Excitement and high-stakes poker activity abound at the USOP Hai Phong event at the Dream Dragon Resort in Hai Phong, Vietnam. Running from September 11 to 23, 2024, this first event has 66 prizes up for grabs along with the much sought-after USOP Player of the Series Ring. Thirteen prizes have already been claimed after three days; 53 still need their winners. Here is a Day 3 summary together with the winners thus far.
USOP Hai Phong Takes First in the High Roller Charity Event
Well-known high roller USOP Hai Phong won the High Roller Charity Event and added still another trophy to his already extensive collection. Before leading Tran Viet Anh Hiep head-up, he eliminated Xiaosheng Zheng in third place. Hoang steadily reduced Tran’s stack to 20 large blinds from just 6 big blinds, then built his own to 75. Tran was calling all-in with Jack-9 against Hoang’s pocket deuces at the last hand. Hoang won since the board gave Tran no assistance.
Hoang’s thirdUSOP Hai Phong Roller victory adds to his successes in the Superstar Challenge and Super High Roller events. Following a recent typhoon, the High Roller Charity Event generated VN₫ 171,000,000 (~US$ 6,950) for the Red Cross and local relief efforts.
- Buy-in: VN₫ 55,000,000 (~US$ 2,200)
- Entries: 57 (43 unique)
- Prize Pool: VN₫ 2,622,000,000 (~US$ 106,560)
USOP Hai Phong Top Payouts:
- Hoang Hai Nam (Vietnam) – VN₫ 830,000,000
- Tran Viet Anh Hiep (Vietnam) – VN₫ 551,200,000
- Xiaosheng Zheng (China) – VN₫ 368,400,000
USOP Hai Phong Johnni Nielsen Celebrates Record-Breaking Madness
Winning the Madness Kick Off Event, which attracted a record-breaking 1,424 participants, Sweden’s Johnni Peer Nielsen brought home his first live poker victory. To take the VN₫ 1,650,000, (~US$ 67,000), top prize and a coveted USOP trophy, Nielsen negotiated a difficult field and outlasted Jing Sun in heads-up play. Following his victory, Nielsen said he felt fantastic and stayed concentrated all through the event.
Nielsen intends to extend this energy into following events and is well forward of his next challenge.
- Buy-in: VN₫ 9,000,000 (~US$ 360)
- Entries: 1,324
- Prize Pool: VN₫ 9,956,480,000 (~US$ 404,650)
Top Payouts:
- Johnni Nielsen (Sweden) – VN₫ 1,650,000,000
- Jing Sun (China) – VN₫ 1,132,000,000
- Khoi Nguyen (Vietnam) – VN₫ 750,000,000
First Championship Event Day: Jang Jongbea Commands the Pack
There were 205 entrants (152 unique) for Day 1A of the USOP Championship Event; just 26 players advanced to Day 2. Following an exciting three-way fight, Jang Jongbea of Korea shot to the top chip leader. After winning two sizeable pots against China’s Tianhao Zheng during the bubble round, Jang cracked pocket aces and a set of queens with his straight and kept his chip lead.
- Buy-in: VN₫ 16,500,000 (~US$ 660)
- Entries: 205 (152 unique)
- Day 2 Players: 26
USOP Hai Phong Top Chip Counts:
- Jang Jongbea (Korea) – 920,000
- Nguyen Trung Ha (Vietnam) – 806,000
- Tran Ngoc Quang (Vietnam) – 507,000
Vu Minh Duc Award Mini High Roller Trophy
Agreeing to an ICM contract with runner-up Haiyang Yang from China, Vietnam’s Vu Minh Duc won the Mini High Roller title While Yang pocketed VN₫ 365,224,000 (~US$ 14,845), Duc returned the VN₫ 403,775,000 (~US$ 16,410). There were eighty submissions (67 unique) with a total prize pool of VN₫ 1,504,000, (~US$ 61,125).
- Buy-in: VN₫ 22,000,000 (~US$ 880)
- Entries: 80 (67 unique)
Top Payouts:
- Vu Minh Duc (Vietnam) – VN₫ 403,775,000
- Haiyang Yang (China) – VN₫ 365,224,000
Haisheng Qiu Triumphs in the Deepstack Event
Haisheng Qiu from China triumphed in the Deepstack Event following a heads-up deal with fellow countryman Zijing Zhan in yet another thrilling ending. Both players brought home VN₫ 180,250,000 (~US$ 7,325), but Qiu secured the championship based on his bigger stack.
- Buy-in: VN₫ 6,000,000 (~US$ 240)
- Entries: 169 (135 unique)
- Prize Pool: VN₫ 806,800,000 (~US$ 32,790)
USOP Hai Phong Baiyu Ni Wins Hyper Turbo Tournament
Following winnings at the Madness Kick Off Event, China’s Baiyu Ni went on to take home his first live poker trophy from the Hyper Turbo Event. Ni claimed the VN₫ 68,004,000 (~US$ 2,65) top prize by outlasting a field of 56 contestants.
- Buy-in: VN₫ 4,000,000 (~US$ 160)
- Entries: 56 (48 unique)
Ton Le Thanh Results in Double Board Event
Vietnam’s Ton Le Thanh triumphed in the Double Board event in slightly under five hours, ranking top on a modest field of seventeen participants. Thanh brought VN₫ 42,101,000 (~US$ 1,710) home for his first USOP victory.
- VN₫ 4,500,000 (~US$ 180) buys in.
- Entries: 17 (16 unusual)
Though many more events are yet to come, the USOP Hai Phong festival has already produced exciting poker action. The enthusiasm in Hai Phong is likely to get even more strong as players fight for trophies and the USOP Player of the Series Ring. Watch this space for further updates as the festival unfolds.
