WPT Prime Vietnam 2023: Australia’s Richard Balkau Leads 143 Players to Day 2 of Record-Breaking Main Event, India’s Nikhil Kedia, Abhishek Jalan & Romit Advani Advance From Day 1C

The 2023 WPT Prime Vietnam, underway at the Crown Poker Club from May 16 is just two days from culmination. All eyes are on the thrilling showstopper tournament, the VN₫ 12 Billion GTD WPT Prime Vietnam Main Event that is quickly playing towards the finale. On Saturday, May 27, the tournament played out its third and final starting flight. Day 1C saw an influx of 525 entrants, creating a record field of 1,151 players.

The Main Event has shattered the initial prize pool expectation and amassing a total of VN₫ 25,343,869,000 ($1,079,610). After an intense competition, only 65 players advanced from Day 1C, led by South Korea’s Kim Dong Kyu (805,000). Trailing closely behind were Vietnam’s Ngoc Anh Cao (795,000), and Hasagi (646,000).

Three Indian players also progressed to Day 2, including Nikhil Kedia (275,000), Abhishek Jalan (138,000), and Romit Advani (88,000). Jalan, a previous WPT India ₹35K SuperStack champion, looks to secure his second trophy while Advani eyes his fourth cash-out at the stop.

A total of 14 Indian players have advanced to Day 2. On the forefront of this group is the 2022 POY, Young Gun Anuj Yadav (643,000) who had qualified from Day 1A. Day 1B chip leader Rajasekhar Puttamsetty (580,000), and Akshay Nasa (552,000) are the other two Indians who have bagged big stacks to Day 2.

The other Indian qualifiers are, Mohit Bohra (419,000), Harsh Bubna (280,000), Abheez Napal (218,000), Avneesh Munjal (210,000), Vinayak Bajaj (143,000), Ali Jasbi (130,000), Aditya Agarwal (116,000), 8 Max Main Event Warm Up champion Amit Kaushik (98,000), and Muskan Sethi (62,000).

In other event updates, Taiwan’s Shih Lei Hsu championed the VN₫ 7.7 Million NLH Freezeout following a 3-way chop with compatriot Yu Tsun Lai, and USA’s Michael Wilklow. All the three finalists banked an equal payout of VN₫ 145.60 Million.

The VN₫ 6.6 Million Tag Teams Freezeout drew 23 teams, and only the final nine teams made it to the final table, with four teams assured payouts. While two Indian teams were also in contention, making their way to the winner’s spot were Vietnam’s Tuan Phong Do and Duy Thuc Nguyen who emerged champions, pocketing an impressive VN₫ 60 Million in prize money.

With 29 tournaments in the books, Vietnam’s Huynh Ngoc Cuong (1,200 points) leads the WPT Prime Vietnam Player of the Series (POS) race, in contention to bag the distinction, along with a WPT Passport worth $5,000 to any Main Tour of 2023.

Australia’s Richard Balkau Leads 143 Players to Day 2 of VN₫ 12 Billion GTD WPT Prime Vietnam Main Event, India’s Nikhil Kedia, Abhishek Jalan & Romit Advani Advance From Day 1C

The excitement was palpable as Day 1C of the highly anticipated VN₫ 12 Billion GTD WPT Prime Vietnam Main Event unfolded, attracting a staggering 525 entries. Among them were 373 unique players and 152 re-entries, culminating in an astounding total of 1,151 players. This overwhelming response far exceeded the VN₫ 12 Billion prize pool guarantee, pushing the prize money to an astonishing VN₫ 25,343,869,000 ($1,079,610).

As the dust settled after a fierce battle, only 65 players managed to survive the onslaught on Day 1C. Topping the stack from this flight was South Korea’s Kim Dong Kyu with an impressive 805,000 chips. Close on his heels were Vietnam’s Ngoc Anh Cao (795,000), and Hasagi (646,000).

The Indian contingent also made a strong showing on Day 1C, with three players progressing to Day 2. Leading the trio was Nikhil Kedia (275,000), followed by Abhishek Jalan (138,000) & Romit Advani (88,000).

For Jalan, this tournament marks an opportunity to secure his second WPT trophy. In 2018, Jalan had won the WPT India ₹35K SuperStack for ₹17.29 Lakhs. With his qualification to Day 2, he has already guaranteed his third cash at the series, having previously cashed out in the VN₫ 77 Million Megastack Single Day High Roller (9th for VN₫ 198 Million), and VN₫ 100 Million Super High Roller (8th for VN₫ 213 Million).

Advani, on the other hand, boasts three previous cashes at the event. He kicked off his series with a cash in the VN₫ 6.60 Million Bounty Event (9th for VN₫ 13.70 Million), followed by cashes in the VN₫ 3.30 Million Hyper Turbo NLH (13th for VN₫ 7.50 Million), and 8 Max Main Event Warm Up (23rd for VN₫ 49.50 Million).

Unfortunately, as the player count dwindled to 146, Chu Hong Fu and India’s Kunal Patni were eliminated simultaneously on separate tables. Fu fell to Ngoc Anh Cao, while Patni’s set was cracked by Ta Son Tung’s rivered straight. Both Fu and Patni shared the 144th place cash prize of VN₫ 39 Million.

Leading the Indian pack of 14 qualifiers is the 2022 POY, Young Gun Anuj Yadav (643,000) who had bagged the second-biggest stack from Day 1A. Apart from Yaday, Day 1B chip leader Rajasekhar Puttamsetty (580,000), and Akshay Nasa (552,000) also feature among the top-10 stacks heading into Day 2.

Mohit Bohra (419,000), Harsh Bubna (280,000), Nikhil Kedia (275,000), Abheek Napal (218,000), Avneesh Munjal (210,000), Vinayak Bajaj (143,000), Abhishek Jalan (138,000), Ali Jasbi (130,000), Aditya Agarwal (116,000), the 8 Max Main Event Warm Up champion Amit Kaushik (98,000), Romit Advani (88,000), and Muskan Sethi (62,000) sum up the list of Indian qualifiers who have advanced through to Day 2.

With a total of 143 players bagging stacks for Day 2, including the 30 survivors from Day 1A and 49 qualifiers from Day 1B, the stakes grew higher. Khanh Pham Duy Nguyen, who double-qualified, earned a min-cash for his smaller stack and will proceed to Day 2 with only his larger stack.

Leading the pack into Day 2 is Australia’s Richard Balkau, who finished Day 1A as the chip leader with an impressive 935,000 chips. He is followed closely by Korea’s Kim Dong Kyu (805,000 and Vietnam’s Ngoc Anh Cao (795,000).

While all 143 remaining players are guaranteed a cash prize of VN₫ 39 Million ($1,661), their eyes are set on the staggering VN₫ 4.173 Billion ($177,764) reserved for the eventual champion.

Day 2 of the VN₫ 12 Billion GTD WPT Prime Vietnam Main Event will start at11 AM (local time) on Sunday, May 28, and halt at the formation of the final table.

Top 10 Chip Counts For Day 2

1. Richard Balkau – 935,000
2. Kim Dong Kyu – 805,000
3. Ngoc Anh Cao – 795,000
4. Ha Trung Nguyen – 646,000
5. Anuj Yadav – 643,000
6. Ta Son Tung – 630,000
7. Rajasekhar Puttamsetty – 580,000
8. Nang Quang Nguyen – 564,000
9. PhạM ĐứC Minh – 562,000
10. Akshay Nasa – 552,000

Taiwan’s Shih Lei Hsu Wins Event #31: VN₫ 7.7 Million NLH Freezeout For 145.60 Million (3-Way Deal)

Buy-in: VN₫ 7.7 Million

Entries: 108

Re-entries: 20

Prize Pool: VN₫ 733.32 Million

Places Paid: 14

The highly anticipated VN₫ 7.7 Million ($330) buy-in Event #31: NLH Freezeout drew an impressive 108 entries, creating a VN₫ 733,320,000 prize pool ($31,240).

With only the top 14 finishers guaranteed payouts, the competition was fierce, and nine skilled players advanced to Day 2. As the final day unfolded, the tournament reached its climax with a thrilling three-way chop, ensuring that each of the remaining finalists would receive an equal payout of VN₫ 145.60 Million. The atmosphere was electric as the trio prepared to resume play and battle it out for the prestigious trophy.

In a display of remarkable skill and determination, American contender Michael Wilklow fought valiantly but ultimately fell short, securing a respectable third-place finish. The stage was then set for an intense heads-up showdown between two talented players from Taiwan, Shih Lei Hsu and Yu Tsun Lai.

Shih Lei Hsu defeated Yu Tsun Lai in the heads-up showdown to claim victory.

Final Table Results (VN₫)

1. Shih Lei Hsu – VN₫ 145,600,000*
2. Yu Tsun Lai – VN₫ 145,600,000*
3. Michael Wilklow – VN₫ 145,600,000*
4. Nicolai Zubi – VN₫ 53,000,000
5. Chung Yi Ho – VN₫ 41,000,000
6. Ka Chu Tsui – VN₫ 34,000,000
7. Pei Chen Lee – VN₫ 28,820,000
8. Yu Wei Wang – VN₫ 25,000,000
9. Chuan Hsieh – VN₫ 22,000,000

*denotes a 3-way deal

Vietnam’s Tuan Phong Do & Duy Thuc Nguyen Win Event #32: VN₫ 6.6 Million Tag Teams Freezeout For VN₫ 60 Million

Buy-in: VN₫ 6.6 Million

Entries: 23

Re-entries: 20

Prize Pool: VN₫ 133.86 Million

Places Paid: 4 Teams

The VN₫ 6.6 ($280) Million buy-in Event #32: Tag Teams Freezeout drew a total of 23 teams, generating a VN₫ 133.86 Million ($5,700) prize pool. The final four teams cruised to the final table where Team Vietnam, comprising of Tuan Phong Do and Duy Thuc Nguyen, took charge, defeating Taiwan’s Jhong Chang Tian and Pin You Chen in the final round to bag the trophy and the top prize of VN₫ 60 Million.

Complete Payouts (VN₫)

1. Tuan Phong Do and Duy Thuc Nguyen – VN₫ 60,000,000
2. Jhong Chang Tian and Pin You Chen – VN₫ 33,500,000
3. Hung Wei Yeh and Wan Yu Lo – VN₫ 24,000,000
4. Michael Wilklow and Erik Mason – VN₫16,360,000

Content Courtesy: So Much Poker & World Poker Tour

Images Courtesy: So Much Poker & Crown Poker Club

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