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Milestone victory as Ian Lee clinches the USOP Main Event!
Following a grueling four hour heads up battle, Malaysia’s Ian Lee emerged victorious over Vietnam’s Phan Quang Thai to capture the title and the coveted first prize of VN₫ 7,120,000,000 (~USD 287,677)! The final hand was Lee 
, Phan 
, board ran 
. This milestone win was Lee’s career first poker major.
“It’s really amazing, after so many hours, the opponents were all so great and all very skillful. It really takes perseverance to take it down. This is the first win of my life. I just can’t believe it. I meditate at every break. It’s all about mindset.”
Not too shabby as well for runner-up Phan who scored a career high VN₫ 4,916,000,000 (~USD 198,626) payout.
The record breaking USOP Danang 2024 Main Event attracted a field of 1,702 entries to build the richest USOP prize pool of VN₫ 44,575,300,000 (~USD 1,800,000). Check out the live updates for all the action from start to finish.
Date: March 28 to April 1, 2024
Buy in: VN₫ 30,000,000 (~USD 1,235)
Guarantee: VN₫ 15,000,000,000 (~USD 614,500)
Total entries: 1,702
Prize pool: VN₫ 44,575,300,000 (~USD 1,800,000)
ITM: 213 players
Chips in play: 68,080,000
Average stack: 34,040,000 (56 bb)
Remaining players: 2
Next payout: VN₫ 4,916,000,000 (~USD 198,626)
Top prize: VN₫ 7,120,000,000 (~USD 287,677)
02:35: Phan Quang Thai saved by the river
Level 39: 1,000,000-1,500,000 ante 1,5000,000
Ian Lee limps 
, Phan Quang Thai shoves 
, Lee snap calls and has Phan covered. When the board ran 
, the end seemed to be near until it rivered for a double up to Phan. Phan takes a slight lead.
Phan Quang Thai – 36,000,000 (24 bb)
Ian Lee – 33,000,000 (22 bb)
02:30: Ian Lee gets paid for his flush
Level 38: 600,000-1,200,000 ante 1,200,000
Ian Lee 
limps, big blind Phan Quang Thai 
checks. Both players check the flop is 
to get a free turn . Phan leads out 10,000,000, Lee calls. On the river 
, Phan checks, Lee bets 4,000,000, Phan calls and pays up.
Ian Lee – 52,000,000 (43 bb)
Phan Quang Thai – 16,000,000 (13 bb)
02:15: Ian Lee doubles up
Level 38: 600,000-1,200,000 ante 1,200,000
Ian Lee doubles up with outdrawing Phan Quang Thai’s 
on a board 
. Switch up again, Lee with 42,000,000, Phan with 27,000,000.
Ian Lee – 42,000,000 (35 bb)
Phan Quang Thai – 27,000,000 (22 bb)
02:10: More chips for Phan Quang Thai
Level 38: 600,000-1,200,000 ante 1,200,000
Phan Quang Thai claims another good pot. Hand opens with Phan 
raising to 2,500,000, Lee calls . At the flop 
, Phan c-bets 2,200,000, Lee check-calls. Both check the turn and river 
. Phan wins the pot.
Phan Quang Thai – 49,000,000 (40 bb)
Ian Lee – 20,000,000 (16 bb)
02:00: Phan Quang Thai grinds back to the lead
Level 38: 600,000-1,200,000 ante 1,200,000
It’s a grind out there with both players tugging at the chip lead which has switched back to Phan Quang Thai’s side of the felt. A recent hand saw Ian Lee call Phan’s 1,500,000 preflop raise. Phan bet the flop 
, Lee folded. Phan showed his 
top pair.
Phan Quang Thai – 42,000,000 (35 bb)
Ian Lee – 27,000,000 (22 bb)
01:40: Ian Lee leads at the new level
Level 38: 600,000-1,200,000 ante 1,200,000
Ian lee has widened his lead with 40,000,000 (33 bb) to Phan Quang Thai’s 29,000,000 (24 bb). Still deep out here.
01:10: Ian Lee gains momentum
Level 37: 500,000-1,000,000 ante 1,000,000
Two pots for Ian Lee to retake the lead. First hand, Phan Quang Thai raises 2,200,000, Lee calls. At the flop 
, Lee check-calls 2,000,000. Both then check the turn . The river sees a 10,000,000 bet from Lee, Phan folds.
Ian Lee – 30,000,000 (30 bb)
Phan Quang Thai – 38,000,000 (38 bb)
Several hands after, Phan limps, Lee checks, both see a flop . Lee bets 2,000,000, Phan calls. On the turn and river , no bets lands. Lee shows 
, Phan mucks his .
Ian Lee – 37,000,000 (37 bb)
Phan Quang Thai – 31,000,000 (31 bb)
01:05: Chip count update
Level 37: 500,000-1,000,000 ante 1,000,000
Phan Quang Thai – 40,000,000 (40 bb)
Ian Lee – 29,000,000 (29 bb)
00:56: Phan Quang Thai continues to rise
Level 36: 400,000-800,000 ante 800,000
Phan Quang Thai – 42,000,000 (52 bb)
Ian Lee – 27,000,000 (33 bb)
00:50: Phan Quang Thai takes the lead
Level 36: 400,000-800,000 ante 800,000
Button Phan Quang Thai 
opens 1,800,000, big blind Ian Lee 
calls. Phan c-bets 2,000,000 on the flop , Lee calls. On the turn , Phan fires 4,000,000, and this time Lee check-folds.
Phan Quang Thai – 37,000,000 (46 bb)
Ian Lee – 31,000,000 (38 bb)
00:27: Phan Quang Thai doubles up
Level 36: 400,000-800,000 ante 800,000
Phan Quang Thai three-bets all in with 
and Ian Lee calls with . The board runs , Phan pairs up to survive.
Phan Quang Thai – 29,000,000 (36 bb)
Ian Lee – 39,000,000 (48 bb)
00:05: Blinds up, Ian Lee pulling away
Level 36: 400,000-800,000 ante 800,000
Ian Lee – 50,000,000 (62 bb)
Phan Quang Thai – 18,000,000 (22 bb)
23:52: Phan Quang Thai rising
Level 35: 300,000-600,000 ante 600,000
Ian Lee – 43,000,000 (71 bb)
Phan Quang Thai – 26,000,000 (43 bb)
23:20: Heads up!
Level 35: 300,000-600,000 ante 600,000
After eleven hours, it is heads up here at the Main Event! The eventual winner will take home the VN₫ 7,120,000,000 (~USD 287,677) top prize, the glorious title, and trophy. Ian Lee is ahead 2:1 against Phan Quang Thai. Both players are very deep.
Ian Lee – 47,000,000 (78 bb)
Phan Quang Thai – 21,000,000 (35 bb)
23:18: Gabriel Carter eliminated in 3rd place – VN₫ 3,422,000,000 (~USD 138,263)
Level 35: 300,000-600,000 ante 600,000
Small blind Phan Quang Thai limps, big blind Gabriel Carter checks, both then check the flop . On the turn 
, Carter bets 1,500,000, Phan check-raises 3,700,000, Carter shoves 7,900,000. Phan calls. The river comes 
, Phan completes his straight, Carter finishes in 3rd place.
Phan Quang Thai – 21,000,000 (35 bb)
Gabriel Carter – eliminated in 3rd place
23:05: Chip count update
Level 35: 300,000-600,000 ante 600,000
| Player | Flag | Stack | BB |
| Ian Lee | Malaysia | 48,000,000 | 80 |
| Phan Quang Thai | Vietnam | 13,000,000 | 22 |
| Gabriel Carter | UK | 7,600,000 | 13 |
22:57: Phan Quang Thai check-calls with mid-pair
Level 35: 300,000-600,000 ante 600,000
Phan Quang Thai continues to rise picking up another pot against Gabriel Carter to drive to 15,000,000 (25 bb).
22:45: Thomas Ward eliminated in 4th place – VN₫ 2,504,200,000(~USD 101,180)
Level 35: 300,000-600,000 ante 600,000
Thomas Ward is next to go with Ian Lee delivering the bad news once again. From utg, Lee opens 1,500,000, button Ward calls, both see the flop . Ward bets 1,700,000, Lee check-calls. On the turn , Lee bets 3,000,000, Ward shoves 13,000,000, Lee snap calls and is ahead with a straight versus two pair. The river isn’t one of Ward’s outs to exit in 4th place. Ward collects a payout equivalent to six figures in USD.
Ian Lee – 43,000,000 (71 bb)
Thomas Ward – eliminated in 3rd place
22:42: Fan Ying Kun eliminated in 5th place – VN₫ 1,877,100,000 (~USD 75,842)
Level 35: 300,000-600,000 ante 600,000
After nearly three hours of five-handed, the table trimmed to four with Ian Lee eliminating Fan Ying Kun. Hand opens with Fan 
raising 1,200,000 from cutoff, small blind Lee three-bets to 4,000,000, Fan shoves (12,000,000), Lee calls. The board run 
.
Ian Lee – 26,000,000 (43 bb)
Fan Ying Kun – eliminated in 5th place
22:40: Phan Quang Thai doubles up to par with Thomas Ward
Level 35: 300,000-600,000 ante 600,000
Utg Thomas Ward {qc
raises 1,200,000, cutoff Phan Quang Thai shoves 6,400,000, Ward calls. The board completes , Phan doubles up to even up with Ward.
Phan Quang Thai – 14,000,000 (23 bb)
Thomas Ward – 14,000,000 (23 bb)
22:35: Blinds up, 5 players remaining
Level 35: 300,000-600,000 ante 600,000
| Player | Flag | Stack | BB |
| Thomas Ward | New Zealand | 21,000,000 | 35 |
| Gabriel Carter | UK | 20,000,000 | 33 |
| Ian Lee | Malaysia | 12,000,000 | 20 |
| Fan Ying Kan | China | 11,000,000 | 18 |
| Phan Quang Thai | Vietnam | 6,400,000 | 11 |
22:26: Phan Quang Thai preserves his chips
Level 34: 250,000-500,000 ante 500,000
Phan Quang Thai opens 1,400,000, cutoff Fan Ying Kun three-bets all in with , Phan folds.
Fan Ying Kun – 12,000,000 (24 bb)
Phan Quang Thai – 7,700,000 (15 bb)
22:16: Phan Quang Thai pulls off a bluff
Level 34: 250,000-500,000 ante 500,000
Button Ian Lee 
min-raises, big blind Phan Quang Thai calls, flop runs . Lee bets 800,000, Phan check-calls. Both players proceed to check the turn then Phan shoves 1,500,000 on the river, Lee folds. Phan gets his bluff through.
Phan Quang Thai – 5,800,000 (11 bb)
Ian Lee – 14,000,000 (28 bb)
21:58: Phan Quang Thai dropping
Level 34: 250,000-500,000 ante 500,000
Phan Quang Thai has dropped to 8 bb after losing a pot to Gabriel Carter . Calling preflop with 
on the button, Phan folds to a 1,000,0000 
flop bet.
Gabriel Carter – 22,000,000 (110 bb)
Phan Quang Thai – 4,000,000 (8 bb)
21:51: Gabriel Carter lays out big bets
Level 34: 250,000-500,000 ante 500,000
Utg Gabriel Carter looks down at and raises 1,100,00, big blind Fan Ying Kun calls, both see a flop , Carter fires 1,000,000, Fan check-folds.
21:37: Ian Lee jumps out front
Level 34: 250,000-500,000 ante 500,000
Utg Thomas Ward raises 1,000,000, big blind Ian Lee makes the call. Ward c-bets the flop 
, Lee check-calls. On the 
turn, Ward fires 2,200,000, Lee check-raises all in. Ward folds. Lee takes the lead for the first time.
Ian Lee 18,000,0000 (36 bb)
Thomas Ward – 1,400,000 (3 bb)
21:30: Gabriel Carter claims another pot
Level 34: 250,000-500,000 ante 500,000
Cutoff Gabriel Carter raises 1,100,000, big blind Phan Quang Thai defends then both players check the flop . On the turn, Phan bets 1,000,000, Carter calls. On the river , Phan checks then folds to Carter’s 1,500,000 bet.
Gabriel Carter – 16,000,000 (32 bb)
Phan Quang Thai – 7,100,000 (14 bb)
21:28: Gabriel Carter wins some off Thomas Ward
Level 34: 250,000-500,000 ante 500,000
Button Gabriel Carter opens 1,100,000, big blind Thomas Ward calls, flop comes 
. Carter bets 750,000, Ward check-raises 1,700,000, Carter three-bets 2,900,000, Ward calls. Both players check the the turn and river .
Gabriel Carter – 13,000,000 (26 bb)
Thomas Ward – 18,000,000 (36 bb)
21:26: Chip count update
Level 34: 250,000-500,000 ante 500,000
| Player | Flag | Stack | BB |
| Thomas Ward | New Zealand | 22,000,000 | 44 |
| Fan Ying Kun | China | 16,000,000 | 32 |
| Ian Lee | Malaysia | 14,000,000 | 28 |
| Gabriel Carter | UK | 9,000,000 | 18 |
| Phan Quang Thai | Vietnam | 8,300,000 | 17 |
21:09: Thomas Ward takes down a good pot
Level 33: 200,000-400,000 ante 400,000
Small blind Thomas Ward limps, big blind Phan Quang Thai checks, flop runs . Ward c-bets 600,000, Phan calls. On the turn , Ward checks then calls a 1,800,000 bet. The river , Ward lands his straight and bets 3,600,000, Phan calls and pays up.
Thomas Ward – 21,000,000 (52 bb)
Phan Quang Thai – 8,500,000 (21 bb)
21:03: Phan Quang Thai doubles through
Level 33: 200,000-400,000 ante 400,000
From utg, Phan Quang Thai raises 1,000,000, cutoff Fan Ying Kun three-bets 3,000,000, button Gabriel Carter folds, blinds follow suit, Phan calls. At the flop , Phan goes all in for 4,200,000, Fan calls. The turn and river for a double up to Phan.
Phan Quang Thai – 15,000,0000 (37 bb)
Fan Ying Kun – 17,000,000 (42 bb)
20:53: Ian Lee jams the river to claim the hefty pot
Level 33: 200,000-400,000 ante 400,000
Button Ian Lee raises 1,000,000, big blind Phan Quang Thai calls, both players check the flop . On the turn , Phan leads out 900,000, Lee calls. The river sees Phan fire 2,100,000, Lee jams, Phan folds
Ian Lee – 15,000,000 (37 bb)
Phan Quang Thai – 6,400,000 (16 bb)
20:40: Fan Ying Kun maintaining his top dog status
Level 33: 200,000-400,000 ante 400,000
Fan Ying Kun is on a mission of maitaining his hold on the top spot. He shave over 3 Million off Thomas Ward’s stack wiht landing trips on a board . Minuts later, Fan takes on Phan Quang Thai and picks up another 3 Million with on a board .
Fan Ying Kun – 25,000,000 (62 bb)
Phan Quang Thai – 11,000,000 (27 bb)
Thomas Ward – 16,000,000 (40 bb)
20:26: Ian Lee puts pressure on Thomas Ward
Level 33: 20,000-40,000 ante 40,000
From utg, Thomas Ward opens 800,000, big blind Ian Lee calls. At the flop Ward bets 500,000, Lee check-raises 2,200,000, Ward folds.
Ian Lee – 10,000,000 (25 bb)
Thomas Ward – 15,000,000 (37 bb)
20:20: Chip counts at the new level, 5 players remaining
Level 33: 20,000-40,000 ante 40,000
| Player | Flag | Stack | BB |
| Phan Quang Thai | Vietnam | 18,000,000 | 45 |
| Fan Ying Kun | China | 17,000,000 | 43 |
| Thomas Ward | New Zealand | 16,000,000 | 40 |
| Gabriel Carter | UK | 9,600,000 | 24 |
| Ian Lee | Malaysia | 7,500,000 | 19 |
20:16: Chun Hao Zhang eliminated in 6th place – VN₫ 1,512,000,000 (~USD 61,091)
Level 32: 150,000-300,000 ante 300,000
Hijack Fan Ying Kun opens then calls, three spots over Chun Hao Zhang shoves, Fan calls and it’s a flip with Zhang against Fan’s . The board runs . Fan climbs to the chip lead.
Fan Ying Kun – 18,000,000 (60 bb)
Chun Hao Zhang – eliminated in 6th place
20:06: Chun Hao Zhang slipping
Level 32: 150,000-300,000 ante 300,000
Once a massive stack, Chun Hao Zhang hasn’t been able to recover and lost a little more to Fan Ying Kun in this hand. Fan opens from cutoff, Zhang defends the big blind. At the flop , Fan bets 500,000 and Zhang folds putting up no challenge.
Fan Ying Kun – 13,000,000 (43 bb)
Chung Hao Zhang – 4,500,000 (15 bb)
20:01: Ian Lee on the move
Level 32: 150,000-300,000 ante 300,000
Having just won two pots on uncalled shoves, Ian Lee calls cutoff Phan Quang Thai’s raise from the big blind. At the flop , Lee check-calls 700,000 then switches up and bets 1,800,000 on the turn . Phan folds. Stream has Phan with and Lee with two pair.
Ian Lee – 7,700,000 (25 bb)
Phan Quang Thai – 17,000,000 (56 bb)
19:55: Phan Quang Thai wins this round
Level 32: 150,000-300,000 ante 300,000
Fan Ying Kun min-raises from utg, big blind Phan Quang Thai calls. At the flop , Phan check-calls 300,000. Then no bets come on the turn and river . Phan Quang Thai wins it with top pair.
Phan Quang Thai – 18,000,000 (60 bb)
Fan Ying Kun – 12,000,000 (50 bb)
19:41: Fan Ying Kun gets paid for his straight
Level 32: 150,000-300,000 ante 300,000
Cutoff Phan Quang Thai opens 600,000, button Fan Ying Kun calls then also calls a 700,000 bet on the flop . On the turn Fan bets 1,500,000, Phan check-raises all in, Fan calls for his tournament life. Phan misses the river for Fan to double up.
Fan Ying Kun – 13,000,000 (43 bb)
Phan Quang Thai – 13,000,000 (43 bb)
19:33: Ian Lee loses a little more
Level 32: 150,000-300,000 ante 300,000
Ian Lee raises 600,000 from hijack, button Thomas Ward calls with then both chek down the to the turn . On the river 
, Ward bets 1,400,000, Lee check-folds.
Thomas Ward – 18,000,000 (60 bb)
Ian Lee – 5,900,000 (19 bb)
19:27: Gabriel Carter defends his ladies
Level 32: 150,000-300,000 ante 300,000
Hijack Gabriel Carter looks down at and raises 600,000, cutoff Ian Lee three-bets 2,000,000 with , Carter answers with a four-bet shove. Lee folds.
Gabriel Carter – 12,000,000 (40 bb)
Ian Lee – 6,700,000 (22 bb)
19:20: Blinds up, 6 players remaining
Level 32: 150,000-300,000 ante 300,000
| Player | Flag | Stack | BB |
| Phan Quang Thai | Vietnam | 22,000,000 | 73 |
| Thomas Ward | New Zealand | 17,000,000 | 57 |
| Gabriel Carter | UK | 8,900,000 | 30 |
| Ian Lee | Malaysia | 8,900,000 | 30 |
| Chun Hao Zhang | China | 7,200,000 | 24 |
| Fan Ying Kun | China | 4,100,000 | 14 |
19:05: Phan Quang Thai rises over 20M
Level 31: 100,000-250,000 ante 250,000
Hijack Gabriel Carter opens 550,000, Phan Quang Thai three-bets 1,500,000, Carter calls. Flop runs , Phan c-bets 900,000, Carter folds.
Phan Quang Thai – 23,000,000 (76 bb)
Gabriel Carter – 8,900,000 (29 bb)
18:56: Truong Vu Tran Khanh eliminated in 7th place – VN₫ 1,230,700,000 (~USD 49,725)
Level 31: 100,000-250,000 ante 250,000
Ian Lee opens from utg, hijack Thomas Ward calls, small blind Truong Vu Tran Khanh goes all in, Lee folds, Ward calls. The board runs , Ward ships it and rails Khanh in 7th place.
Thomas Ward – 15,500,000 (62 bb)
Ian Lee – 9,000,000 (36 bb)
Truong Vu Tran Khanh – eliminated in 7th place
18:47: Ian Lee lucks out to stay in the running
Level 31: 100,000-250,000 ante 250,000
Hijack Ian Lee shoves, cutoff Chun Hao Zhang calls to put Lee at risk. The board runs no change for Lee, but with the river , Lee lands the three-outer to survive.
Ian Lee – 9,500,000 (38 bb)
Chun Hao Zhang – 7,800,000 (31 bb)
18:36: Gabriel Carter triple barrels
Level 31: 100,000-250,000 ante 250,000
From utg+1 Thomas Ward raises 500,000, small blind Gabriel Carter three-bets 1,500,000, Ward flats. At the flop , Carter c-bets 850,000, Ward calls, turn is . Carter jams 5,100,00, Ward folds.
Gabriel Carter – 10,000,000 (40 bb)
Thomas Ward – 12,000,000 (48 bb)
18:35: Blinds up, 6 players remaining
Level 31: 100,000-250,000 ante 250,000
| Player | Flag | Stack | BB |
| Phan Quang Thai | Vietnam | 22,000,000 | 88 |
| Thomas Ward | New Zealand | 17,000,000 | 68 |
| Gabriel Carter | UK | 890,000 | 4 |
| Ian Lee | Malaysia | 8,900,000 | 36 |
| Chun Hao Zhang | China | 7,200,000 | 29 |
| Fan Ying Kun | China | 4,100,000 | 16 |
18:10: Phan Quang Thai bluffs out Gabriel Carter
Level 31: 100,000-250,000 ante 250,000
Cutoff Phan Quang Thai opens 425,000, button Fan Ying Kun calls, big blind Gabriel Carter three-bets 1,500,000, back to Phan who calls, Fan folds. At the flop Carter c-bets 750,000, Phan calls. The turn Carter checks, Phan fires 1,400,000, Carter calls. On the river , Phan sends out 2,600,000, Carter tanks using up two time banks then folds.
Phan Quang Thai – 18,000,000 (90 bb)
Gabriel Carter – 6,800,000 (34 bb)
Fan Ying Kun – 6,700,000 (33 bb)
17:55: Buyu Sakurai eliminated in 8th place – VN₫ 960,300,000 (~USD 38,800)
Level 31: 100,000-200,000 ante 200,000
Entering the final table as massive chip leader, the lone Japanese at round was unable to take it any further than 7th place. Having lost a three-way cooler in an earlier hand, Sakurai lost the rest of it in two hands against Thomas Ward.
First hand Sakurai raises 450,000 from hijack and Ward defends the big blind. At the flop , Sakurai c-bet 450,000, Ward check-raises 1,300,000, Sakurai calls. On the turn Ward shoves 4,200,000, Sakurai calls. The river is a double up for Ward as Sakurai plunges to 3 bb.
Immediately after, Sakurai is all in with , Ward calls from the small blind with , board runs .
Thomas Ward – 13,000,000 (65 bb)
Buyu Sakurai – eliminated in 8th place
17:40: Alok Birewar eliminated in 9th place – VN₫ 712,800,000 (~USD 28,800)
Level 31: 100,000-200,000 ante 200,000
Chun Hao Zhang opens 400,000, big blind Alok Birewar looks down at and shoves his 13 bb stack. Quick call by Zhang. Though not needed, Zhang further improves on a board to eliminate Birewar as first casualty of the final table.
Chun Hao Zhang – 14,000,000 (70 bb)
Alok Birewar – eliminated in 9th place
17:37: Gabriel Carter wins with top pair
Level 31: 100,000-200,000 ante 200,000
After taking from Alok Birewar, Chun Hao Zhang tries to shave some off Gabriel Carter. Hand opens with Zhang min-raising from utg+2 and Carter calls from the big blind. No bets on the flop , Zhang bets 600,000 on the turn , Carter calls. On the river it is back to checking. Carter has top pair and wins the pot. Zhang had .
Gabriel Carter – 11,000,000 (55 bb)
Chun Hao Zhang – 11,000,000 (55 bb)
17:20: Alok Birewar goes two rounds with Chun Hao Zhang
Level 31: 100,000-200,000 ante 200,000
Hand opens with utg+1 Chun Hao Zhang raising 450,000, big blind Alok Birewar three-bets 1,300,000, Zhang four-bet jams, Birewar covers Zhang and calls. Zhang , Birewar , board comes . Birewar doubles through.
Alok Birewar – 8,500,000 (42 bb)
Chun Hao Zhang – 5,800,000 (29 bb)
Following that hand, Birewar faces a 450,000 raise by cutoff Gabriel Carter, button Birewar re-raises 1,200,000, big blind Zhang four-bets all in for 5,800,000, Carter folds his , Birewar calls for another bout between them. Zhang has , Birewar with , this time the board favors Zhang running . Zhang takes back his chips and more.
Chun Hao Zhang – 12,000,000 (60 bb)
Alok Birewar – 2,600,000 (13 bb)
17:00: Blinds up, 9 players remaining
Level 31: 100-000-200,000 ante 200,000
16:30: Three way all in
Level 30: 100-000-150,000 ante 150,000
Utg Gabriel Carter opens 325,000, button Fan Ying Kun three-bets all in for 2,100,000, big blind Buyu Sakurai shoves his massive stack, Carter joins in for three players vying for the pot.
Gabriel Carter
Fan Ying Kun
Buyu Sakurai
The board runs , Fan triples up with a flush, Carter wins the side pot, earning 22 bb off Sakurai.
Fan Ying Kun – 6,500,000 (43 bb)
Gabriel Carter – 9,900,000 (66 bb)
Buyu Sakurai – 8,500,000 (56 bb)
16:18: Phan Quang Thai pushes out Thomas Ward
Level 30: 100-000-150,000 ante 150,000
Action folds to the small blind Thomas Ward who limps, big blind Phan Quang Thai {10d) checks. At the flop , Ward bets 450,000, Phan calls. On the turn, Ward bets 475,000, Phan raises his straight 1,100,000, Ward folds.
Phan Quang Thai – 13,000,000 (86 bb)
Thomas Ward – 5,700,000 (38 bb)
16:00: Ian Lee earns some off the leader
Level 30: 100-000-150,000 ante 150,000
Ian Lee scores the first big pot of the final table. From utg+1 he opens 350,000, small blind Buyu Sakurai calls, both go see a flop . Lee c-bets 500,000, Sakurai check-calls. No bets on the turn but on the river, Sakurai fires 1,000,000, Lee snap calls. Sakurai flips over top pair, Lee takes it with set.
Ian Lee – 7,600,000 (50 bb)
Buyu Sakurai – 15,000,000 (100 bb)
Final 9 players
Level 30: 100-000-150,000 ante 150,000
| Seat | Player | Stack | BB |
| 1 | Gabriel Carter | 7,400,000 | 37 |
| 2 | Alok Birewar | 2,650,000 | 13 |
| 3 | Ian Lee | 5,475,000 | 27 |
| 4 | Chun Hao Zhang | 11,125,000 | 56 |
| 5 | Thomas Ward | 7,675,000 | 38 |
| 6 | Phan Quang Thai | 10,625,000 | 53 |
| 7 | Fan Ying Kun | 1,975,000 | 10 |
| 8 | Truong Vu Tuan Khanh | 3,700,000 | 19 |
| 9 | Buyu Sakurai | 17,325,000 | 87 |
14:46: Anthony Lewis eliminated in 10th place – VN₫ 501,300,000 (~USD 20,255)
Level 31: 100-000-200,000 ante 200,000
Anthony Lewis opens then faces a jam from Buyu Sakurai. Lewis goes ahead and commits all of his chips and flips over . It’s fifty-fifty against Sakurai’s . The board runs . Sakurai pairs up to deny Lewis a spot at the final table.
Buyu Sakurai – 17,500,000 (87 bb)
Anthony Lewis – eliminated in 10th place
14:40: Phan Quang Thai double barrels to take it
Level 31: 100-000-200,000 ante 200,000
Battle of the blinds, small blind Phan Quang Thai opens 500,000, big blind Chun Hao Zhang calls, both players check the flop and get a free turn look . Phan leads out 300,000, Zhang calls. On the river , Phan double barrels 1,350,000, Zhang folds.
Phan Quang Thai – 8,400,000 (42 bb)
Chun Hao Zhang – 10,500,000 (52 bb)
14:36: Do Tuan Phong eliminated in 11th place – VN₫ 501,300,000 (~USD 20,255)
Level 31: 100-000-200,000 ante 200,000
Cutoff Do Tuan Phong open shoves his last 725,000 (3.5 bb) with , big blind Buyu Sakurai calls and shows . The board runs for a straight to Sakurai. Phong is eliminated leaving only two Vietnamese players holding up the flag.
Buyu Sakurai – 13,000,000 (65 bb)
Do Tuan Phong – eliminated in 11th place
14:33: Another cooler, Thomas Ward pays again
Level 31: 100-000-200,000 ante 200,000
Cutoff Truong Vu Tuan Khanh three-bets all in with , big blind Thomas Ward looks down at and makes the call. With the board running , Khanh doubles through as Ward drops again but is healthy with an above average stack.
Truong Vu Tuan Khanh – 2,800,000 (14 bb)
Thomas Ward – 8,300,000 (41 bb)
14:30: Buyu Sakurai on the right end of a cooler
Level 31: 100-000-200,000 ante 200,000
Utg Thomas Ward open 400,000, next to act Buyu Sakurai three-bets 1,300,000, Ward four-bet jams, Sakurai calls for his tournament life.
Thomas Ward
Buyu Sakurai
No bad beat on the board for Aces to stand and catapult to the top of the counts.
Buyu Sakurai – 12,150,000 (61 bb)
Thomas Ward – 9,750,000 (48 bb)
14:24: Chip counts at the start of the new round
Level 31: 100-000-200,000 ante 200,000
Players are back from the first break. 11 players remaining.
| Seat | Player | Stack | BB |
| 1 | Alok Birewar | 4,600,000 | 23 |
| 3 | Ian Lee | 6,000,000 | 30 |
| 4 | Gabriel Carter | 7,500,000 | 38 |
| 8 | Phan Quang Thai | 7,600,000 | 38 |
| 9 | Chun Hao Zhang | 12,300,000 | 62 |
| Seat | Player | Stack | BB |
| 1 | Buyu Sakurai | 3,900,000 | 20 |
| 2 | Anthony Lewis | 4,700,000 | 24 |
| 5 | Truong Vu Tuan Khanh | 1,800,000 | 9 |
| 6 | Do Tuan Phong | 1,100,000 | 6 |
| 7 | Fan Ying Kun | 2,000,000 | 10 |
| 8 | Thomas Ward | 15,000,000 | 75 |
14:08: Le Giang Nam eliminated in 12th place – VN₫ 501,300,000 (~USD 20,255)
Level 30: 100,000-150,000 ante 150,000
Big blind Le Giang Nam three-bets all in for 1,700,000, initial raiser Chun Hao Zhang calls and turns over the nuts . Nam needs help with . The flop gives Nam hope but with the turn and river , he is eliminated. Stil three Vietnamese left in the field holding up the flag.
Chun Hao Zhang – 11,400,000 (76 bb)
Le Giang Nam – eliminated in 12th place
14:05: Chun Hao Zhang and Gabriel Carter go head to head
Level 30: 100,000-150,000 ante 150,000
Chun Hao Zhang opens from cutoff, big blind Gabriel Carter calls. As the board runs , Carter check-calls Zhang’s bet every street – 400,000, 800,000, and 800,000 – then mucks to Zhang’s top pair.
Chun Hao Zhang – 7,300,000 (48 bb)
Gabriel Carter – 7,000,000 (46 bb)
13:54: Le Ngoc Minh eliminated in 13th place – VN₫ 389,400,000 (~USD 15,733)
Level 30: 100,000-150,000 ante 150,000
Five players from Vietnam started the day and now down to four with Le Ngoc Minh tumbling to Thomas Ward. After losing a pot to Ward in an earlier hand, Minh three-bet shoved with and initial raiser Ward called with . The board ran , no hits for Minh to settle for 13th place.
Thomas Ward – 15,400,000 (102 bb)
Le Ngoc Minh – eliminated in 13th place
13:51: Do Tuan Phong takes a chunk off Buyu Sakurai
Level 30: 100,000-150,000 ante 150,000
Utg+1 Do Tuan Phong opens 300,000, button Buyu Sakurai calls, blinds fold, flop runs . Phong c-bets 200,000, Sakurai calls. On the turn , Phong checks, Sakurai bets 350,000, Phong raises all in for 760,000, Sakurai folds.
Do Tuan Phong – 2,500,000 (16 bb)
Buyu Sakurai – 4,600,000 (30 bb)
13:36: Hyo Seok Park eliminated in 14th place – VN₫ 389,400,000 (~USD 15,733)
Level 30: 100,000-150,000 ante 150,000
From utg+1, Hyo Seok Park opens 300,000, cutoff Buyu Sakurai calls, the board proceeds to complete . Park bets every street – 300,000, 700,000, and all in 1,535,000, Sakurai calls it down. Park flip over then busts to Sakurai’s .
Buyu Sakurai – 7,000,000 (46 bb)
Hyo Seok Park – eliminated in 14th place
13:25: Le Ngoc Minh snaps and plunges
Level 30: 100,000-150,000 ante 150,000
Utg+2 Le Ngoc Minh raises 35,000 and is called by button Thomas Ward. Both players check the flop . On the turn, Ward leads out 525,000, Minh calls. On the river , Ward send out 1,350,000, Minh snap calls then mucks to Ward’s trips. Ward has now retaken the chip lead.
Thomas Ward – 14,300,000 (95 bb)
Le Ngoc Minh – 1,300,000 (8 bb)
13:20: Chun Hao Zhang takes some from Alok Birewar
Level 30: 100,000-150,000 ante 150,000
Action folds to the button Chun Hao Zhang who min-raises, small blind Alok Birewar three-bets 55,000, Zhang jams over 3M, Birewar folds.
Chun Hao Zhang – 4,000,000 (26 bb)
Alok Birewar- 3,900,000 (26 bb)
13:15: Blinds up, 14 players remaining
Level 30: 100,000-150,000 ante 150,000
4 players dropped out in the opening round leaving 14 players to battle for the title and the VN₫ 7.1 Billion (~USD 287,677) top prize. This is the largest prize money ever to be awarded at the USOP.
13:12: Alok Birewar defends his raises
Level 29: 60,000-120,000 ante 120,000
Utg Alok Birewar raises 25,000, cutoff Gabriel Carter three-bets 625,000, Birewar answers with a four bet of 1,200,000, Carter folds.
Alok Birewar – 4,800,000 (40 bb)
Gabriel Carter – 11,000,000 (91 bb)
13:10: Hyo Seok Park pushes out Thomas Ward
Level 29: 60,000-120,000 ante 120,000
Utg Thomas Ward opens 250,000, big blind Hyo Seok Park defends. Ward c-bets 175,000 on the flop then 450,000 on turn , Park check-raises all in. Ward folds.
Hyo Seok Park – 3,320,000 (27 bb)
Thomas Ward – 9,700,000 (80 bb)
13:05: Thomas Ward rises over 10M
Level 29: 60,000-120,000 ante 120,000
Entering chip leader Thomas Ward has just fattened up his stack to 10,500,000. Facing a raise from Hyo Seok Park, Ward is one of three callers to the flop . Action folds to Ward who bets 325,000, no takers.
Thomas Ward – 10,500,000 (87 bb)
13:02: Seung Hun Ko eliminated in 15th place – VN₫ 389,400,000 (~USD 15,733)
Level 29: 60,000-120,000 ante 120,000
After falling to 7 bb, Seung Hun Ko shoves from cutoff with but doesn’t get past the big blind Le Ngoc Minh with . An ace finds the board .
Le Ngoc Minh – 4,700,000 (39 bb)
Seung Hun Ko – eliminated in 15th place
12:51: Seung Hun Ko drops more than half
Level 29: 60,000-120,000 ante 120,000
Bluff and Catch owner Seung Hun Ko opens 250,000 from utg+1, three players call to the flop . Ko c-bets 360,000, utg+2 Buyu Sakurai calls, two folds follow. On the turn, Ko fires another 720,000, Sakurai jams, (1,230,000), Ko calls. Sakurai has trips, Ko with two pair. The river is not the out for Ko to pay a costly double up.
Buyu Sakurai – 4,360,000 (36 bb)
Seung Hun Ko – 850,000 (7 bb)
12:48: Tae Hyoeng Kim eliminated in 16th place – VN₫ 302,300,000 (~USD 12,214)
Level 29: 60,000-120,000 ante 120,000
Utg Tae Hyoeng Kim opens 1,600,000 leaving himself 45,000 behind. Big blind Gabriel Carter snap-calls, shows his hand not realizing Kim still has chips behind. The flop runs , Carter goes all in, Kim obliges knowing Carter is ahead. The turn and river ends Kim’s run in 16th place. Carter has now taken over the chip lead.
Gabriel Carter – 11,300,000 (94 bb)
Tae Hyoeng Kim – eliminated in 16th place
12:36: Jun Ma eliminated in 17th place – VN₫ 302,300,000 (~USD 12,214)
Level 29: 60,000-120,000 ante 120,000
Ian Lee delivered another bust out with Jun Ma meeting his axe in 17th place. With Jun having just lost a big pot to Phan Quang Thai, Jun dropped below 10 bb and three-bet shoved with . Initial raiser Lee called with . No hits on the board for Jun. Lee shipped, Jun shipped out.
Ian Lee – 6,200,000 (51 bb)
Jun Ma – eliminated in 17th place
12:33: Chang Xiang Guang eliminated in 18th place – VN₫ 302,300,000 (~USD 12,214)
Level 29: 60,000-120,000 ante 120,000
First casualty has been delivered with shortest stacked Chang Xiang Guang unable to bring up his 6 bb opening stack. Chang three-bet shoves on top of Ian Lee’s raise, Lee calls with . Chang has . The board runs .
Ian Lee – 4,900,000 (40 bb)
Chang Xiang Guang – eliminated in 18th place
12:30: Phan Quang Thai rakes in first big pot of the day
Level 29: 60,000-120,000 ante 120,000
Phan Quang Thai picks up the first big pot of the final day. He opens from utg+1 and big blind Jun Ma calls. Both see a flop , Phan c-bets 230,000, Jun check-raises 640,000, Phan calls. On the turn , Jun bangs out 1,150,000, Phan calls. The river slows down Jun, Phan fires 1,350,000, Jun uses up two time-banks then calls. Phan has it all full house, Jun mucks. Phan slides into third rank.
Phan Quang Thai – 8,800,000 (73 bb)
Jun Ma – 1,050,000 (8 bb)
12:15: Cards in the air! Hunt for the title underway
Level 29: 60,000-120,000 ante 120,000
The hunt for the USOP Main Event title has begun! The final 18 players are just seventeen spots closer to becoming the next champion. The winner will pocket a massive score VN₫ 7.1 Billion (~USD 287,677) which is the largest payout ever awarded by the USOP. Follow the action right here!
Race to the USOP Danang 2024 Main Event crown today!
Who will take the crown? Who will win the biggest and richest USOP Main Event? Find out here as we bring you live updates from the Final 18 down to the newest champion. If you are in Danang, Vietnam then drop by the Pullman Danang Beach Resort for the live action. Cards in the air at 12:15pm.
Date: March 28 to April 1, 2024
Buy in: VN₫ 30,000,000 (~USD 1,235)
Guarantee: VN₫ 15,000,000,000 (~USD 614,500)
Total entries: 1,702
Prize pool: VN₫ 44,575,300,000 (~USD 1,800,000)
ITM: 213 players
Final 18 players
Chips in play: 68,080,000
Blinds: 60K-120K ante 120K
Average stack: 3,782,222 (31 bb)
| Rank | Player | Flag | Stack | BB | Table |
Seat
|
| 1 | Thomas Ward | New Zealand | 9,600,000 | 80 | 4 | 8 |
| 2 | Gabriel Carter | UK | 9,200,000 | 77 | 1 | 4 |
| 3 | Alok Birewar | India | 5,460,000 | 46 | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | Phan Quang Thai | Vietnam | 5,085,000 | 42 | 1 | 8 |
| 5 | Fan Ying Kan | China | 4,395,000 | 37 | 1 | 2 |
| 6 | Ian Lee | Malaysia | 4,225,000 | 35 | 1 | 3 |
| 7 | Jun Ma | China | 3,975,000 | 33 | 1 | 6 |
| 8 | Le Ngoc Minh | Vietnam | 3,735,000 | 31 | 4 | 4 |
| 9 | Do Tuan Phong | Vietnam | 3,110,000 | 26 | 4 | 6 |
| 10 | Ko Seung Hun | Korea | 2,940,000 | 25 | 4 | 9 |
| 11 | Le Giang Nam | Vietnam | 2,710,000 | 23 | 4 | 3 |
| 12 | Hyo Seok Park | Korea | 2,650,000 | 22 | 4 | 7 |
| 13 | Chun Hao Zhang | China | 2,475,000 | 21 | 1 | 9 |
| 14 | Truong Vu Tuan Khanh | Vietnam | 2,370,000 | 20 | 4 | 5 |
| 15 | Buyu Sakurai | Japan | 2,290,000 | 19 | 4 | 1 |
| 16 | Tae Hyoeng Kim | Korea | 1,395,000 | 12 | 1 | 5 |
| 17 | Anthony Lewis | USA | 1,370,000 | 11 | 4 | 2 |
| 18 | Chang Xiang Guang | Malaysia | 775,000 | 6 | 1 | 7 |
Remaining Payouts
| Place | Payout in VN₫ | ~USD |
| 1 | 7,120,000,000 | 287,677 |
| 2 | 4,916,000,000 | 198,626 |
| 3 | 3,422,000,000 | 138,263 |
| 4 | 2,504,200,000 | 101,180 |
| 5 | 1,877,100,000 | 75,842 |
| 6 | 1,512,000,000 | 61,091 |
| 7 | 1,230,700,000 | 49,725 |
| 8 | 960,300,000 | 38,800 |
| 9 | 712,800,000 | 28,800 |
| 10-12 | 501,300,000 | 20,255 |
| 13-15 | 389,400,000 | 15,733 |
| 16-18 | 302,300,000 | 12,214 |
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