Following the 2024 WPT Cambodia—Passport to the World Championship, the 2024 Won Poker Cup lately made its big premiere at the opulent Won Majestic Hotel in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. Held from July 24 to 29, this exciting six-day poker extravaganza crowned eleven champions in a series of fiercely fought events on the felt.
The festival’s highlight was the $500,000 GTD Event #2: $1,101 Main Event. It was an exhibition. Emerging triumphant from a group of 424 gifted players, Malaysia’s Ke Hong Jing claimed the coveted Eagle trophy and a staggering $97,101 in prize money. Armon Van Wijk of Australia gave it his all but finally had to accept second place and $61,000.
Fresh off their best-ever result at the 2024 WSOP and a strong run at the 2024 WPT Cambodia, Team India made yet another major statement at the Won Poker Cup. They won two side event medals and produced some quite remarkable finishes. Deep runs came from Abhijith Cherku (13th for $6,500; ~₹5.44 Lakhs), Vikaash Shah (46th for $2,300; ~₹1.93 Lakhs), and Siddharth Karia (48th for $2,300; ~₹1.93 Lakhs).
In Event #11: $1,500 Mini High Roller, the Indian poker phenomenon and recently minted PokerStars India Team Pro Siddharth Karia stole the show. Fresh from his ambassadorship signing and still riding the high of the WPT Cambodia, he pushed through a field of 31 great players to claim his first-ever live event triumph, therefore bringing home a cool $15,020 (12.57 Lakhs) and the coveted gold Eagle trophy. Coming in second for $10,350, Kim Ji Young of Korea put up an intense battle.
His outstanding performance in Event #8: $230 Mini Main Event, 2020 WPT Philippines Megastack NLH champion Vikaash Shah has added another remarkable victory to his CV. Like Karia, Shah decided to remain in Cambodia following the WPT, which paid off well. Marking his second live title triumph, he outplayed a field of 162 entries to win $7,260 (6.05 Lakhs) and the Eagle trophy. Second in pocketing $4,600 was Vietnam’s Nguyen Manh Truong.
Malaysian Ke Hong Jing Wins Poker Cup Inaugural Main Event ($97,100); Three Indians Deep Run
Malaysian Ke Hong Jing
The inaugural Won Poker Cup $1,100 Main Event drew poker fans at the Won Majestic Hotel in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. After three days of tough battle, Malaysia’s Ke Hong Jing won his first live poker title, $97,100, and the Eagle trophy by defeating 404 players in five starting flights.
Poker strategy mastery led to Jing’s win. Starting the final table third in chips, he carefully built his stack with aggression and intelligent decisions. He chipped away at reluctant players’ stacks without relying on a big hand.
Jing’s measured strategy paid off on the final table as he eliminated Kim Sin Woo (9th for $9,100), Yen Chun How (7th for $16,000), and Zou (3rd for $43,800) before a climactic heads-up match against Armon Van Wijk of Australia.
The heads-up match tested nerves and talent. Jing led 1.6:1 chips for the hour-long game. A flop followed, and both players limped on the final hand. Van Wijk extended his straight draw, but Jing, holding, called. Jing celebrated with a fist pump after the turn provided a pair. Jing won with two pairs when the river gave a. Despite his disappointment, Van Wijk received $61,000 for second place.
The final table included Anzhela Vasylenko (4th for $34,700), Nguyen Duc Thanh (5th for $27,200), Zhang Shangfei (6th for $21,400), and Nicky Wu (8th for $11,400).
The inaugural Won Poker Cup Main Event didn’t exceed 500 players, but it made up for it in heart and cash. The 63 players who won the money, each earning at least $2,100, were thrilled by the $96,000 overlay from the 96-entry shortage.
Not brutal at all, this tournament resembled a trip back to the golden days of Asian poker. Not nervousness, but rather a kind and supportive environment pervaded everything. Players traded water, cracked jokes, and gently reviewed regulations with novices. Everyone was reminded of the reasons they enjoyed the game by this touching sportsmanship.
Three Indians, Abhijith Cheruku, Vikaash Shah, and Siddharth Karia, are among 77 players returning on Day 2 of the Main Event. With 13th rank, Cherku took home $6,500 (~₹5.44 Lakhs). He was dropped following a stunning hand overbet by accident.
Zou answered late; Nicky Wu raised. Forgetting a 5,000 chip she used as a card protector, Cherku wanted to call but inadvertently added 285,000 chips to the pot. Then, assuming it was all-in, Zou raised it to 290,000 after Wu folded. The floor verdict clarified that Cheruku’s 5,000 chip was still live, so he had not gone all-in.
Zou left Cheruntu in great need as the flop delivered him a top pair and a flush draw. With a last chip, he hoped for a Jack to rescue his tournament dreams. But the turn and river cards failed him, cutting off his remarkable run.
Completing 46th and 48th positions, both Vikaash Shah and Siddharth Karia performed well for India, earning $2,300 (~₹1.93 Lakhs).
Final Table Results (USD)
- Ke Hong Jing – $97,100
- Armon Van Wijk – $61,000
- Zou – $43,800
- Anzhela Vasylenko – $34,700
- Nguyen Duc Thanh – $27,200
- Zhang Shangfei – $21,400
- Yen Chun How – $16,000
- Nicky Wu – $11,400
- Kim Sin Woo – $9,100
In Event #11, Siddharth Karia wins his first live title: $1,500 Mini High Roller ($15,020).
Siddharth Karia
Indian poker prodigy Siddharth Karia, the newest PokerStars India Pro Team member, is making waves internationally. Immediately after cashing in the Won Poker Cup Main Event, he entered Event #11: $1,500 Mini High Roller the following day. He emerged victorious, winning his first live title, $15,020 (~₹12.57 Lakhs), and a gold Eagle trophy.
Karia defeated 31 seasoned players, including Korea’s Kim Ji Young, who finished second with $10,350. Young Gun’s last win continues his streak. At WPT Cambodia, he achieved five cash finishes worth $8,104 (~₹6.79 Lakhs), bringing his lifetime tournament earnings to over $207,000.
Complete Results (USD)
- Siddharth Karia – $15,020
- Kim Ji Young – $10,350
- Beul Lock – $6,600
- Kew Tuan Long – $4,770
- Ilya Firstov – $3,855
Vikaash Shah Wins Event #8: $230 Mini Main Event ($7,230)
Vikaash Shah
2020 WPT Philippines Megastack NLH winner Vikaash Shah still scored another success in his poker record by winning Event #8: $230 Mini Main Event at the Won Poker Cup. Shah decided to stay following his WPT Cambodia competition, which was a wise choice. Along with the Eagle trophy, Shah won his second live title and a cash prize of $7,230 (6.05 Lakhs) in the Mini Main Event by surpassing a field of 162 players (across two starting flights). With $4,600, Vietnam’s Nguyen Manh Truong fiercely battled but finally came in second.
#PokerStarsIndia #SiddharthKaria #MiniHighRoller #PokerChampion #IndianPokerPro #WonPokerCup #LivePoker #PokerWin #CambodiaPoker #PokerTrophy #PokerChampion #WonPokerCup #MainEventWinner #KeHongJing #PokerVictory #SihanoukvillePoker #PokerLife #PokerTournament #CambodiaPoker #VikaashShah #MiniMainEvent #PokerChampion #WonPokerCup #LivePoker #IndianPokerPro #PokerWin #CambodiaPoker #PokerVictory #PokerTournament
