Vietnam National Cup

Krisada Pinthakasetrin, from Thailand, has emerged victorious in the VND 9,000,000 Vietnam National Cup, besting a field of 579 entries (276 unique players) to claim the iconic lion silhouette trophy and a top prize of VND 996,430,000 (~$38,050).

In second place came Japan's Shohei Osugi, who took home VND 601,590,000 (~$23,685).

Vietnam's own Tuan Tai Nguyen completed the podium, winning VND 430,500,000 (~$16,590).

FINAL TABLE RESULTS

A total of 84 players made it into the money and came back for the final day. Coming into day 2, Kunal Patni held the chip lead and it carried him all the way to the final table. However, the Indian player could progress no further than 9th place after running his pocket sixes into Osugi's pocket nines.

The action was fast paced with 30-minute levels, and it took around 8 hours to reach the final table. Stacks were shallow at this stage of the tournament, with average stacks only being around 15 big-blinds. This, in combination with the big pay jumps meant there was not too much post-flop play at the final table.

After Patni busted, the next player to hit the rail was Ronald Haverkamp. After losing a flip with king-ten offsuit against Tuan Ngyuen's pocket sevens the Dutchman's stack was crippled and shortly afterwards Haverkamp had to pack his bag, taking home VND 104,470,000.

Vietnam's Le Tung finished in 7th place for VND 151,910,000 after his pocket jacks could not hold against Osugi's ace-ten.

Next in line to collect his 6th place VND 205,410,000 payout was another Vietnamese, Nhuong Nguyen, whose ace-king was out-flopped by compatriot Nguyen Huy's queen-seven after the latter chose to defend his big blind.

The next few knockouts happened blow on blow. First, Ronald Zapantis finished his run in 5th place, winning his biggest score in 15 years (VND 262,440,000), then Khanh Huy Nguyen went home in 4th for VND 333,100,000, and Tuan Tai Nguyen in 3rd place. VND 430,500,000 meant the third best score in Tuan Tai Nguyen's career.

And just like that, only two players were remaining. An exciting heads-up match could have been expected as both players went into the battle for the title with similar stacks.

Krisada Pinthakasetrin quickly took over and the Thai national looked like the sure winner after spiking top pair on a king-high flop in an all-in preflop situation against Osugi's pocket fives. Unfortunately for Pinthakasetrin, the Japanese player hit a runner-runner flush and took the chip lead.

The Thai player then wrestled the lead back after his pocket nines overcame Osugi's six-five suited before the duo clashed once again. This time however, there was to be no comeback for Osugi.

Pinthakasetrin moved all-in pre-flop with ace-jack and found himself racing for the title against the Japanese player's pocket eights. Despite Osugi hitting a set on the flop, running cards gave Pinthakasetrin a jack-high straight to award the Thai player his maiden tournament title and the VND 966,530,000 top prize – by far his best career score. He certainly will remember this moment for the rest of his poker career.

Krisada Pinthakasetrin has won the APT National Cup for VND 966,530,000 (~$38,050).

A full recap of the day's action will follow shortly.

Krisada Pinthakasetrin shoved all in and Shohei Osugi announced, “I call.” after checking his cards.

Krisada Pinthakasetrin: A♥ J♦

Shohei Osugi: 8♠ 8♣

Osugi held the lead with his snowmen, which improved to a set on the flop of 4♦ 8♦ 9♥ . Just when Pinthakasetrin was feeling hopeless, the turn brought the 7♥ , giving him a glimmering of hope with a straight draw. Shouting with his friend, he called for, “Ten, ten, ten!” before the next card came.

Asked and it’s given - the dealer revealed the T♠ on the river, sealing Osugi’s runner-up finish with a payday of VND 601,590,000 (~$23,685).

Shohei Osugi open jammed from the button and Krisada Pinthakasetrin called.

Krisada Pinthakasetrin: 9♥ 9♣

Shohei Osugi: 6♦ 5♦

The board ran out A♣ K♣ 8♠ K♠ A♠ and players are about even in chips again.

Krisada Pinthakasetrin started the heads-up strong and took the lead quickly. However, things just changed in Shohei Osugi favor. The Thai national opened the button to 2,200,000 and and Osugi moved all-in for 6,300,000. Pinthakasetrin called and they were off to the races.

Shohei Osugi: 5♣ 5♥

Krisada Pinthakasetrin: K♦ Q♥

The board ran out thrillingly. Pinthakasetrin took the lead on K♣ J♣ 7♠ , but the 6♣ turn and 8♣ river gave Osugi a flush.

Here is the heads-up chip count of Japan’s Shohei Osugi versus Thailand’s Krisada Pinthakasetrin. Stay tuned to see who will be crowned champion of the Vietnam National Cup!

Shohei Osugi raised to 1,000,000, and Tuan Nguyen shoved all in, which Osugi snap-called to put Nguyen at risk.

Tuan Nguyen: A♣ 6♣

Shohei Osugi: A♦ A♠

Osugi took the lead with pocket aces and held it through a flop of 3♣ Q♣ 5♦ , which also gave Nguyen a flush draw. However, the board decided the third-place finisher as the runout came T♦ 3♠ , eliminating Nguyen for his efforts with a payout of VND 430,500,000 (~$16,950).

Four-handed it folded around to Krisada Pinthakasetrin in the small-blind who put Khanh Huy Nguyen in the big-blind all-in. The Vietnamese player had around 1,500,000 chips and decided to put his tournament life at risk and call.

Khanh Huy Nguyen: K♥ 2♦

Krisada Pinthakasetrin: K♦ 6♦

The flop came out great for the Pinthakasetrin as it showed J♦ 6♣ 5♦ . The 9♣ on the turn made Huy Ngyuen drawing dead. He finished in a respectable fourth position, taking home VND 333,100,000.

Ronald Zapantis shoved all in for 975,000 from the cutoff and Shohei Osugi dropped in a call on the button.

Ronald Zapantis: Q♦ 6♦

Shohei Osugi: A♠ 5♦

Shohei picked up the lead with an ace and improved to a pair of aces after the T♥ A♣ 3♠ flop. The turn came an A♦ , which made Shohei’s one pair bloom into trips, leaving Zapantis no chance to win. The 4♠ fell on the river, merely completing the board and confirming Zapantis’s elimination in fifth place for his efforts, earning him VND 262,440,000 (~$10,330).

In a blind versus blind situation Ronald Zapantis opened the action to 625,000. Shohei Osugi defended his big-blind and the flop came down T♣ 9♣ 6♣ . The monotone board led both players to elect to check.

The turn brought another ten, the T♠ . Zapantis put out a delayed continuation bet, equaling 500,000. The Japanese player called and on the river appeared the 2♠ . Zapantis bet once more, this time for 1,000,000. Osugi wasted no time and quickly called.

Ronald Zapantis: Q♠ 6♠

Shohei Osugi: K♠ 9♠

Osugi wins a rare post-flop pot at the final table. After this hand, he is in commanding chip lead, while Zapantis needs to double-up soon.

Nguyen Nhuong shoved all in for 600,000 from under the gun and Nguyen Huy called from the big blind.

Nguyen Huy: Q♥ 7♦

Nguyen Nhuong: A♦ K♣

Nhuong maintained the lead after the 9♥ 9♣ J♦ flop. The turn showed a J♠, and Huy was still hoping for help from the river, shouting, “Queen, queen, queen!” His wish was granted as a Q♦ landed, eliminating Nhuong in sixth place for a payday of VND 205,410,000 (~$8,090).

Le Tung shoved all in from the small blind and Shohei Osugi called from the big blind.

Shohei Osugi: A♠ T♣

Le Tung: J♠ J♥

Tung kept his lead on the hand after a flop of 2♥ 3♣ 9♥ . However, the A♣ dropped on the turn, improving Osugi to a higher pair of aces. The river brought a Q♠ , completing the board and showing Tung to the exit in seventh for a payday of VND 151,910,000 (~$5,980)

After losing the hand with K♦ T♠ Haverkamp was the short stack at the table. Being in the big-blind he was committed so after Shohei Osugi opened from middle-position he was automatically all-in.

Ronald Haverkamp: 9♦ 6♥

Shohei Osugi: K♠ T♦

The board ran out A♦ 8♣ 2♠ J♥ A♣ busting Haverkamp in 7th place. He will take VND 104,470,000 back home to the Netherlands.

Ronald Haverkamp shoved all in on the button and Tuan Nguyen called from the big blind.

Tuan Nguyen: 7♠ 7♦

Ronald Haverkamp: K♦ T♠

Nguyen led the hand with pocket sevens and improved to a set of sevens after the flop of T♣ A♣ 7♥ .

The 9♥ hit on the turn and Haverkamp was drawing dead. The river brought the bricky 5♣ , leaving Haverkamp short-stacked at the final table.

Kunal Patni shoved all in for 1,085,000 from the cutoff and Shohei Osugi dropped in a call.

Kunal Patni: 6♠ 6♣

Shohei Osugi: 9♥ 9♦

Osugi held the lead with pocket nines. The flop came K♦ Q♥ T♥ , changing nothing for both sides. A 9♣ fell on the turn, improving Osugi’s pair to a set of nines and leaving Patni hopeless to win. A 7♦ landed on river only to complete the board and show Patni the way of cash desk for a payday of VND 82,270,000 (~$3,240).

Yuttakan Sangri shoved all in from under the gun and was called by Kunal Patni from the big blind.

Yuttakan Sangri: A♦ 8♦

Kunal Patni: A♠ Q♠

Patni picked up the lead with the queen, and the flop filled out 5♠ 9♣ 7♥ , providing Patni a backdoor flush draw and Sangri a straight draw. Unfortunately for Sangri, a dry runout rolled off J♦ 2♣ , meaning he fell short of the final table and finished in tenth place for a payday of VND 67,630,000 (~$2,660).

Only having 525,000 remaining, Sirinonthanawet Suthon open jammed from the button. Ronald Haverkamp in the big-blind made the call.

Sirinonthanawet Suthon: A♦ K♦

Ronald Haverkamp: A♣ J♣

Suthon got in as good as he can, and it looked likely that he would double-up, but the poker gods had other plans as the flop came J♥ J♠ 3♠ . Turn 9♠ and river Q♠ did not bring the miracle after the flop for Suthon who busted in 11th place for VND 67,630,000.

Obaidullah Habibi shoved all in from the small blind and called by Krisada Pinthakasetrin from the big blind.

Krisada Pinthakasetrin: 6♠ 7♠

Obaidullah Habibi: A♥ 5♥

Habibi picked up the lead with the ace, but it didn’t last long as the flop ran out 7♥ 8♠ 8♦ , improving Pinthakasetrin to two pair.

The turn showed a 6♥ , providing Habibi a straight draw, however, the dealer brought a bad new as the river carried out a helpless 3♦ , sealing the fate of Habibi to finish in 12th for a payday of VND 56,530,000(~$2,225)

Zhe Fan raised from the hijack and Tuan Nguyen shoved all in from the small blind, which Fan dropped in a call.

Zhe Fan: Q♦ T♣

Tuan Nguyen: K♣ K♠

Nguyen picked the lead wit pocket kings, leaving Fan at risk. Soon, a dry runout delivered 4♠ 8♠ T♠ 5♥ A♠ , sending Fan to the exit in 13rd place for a payday of VND 56,530,000 (~$2,225).

In the hand before he busted, Quang Do Trinh from Vietnam got it all-in preflop with 9♣ 9♦ against Ronald Zapantis' A♠ T♠ . The board ran out Q♠ J♠ 5♦ 3♠ 6♦ and Trinh was left with crumbles.

With only 315,000 remaining he put his chips into the middle the next hand from the small-blind against Huy Nguyen open from the cut-off.

Quang Do Trinh: A♦ 3♣

Huy Nguyen: A♣ T♣

The board did not come in Trinh's favor as it ran out K♥ 9♠ T♦ 5♠ Q♣ and Trinh had to pack his bags in 14th place, good for VND 49,460,000.

In the hand right before the remaining 15 players are going to have a break, Shi Bei decided to shove all in from middle position. This was followed by a string of folds of every player until Ronald Haverkamp dropped in a call from the big blind.

Shi Bei: T♥ 8♥

Ronald Haverkamp: A♥ 7♣

The dealer quickly delivered a clean board of 3♣ 3♦ K♦ 5♣ 5♦ , sending Bei to cash in, in 15th place for a payday of VND 49,460,000 (~$1,950).

Nguyen Hoa shoved all in from middle position and Le Tung called from the hijack.

Nguyen Hoa: A♥ Q♠

Le Tung: K♥ K♣

Tung picked up the lead and the clean board ran out swiftly 8♠ 4♣ 2♦ Q♦ 9♠ , sending Hoa to the rail in 16th place for a payday of VND 44,410,000 (~$1,750).

The action was picked up on the flop of 3♠ 7♠ J♣ when Nguyen Huy checked over the action, and Shi Bei bet 160,000 only to be faced with a shove for 600,000 from Huy. Bei dropped in a call to put his opponent at risk .

Shi Bei: 8♣ 8♦

Nguyen Huy: 7♥ 7♣

Huy picked up the lead with a flopped set of sevens, and the dealer quickly delivered a dry runout T♦ K♣, meaning Huy stays alive in the field.

Krisada Pinthakasetrin opened from the cut-off and both blinds wanted to see a flop. This came down K♠ T♣ 7♥ . Both blinds checked and the Thai national Pinthakasetrin put out a bet of 100,000. In the small-blind position Chong-Hwa Kim pushed all-in, only having 205,000 rermaining post-flop. Shohei Osugi in the big-blind made the call and same went for the open raiser.

On the turn came the 8♣ and Osugi led out for 400,000 which was enough to make the Thai player fold. So it was heads-up with Kim's tournament life at risk.

Chong-Hwa Kim: J♦ J♠

Shohei Osugi: 7♠ 7♥

Kim only had two outs which he did not manage to hit and he busted in 17th place.

Nguyen Nhuong raised from the small blind, and Chong-Hwa Kim shoved all in from the big blind. Nhuong dropped in a call.

Nguyen Nhuong: J♠ Q♥

Chong-Hwa Kim: K♥ T♥

The clean board ran out 4♥ 5♠ 2♦ A♠ 5♣ , leaving Kim to stay alive in the tournament.

Tuan Nguyen raised to 80,000 from middle position, sending Obaidullah Habibi on the button into the tank. After a long time, Habibi elected to make a three-bet to 310,000, but this didn’t deter Nguyen from moving all in. Habibi called.

Obaidullah Habibi: T♦ T♣

Tuan Nguyen: A♣ A♠

The flop came to Nguyen’s was as it rolled off 2♠ 2♥ A♦ , improving Nguyen to a flopped full house and leaving Habibi hopeless. The dry runout filled out K♥ , securing Nguyen’s double up.

Shimizu Nozomu raised to 40,000 from middle position and Kunal Patni called from the big blind.

Both saw the J♥ J♠ 4♥ flop, bringing flush possibilities, and checked through to a 7♥ turn, where Patni bet 50,000 and Nozomu stuck around.

The river brought the Q♥ . The action went check-check. Patini tabled a flush with A♥ 5♥ , leaving Nozomu no choice but to much his hand.

The action was picked up on the T♦ 7♠ K♣ flop with around 155,000 chips in the middle.

Tuan Nguyen checked the action from big blind to Nhuong from the cutoff, who then bet 50,000, sending his opponent into the tank. After a long time, Nguyen dropped in a call.

The turn came a J♣ , and Nguyen shoved all in for 265,000, forcing Nhuong to threw his cards into the muck.

Jeroen Aarts raised to 150,000 from middle position, leaving only two blue chips behind. Krisada Pinthakasetrin called from the big blind.

On the flop of A♠ 6♣ 5♠ , Pinthakasetrin checked the action to Aarts, who went all in for his remaining 10,000 and Pinthakasetrin called.

Krisada Pinthakasetrin: J♠ 8♠

Jeroen Aarts: J♣ 9♠

Aarts picked up the lead with jack-nine but Pinthakasetrin received a flush draw. The Q♣ hit on the turn, changing nothing for both players, and Pinthakasetrin was still looking to spike a spade. Luckily for Pinthakasetrin, the river carried out the T♠ , completing Pinthakasetrin’s flush and leaving Aarts out of the table.

With average stacks being just above 20 big-blinds and players approaching the final table, less post-flop action can be observed at this stage of the tournament. Players either shove pre-flop or the opener raiser takes it down without resistance.

The most recent notable bust out happened to Mudgal Dhaval who open jammed his 320,000 on the button and got called by Shohei Osugi in the big-blind.

Mudgal Dhaval: Q♦ J♦

Shohei Osugi: A♣ T♠

The flop came out favorable for Dhaval, as it was K♦ J♠ T♥ , but the T♦ and 2♥ busted his dreams of his fourth APT title.

Do Trinh was all in from the hijack with Sirinonthanawet Suthon from the big blind.

Sirinonthanawet Suthon: T♦ T♠

Do Trinh: A♦ K♥

Suthon picked up the lead with pocket tens but it didn’t last long as the flop came A♠ K♠ 5♣ , improving Trinh to two pair. A dry runout rolled off Q♣ 4♣ , securing a sizable pot for Suthon.

Hoa Nguyen limped in from the small blind and Jeroen Aarts checked from the big blind.

Both saw the flop of 2♥ J♠ 8♥ , and Nguyen checked the action to Aarts, who then bet 35,000. Nguyen dropped in a call.

The T♦ dropped on the turn, where Nguyen checked over again and Aarts sent a bet of 75,000 this time. After thinking for a while, Nguyen tossed her cards into the muck.

Kunal Patni opened the cutoff to 40,00 and Nguyen Trung Chien defended from the big blind.

Both saw a flop of A♣ J♠ 5♥ and decided to check through to see a 5♦ land on the turn.

The action went check-check again. The river brought a board-pairing 5♣ , where Chien checked over, which Patni changed his strategy and bet 70,000. Chien snap-folded.

Sergei raised from middle position and received two callers, Kunal Patni from the small blind and Yuttakan Sangri from the big blind.

Three player saw a flop fill out K♥ 4♥ T♠ , where Patni and Sangri checked the action to Korzhenko, who then bet 60,000. This was enough to force the other two players to fold.

Nguyen Trung Chien opened from the cut-off and Kunal Patni defended his big-blind. Nguyen continued with a 30,000 bet on K♥ 7♥ 6♦ . The turn brought the 4♣ , Patni checked and Nguyen continued his aggressive line with a 115,000 bet, leaving himself around 275,000 more behind. The Indian professional responded with an all-in, covering Nguyen. After some deliberation time Nguyen folded and Patni showed the 5♣ for a potential bluff. He is certainly one of the players to look out for when it comes to favorites to win this tournament.

Tran Khac Tuong opened from middle-position and got called by Do Trinh on the button and Huu Khieu in the big-blind. On K♠ T♦ 4♣ Khac continued with a 45,000 bet and both players called.

The turn brought the J♠, Khieu checked, and Khac also slowed down and checked. Trinh then moved all-in for 285,000. Both player quickly folded and Trinh won a nice pot without being at risk.

The action was picked up on the turn with a board showing 7♣ K♦ 5♥ 6♥ when Obaidullah Habibi checked the action from the small blind, and Nguyen Thi My Phuong shoved all in from the cutoff.

Phuong My: A♥ 8♥

Obaidullah Habibi: 9♦ 8♦

Habibi turned a straight and Nguyen held a combo draw. The dealer quickly delivered an 8♠ on the river, leaving My drawing dead and busted out of the table.

With just a handful of big-blinds remaining Hoa Nguyen open jammed from the button. Both blinds called her 54,000. The board was A♠ A♥ 5♦ 7♣ Q♣ and neither player in the blinds had a strong hand so they checked it all the way down.

Hoa Nguyen: K♥ K♠

Jeroen Aarts: K♣ T♣

Do Nhut: T♦ 9♣

Nguyen triples up and stays in the game.

Phuong My shoved all in from the small blind for around 105,000 and Nguyen Huy dropped in a call from the big blind after thinking a while.

Nguyen Huy: K♠ 8♥

Phuong My: A♦ J♠

The flop delivered 3♥ 4♣ 8♠ , improving Huy to a pair of eights, but My still had some outs to win the pot. Unfortunately for My, the runout came T♦ 8♦ , which made Huy’s pair bloom into trips on the river and earned Huy a much-needed double up.

Ronald Zapantis raised to 35,000 from the hijack only to be jammed by Sanchai Siritatsawas from the small blind. Zapantis dropped in a call to put his opponent at risk.

Ronald Zapantis: A♠ 8♥

Sanchai Siritatsawas: T♥ T♦

The flop filled out T♠ 6♥ 4♣ , improving Siritatsawas to a flopped set of tens, but the runout came in Zapantis' way as it showed 7♦ 9♦ , meaning Zapantis received a runner-runner straigh and busted Siritatsawas out of the table.

Players are having 15 minutes break now.

Yuchen Lin raised from middle position to 20,000 and Dongun Kim defended from the big blind.

The two read a flop of A♠ 5♥ 4♠ , and Kim checked the action to Lin, who bet 25,000. Kim dropped in a call.

The 2♣ came on the turn, and the action went check-check. The river showed 2♠ , where Kim checked over, and Lin fired out 40,000, sending his opponent into the tank. After a long time, Kim shoved all in for 150,000, and this was enough to make Lin snap-fold.

On the flop of 7♥ 4♣ 5♦ , there were around 170,000 chips in the middle when Krisada Pinthakasetrin checked the action from the small blind to Ngoc Quach from the hijack, who bet 50,000. Ronald Haverkamp on the button and Pinthakasetrin called.

Three players saw a 6♣ land on the turn, where Pinthakasetrin checked over and Quach shoved all in for around 470,000. Only Pinthakasetrin dropped in a call.

Ngoc Quach: A♥ A♦

Krisada Pinthakasetrin: J♣ 8♣

Quach picked up the lead with pocket aces but Pinthakasetrin held a flush draw and was looking to spike a club for next street. The dealer soon delivered a 3♣ , completing Pinthakasetrin’s flush and leaving Quach crippled after this hand.

Vietnam’s Do Trinh opened the button to 12,000 and his countrymate, Huu Khieu, defended from the big blind.

Both saw a flop of 2♥ 3♦ 2♣ and checked through to see the T♥ fall on the turn, where Khieu checked the action to Trinh, who led out 12,000. Khieu called.

The river brought a 4♣ , and the two decided to check to a free showdown. Khieu tabled ace-high with A♠ 7♦ , and Trinh tossed his cards into the muck after checking opponent’s hand.

One three-way all-in hand just played out within the 4-minute Level 16, resulting in double elimination.

Ka Wai Cheung raised to 12,000 from under the gun, and Sorakit Saengcharuern shoved all in from 85,000, which Yuchen Lin from the big blind dropped in a call, sending Kawai Cheung into the tank, who then shoved all in eventually. Lin then also shoved all in to put his two opponents ar risk.

Sorakit Saengcharuern: T♠ T♥

Ka Wai Cheung: J♣ J♦

Yuchen Lin: A♣ K♥

The flop came out 8♣ 7♣ A♦ , improving Lin to top pair of aces. A board-pairing A♠ jumped on the turn, which made Lin’s pair bloomed to trip of aces, leaving no chance for his opponents to win the hand. The river brought the Q♦ only to complete the board and sealing the elimination of Saengcharuern and Cheung.

Play started for the Final Day of the Vietnam National Cup.

Good morning from Corona Theater.

Day 2 of the Vietnam National Cup kicks off today at 11:15 am local time. The remaining players compete through twenty-five 30-minute levels (with Level 16 lasting only 4 minutes) starting blinds of 2,000/5,000 with a 5,000 big blind ante.

Across six opening flights, a total of 579 entries (276 unique) were recorded, creating a prize pool of VND 5,000,000,000 (~$196,850). Only 84 survivors have navigated their way to the money. They are contending for the lion trophy and the coveted top prize of VND 966,530,000(~$38,050).

India’s Kunal Patni leads the field with an impressive stack of 804,000 as play begins. Other notable players advancing to the Final Day include Shimizu Nozomu (499,000), 2024 APT Taipei Women's Event Champion Jennifer Cassell (365,000), 2015 APT Manila High Roller champion Blaschke Manuel (342,500).

Top Ten Chip Counts

Stay tuned here for live coverage of the National Cup to see who reaches the final table and ultimately emerges victorious.

Full seat draw can be found by clicking HERE.

Full payout information can be found HERE.