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USOP Da Nang 2023: Main Event Creates a New Vietnam Record With 1,595 Entries & Colossal VN₫ 34.801 Billion Prize Pool, India’s Meherzad Munsaf Third Overall in Chips With 15 Indians Advancing to Day 2

As the U Series of Poker (USOP) Da Nang 2023 heads towards its conclusion at Vietnam’s opulent Furama Resort, Event #34: VN₫ 2.5 Million USOP Main Event has emerged as the centrepiece, drawing an unprecedented level of participation and excitement. The series, already notable for its high-energy events, has seen many of its tournaments attract record entries, but none more so than the Main Event.

The event’s final two starting flights on Saturday witnessed a substantial turnout, with Day 1C drawing 576 entries and Day 1D adding another 304. This influx pushed the total entries to a staggering 1,595, eclipsing the previous high of 1,336. Consequently, the prize pool surged to an astonishing VN₫ 34.801 Billion, more than double the VN₫ 15 Billion guarantee, making it Vietnam’s most significant and richest $1K buy-in event. The eventual winner is poised to claim a jaw-dropping VN₫ 5.720 Billion.

USOP Main Event shatters records
USOP Main Event draws guarantee-crushing turnouts

 

Alex Wong, USOP Chief Operating Officer, couldn’t hide his elation, remarking, “Today we gather here with hearts full of admiration and gratitude as I reflect on the extraordinary success of USOP Da Nang. This event has not only met but exceeded all expectations. We have boasted record-breaking entries in all our high-roller events, and it looks like we are about to shatter our biggest record of 1,336 entries in the Main Event…. I stand here deeply honoured to have you grace us with your presence…. huge thanks to all of you for making USOP Danang off the charts amazing.”

Alex Wong
Alex Wong

 

Post the starting flights, 72 players advanced from Day 1C and another 38 from Day 1D, culminating in 201 contenders ready to battle it out on Day 2. Leading the pack is Australian Alan Pham, the chip leader from Day 1D, who amassed an impressive 1,109,000 chips.

Pham is closely trailed by Hwany Lee with 1,008,000 chips and India’s Meherzad Munsaf with 989,000, the top stacks from Day 1A and Day 1B, respectively.

Meherzad Munsaf
Meherzad Munsaf

 

The Indian team has been a force to reckon with throughout the series, marked by title victories from Amit Kaushik and Vinay B. The Indian delegation is strongly positioned in the Main Event, with 15 players advancing to Day 2.

A batch of five Indians: Manoj Pentakota (631,000), Harsh Bubna (618,000), the DPT October 2023 Warm-Up NLH Turbo winner, Rising Star Ritwik Khanna (559,000), Deepankur Gupta (361,000) and Arun Vijay (253,000) secured their seats from Day 1C.

Vietnam’s Phạm Duy Ánh led the charge among the 72 advancing players from Day 1C with 833,000 chips.

Another two Indians, Avneesh Munjal (193,000) and Rohit Begwani (149,000), qualified from Day 1D.

Other Indians in contention for the Main Event crown include the Day 1A qualifier, the Event #40: VN₫ 88 Million Mystery Rush Bounty winner Vinay B (411,000), and seven Day 1B qualifiers: Munsaf, as well as Amit Kaushik (720,000), Aditya Singh (575,000), the defending USOP Main Event champion, Vishal Ojha (314,000), Young Gun Siddharth Karia (145,000), Kabir Khattar (145,000), and Mohit Bohra (51,000), bringing the total count to 15 Indians, with Munsaf leading the pack.

In side events, Amit Kaushik, the Event #5: VN₫ 3.4 Million Turbo champion, continued his outstanding run, securing his fifth cash of the series in Event #45: VN₫ 4.5 Million 6-Card PLO, a fifth-place prize of VN 17.80 Million (~61,091). Kaushik’s series scorecard currently stands at a striking VN 319.580 Million (~10.97 Lakhs), with another cash prize guaranteed in the Main Event.

Amit Kaushik
Amit Kaushik

 

Another Indian, Rawat Rishab Singh, also made a mark in Event #45: VN 4.5 Million 6-Card PLO, placing eighth for VN 8.30 Million (~28,487).

Other notable victories in side events were achieved by Vietnam’s Ngo Trong Hieu (Event #44: VN 22 Million Mini High Roller for VN 603.400 Million) and Taiwanese players Jass Wei Chew Jun (Event #46: VN 8.8 Million Hyper Turbo for VN 133.60 Million) and Kun Han Lee (Event #45: VN 4.5 Million 6-Card PLO for VN 83.90 Million).

The action-packed Day 2 of the Main Event began at 12.15 PM (local time) on Sunday, November 26, and will play down to the final table. The final day of the Main Event is scheduled to begin at the same time on Monday, November 27.

Alan Pham
Alan Pham

 

Top 10 Chip Counts For Day 2

  1. Alan Pham – 1,109,000
  2. Hwany Lee – 1,008,000
  3. Meherzad Munsaf – 989,000
  4. The Naing – 923,000
  5. Hoàng HảI Nam – 854,000
  6. PhạM Duy Ánh – 833,000
  7. Seung Mook Jung – 813,000
  8. Lee Tsung Ying – 805,000
  9. Wong Ka Fai – 778,000
  10. Nguyen Quang Huy – 748,000

Content & Images Courtesy: USOP, Crown Poker Club & So Much Poker

Keep following PokerGuru for the latest updates from the USOP Da Nang 2023!

WPT Vietnam 2023 “Passport to World Championship: Manoj Pentakota, Harsh Dembla, Mahadeva Somashekhar & Sumit Sapra Among 7 Indians Advancing From Day 1C of the Main Event 

As the poker world turns its attention to the Crown Poker Club in Hanoi, the 2023 World Poker Tour (WPT) Vietnam’s “Passport to World Championship” is setting the stage alight. This 11-day grand fiesta, which began on October 6, is approaching its climax with only two days remaining.

The crescendo is being built around the VN₫ 12 Billion GTD WPT Vietnam Main Event. The third and final starting flight of the Main Event, which took place on October 14, drew a massive turnout of 411 entries, exceeding all prior estimations. Korea’s Nam Hyung Kim stood out among the advancing players, amassing a mammoth 729,000 chips, making him the frontrunner of the 56 players progressing to Day 2.

Across the three starting flights, the Main Event drew a staggering 850 entries. Of these, 123 contenders will be battling it out on Day 2. The stakes? Beyond the prestige, there’s a lavish VN₫ 3.856 Billion prize for the winner. Additionally, the champion will secure an exclusive $12,150 package, ensuring their seat at the $40 Million guaranteed WPT World Championship in Las Vegas this December.

India’s representation remains strong. Seven of our top players have advanced to Day 2. Spearheading this brigade is the formidable Manoj Pentakota. A seasoned player with two DPT titles under his belt, Pentakota ended Day 1C with an impressive 412,000 chips.

Manoj Pentakota
Manoj Pentakota

 

Joining him are fellow compatriots Harsh Dembla (358,000), Mahadeva Somashekhar Kurkhepally (341,000), Sumit Sapra (260,000), Amit Kaushik (238,000), Rahul Melwani (218,000), and the WSOP bracelet winner Young Gun Aayush Arya. Despite bagging Day 1A with a modest 4,000 chips, Arya made a comeback on Day 1C, accumulating a better 52,000 stack.

Considering the updated counts, with Arya’s first stack removed, 15 Indian players are set to make their mark among the 123 Day 2 qualifiers. Notably, Pentakota stands tall, ranking 24th among those returning for Day 2.

As Day 2 unfolds, all eyes are on Nam Hyung Kim, the chip leader from Day 1C, who began the day with the most massive stack.

Here are the highlights!

 

Korea’s Nam Hyung Kim Leads 56 Advancing Players From Day 1C of VN 12 Billion GTD Main Event; Manoj Pentakota, Harsh Dembla, Mahadeva Kurkhepally & Sumit Sapra Headline 7 Indian Qualifiers

Korea’s Nam Hyung Kim (729,000) headlined the 56 players advancing from the 411-strong Day 1C field of the VN₫ 12 Billion GTD WPT Vietnam Main Event.

Kim’s impressive stack not only puts him in the lead for Day 1C but also positions him as the frontrunner among the 123 participants poised to return for Day 2. The stakes have never been higher, with all eyes set on the VN₫ 3.856 Billion crown prize.

Seven Indians, namely Manoj Pentakota (412,000), Harsh Dembla (358,000), Mahadeva Somashekhar Kurkhepally (341,000), Sumit Sapra (260,000), Amit Kaushik (238,000), Rahul Melwani (218,000), and Young Gun Aayush Arya (52,000) qualified from Day 1C.

Joining this group will be another three Day 1A Indian qualifiers: Avneesh Munjal (207,000), Meherzad Munsaf (187,000), and Sriram Subramanian (80,000).

Avneesh Munjal
Avneesh Munjal

 

Seven Indians advanced from Day 1B, namely, Sandeep Chatlani (395,000), Manish Lakhotia (387,000), Event #7: VN₫ 55 Million Megastack High Roller champion Sriharsha Doddapaneni (338,000), Deepankur Gupta (305,000), Aditya Agarwal (253,000), Rising Star Pratibh Saluja (212,000), and Pradeep Nudurumati (143,000), bringing the Indian player count for Day 2 to 15.

Sandeep Chatlani
Sandeep Chatlani

 

However, since Arya had qualified once earlier on Day 1A, his smaller stack was removed.

The VN₫ 30 Million buy-in Main Event proved to be an extraordinary success, amassing a staggering prize pool of VN₫ 22.129 Billion, nearly double the advertised guarantee of VN₫ 12 Billion, a testament to the event’s overwhelming popularity.

The road ahead is filled with excitement. Each of the 107 elite players aims to carve out their share from the enormous prize pool. The one who outlasts them all will not only walk away with the esteemed title but also secure a $12,150 package. This package is the gateway to the $40 Million guaranteed WPT World Championship in December, scheduled at the renowned Wynn Las Vegas.

Day 2 of the Main Event is underway, and play is expected to halt after the field narrows down to the final nine players.

Nam Hyung Kim
Nam Hyung Kim

 

Top 10 Chip Counts For Day 2

  1. Nam Hyung Kim – 729,000
  2. Tim Schimmel – 690,000
  3. Ngoc Anh Cao – 636,000
  4. Dang Hoang Viet – 631,000
  5. Phí TiếN Sáng – 629,000
  6. Ly Tran Tien – 628,000
  7. Tan Wah Weng – 553,000
  8. Tran Manh Hung – 547,000
  9. Ngô TrầN Minh NhậT – 526,000
  10. Nguyen Van Sang – 525,000

 

Content & Images Courtesy: So Much Poker

Keep following PokerGuru for more updates from the WPT Vietnam 2023!

WPT Vietnam 2023 “Passport to World Championship:” Sriharsha Doddapaneni & Sameer Agarwal Ring in Trophies For India 

The esteemed Crown Poker Club in Hanoi is currently hosting the World Poker Tour (WPT) Vietnam “Passport to World Championship.” The VN₫ 35 Billion guaranteed mega festival, which began on October 6 and will conclude on October 16, has unveiled 15 champions and distributed the first of its ten pledged World Championship packages.

In recent years, Vietnam has emerged as the preferred Asian destination for Indian poker players seeking live action. The imposition of a 28% GST by the Indian government on all real-money gaming activities has made destinations like Vietnam an attractive hotspot for Indian poker enthusiasts. This surge in participation has been palpable in events such as USOP Hanoi and VSOP Championship IX, and a large Indian contingent is already in attendance in the series, with many more players expected to join in later this week.

WPT Vietnam 2023 has, so far, seen brilliant performances from Indian contenders. Sriharsha Doddapaneni, already known for his victories at DPT Colossus ₹200K Super High Roller in April 2018 and the WPT India ₹25K Big Bounty in October 2019, bagged his third live tournament title by winning Event #7: VN₫ 55 Million Megastack High Roller. Besting a field of 52 entries, Doddapaneni’s exceptional skills earned him a cash prize of VN₫ 824.50 Million (~₹28.12 Lakhs) and his second WPT trophy, marking his second-best score in a live event.

Sriharsha Doddapaneni
Sriharsha Doddapaneni

 

Another Indian, Sameer Agarwal, clinched his first WPT trophy by emerging on top in Event #14: VN₫ 11 Million PLO Turbo, securing VN₫ 87 Million (~₹2.97 Lakhs). This win comes after close runner-up finishes in IPC Megastacks Jhapa ₹25K NLHE Kickoff in May 2022 and the WPT Prime Vietnam Event #15: VN₫11 Billion PLO, reinforcing Agarwal`s dominance in PLO tournaments.

Sameer Agarwal
Sameer Agarwal

 

The festival began with a bang, featuring the highly anticipated VN₫ 3 Billion GTD Event #1: VN₫ 11 Million WPT Opener. France’s Anthony Cierco emerged as the triumphant champion among a solid field of 355 competitors, securing his inaugural trophy on Asian soil and a whopping VN₫ 657.50 Million. Cierco’s victory came with an added bonus: he secured the coveted WPT Prime Championship Package, the first awarded during the series. This exclusive package comprises a $1,100 seat and a luxurious 7-night stay at the renowned Wynn Encore in Las Vegas, scheduled for the season-ending festival scheduled in December.

The Indian contingent made waves in the WPT Opener, with seven Indians advancing to Day 2. Notably, two of them, the March 2023 WPT Prime Cambodia $300 NLHE Turbo champion Deepankur Gupta (5th for VN₫164 Million – ₹5.59 Lakhs), and the May 2023 WPT Prime Vietnam Hanoi VN₫ 8.8 Billion WPT Opener victor Avneesh Munjal (8th for VN₫ 93 Million – ₹3.17 Lakhs) secured final table payouts.

Deepankur Gupta
Deepankur Gupta

 

Other Indian players who achieved notable results in the WPT Opener included the Day 1A chip leader, Pradeep Sharma (13th for VN₫ 52 Million – ₹1.77 Lakhs), Amit Kaushik (22nd for VN₫ 29 Million – ₹98,905), Manoj Pentakota (25th for VN₫ 25 Million – ₹85,262), Raju Jaruplavath (36th for VN₫ 21 Million – ₹71,621), and Sumit Sapra (40th for VN₫ 17.50 Million – ₹59,864).

Three Indian players stood out with final-table finishes in side events. Rising Star Pratibh Saluja (7th for VN₫ 27 Million – ₹92,086) and Mahadeva Kurkhepally (8th for VN₫ 22 Million – ₹75,033) delivered impressive performances in Event #6: VN₫ 8.8 Million Superstack.

Pratibh Saluja
Pratibh Saluja

 

Avneesh Munjal secured his second final table payout in Event 9: VN₫ 11 Million 8 Max Deepstack Turbo, placing third for VN₫ 21.80 Million (~₹74,351).

Avneesh Munjal
Avneesh Munjal

 

Amit Kaushik posted his second cash in the series in Event 4: VN₫ 4.4 Million Turbo, finishing fourth with VN₫ 13.80 Million (~₹43,656).

Amit Kaushik
Amit Kaushik

 

The tournament grabbing big eyeballs now is the VN₫ 3 Billion GTD Survivor Bounty 8-Max, where the second WPT Prime Championship Package is being offered to the champion. Day 1A of the VN₫16,500 buy-in tournament drew 121 entries (88 unique), and only 16 survived the day’s onslaught. France’s Leonard Yannick (531,000) ended the day as the chip leader. Avneesh Munjal (191,000) was the lone Indian to book a berth for Day 2, with Day 1B and Day 1C to start at 11 AM and 5 PM, respectively, on October 10.

Leonard Yannick
Leonard Yannick

 

Local players have been a dominating presence in the initial days of the series, bagging right of the 15 trophies handed out.

The list of other side event winners include, Vietnam’s Nguyen Quang Huy (Event #12: VN₫ 210 Million Billionaire Club High Stakes Challenge for VN₫ 1.572 Million), Haisheng Qiu (Event #2: VN₫ 33 Million High Roller Warm Up for VN₫ 513.40 Million), France’s Jehanne Jeremy Laurent (Event #6: VN₫ 8.8 Million Superstack for VN₫ 192.14 Million), Vietnam’s Nguyen Quang Minh (Event #13: VN₫ 6.6 Million Short Deck for VN₫ 82.80 Million), Vietnam’s Vu Van Lich (Event #9: VN₫ 11 Million 8-Max Deepstack Turbo for VN₫ 80 Million), Vietnam’s Truong Dinh Giang (Event #5: VN₫ 6.6 Million Turbo for VN₫ 62.88 Million), China’s Dong Yixuan (Event #8: VN₫ 6.6 Million PLO for VN₫ 61.06 Million), Vietnam’s Nguyen Tien Thanh (Event #15: VN₫ 3.3 Million Hyper Turbo for VN₫ 57.10 Million), UK’s Michael Newby (Event #3: VN₫ 3.3 Million Deepstack Cheap Freeze for VN₫ 51.32 Million), Vietnam’s Tran Thanh Hung ( Event 4: VN₫ 4.4 Million Turbo for VN₫ 43.70 Million), and Vietnam’s Pham Huu Hung (Event #10: VN₫ 3.3 Million Hyper Turbo Freezeout for VN₫29.47 Million).

Here are the highlights from the first four days of the series!

 

India’s Sriharsha Doddapaneni Wins Event #7: VN₫ 55 Million Megastack High Roller For Career-Second WPT Trophy & VN₫ 824.50 Million

Buy-in: VN₫ 55 Million

Entries: 37

Re-entries- 15

Prize Pool: VN₫ 2.522 Billion

Places Paid: 8

Sriharsha Doddapaneni proudly opened India’s title account at the ongoing WPT Vietnam by emerging as the champion in Event #7: VN₫ 55 Million Megastack High Roller, claiming a substantial VN₫ 824.50 Million (~₹28.12 Lakhs) cash prize. Doddapaneni’s remarkable victory came after outshining a field of 52 entries, with 37 unique participants.

Day 2 of the event saw fierce competition between the remaining eight players, with Doddapaneni entering the fray holding the second-highest stack. His journey to the title, which spanned a mere four hours, was nothing short of a cinematic roller-coaster, especially at the decisive final table.

His initial setback occurred when he lost a massive pot to Chen Peng. However, a turning point arrived during the four-handed play. Doddapaneni demonstrated his expertise in a pivotal face-off against Zheng Tian Hao. Armed with , he made a flush, leading to Zheng’s elimination in fourth place, who had .

The table dynamics continued to intensify as the player count reduced. With only three players remaining, Doddapaneni dispatched Le Nhu An in third place to enter the heads-up battle against Chen Peng, holding a substantial chip lead with 120 big blinds compared to Peng’s 30 big blinds.

Chen Peng proved to be a formidable adversary, securing a double-up with and hitting a full house to dominate Doddapaneni’s on the board . Peng continued to gather momentum after taking down another significant pot, briefly taking the lead. Peng’s momentary ascendancy, however, was short-lived as Doddapaneni reclaimed his dominance.

The climax of the event was a nail-biting all-in showdown. Doddapaneni tabled , while Peng pinned his hopes on . The community cards, , favoured Doddapaneni, granting him a flush and the coveted title. Peng, though putting up a valiant fight, had to content himself with the second-place prize of VN₫ 550 Million.

Reflecting on Doddapaneni’s illustrious poker career, it’s noteworthy that his debut live title was at the DPT Colossus ₹200K Super High Roller in April 2018, where he secured a staggering ₹28.70 Lakhs. He then went on to conquer the WPT India ₹25K Big Bounty in 2019, earning ₹6.63 Lakhs. And while Doddapaneni did exhibit remarkable plays with four cash finishes at the 2023 WSOP, this recent victory at WPT Vietnam marks the end of his four-year title drought on the live tournament circuit.

Final Table Results (VN₫)

  1. Sriharsha Doddapaneni – VN₫ 824,500,000
  2. Chen Peng – VN₫ 550,000,000
  3. Le Nhu An – VN₫ 366,500,000
  4. Zheng Tian Hao – VN₫ 254,500,000
  5. Yeh Hung Wei – VN₫ 184,500,000
  6. Chen Ming Cong – VN₫ 139,500,000
  7. Dong Van Tan – VN₫ 110,500,000
  8. Daniel Shaw – VN₫ 92,000,000

 

India’s Sameer Agarwal Wins Maiden Live Title in Event #14: VN₫ 11 Million PLO Turbo For VN₫ 87 Million (~₹2.97 Lakhs)

Buy-in: VN₫ 11 Million

Entries: 15

Re-entries: 5

Prize Pool: VN₫ 194 Million

Places Paid: 4

Event #14: VN₫ 11 Million PLO Turbo, held on Monday, was a rapid-fire affair that drew 20 participants (15 unique), amassing a prize pool of VN₫ 194 Million.

Sameer Agarwal, a name that has been consistently making waves in the South Asian poker scene, is well-known for his adeptness at PLO (Pot-Limit Omaha). In fact, Agarwal’s prowess was on full display at the 2023 WPT Prime Vietnam Hanoi during Event #15: VN₫ 11 Million PLO. However, in what turned out to be a nail-biting finish, he had to settle for the runner-up position, losing the top spot to compatriot Aditya Sushant. That near-miss kept his maiden live title just out of reach.

Yet, the winds of fortune were soon to change for Agarwal. Seizing his chance at redemption in Event #14: PLO Turbo, he showcased his exceptional skills and strategic gameplay to clinch the elusive victory. His outstanding performance earned him a well-deserved prize of VN₫ 87 Million (~₹2.97 Lakhs).

But the podium wasn’t just reserved for Agarwal. Vietnam’s Duong Ngo Linh showcased commendable resilience and strategy to finish in the second spot, adding VN₫ 48.50 Million to his poker earnings. The subsequent positions were occupied by China’s Zheng Xiaosheng, who bagged the third place and VN₫ 35 Million, and local star Nguyen Khoi, who rounded off the top four with a cash prize of VN₫ 23.50 Million.

Complete Payouts (VN₫)

  1. Sameer Agarwal – VN₫ 87,000,000
  2. Duong Ngo Linh – Vn₫ 48,500,000
  3. Zheng Xiaosheng – VN₫ 35,000,000
  4. Nguyen Khoi – VN₫ 23,500,000

 

France’s Anthony Cierco Champions VN₫ 3 Billion GTD Event #1: VN₫ 11 Million WPT Opener For VN₫ 657.50 Million, Deepankur Gupta & Avneesh Munjal Headline 7 Indian Scores

Buy-in: VN₫ 11 Million

Entries: 355

Prize Pool: VN₫ 3.444 Billion

Places Paid: 45

The World Poker Tour (WPT) Vietnam unveiled its eagerly awaited series with the VN₫ 3 Billion GTD Event #1: VN₫ 11 Million WPT Opener, setting high expectations for the upcoming events. Amidst a challenging lineup of 355 entrants, Anthony Cierco of France emerged as the undisputed champion, marking his first-ever victory on Asian soil. Cierco’s remarkable achievement was rewarded with a stunning cash prize of VN₫ 657.50 Million.

Anthony Cierco
Anthony Cierco

 

Beyond the monetary reward, Cierco’s triumph secured him the first of the ten highly sought-after WPT Prime Championship Packages on offer at the festival. This esteemed package offers a ticket worth $1,100 along with a lavish 7-night stay at Las Vegas’s renowned Wynn Encore, all for the climactic WPT Championship scheduled for December.

The epic heads-up showdown between Cierco and Nguyen Phuong Ngoc was a gruelling contest that lasted an astonishing 84 hands. Despite an initial deficit, Cierco displayed resilience and skill, ultimately emerging as the victor.

Reflecting on the intense final battle, Cierco commented, “It was a very long heads-up, around two hours with big swings. He was down to 10 bigs then went up to 30 bigs, then up and down, we did that for so long. It was very exhausting. But I am very happy about the result. It’s a great start.”

Day 2 of the WPT Kickoff welcomed back 45 players, including a proud contingent of seven Indian players. Pradeep Sharma, the Day 1A chip lead, entered the day as the fourth-largest stack. Regrettably, Sharma’s journey concluded in 13th place, earning a commendable VN₫52 Million.

However, two Indian players, Deepankur Gupta and Avneesh Munjal, secured spots at the final table. Deepankur Gupta, the winner of the WPT Prime Cambodia $300 NLHE Turbo this March, displayed exceptional performance on the final table. Having brought a stack of 207,000 to Day 2, Gupta kept his momentum high. He was reported picking a massive pot off Nguyen Duc Cuong during Level 17 with his king-ten hitting top pair to dominate the latter’s ace-jack.

Although Gupta lost some of his chips to Romain Bier soon after, he didn’t waste time to get back in the race. Down to three tables, Gupta sported an overwhelming chip lead with 127 big blinds. The talented young player rallied fourth in chips at the start of the nine-handed final table and ultimately finished fifth, earning VN₫ 164 Million.

Avneesh Munjal, a seasoned live tournament player and the winner of the 2023 May WPT Prime Vietnam Hanoi VN₫ 8.8 Billion WPT Opener, faced an uphill battle with a short stack of 43,500 on the final day. Nevertheless, Munjal orchestrated a remarkable comeback, reaching the final table as the shortest stack. He ultimately fell in eighth place, earning VN₫ 93 Million.

Other notable Indian performers included Amit Kaushik (22nd for VN₫ 29 Million), Manoj Pentakota (25th for VN₫ 25 Million), Raju Jaruplavath (36th for VN₫ 21 Million), and Sumit Sapra (40th for VN₫ 17.50 Million).

The WPT Opener ensured that each of the 45 players who progressed to Day 2 received a portion of the massive VN₫ 3,443,500,000 prize pool. As players competed for the much-coveted title and the accompanying WPT Prime Championship package, Le Nhu An came close to reaching the final table but was relegated to the rail in 10th position, taking home VN₫ 61.50 Million.

Watch the exciting final table action of the WPT Opener live-streamed on a 30-minute delay below.

Final Table Results (VN₫)

  1. Anthony Cierco – VN₫ 657,500,000
  2. Nguyen Phuong Ngoc – VN₫ 510,000,000
  3. Yannick Leonard – VN₫ 327,500,000
  4. Ding Pin – VN₫ 213,000,000
  5. Deepankur Gupta – VN₫ 164,000,000
  6. Nguyen Van Duong – VN₫ 136,000,000
  7. Tran Duc Tuan – VN₫ 114,000,000
  8. Avneesh Munjal – VN₫ 93,000,000
  9. Kaoru Kishimoto – VN₫ 73,000,000

 

France’s Jehanne Jeremy Laurent Champions Event #6: VN₫ 8.80 Million Superstack (VN₫ 192.14 Million); India’s Pratibh Saluja & Mahadeva Kurkhepally Make FT Finishes

Buy-in: VN₫ 8.80 Million

Entries: 63

Re-entries: 21

Prize Pool: VN₫ 651.84 Million

Places Paid: 11

Following the victory of Frenchman Anthony Cierco in the WPT Opener, his countryman Jehanne Jeremy Laurent continued the French dominion by securing the title in Event #6: VN₫ 8.80 Million Superstack.

Navigating through a field of 84 entries (63 unique players), Laurent seized the crown, bagging a stellar VN₫ 192.14 Million. Hot on his heels was South Korea’s Kim Hyunjin, who secured the runner-up prize of VN₫ 128 Million.

India, too, had its moment at the final table of Event #6. Rising Star Pratibh Saluja shone the brightest among the Indian contingent, landing in the seventh position with a reward of VN₫ 27 Million (~₹92,089). Closely following him was Mahadeva Kurkhepally, who claimed the eighth spot, earning VN₫ 22 Million (~₹75,036).

Jehanne Jeremy Laurent
Jehanne Jeremy Laurent

 

Complete Payouts (VN₫)

  1. Jehanne Jeremy Laurent – VN₫ 192,140,000
  2. Kim Hyunjin – VN₫ 128,000,000
  3. Le Giang Nam – VN₫ 87,000,000
  4. Seok Jaemoon – VN₫ 61,000,000
  5. Vu Van Tiep – VN₫ 44,500,000
  6. Nguyen Kim Loc – VN₫ 34,000,000
  7. Pratibh Saluja – VN₫ 27,000,000
  8. Mahadeva Kurkhepally – VN₫ 22,000,000
  9. Thomas Ray Liffick – VN₫ 19,200,000
  10. Llamedo Noel Siarot – VN₫ 18,500,000
  11. Pham Tien Dung – VN₫ 18,500,000

 

Vietnam’s Vu Van Lich Binks Event #9: VN₫ 11 Million 8 Max Deepstack Turbo (VN₫ 80 Million); India’s Avneesh Munjal Finishes 3rd (VN₫ 21.80 Million ~₹74,354)

Buy-in: VN₫ 11 Million

Entries: 12

Re-entries: 3

Prize Pool: VN₫ 145.50 Million

Places Paid: 3

Event #9: VN₫ 11 Million 8 Max Deepstack Turbo drew a compact field of 15 participants (12 unique). Local talent Vu Van Lich emerged as the champion, pocketing a sumptuous VN₫ 80 Million, while France’s Aladin Reskallah clinched the runner-up spot with VN₫ 43.70 Million to his name.

Following a commendable eighth-place finish in the WPT Opener, India’s Avneesh Munjal maintained his momentum by registering another final table showing in Event #9. He secured the third spot, amassing VN₫ 21.80 Million (~₹74,354).

Complete Payouts (VN₫)

  1. Vu Van Lich – VN₫ 80,000,000
  2. Aladin Reskallah – VN₫ 43,700,000
  3. Avneesh Munjal – VN₫ 21,800,000

 

Vietnam’s Tran Thanh Hung Ships Event #4: VN₫ 4.40 Million Turbo (VN₫ 43.70 Million), India Amit Kaushik Finishes 4th (VN₫ 13.80 Million ~₹47,068)

Buy-in: VN₫ 4.40 Million

Entries: 23

Re-entries: 7

Prize Pool: VN₫ 116.40 Million

Places Paid: 7

On Friday, Vietnam’s very own Tran Thanh Hung dazzled in Event #4: VN₫ 4.40 Million Turbo, besting a field of 30 participants (23 unique) to secure the top spot, garnering the grand prize of VN₫ 43.70 Million. His compatriot, Nguyen Vu Lam, claimed the second position, taking home VN₫ 29.10 Million.

This event saw a total prize pool of VN₫ 116.40 Million, which was split amongst the top seven contenders. India’s Amit Kaushik was among the notable names to cash in.

Kaushik, previously celebrated as the WPT Prime Vietnam VN₫ 2 Billion GTD 8 Max Main Event Warm Up victor in May, made his mark in this series. He clinched a commendable fourth place in the event, earning VN₫ 13.80 Million (~₹47,068). He later secured the 22nd spot in the WPT Opener, adding another VN₫ 29 Million (~₹98,911) to his kitty and expanding his series total to VN₫ 42.80 Million (~₹1.46 Lakhs).

Thanh Hung Tran
Thanh Hung Tran

 

Complete Payouts (VN₫)

  1. Tran Thanh Hung – VN₫ 43,700,000
  2. Nguyen Vu Lam – VN₫ 29,100,000
  3. Vu Ta Nhat – VN₫ 19,400,000
  4. Amit Kaushik – VN₫ 13,800,000
  5. Nguyen Van Dan – VN₫ 10,400,000

 

Keep following PokerGuru for more updates from the WPT Vietnam 2023!

WPC-SEAPT 2022: Yu Je Nam, Tzai Wei Phua, Cao Ngoc Anh, Jinyoung Kim, Yannick Léonard & Norbert Koh Shi-Fu Win the Last Few Events at the Series

The VN₫ 20 Billion GTD WPC-SEAPT Series, which ran from September 16 to 25, was the first time World Poker Championship (WPC) teamed up with South East Asia Poker Tour (SEAPT). The series hosted at the Grand Loyal Poker Club Hanoi in Vietnam wrapped up proceedings yesterday with six tournaments crowning champions.

Korea’s Yu Je Nam emerged as the biggest winner on the last day of the series after shipping the Super High Roller for VN₫ 1.828 Billion. He struck a three-way deal with David Erquiaga (2nd for VN₫ 1.131 Billion) and Lee Chang Hwan (3rd for VN₫ 707 Million).

Young Gun’s Shardul Parthasarathi (3rd for VN₫ 191 Million) and Gaurav Sood (14th for VN₫ 157 Million) scored in the event.

Tzai Wei Phua was the next biggest winner, taking down the High Roller Single Day for VN₫ 1.018 Billion. From India, Ankit Jajodia (5th for VN₫ 205 Million), Gaurav Sood (9th for VN₫ 102 Million), Manoj Pentakota (13th for VN₫ 80 Million), and Siddharth Mundada (15th for VN₫ 80 Million) cashed the event.

Vietnam’s Cao Ngoc Anh was the last player standing in the Megastack Event, banking VN₫ 555 Million up top. Indian pros Deepak Bothra (23rd for VN₫ 22.50 Million), Sumit Sapra (31st for VN₫ 16 Million), and Jasven Saigal (40th for VN₫ 14 Million)) made the payouts list.

USA’s Jinyoung Kim trounced the 199-entry field in the Bounty Hunter Event for VN₫ 337.28 Million. Amit Kaushik (12th for VN₫ 16.50 Million) and Siddarth Singhvi (25th for VN₫ 6 Million) round out the Indian finishes.

France’s Yannick Léonard (Won Event #16: Megastack Closer for VN₫ 204 Million) and Singapore’s Norbert Koh Shi-Fu (Won Event #18: Megastack Closer Turbo for VN₫ 52.76 Million) won the other tournaments yesterday.

 

Yu Je Nam Champions Super High Roller For VN₫ 1.828 Billion

Korea’s Yu Je Nam championed over the 108-entry field in the VN₫ 66 Million (~$2,783) buy-in Super High Roller, taking home the lion’s share of the VN₫ 6.285 Billion (~$265,103) prize pool worth VN₫ 1.828 Billion. A three-way deal ensured David Erquiaga (2nd for VN₫ 1.131 Billion) and Lee Chang Hwan (3rd for VN₫ 707 Million) the other top payouts.

Young Gun Shardul Parthasarathi picked up his third series score, finishing ninth for VN₫ 191 Million. This also happened to be his second final table finish of the series.

Shardul Parthasarathi
Shardul Parthasarathi

 

Another Young Gun, Gaurav Sood, picked up his second series cash, placing 14th for VN₫ 157 Million.

Yu Je Nam
Yu Je Nam

 

Final Table Results (VN₫)

  1. Yu Je Nam – VN₫ 1,828,600,000*
  2. David Erquiaga – VN₫ 1,131,000,000*
  3. Lee Chang Hwan – VN₫ 707,000,000*
  4. Renato Villanueva Jr – VN₫ 471,000,000
  5. Florent Remi – VN₫ 367,000,000
  6. Dang Thi Hue – VN₫ 294,000,000
  7. Ong Jing Xiang – VN₫ 250,000,000
  8. Ngyuen Van Trung – VN₫ 216,000,000
  9. Shardul Parthasarathi – VN₫ 191,000,000

*denotes a three-way deal

 

Tzai Wei Phua Wins High Roller Single Day For VN₫ 1.018 Billion

The VN₫ 33 Million (~$1,391) buy-in High Roller Single Day attracted 123 entries, creating a VN₫ 3.579 Billion (~$150,961) prize pool. Tzai Wei Phua topped the competition to win the title and the top prize of VN₫ 1.018 Billion. Nguyen Thu Thuy Duong came second for VN₫ 659 Million.

Four Indians cashed the event, with Ankit Jajodia running the deepest, finishing fifth for VN₫ 205 Million.

Ankit Jajodia
Ankit Jajodia

 

Picking up his third series cash, Young Gun Gaurav Sood came ninth for VN₫ 102 Million.

Gaurav Sood
Gaurav Sood

 

Manoj Pentakota (13th for VN₫ 80 Million) and Siddharth Mundada (15th for VN₫ 80 Million) rounded out the Indian scores in the event.

Tzai Wei Phua
Tzai Wei Phua

 

Final Table Results (VN₫)

  1. Tzai Wei Phua – VN₫ 1,018,000,000
  2. Nguyen Thu Thuy Duong – VN₫ 659,000,000
  3. Teddy Pham – VN₫ 389,000,000
  4. Grant Gardner – VN₫ 271,000,000
  5. Ankit Jajodia – VN₫ 205,000,000
  6. Ng Thien Minh – VN₫ 168,000,000
  7. Dinh Tien Thanh – VN₫ 140,000,000
  8. Eric Wasylenko – VN₫ 117,000,000
  9. Gaurav Sood – VN₫ 102,300,000

 

Vietnam’s Cao Ngoc Anh Takes Down Megastack Event For VN₫ 555 Million

The VN₫ 8.80 Million buy-in Event #15 kicked off with 329 starters, gathering a VN₫ 2.55 Billion prize pool. Cao Ngoc Anh bested the competition to collect the top prize of VN₫ 555 Million after a fourteen-hour long marathon to the finish line.

The local player rode his final table chip-lead to victory as he beat Singapore’s Benjamin Sai (2nd for VN₫ 393 Million) in the heads-up play.

An Indian team trio, including Deepak Bothra (23rd for VN₫ 22.50 Million), Sumit Sapra (31st for VN₫ 16 Million), and Jasven Saigal (40th for VN₫ 14 Million), boarded the money bus.

Deepak Bothra
Deepak Bothra

 

Bothra collected his second series score after his FT finish in the WPT SEAPT Main Event (7th for VN₫ 480 Million).

Last night`s Spartan Poker ITM #18 – Blizzard and Adda52 Big Game finalist Sapra collected his second series score in this event. He previously placed 55th in the WPT SEAPT Main Event for VN₫ 58 Million.

Saigal had ITM-ed the Main Event (106th for VN₫ 33 Million), and this was his second cash of the series.

Cao Ngọc Anh
Cao Ngọc Anh

 

Final Table Results (VN₫)

  1. Cao Ngọc Anh – VN₫ 555,000,000
  2. Benjamin Sai – VN₫ 393,000,000
  3. Đinh Quang Huy – VN₫ 232,000,000
  4. Đặng Hoàng Việt – VN₫ 158,000,000
  5. Foo Yong Kiang – VN₫ 122,000,000
  6. Kim Ho Geun – VN₫ 102,000,000
  7. Phạm Quang Văn – VN₫ 85,000,000
  8. Nguyễn Minh Quyền – VN₫ 69,000,000

 

USA’s Jinyoung Kim Conquers Bounty Hunter Event For VN₫ 337.28 Million

The ₱6.60 Million buy-in Event #13: Bounty Hunter drew 199 players, creating a VN₫ 760.18 Million prize pool. Jinyoung Kim outlasted them all to win the WPC-SEAPT trophy and the VN₫ 337.28 Million (~$14,225) (VN₫ 147.20 Million in bounties) first-place cash prize.

Sweden’s Jonas Magdalinski pocketed a runner-up payday of VN₫ 253.30 Million (VN₫ 125.50 Million in bounties).

Two Indian pros crossed the money line, Amit Kaushik (12th for VN₫ 16.50 Million) and Siddarth Singhvi (25th for VN₫ 6 Million).

Amit Kaushik
Amit Kaushik

 

Kaushik collected his fourth cash in the series after his twelfth-place finish in the Bounty Hunter. His other ITM finishes came in Event #3: Bounty Hunter Event (13th for VN₫ 14 Million), Event #5: Super Stack (18th for VN₫ 14.50 Million), and Event #7: Mystery Bounty (13th for VN₫ 32 Million).

Spartan Poker’s ITM #16 Sunday Supersonic second-place finisher Singhvi collected his second score in the series. He previously cashed Event #7: Mystery Bounty (37th for VN₫ 18 Million).

Jinyoung Kim
Jinyoung Kim

 

Final Table Results (VN₫)

  1. Jinyoung Kim – VN₫ 337,280,000*
  2. Jonas Magdalinski – VN₫ 253,300,000*
  3. Bùi Quốc Diện – VN₫ 201,000,000*
  4. Đỗ Quang Thắng – VN₫ 47,500,000
  5. Kang Hyomo – VN₫ 36,700,000
  6. Duong Van Quang – VN₫ 30,500,000
  7. Park Ji Bok – VN₫ 26,000,000
  8. Cho Sun Il – VN₫ 22,500,000

* Including Bounties

 

France`s Yannick Léonard Wins Megastack Closer For VN₫ 204 Million

Event #16: Megastack Closer had 122 hopefuls buying in for VN₫6.60 Million and pooling in VN₫ 710.04 Million in prize money. France’s Yannick Léonard shipped the event for VN₫204 Million.

Vietnam`s Nguyen Anh Minh took home VN₫ 130 Million in second place, while another local player Nguyen Thai rounded out the podium, pocketing VN₫ 75.50 Million in third place.

Yannick Léonard
Yannick Léonard

 

Final Table Results (VN₫)

  1. Yannick Léonard – VN₫ 204,000,000
  2. Nguyen Anh Minh – VN₫ 130,000,000
  3. Nguyen Thai – VN₫ 75,500,000
  4. Nguyen Tran Ngoc – VN₫ 53,000,000
  5. Nguyen Tuan Hung – VN₫ 41,000,000
  6. Newby Micheal Alfreed – VN₫ 33,000,000
  7. Nguyen Khac Quang – VN₫ 27,500,000
  8. Doan Minh Tuan – VN₫ 23,500,000

 

Singapore`s Norbert Koh Shi-Fu Ships Megastack Closer Turbo For VN₫ 52.76 Million

Event #18: Megastack Closer Turbo recorded a starting field of 27 entrants, generating a VN₫ 104.76 VN₫ prize pool. Singaporean poker pro Norbert Koh Shi-Fu bested the field to win the WPC SEAPT trophy and a generous VN₫ 52.76 Million up top!

Koh beat local pro Nguyen Thi Minh Thanh heads-up, who secured second place for VN₫ 26 Million.

Norbert Koh Shi-Fu
Norbert Koh Shi-Fu

Final Table Results (VN₫)

  1. Norbert Koh Shi-Fu – VN₫ 52,760,000
  2. Nguyen Thi Minh Thanh – VN₫ 26,000,000
  3. Nguyen Long – VN₫ 16,000,000
  4. Trent Fechter – VN₫ 10,000,000

 

Content & Images Courtesy: SoMuchPoker

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