Main Event

After five and a half hours of final table play, the WPC Main Event title has been captured! Vietnam’s Thang Ngoc Dao defeated Hung Van Huynh at heads up for his first ever live title. He claimed an ICM deal payout plus extra summing up to ₫1,540,030,000 (~$65,700). Congratulations to the new champion!

Blinds: 75K-150K-150K BBA

Final hand of the Main Event! Thang Ngoc Dao limps in, big blind Hung Van Huynh raises to 550K, Dao coolly shoves, Huynh tanks then risks his 48 BB stack.

Thang Ngoc Dao 4♦ 4♣ Hung Van Huynh A♣ 5♣

With the board running Q♦ 9♠ 2♦ 7♦ 7♥ , Dao’s fours held to send Huynh out in 2nd place. He earned an ICM payout deal of ₫1,457,060,000 (~$62,160).

Blinds: 75K-150K-150K BBA

From button position, Hung Van Huynh raises to 325K, Thang Ngoc Dao calls, the flop is T♦ K♦ T♠ . Both check and the turn lands J♠ . Dao checks, Huynh bets 300K, Dao flats. On the river 7♥ , both check. Dao wins it with J♣ 6♠ , rises to 14M.

Blinds: 75K-150K-150K BBA

It is heads up at the WPC Main Event with Thang Ngoc Dao ahead 13M (87 BB) to Hung Van Huynh’s 6.8M (45 BB). Both players are very deep so it should be a long grind to the finish.

Blinds: 75K-150K-150K BBA

Next to bite the bullet was Thanh Huy Le who pushed on the small blind with K♣ 2♠ . Big blind / massive chip leader Thang Ngoc Dao called and had Le dominated with K♦ Q♣ . The board offers no help to Le as it ran T♠ Q♥ A♣ 7♣ T♦ . Le finished 3rd. He earned and ICM payout deal of ₫1,416,410,000 (~$60,427).

Blinds: 75K-150K-150K BBA

With William Kang’s elimination, Vietnam is guaranteed to keep the title on home soil. Here is how they stand.

Blinds: 75K-150K-150K BBA

William Kang sends it all in with Q♦ Q♥ , he is called by Thang Ngoc Dao with K♣ Q♣ , the board runs K♦ 3♠ J♣ 3♣ 5♣ . Dao improves to a better pair and dominating further with a runner runner flush. Kang is eliminated in 4th place and walks away with an ICM payout deal of ₫1,373,950,000 (~$58,615).

Blinds: 75K-125K-125K BBA

Utg Hung Van Huynh raises to 275K, small blind Thanh Huy Le gives it a go, the flop comes J♦ T♥ 9♠ . Le leads out 500K, called by Huynh to bring the turn T♠ . Le sends out 900K, Huynh calls, the river is 3♦ . Le checks it this time, Huynh goes all in, Le tank-folds.

Blinds: 75K-125K-125K BBA

Overwhelming chip leader Thang Ngoc Dao continues to drag in pot after pot to climb to 9M which is over nearly half of the chips in play with 4 remaining.

Blinds: 75K-125K-125K BBA

From utg Huynh Van Hung raises to 275K, big blind Thang Ngoc Dao repops it to 725K, Hung shoves, Dao calls.

Hung Van Huynh A♣ T♣ Thang Ngoc Dao K♦ Q♥

The board runs 3♠ T♦ 6♥ 8♥ Q♣ . Dao survives on the river to double up and regain command.

Blinds: 75K-125K-125K BBA

Blinds: 75K-125K-125K BBA

No glory for India with Apoorva Goel eliminated in 5th place. Hand opened with a raise to 275K by utg Thanh Huy Le. This was followed with a shove by button Goel, then small blind Hung Van Huynh joined the all in, Le folded.

Apoorva Goel T♠ T♦ Hung Van Huynh Q♥ Q♣

At the showdown, Huynh had Goel covered and dominated. A queen landed on the turn to further improve Huynh to send Goel packing. Goel pocketed an ICM payout deal of ₫1,350,000,000 (~$57,590) for his deep run. Huynh is the new chip leader with over 8M in chips.

Blinds: 75K-125K-125K BBA

After several hands, the five remaining players agree to look at the numbers. An agreement was reached. We will have that for you shortly. They play on for the title and the extra cash set aside for the eventual champion.

Blinds: 75K-125K-125K BBA

Surrounded by big stacks, UK’s Grant Gardner seemed frozen all day, strapped to a push or fold situation. His bid for the title ended in 6th place with Hung Van Huynh cleaning him out. Huynh’s J♣ 9♣ found a Jack on the board to dust Gardner’s A♠ 8♣ . This was his deepest Main Event run for ₫540,000,000 (~$23,030).

Blinds: 75K-125K-125K BBA

End of the road for Korea’s Hyun Sup Kim. Chip leader Thang Ngoc Dao opened from cutoff for 250K, button Kim shoved his last 6 BB, Dao snap called and showed the nuts A♥ A♣ . Kim behind with 8♥ 8♣ . The board spread out K♦ Q♦ 3♠ K♠ 9♥ to eliminate Kim in 7th place. He earned ₫425,000,000 (~$18,130) for his deep run. 

Blinds: 75K-125K-125K BBA

From cutoff, William Kang limps, chip leader from the small blind Thang Ngoc Dao raises to 350K, back to Kang who calls. Both players check it down T♥ 7♦ 4♠ 7♠ K♦ . Dao shows A♦ J♣ , Kang wins it with 3♦ 3♥ .

Blinds: 75K-125K-125K BBA

Players are back from the break, blinds are up 75K-125K-125K BBA. Thang Ngoc Dao leads with 39.2 BB. Average is 22 BB.

Blinds: 50K-100K-100K BBA

Players are on their second break of the day. 7 players in the running. Up for grabs is the ₫2,710,000,000 (~$115,600) top prize. 

Blinds 50K-100K-100K BBA

Seven players remaining. Average stack is 2,790,0000 (27.9 BB). Thang Ngoc Dao leads with 50 BB.

Blinds 50K-100K-100K BBA

Hand opens with mid position Hung Van Huynh raising to 225K, chip leader Thang Ngoc Dao calls from the big blind. Both check the flop, Dao bets 175K on the turn 8♣ T♥ 8♥ 8♦ , Huynh calls. The river A♥ , Dao checks, Huynh bets 400K, Huynh calls and wins it with A♣ 9♣ .

Blinds 50K-100K-100K BBA

Rough day at the felt for Hoi Wai Tam who entered as chip leader and finished as the tables first casualty. After losing the showdown against Thang Ngoc Dao, Tam was left with less than 1BB which went to William Kang. Tam was eliminated in 8th place for ₫335,000,000 (~$14,290).

Blinds 50K-100K-100K BBA

From under the gun +1, Thanh Huy Le limps and big blind William Kang checks. Both players check the flop and turn T♥ 6♥ 6♠ T♣ . On the river 7♦ , Kang checks, Le bets 150K, Kang calls. Le shows A♠ A♣ which is no good against Kang’s Q♠ 6♣ full house.

Blinds 50K-100K-100K BBA

Hijack player Hoi Wai Tam raises to 200K, two spots over Thang Ngoc Dao shoves, slightly ahead in chips Tam calls.

Hoi Wai Tam A♥ Q♦ Thang Ngoc Dao A♣ K♥

The board runs T♥ J♠ J♥ 5♥ 4♦ for a double up to Dao to 4M and Tam down <1BB. Dao climbs to second rank.

Blinds 50K-100K-100K BBA

Down to 4 BB, Korea’s last hope Hyun Sup Kim risks it all and survives on a split pot for no profit. On his next shove, he fared much better, tripling up holding A♠ 7♦ with two sevens on the board. He is up to 9.5 BB.

Blinds 50K-100K-100K BBA

Blinds 50K-100K-100K BBA

Button player Hyun Sup Kim raises to 225K, big blind Hung Van Huynh defends. Both players check the flop T♥ 9♥ T♠ but on the 8♥ river, Kim bets 300K, Huynh check-jams 1.5M, snapped off by Kim.

Hung Van Huynh 6♥ 2♥ flush Hyun Sup Kim Q♦ T♣ trips

The river 4♠ means money for Huynh for a double up to 3.5M. On the other, Kim plunged to 400K.

Blinds 50K-100K-100K BBA

From utg+1, Apoorva Goel raises to 275K, button Hoi Wai Tam calls, both check the flop and turn Q♠ 8♣ T♦ 9♣ 8♥ . Tam bets 300K on the river, Goel check-folds.

Blinds 50K-100K-100K BBA

Blinds are up to 50K-100K-100K BB Ante. Still 8 players remaining. Here’s a reminder of the payouts:

Blinds: 50K-75K-75K BBA

Hoi Wai Tam opens from late position with a 175K raise, button Hyun Sup Kim and small blind Apoorva Goel call. The flop comes Q♣ 9♣ 7♥ , Tam c-bets 300K, Kim calls, Goel check-raises to 1.1M, Tam calls, Kim joins to build a 4M pot. The turn lands T♥ , Goel shoves his last 1.1M, Tam uses two time banks then folds. Kim folds as well. Goel takes the lead.

Apoorva Goel - 5.4M Hoi Wai Tam - 1.8M Hyun Sup Kim - 2.3M

Blinds: 50K-75K-75K BBA

Small blind Hyun Sup Kim raises to 250K and big blind Apoorva Goel defends. Kim c-bets the flop A♠ Q♠ 5♥ , Goel calls. The turn J♦ , Kim fires 525K, Goel folds.

Blinds: 50K-75K-75K BBA

Action packed hand kicks off with Thang Ngoc Dao opening for 150K, cutoff Hyun Sup Kim three-bets to 425K, button Apoorva Goel four-bet shoves 1.2M, Dao bows out but Kim makes the call. It’s a flip.

Apoorva Goel J♥ J♦ Hyun Sup Kim A♥ Q♥

The board runs 9♦ 8♣ 7♥ T♣ 3♥ for Jacks to improve to a straight. Goel doubles up to 2.7M, Kim drops to 2.6M.

Blinds: 50K-75K-75K BBA

New leader at the helm with William Kang overtaking Hoi Wai Tam. Still 8 players in the running for the ₫2,710,000,000 (~$115,600) winner’s purse and the champion’s trophy.

16:20: William Kang four-bet jams, takes the lead Blinds: 50K-75K-75K BBA

From hijack William Kang spices it up to 175K, to his immediate left, chip leader Hoi Wai Tam three-bets to 475K, action back to Kang who jams to induce a fast fold from Tam. The livestream shows Kang with 9♣ 8♣ . Kang rises to 4.2M to take the lead.

Blinds: 50K-75K-75K BBA

Blinds: 50K-75K-75K BBA

After a technical delay, players returned to action… or shall we say no action with raisers picking up the blinds and antes.

Blinds: 50K-75K-75K BBA

Blinds: 50K-75K-75K BBA

Grant Gardner risks his remaining 600K with A♠ 6♥ , Thanh Huy Le calls with a made 6♦ 6♣ , an Ace on the flop improves Gardner for a double up to 1.3M.

Blinds: 30K-60K-60K BBA

Players are on their first 10-minute break. Hoi Wai Tam maintained his lead during the opening hour of play. William Kang was the biggest jumper, scaling up from 7th rank to 3rd rank.

14:50: Kings again for William Kang Blinds: 30K-60K-60K BBA

William Kang looks down at another pocket Kings and raises to 160K, big blind Apoorva Goel defends. The flop runs T♣ T♠ 4♣ , Kang c-bets 225K, Goel check-calls. At the turn 8♦ , both players check for a free look at the river T♦ . This time Goel leads out for 200K, Kang can easily afford it but opts to use three 30-second time banks before raising to 650K. Action back to Goel and this time he goes into the tank. Goel finds the call and mucks to Kang’s K♥ K♣ . Kang climbs into 3rd rank, Goel slips to 7th rank

Apoorva Goel - 1.4M William Kang - 3M

Blinds: 30K-60K-60K BBA

Blinds: 30K-60K-60K BBA

Lone Korean contender Hyun Sup Kim bumps it up from under the gun to 130K, cutoff William Kang three-bets to 380K, small blind Thanh Huy Le tank-calls, and initial raiser Kim joins for a three-way to the flop 6♣ 5♥ 2♦ .

Le leads out with a sizable 400K, Kim folds, Kang shoves and is snap called.

William Kang K♥ K♣ Thanh Huy Le 9♣ 9♦

The turn 4♣ and river T♣ completes the board to award Kang a double up.

Blinds: 30K-60K-60K BBA

Hoi Wai Tam raises to 125K from hijack, big blind Apoorva Goel defends. It’s an Ace-high flop. Tam c-bets and takes with Goel check-folding for a small pot to the leader.

Following that hand, Tam raises again to 125K, small blind Goel calls, big blind folds for a two-way to the flop 2♦ A♣ 6♠ . Tam bets 125K, Goel check-calls to see the turn A♥ . Same action with Tam firing 350K and Goel matching up. The river 6♥ is a check by both. Goel shows K♠ K♣ . Tam mucks. Goel picks up the first big pot of the final table.

Blinds: 30K-60K-60K BBA

Chip leader Hoi Wai Tam raises to 125K from the button, big blind Thang Ngoc Dao three-bets to 295K, Tam flats, the flop comes T♦ 2♠ A♠ . Dao c-bets 210K, Tam calls, the turn is 3♣ . Dao slows down and checks, Tam bets 350K, Dao calls. The river 2♥ both players opt to check it. Cards turn over to reveal the split.

Hoi Wai Tam A♥ 8♣ Thang Ngoc Dao A♣ 7♣

Blinds: 30K-60K-60K BBA

After the opening hand, four hands followed with a player raising and finding no callers. You can follow the action here and via the livestream on the Grand Loyal Poker Club facebook page.

Blinds: 30K-60K-60K BBA

Cards in the air at the WPT Main Event final table. The first hand saw Thanh Huy Le raise it up just over double to 130K. No takers to win the first pot.