff GTD for VND 95,331,000 (~₹3.21 Lakhs)

> On September 10, 2019, Manish Lakhotia placed fourth in WPT Pro Poker Club SuperStack Classic for VND 81,334,000 (~₹2.73 Lakhs)

> On September 10, 2019, Aditya Agarwal placed fifth in the VND 15 Million GTD WPT Vietnam Main Event for VND 861,108,000 (~₹26.52 Lakhs)

It’s been a while since our Indian challengers have pitted their skills at the Asian felts. Looking at the expected participation, we can look forward to an eventful series and several deep runs by the Indian flagbearers.

 

Content & Images Courtesy: SoMuchPoker

Keep following PokerGuru for the latest updates from the upcoming 2022 WPT Prime Vietnam!

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