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USOP Taiwan 2024: Sam Chen Yu Hung Champions Main Event For NTD 5,383,000; India’s Rajeev Kanjani Finishes 4th in Mystery Rush Bounty (NTD 53,400)

The first U Series of Poker (USOP) stop of 2024 recently concluded at the CTP Asia Poker Arena in Taipei City, Taiwan, marking an exciting start to the New Year. The series witnessed 42 champions crowned, with local hero Sam Chen Yu Hung (cover image) stealing the show in the Main Event, taking home a career-high NTD 5,383,000 (~$170,475). Despite the success of the series, the event was notably marked by a low turnout of Indian players compared to the last few USOP editions.

In contrast to the high participation in the latter half of 2023, Indian representation at USOP Taiwan 2024 saw a significant decline. Rajeev Kanjani stood out as the sole representative from India to cash in, finishing fourth in Event #34: Mystery Rush Bounty and earning NTD 53,400 (~₹1.41 Lakhs). The event was won by Taiwan’s Chin Ling Hsu, who claimed the USOP trophy and a first-place prize of NTD 220,800 (~$4,313).

Reasons for the Indian exodus appear two-fold. Firstly, while Indian players have been a dominant force at the Asian felts, particularly over the past year, Vietnam remains their preferred playground. Though Indians have dabbled in live series in other South Asian countries like Taiwan and Cambodia, longer flights and a more complex visa process in Taiwan tilt the scales towards Vietnam.

Adding to the series’ intrigue was the announcement of Alex Wong, the Chief Operating Officer of USOP, stepping down post-USOP Taiwan. Wong revealed his departure through a detailed social media post, attributing it to “creative disparities and divergent directions” with the management. Wong’s role was pivotal in USOP’s success since its inception in 2023, and his exit has sparked curiosity about the reasons behind this sudden decision.

 

USOP Taiwan 2024 Winners

WinnerTournamentPrize Money (NTD)
Sam Chen Yu HungUSOP Taiwan 2024 Main EventNTD 5,383,000
Clement HaroEvent #1: Mystery BountyNTD 768,600
Yita ChoongEvent #2: Mini High RollerNTD 412,200
Kuanyu LinEvent #3: DeepstackNTD 171,600
Chang Xiang GuangEvent #4: 8-Max TurboNTD 129,000
Calvin Kean Wei TanEvent #5: Short Deck – Hyper TurboNTD 36,100
William JiaEvent #6: High Roller Warm UpNTD 915,400
Vincent ChauveEvent #7: Big BountyNTD 97,700
Shao Me YangEvent #8: Pot Limit Omaha TurboNTD 94,700
Vivian Wanyu LoEvent #9: Six-Max Hyper TurboNTD 126,000
Ying Zhe HuangEvent #10: Sunday SuperstackNTD 501,000
Chih Wei FanEvent #11: Superstar ChallengeNTD 3,067,000
Wu Chia YunEvent #12: Short DeckNTD 111,400
Tan Ong KwanEvent #13: TurboNTD 136,600
Wei Jen WangEvent #14: Double Board – Single WinnerNTD 68,300
Jennifer CassellEvent #15: Mini Main EventNTD 1,176,000
Sean OoiEvent #16: High Roller Bounty HunterNTD 922,100
Wu Hung HsiangEvent #17: Mixed NLH / PLONTD 130,600
Jia Chi LeeEvent #18: Run It TwiceNTD 68,100
Keon Young OhEvent #19: Bounty Hunter Hyper TurboNTD 77,700
Yita ChoongEvent #20: High Roller MegastackNTD 2,436,300
Romain BierEvent #21: 6-Max TurboNTD 123,600
Yun LiEvent #22: Crazy PineappleNTD 64,800
Seung Hun KoEvent #23: Midweek SuperstackNTD 560,400
Hon Cheong LeeEvent #24: Super High RollerNTD 3,125,200
Lin Wei KaiEvent #25: Pot Limit OmahaNTD 242,000
Keon Young OhEvent #26: FreezeoutNTD 160,000
Wei Ting ChenEvent #27: 10/10/10NTD 90,700
Nam Ho KimEvent #29: Bounty EventNTD 314,600
Oruku MaonEvent #30: Women’s EventNTD 80,600
Yu Ta LeeEvent #31: 5-Card PLONTD 105,300
Chien Hsiang HungEvent #32: 8-Max Hyper TurboNTD 127,500
Webster Chin Wei LimEvent #33: Heads Up ChallengeNTD 357,400
Chin Ling HsuEvent #34: Mystery Rush BountyNTD 220,800
Kensuke Tajika & Shmuel AizikEvent #35: Tag Team EventNTD 209,950
Zi Wei TungEvent #36: 7-Max Hyper TurboNTD 121,200
Ming Nan ChouEvent #37: Bubble RushNTD 143,200
Dae Woong SongEvent #38: 6-Card PLONTD 80,800
Po Wen FangEvent #39: Deepstack – Hyper TurboNTD 118,500
Wei Ting ChenEvent #42: Short Deck – TurboNTD 84,500
Chien Tung WuEvent #43: Hyper TurboNTD 115,600

 

Local Hero Sam Chen Yu Hung Clinches USOP Taiwan 2024 Main Event Title For NTD 5,383,000

Making a headstart in the New Year, the USOP Taiwan 2024 attracted significant interest, primarily from local players and from nearby countries.

The USOP Taiwan 2024 Main Event, featuring a buy-in of NTD 33,000, attracted a massive 1,100 entries, generating a total prize pool of NTD 32.01 Million, exceeding the advertised NTD 15 Million GTD by over two times. The event’s turnout was remarkable, although it didn’t surpass the entry numbers of USOP Hanoi 2023 (1,336 entries) and USOP Da Nang 2023 (1,595 entries). However, it did exceed the 1,043 entries from USOP Taiwan 2023. The top 140 finishers were awarded a share of the prize pool.

A local player, Sam Chen Yu Hung, was crowned the champion after an intense eight-hour final table battle. Despite starting the heads-up with a 2:1 chip disadvantage against South Korean player Gyeong Byeong Lee, Hung skillfully gained the upper hand and sealed his victory with a straight, eclipsing Lee’s missed draw to collect NTD 5,383,000 (~$170,475). This marked Hung’s most significant live tournament win, with Lee taking home NTD 3,774,000 (~$119,519) as runner-up.

Reflecting on his victory, Hung said, “It always feels good to take down a title! It was a good one but tough. I was playing tight in the beginning because ICM is important at the final table and there were two shorter stacks. Luckily I took down some big pots and was able to build up my stack. When I was heads up, I found some of his (Lee’s) leaks and tells, so I set up some traps and it worked.”

Sam Chen Yu Hung
Sam Chen Yu Hung

 

Final Table Results (NTD)

  1. Sam Chen Yu Hung – NTD 5,383,000
  2. Gyeong Byeong Lee – NTD 3,774,000
  3. Yu Sheng Lin – NTD 2,449,000
  4. Chi Jen Chen – NTD 1,815,000
  5. Oliver Schulze – NTD 1,372,000
  6. Minh A Nguyen – NTD 1,109,000
  7. Po Wen Fang – NTD 916,000
  8. Chin Wei Lim – NTD 726,000
  9. Yu Chen – NTD 538,000

 

The Main Event final table was live-streamed on USOP`s YouTube channel. You can watch the replay below.

 

Taiwan’s Chin Ling Hsu Ships Event #34: Mystery Rush Bounty (NTD 220,800); India Rajeev Kanjani Finishes 4th (NTD 53,400)

Event #34: Mystery Rush Bounty, a highlight of the USOP Taiwan series, unfolded with high stakes and suspense on January 12. The event exceeded its guarantee, attracting 107 entries and creating a prize pool of NTD 1,120,930. With an entry fee of NTD 12,000, the tournament not only promised the standard prize payouts but also offered the thrill of mystery bounties, adding an extra layer of excitement for the participants.

The event was ultimately clinched by Taiwan’s own Chin Ling Hsu, who skillfully navigated through the field to claim the lion`s share of the prize pool, a hefty NTD 220,800 (~$6,993). Hsu’s triumph marked a significant win for his hometown and injected a burst of local pride into the tournament. Isaac Chern Chze from Malaysia secured the runner-up position, pocketing NTD 136,200 (~$4,313).

Chin Ling Hsu
Chin Ling Hsu

 

Amidst the intense competition, all eyes were on Rajeev Kanjani, the only Indian player to cash in the entire series. Kanjani showcased his poker prowess and determination, reaching the final table and finishing in fourth place. His efforts were rewarded with NTD 53,400 (~₹1.41 Lakhs) in prize money, a commendable achievement in a field dominated by local and regional players.

Rajeev Kanjani
Rajeev Kanjani

 

Complete Payouts (NTD)

  1. Chin Ling Hsu – NTD 220,800
  2. Isaac Chern Chze – NTD 136,200
  3. Lee Jung Yeol – NTD 81,700
  4. Rajeev Kanjani – NTD 53,400
  5. Quian Pu Huang – NTD 41,200
  6. Sean Tan – NTD 33,900
  7. Yashiro Naoki – NTD 28,700
  8. Yi Hsuan Chen – NTD 25,000
  9. Paul Yugendra – NTD 22,000
  10. Kwok Yip – NTD 19,500
  11. Chinte Huang – NTD 19,500
  12. Jun Li – NTD 19,500
  13. Pak Ning Lee – NTD 17,300
  14. Chienyu Lin – NTD 17,300

 

Content & Images Courtesy: U Series of Poker & So Much Poker

USOP Hanoi 2023: India’s Vishal Ojha Champions Record-Breaking VN₫ 12 Billion GTD Main Event For a Staggering VN₫ 4.952 Billion (~₹1.71 Crores)

It was a magnificent Monday for Indian sports! On the cricketing front, the Indian National Cricket Team is poised for victory against their arch-rivals, Pakistan, in the 2023 Asia Cup, having set a competitive target of 356 runs in their first innings. But there’s more to celebrate off the cricket field!

Following on from a strong start at the U Series of Poker (USOP) Hanoi 2023, the Indian battalion asserted its dominance with Vishal Ojha (cover image) surging past a record-breaking field of 1,336 contenders in the VN₫ 12 Billion GTD Event #23: VN₫ 25 Million Main Event, clinching the coveted title and becoming the first Indian to conquer the USOP Main Event.

A well-respected online tournament regular, Ojha, showcased his prowess at the final table. Starting with a middling stack, he cruised past the competition to clinch victory after a short heads-up face-off against Vietnamese ace Bien Mai. This landmark win handed Ojha his inaugural live title and a whopping VN₫ 4.952 Billion (~₹1.71 Crores). Following a heads-up chop, Mai also took home VN₫ 4.298 Billion for his runner-up finish.

This isn’t Ojha’s sole success in the series. This win marks his third impressive finish, taking his cumulative series earnings to a staggering VN₫ 5.202 Billion (~₹1.79 Crores). With this, Ojha surpasses Event #20: VN₫ 88 Million Super High Roller runner-up finisher Sahil Agarwal, making him the “Indian Star of the Series.”

The celebrations don’t end with Ojha. Just a few hours earlier, Arjanveer Singh Chadha clinched this maiden live tournament victory in the VN₫ 1 Billion GTD Event #33: VN₫ 11 Million Megastack, securing India’s second title of the series, with Ojha’s win being the illustrious third.

Arjanveer Singh Chadha
Arjanveer Singh Chadha

 

The Main Event, drawing an unprecedented 1,336 participants across four starting flights, now stands as a monumental event in the nation’s poker legacy. Amassing a grand prize pool of VN₫ 29.158 Billion, it’s set a new gold standard for non-high roller series.

 

Day 2 Recap

Day 2 saw 168 poker enthusiasts getting back to the tables, with Vietnam’s Bien Mai leading the pack, holding 1,143,000 chips. Among them were 16 Indian players, led by the Day 1C chip leader, Young Gun Anuj Yadav, who started with the fourth-largest stack of 825,000.

Anuj Yadav
Anuj Yadav

 

After intense competition spanning nine levels, only 18 players remained standing. Yao Ren Hao from China had the best run, accumulating 8,530,000 chips.

From the Indian contingent, Vishal Ojha stood out, progressing to Day 3. Starting the day with a modest stack of 316,000, Ojha’s aggressive tactics saw him scoring massive double-ups against opponents like Pham Duy Tien and Lee Kun Han. Ojha’s memorable plays included the double-elimination of Vu Thai Bao and Pham Duy Tien, as he wrapped up with the day’s seventh-largest stack at 3,110,000.

Vishal Ojha
Vishal Ojha

 

Fellow compatriot Ashish Munot was the last player to fall on Day 2. Munot’s run ended when his fell to Phan Huu Minh Tri’s , with the board revealing . Munot`s 19th place finish earned him VN₫ 164 Million (~₹5.65 Lakhs). Cumulatively, his series winnings reached an impressive VN₫ 373 Million (~₹12.85 Lakhs).

Ashish Munot
Ashish Munot

 

Ankit Jajodia began Day 2 with the sixth-largest stack of 800,000. His eventful journey ended in the 21st position. His all-in jam with got a call from Yao Ren Hao’s , who also eliminated The Naing in 22nd for VN₫ 152 Million. Jajodia’s exit added VN₫ 152 Million (~₹5.24 Lakhs) to his series total, elevating it to VN₫ 171 Million (~₹5.89 Lakhs).

Ankit Jajodia
Ankit Jajodia

 

Other notable Indian players who made their mark in the Main Event included Somashekar Kurkhepally (39th for VN₫ 91 Million ~₹3.14 Lakhs), Young Gun Arsh Grover (54th for VN₫ 79 Million ~₹2.72 Lakhs), Ashish Ahuja (67th for VN₫ 67 Million ~₹2.31 Lakhs), Young Gun Anuj Yadav (69th for VN₫ 67 Million ~₹2.31 Lakhs), Young Gun Gaurav Sood (73rd for VN₫ 67 Million ~₹2.31 Lakhs), Sahil Agarwal (77th for VN₫ 67 Million ~₹2.31 Lakhs), Gautam Rohilla (81st for VN₫ 67 Million ~₹2.31 Lakhs), Rajeev Kanjani (94th for 62 Million ~₹2.14 Lakhs), Rising Star Ritwik Khanna (109th for VN₫ 59 Million ~₹2.03 Lakhs), Zarvan Tumboli (133rd for 56 Million ~₹1.93 Lakhs), Abhinav Iyer (138th for VN₫ 56 Million ~₹1.93 Lakhs)), Kunal Patni (151st for VN₫ 53 Million ~₹1.83 Lakhs), and Kamal Kumar Sogani (153rd for VN₫ 53 Million ~₹1.83 Lakhs).

 

Final Day Recap

Eighteen players kicked off the Day 3 action at 11 AM (local time) on Monday. It took two levels of play for the field to dwindle to the nine finalists.

The nine-handed final table was formed with the elimination of Sun Li Wei in 10th place for VN₫ 379.20 Million.

You can watch the replay of the final table live stream below.

 

Final Table Chip Counts

  1. Tan Xiao Hui – 10,010,000
  2. Bien Mai – 9,130,000
  3. Yao Ren Hao – 8,720,000
  4. Vishal Ojha – 6,200,000
  5. Lee Kun Han – 5,975,000
  6. Hu Jin Long – 5,960,000
  7. Le Ngoc Minh – 4,025,000
  8. Ewe Eng Soon – 1,925,000
  9. Charles Wong – 1,325,000

 

VN₫ 12 Billion GTD USOP Hanoi 2023 Main Event Final Table
VN₫ 12 Billion GTD USOP Hanoi 2023 Main Event Final Table

 

Final Table Recap

On the fourth hand of the final table, Tan Xiao Hui woke up with on the button and raised it to 180,000. The shortest stack on the final table, Charles Wong, shoved for 1.20 Million from the big blind, holding . Hui snap-called to see the community cards opening , confirming Wong’s exit in ninth place.

Two hands later, Vishal Ojha raised to 250,000 from UTG with . Hu Jin Long, holding , 3-bet to 660,000 from the middle position. The action folded back to Ojha, who called to see the flop open . Ojha check-called Long’s 500,000 bet to get to the turn . Ojha checked once again, and Long fired a bet of 1.50 Million. Ojha called, and the river brought . For a third time, Ojha checked, and Long bet for 2.90 Million. Ojha tanked for a while, using up three of his time banks, before calling to see the good news. The phenomenal call boosted Ojha’s stack to 14 Million, giving him the chip lead while crippling Long to just 100,000, less than 1 BB.

On the very next hand, with nothing left to lose, Long moved all-in for his last 100,000 with . Le Ngoc Minh called from the small blind with , and Ojha re-shoved all-in for 13 Million from the big blind with . Expectedly, Minh got out of the way. The runout saw Ojha rivering a boat, ending Long’s run in eighth place.

Sixty-eight hands later, Le Ngoc Minh jammed from UTG for 1.60 Million with and Bien Ma, on the small blind, called with . The board ran , eliminating Minh in seventh place.

On the 76th hand, the lone female player on the final table, Tan Xiao Hui, moved all-in from the cutoff for 860,000 with . Lee Kun Han re-shoved for 8.90 Million from the small blind with , forcing Ojha, who had , to get out of the way. The board ran , marking Hui`s departure in sixth place.

On the 99th hand, Ewe Eng Soon was sent to the rail by Ojha in fifth place. The Indian pro’s stack touched a monstrous 30 Million, with his closest competitor, Bien Mai, sitting with 11 Million chips.

On the 119th hand, Ojha, on the button, folded his hand out of turn while Lee Kun Han still deliberated his move. He was penalized for his mistake and had to sit out the 120th hand. Given that he had a stack of 34 Million, 62% of the chips in play, though it was a glaring lapse of concentration for the Indian, it wasn’t very costly.

Eleven hands later, Lee Kun Han raised it to 800,000 from UTG with . The action folded to Bien Mai on the big blind who called with . The flop opened , giving Mai a Queen-high straight while Han hit a pair of tens. Mai slow-played the strong hand by checking, inducing an 800,000 bet from Han. Mai called. Mai checked again on the turn , and Han bet for 1.30 Million. Mai moved all-in for 8.70 Million, and Han snap-called. The river brought , dismissing Han in fourth place.

On the 135th hand, Yao Ren Hao moved all-in from the button for 3.60 Million, holding . Mai tanked for a while before moving all-in for 15 Million, pushing Ojha out of the way. The rundown showed , eliminating Hao in third place.

Yao Ren Hao
Yao Ren Hao

 

Hao’s knockout did help Bien Mai ladder up to 19 Million, but he was still trailing Vishal Ojha considerably, with the Indian sporting a massive 35 Million stack. Before the final table commenced, the duo agreed to an ICM heads-up chop, with both players banking VN₫ 4.952 Billion each and only the trophy left to play for.

Bien Mai
Bien Mai

 

On the first hand of the heads-up match (136th hand), Ojha opened the button for 900,000 with . Mai called to get to the flop . Mai checked, and Ojha bet for 2 Million, getting a quick fold from Mai.

The very next hand (137th) turned out to be the tournament’s final hand. This time, Mai opened for 900,000 and Ojha 3-bet to 3 Million. Mai promptly moved all-in for 18 Million, and Ojha snap-called.

Bien Mai

Vishal Ojha

The community cards read . Despite hitting a pair of tens on the turn, it wasn’t enough for Mai to stay alive in the contest as Ojha went on to lift the USOP Main Event trophy!

Vishal Ojha
Vishal Ojha

 

Final Table Results (VN₫)

  1. Vishal Ojha – VN₫ 4,952,000,000*
  2. Mai Bien – VN₫ 4,298,000,000*
  3. Yao Ren Hao – VN₫ 2,105,000,000
  4. Lee Kun Han – VN₫ 1,520,000,000
  5. Ewe Eng Soon – VN₫ 1,020,000,000
  6. Tan Xiao Hui – VN₫ 735,000,000
  7. Le Ngoc Minh – VN₫ 620,000,000
  8. Hu Jin Long – VN₫ 532,000,000
  9. Charles Wong – VN₫ 455,000,000

*denotes an ICM heads-up deal

 

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

Keep following PokerGuru for more updates from the USOP Hanoi 2023!

Note: This report was updated with the heads-up deal details on 12.09.2023 (11:23 AM)

USOP Hanoi 2023: Ankit Jajodia Bags Third-Largest Stack on Day 1A of the Main Event; Antariksh Singh & Amit Kaushik Post Final Table Finishes in Event #21: PLO

The U Series of Poker (USOP) Hanoi 2023, hosted at the esteemed Crown Poker Club, will be reaching its climax in just four days, and the attention has firmly switched to the highlight of the series, the VN₫ 12 Billion GTD Event #23: VN₫ 25 Million Main Event, which commenced on Thursday.

Day 1A of the Main Event saw a turnout of 268 hopefuls (175 unique), with 34 players surviving the rigorous 17 levels of action. Among these, three standout Indian poker players made their mark.

Leading the Indian pack was Ankit Jajodia, with an impressive stack of 800,000 – the day’s third-largest. Rajeev Kanjani (467,000) and Somashekar Kurkhepalli (329,000) also made their presence felt with commendable stacks, readying for Day 2. However, Vietnam’s Dang Minh Dat stole the show, finishing Day 1A with a dominant 912,000 chips.

Further enhancing India’s presence in the series, Antariksh Singh (5th for VN₫ 23.40 Million ~₹80,757) and Amit Kaushik (7th for VN₫ 13.60 Million ~₹46,937) clinched final table finishes in Event #21: VN₫ 6.60 Million Pot Limit Omaha. It was Malaysia’s Lim Kar Hou, however, who stole the limelight, seizing the top prize of VN₫ 111 Million.

In Event #22: VN₫ 3.40 Million Turbo, India continued to shine. Ashish Ahuja and Jasven Saigal secured 15th and 16th places, each min-cashing for VN₫ 7.70 Million (~₹26,574).

Vietnam’s Doan Van Cuong claimed the Event #22: VN₫ 3.40 Million Turbo title following a heads-up deal with Lim Jieh Therk Jason. While Jason earned a slightly better VN₫ 84.50 Million, Cuong bagged the prestigious USOP title and a close second prize of VN₫ 84.40 Million.

Here are the highlights!

 

Vietnam’s Dang Minh Dat Leads 34 Survivors After Day 1A of Event #23: VN₫ 25 Million Main Event; India’s Ankit Jajodia, Rajeev Kanjani & Somashekar Kurkhepalli Make Day 2

The much-anticipated VN₫ 12 Billion GTD Event #23: VN₫ 25 Million Main Event began its run on Thursday. Day 1A attracted 268 participants (175 unique), and after an intense 17 levels of gameplay, only 34 competitors progressed to Day 2. Everyone qualifying for Day 2 is guaranteed a payout.

The first starting flight of the Main Event spanned 12.5 hours, culminating with local player Dang Minh Dat securing the top stack of 912,000.

Dang Minh Dat
Dang Minh Dat

 

From Thailand, Tanawat Barapapanuwong trailed in second with a chip count of 808,000, closely followed by India’s Ankit Jajodia, who clinched the third-largest stack totalling 800,000.

Ankit Jajodia
Ankit Jajodia

 

A familiar face in the Asian poker scene, Jajodia’s series performance has been subdued, with his only notable achievement coming in the VN₫ 2 Billion GTD Event #13: VN₫ 8.80 Million Mini Main Event.

Other notable Indian players, Rajeev Kanjani (467,000) and Somashekar Kurkhepalli (329,000), also made their mark on Day 1A.

Rajeev Kanjani
Rajeev Kanjani

 

Day 1B is set to kick off at 11 AM (local time) on Friday, September 8.

Top 10 Chip Counts at the End of Day 1A

  1. Dang Minh Dat – 912,000
  2. Tanawat Barapapanuwong – 808,000
  3. Ankit Jajodia – 800,000
  4. Lee Ju Yeol – 690,000
  5. Yong Shang Bing – 660,000
  6. Vũ Thái BảO – 594,000
  7. Kristian Wiermymr – 558,000
  8. Dao Minh Phu – 480,000
  9. Rajeev Kanjani – 467,000
  10. Alvin Jeff Sembrano – 432,000

 

Malaysia’s Lim Kar Hou Wins Event #21: VN₫ 6.60 Million Pot Limit Omaha (VN₫ 111 Million); India’s Antariksh Singh & Amit Kaushik Secure FT Finishes

Starting on Wednesday, Event #21: VN₫ 6.60 Million Pot Limit Omaha registered a turnout of 52 participants (37 unique), accumulating a prize pool of VN₫ 302.60 Million.

Malaysia’s Lim Kar Hou triumphed in the event, earning an impressive VN₫ 111 Million. Jankowski Lukasz Jaro clinched the runner-up spot, pocketing VN₫ 66 Million.

Lim Kar Hou
Lim Kar Hou

 

Two Indians stood out among the top seven who secured payouts.

Antariksh Singh marked his first series cash with a commendable fifth-place finish, securing VN₫ 23.40 Million (~₹80,757).

Antariksh Singh
Antariksh Singh

 

Meanwhile, Amit Kaushik notched up his fourth cash of the series, securing the seventh spot and VN₫ 13.60 Million (~₹46,937). His cumulative series winnings now total VN₫ 260.60 Million (~₹8.99 Lakhs).

Amit Kaushik
Amit Kaushik

 

Final Table Payouts (VN₫)

  1. Lim Kar Hou – VN₫ 111,000,000
  2. Jankowski Lukasz Jaro – VN₫ 66,000,000
  3. Lim Shyh Chyn – VN₫ 40,100,000
  4. Nguyen Xuan Manh – VN₫ 30,600,000
  5. Antariksh Singh – VN₫ 23,400,000
  6. Tong Jia Chuan – VN₫ 17,900,000
  7. Amit Kaushik – VN₫ 13,600,000

 

Vietnam’s Doan Van Cuong Ships Event #22: VN₫ 3.40 Million Turbo (VN₫ 84.40 Million); India’s Ashish Ahuja & Jasven Saigal Min-Cash

Another Wednesday fixture, Event #22: VN₫ 3.40 Million Turbo, attracted 127 participants (96 unique), amassing a prize pool of VN₫ 369.50 Million. In the end, Vietnam’s Doan Van Cuong emerged victorious after a near-equal heads-up deal with Lim Jieh Therk Jason. Although Jason secured a slightly larger payout of VN₫ 84.50 Million payout, Cuong walked away with the prestigious USOP trophy and a VN₫ 84.40 Million cash prize.

Doan Van Cuong
Doan Van Cuong

 

The top 16 finishers were guaranteed payouts; among them, two Indians made the cut by snagging min-cashes.

Ashish Ahuja, who had already made a mark in the VN₫ 2 Billion GTD Event #13: VN₫ 8.80 Million Mini Main Event, notched up his second cash of the series, settling for 15th place and a prize of VN₫ 7.70 Million (~₹26,574).

Ashish Ahuja
Ashish Ahuja

 

Jasven Saigal marked his series debut by becoming the first player to finish in the money, taking 16th position for VN₫ 7.70 Million (~₹26,574).

Jasven Saigal
Jasven Saigal

 

Final Table Payouts (VN₫)

  1. Doan Van Cuong – VN₫ 84,400,000*
  2. Lim Jieh Therk Jason – VN₫ 84,500,000*
  3. Nguyen Trong Viet – VN₫ 40,000,000
  4. Nguyen Tuan Anh – VN₫ 28,000,000
  5. Nguyen Dieu Phuong Linh – VN₫ 22,000,000
  6. Nguyen Khoi – VN₫ 18,000,000
  7. Ng Hui Fen Michelle – VN₫ 15,000,000
  8. Pham Van Cuong – VN₫ 12,000,000
  9. Pham Van Nghia – VN₫ 10,000,000

*denotes a heads-up deal

 

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

Keep following PokerGuru for more updates from the USOP Hanoi 2023!

USOP Hanoi 2023: Abhinav Iyer, Sahil Agarwal & Mohak Kapoor Keep the Indian Scorecard Ticking With Final Table Finishes 

The U Series of Poker (USOP) Hanoi 2023, unfolding at the esteemed Crown Poker Club, is almost halfway through its electrifying journey. Underway since September 1, the poker festival is set to keep players at the edge of their seats until September 11, with 14 luminaries already basking in their victorious glow.

Indian poker mavens have set the tables ablaze at the USOP Hanoi. In just the first four days, they’ve recorded 19 significant achievements, punctuated by eight final table appearances and a memorable win.

WSOP bracelet winner Abhinav Iyer continued to dazzle with his masterstrokes. After winning the VN₫ 1 Billion GTD Mini High Roller on the series’ opening day, he added another feather to his cap with his second series accolade in the VN₫ 2.50 Billion GTD Event #9: VN₫ 120 Million Superstar Challenge, clinching VN₫ 576 Million (~₹19.87 Lakhs) in fifth place. His collective winnings have now skyrocketed to a striking VN₫ 1.406 Billion (~₹48.52 Lakhs).

Meanwhile, Sahil Agarwal added a second score to his series total, placing eighth in the Superstar Challenge for VN₫ 336 Million (~₹11.60 Lakhs).

Vietnam’s ace, Hoang Hai Nam, was the star of the Superstar Challenge, grabbing a whopping VN₫ 3 Billion as the champion!

Mohak Kapoor, the annual online TLB (points) leaderboard topper, further burnished his credentials with a commendable fourth-place finish in Event #16: VN₫ 6.60 Million Mystery Rush Bounty, bagging VN₫ 32.10 Million (~₹1.11 Lakhs). The more experienced Rajeev Kanjani added VN₫ 10.30 Million (~₹35,549) to his coffers with a 12th-place finish.

The Mystery Rush Bounty title was artfully claimed by Taiwan’s Huang Chang Wei, pocketing VN₫ 108 Million.

The dynamic trio Rishab Malik (10th for VN₫ 23 Million ~₹79,381), Amit Kaushik (11th for VN₫ 23 Million ~₹79,381), and Jatin Sablani (17th for VN₫ 16 Million ~₹55,221) further elevated India’s presence in Event #8: VN₫ 6.60 Million Superstack Madness.

Ip Ho Yuen of Hong Kong stood tall, winning the Superstack Madness title with a cool VN₫ 272 Million.

Other champions include Netherlands’ Berinov Andrei (Won Event 10: VN₫ 3.40 Million Mini Deepstack for VN₫ 70.50 Million), Vietnam’s Tran Minh Thang (Won Event 11: VN₫ 4.50 Million Turbo for VN₫ 66 Million), Vietnam’s Vu Thai Bao (Won Event 12: VN₫ 3.40 Million Run it Twice for VN₫ 47 Million), and China’s Nguyen Quang Minh (Won Event 15: VN₫ 4.50 Million Short Deck for VN₫ 58.20 Million), each stamping their authority on recent side events.

Here are the highlights!

 

Vietnam’s Hoang Hai Nam Ships VN₫ 2.50 Billion GTD Event #9: VN₫ 120 Million Superstar Challenge (VN₫ 3 Billion); India’s Abhinav Iyer & Sahil Agarwal Post FT Finishes

The VN₫ 2.50 Billion GTD Event #9: VN₫ 120 Million Superstar Challenge spanned two thrilling days, drawing in numerous renowned poker enthusiasts. With 94 participants (42 unique), the event generated an astonishing VN₫ 10.212 Billion prize pool, and payouts were handed out to the top 14 finishers.

Vietnam’s Hoang Hai Nam demonstrated a remarkable resurgence when down to the last three, clinching the title and a record career earning of VN₫ 3 Billion. Previously, Hoang had faced hurdles in this exact event, narrowly falling short of first place on two occasions. Yet, this time around, he emerged victorious, outplaying Malaysia’s Ian Lee in a gripping heads-up clash. Lee settled for a commendable second place, pocketing VN₫ 1.90 Billion.

Hoang Hai Nam
Hoang Hai Nam

 

From India, Abhinav Iyer continued his impressive streak. After clinching the Mini High Roller title at the start of the series, he marked his second significant series cash, landing in fifth place with VN₫ 576 Million (~₹19.87 Lakhs).

Abhinav Iyer
Abhinav Iyer

 

Iyer`s compatriot, Sahil Agarwal, also made his mark, securing the eighth position in the Superstar Challenge and earning VN₫ 336 Million (~₹11.60 Lakhs), following his debut series score in VN₫ 3 Billion GTD Event #1: Mystery Bounty.

Sahil Agarwal
Sahil Agarwal

 

Final Table Results (VN₫)

  1. Hoang Hai Nam – VN₫ 3,000,000,000
  2. Lee Tse Ian – VN₫ 1,900,000,000
  3. Oshiro Gakuto – VN₫ 1,170,000,000
  4. Nguyen Van Sang – VN₫ 781,100,000
  5. Abhinav Iyer – VN₫ 576,000,000
  6. Allen Michael Josheph – VN₫ 456,000,000
  7. Pham Alan Anh-Minh – VN₫ 385,000,000
  8. Sahil Agarwal – VN₫ 336,000,000
  9. Do Quang Trinh – VN₫ 298,000,000

 

Hong Kong’s Ip Ho Yuen Triumphs in Event #8: VN₫ 6.60 Million Superstack Madness (VN₫ 272 Million); Indian Trio Rishab Malik, Amit Kaushik & Jatin Sablani Impress With Solid Performances

Event #8: VN₫ 6.60 Million Superstack Madness, held on Sunday, saw an enthusiastic turnout of 181 poker enthusiasts (124 unique). This vibrant participation shattered the VN₫ 600 Million guarantee, accumulating an awe-inspiring prize pool of 1.053 Billion.

Hong Kong’s Ip Ho Yuen emerged victorious amidst the heated competition, pocketing the grand prize of VN₫ 272 Million as the Superstack Madness champion. Trailing him closely was Vietnam’s prodigious talent, Nguyen Xuan Truong, who secured a commendable VN₫ 183 Million for his second-place finish.

Ip Ho Yuen
Ip Ho Yuen

 

The event also spotlighted stellar performances from three Indian poker aces. Rishab Malik was at the forefront, continuing his momentum from his profound series-opener run in the VN₫ 3 Billion GTD Mystery Bounty. Malik came tantalizingly close to the final table in Superstack Madness, securing a 10th-place finish for VN₫ 23 Million (~₹79,381).

Rishab Malik
Rishab Malik

 

Noted poker streamer Amit Kaushik, renowned in the Asian poker scene, further added to his accolades. Following an impressive stint at the Mini High Roller final table, Kaushik bagged the 11th spot in Superstack Madness, earning VN₫ 23 Million (~₹79,381).

Amit Kaushik
Amit Kaushik

 

Completing the Indian lineup was Jatin Sablani, a finalist from Event #3: Deepstack, who bagged the 17th position and pocketed VN₫ 16 Million (~₹55,221).

Jatin Sablani
Jatin Sablani

 

Final Table Results (VN₫)

  1. Ip Ho Yuen – VN₫ 272,000,000
  2. Nguyen Xuan Truong – VN₫ 183,000,000
  3. Vu Minh Hai – VN₫ 108,000,000
  4. Konechnyi Ivan – VN₫ 70,000,000
  5. Tran Thanh Hung – VN₫ 51,500,000
  6. The Naing – VN₫ 42,200,000
  7. Iablokov Sergei – VN₫ 35,900,000
  8. Babushkin Nikolai – VN₫ 30,800,000
  9. Nguyen Van Phuong – VN₫ 26,800,000

 

Taiwan’s Huang Chang Wei Ships Event #16: VN₫ 6.60 Million Mystery Rush Bounty (VN₫ 108 Million); India’s Mohak Kapoor Finishes 4th (~₹1.11 Lakhs)

Starting on Monday, Event #16: VN₫ 6.60 Million Mystery Rush Bounty attracted 93 entrants (71 unique), amassing a substantial prize pool of VN₫ 360.80 Million.

When the dust settled, Taiwan’s Huang Chang Wei emerged victorious, clinching the title and an impressive top prize of VN₫ 108 Million. Close behind was Nguyen Van Dan, securing the runner-up position with a reward of VN₫ 66 Million.

Huang Chang Wei
Huang Chang Wei

 

Building on his 38th-place finish in the series-opener VN₫ 3 Billion GTD Event #1: Mystery Bounty, India’s Mohak Kapoor showcased a stellar performance with a final table appearance in the Mystery Rush Bounty, walking away with VN₫ 32.10 Million (~₹1.11 Lakhs) in fourth place.

Mohak Kapoor
Mohak Kapoor

 

While only the top 12 spots ensured payouts, India’s Rajeev Kanjani slid past the money bubble, min-cashing for VN₫ 10.30 Million (~₹35,549) in 12th place.

Rajeev Kanjani
Rajeev Kanjani

 

Final Table Results (VN₫)

  1. Huang Chang Wei – VN₫ 108,000,000
  2. Nguyen Van Dan – VN₫ 66,000,000
  3. Gorbushin Anatolii – VN₫ 43,000,000
  4. Mohak Kapoor – VN₫ 32,100,000
  5. Nguyen Vu Lam – VN₫ 23,400,000
  6. Nguyen Manh Trung – VN₫ 18,600,000
  7. Le Giang Nam – VN₫ 15,100,000
  8. Pham Duc Dung – VN₫ 12,600,000
  9. Lim Beng Wei – VN₫ 11,100,000

 

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

Keep following PokerGuru for more updates from the USOP Hanoi 2023!

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