Superstar Challenge

Red hot Josh McCully clinches first USOP title at the Superstar Challenge

Just one day after finishing runner up at the USOP Danang 2024 High Roller Championship, Australia’s found redemption at the Superstar Challenge, where he came from less than 1 bb to champion.

“Ya I went from like 200K in chips to 9K, I thought I was out. Ivan Lee all in pocket Six versus pocket Eights, I had one big blind. From one big blind I went to bag the chip lead with a quarter of the chips in play with 18 players left. What a spin up.“

Indeed what a comeback. Due to the three hour heads up marathon at the High Roller Championship, McCully signed up to this event very late. Tired and near empty in chips, a flurry of double ups gave him renewed life. He then delivered the bubble and bagged up an enormous chip lead.

At Day 2, McCully kept the pace, widening his lead until the final table where multiple players vied for the top spot. At three-handed, McCully dropped to the shortest but a failed bluff by Nguyen Truong Giang sent him back up then faced Dao Minh Phu for the title.

“He’s a very aggressive player so heads up was shorter than yesterday. I was behind quite a bit but two big hands - my full house and pocket King - changed it and I took it from there. Ya, it definitely feels good to win it.”

This was McCully’s career first USOP title. He earned VN₫ 3,222,800,000 (~USD 130K) which he adds to his 2nd place payout at the HR Championship for VN₫ 2,160,200,000 (~USD 87K). He is currently the festival’s richest earner of around USD 200K in winnnings.

Date: March 24 to 25, 2024 Buy in: VN₫ 120,000,000 (~USD 4,938) Guarantee: VN₫ 3,000,000,000 (~USD 121,000) Entries: 118 (72 unique) Prize pool: VN₫ 12,819,500,000 (~USD 517,000) ITM: 18 players

Follow the final table livestream!

Action folds to the small blind Dao Minh Phu who shoves, big blind Matthew Bevin calls it and is covered. Phu has A♣ 8♠ , Bevin is ahead A♦ Q♠ , the board fans Q♥ 5♥ 2♣ T♣ K♣ .

End of the line for Czying Rui who three-bets his last 7 bb with A♥ 5♠ , Dao Minh Phu has 6♣ 6♥ which goes on to command the board 6♦ 8♥ 8♣ 9♣ 7♠ .

Facing a raise of 120,000, button player Dao Minh Phu three-bets all in for 530,000, initial raiser Teoh Kok Wei calls. Phu A♥ Q♥ , Teoh A♦ 8♦ , board comes 6♥ 2♥ K♠ 7♣ J♠ for a double up to Phu.

From utg+1, Victor Chong sends out 515,000 leaving just one 5K chip behind. Cutoff Teoh Kok Wei calls then both players proceed to check down the board J♠ 3♣ T♥ 8♣ 7♥ . Teoh claims the pot with A♦ Q♠ dominating Chong’s K♣ Q♣ .

Chong manages to triple up to 15,000 but on the next shove, Dao Minh Phu gives him the boot with K♠ T♠ dominating J♠ T♣ on board 9♣ 6♠ 4♦ Q♥ 5♦ .

Utg+1 Lin Jian Wei opens and finds two callers. All three check the flop 8♦ 7♥ 4♣ . On the K♦ turn Lin bets 50,000, only cutoff Mike Takayama continues to the river 2♦ . Both check. Lin opens A♣ J♦ , Takayama wins it with 5♥ 5♦ .

Josh McCully invincible at Superstar Challenge Day 1, bags an enormous stack

Date: March 24, 2024 Buy in: VN₫ 120,000,000 (~USD 4,938) Guarantee: VN₫ 3,000,000,000 (~USD 121,000) Entries: 118 (72 unique) Prize pool: VN₫ 12,819,500,000 (~USD 517,000) ITM: 18 players

Down to just 12 bb, Lin Jian Wei risked it all on Josh McCully’s shove and was ahead at the with A♣ K♣ against Q♠ 5♥ , but with the board dropping two fives, 5♦ 5♠ 4♣ J♣ 9♠ , that just about sealed the day with Lin falling on the bubble.

From the button, Dao Minh Phu three-bets Josh McCully then triples barrels 125,000, 250,000, and 1,000,000 a board 7♠ 3♣ J♣ 4♣ Q♦ , McCully check-calls throughout, Dao mucks.

Blinds up, 22 players remaining. Only four busts to reach ITM. From there, players race for a spot at the final table and be that much closer to winning the enormous VN₫ 3,222,800,000 (~USD 130k).

Top 5 in chips:

Utg+1 Josh McCully raises to 65,000, utg+2 Dao Minh Phu and big blind Guy Taylor call then all three check to the turn board Q♦ 7♦ 6♦ T♠ . McCully bets 70,000, Dao calls, Taylor folds. It is back to checking on the river 4♥ . McCully shows K♦ 9♥ , Dao wins it with A♠ T♥ pair.

Utg+1 Nguyen Trung Quan min-raises, cutoff Dao Minh Phu calls, both see a flop K♦ T♦ 8♥ and both check. The turn 3♠ sees Nguyen bet 50,000, Dao calls. On the A♦ turn, Nguyen checks, Dao jumps out with a 150,000 bet, Nguyen opts to fold.

Two players call Mike Takayama’s 40,000 raise and head to the flop T♠ 8♥ 5♠ . Action checks to cutoff Dao Minh Phu who slides out 70,000. Big blind folds, Takayama calls. Same action on the turn 5♣ and river 7♦ . Takayama check-calls Dao’s 100,000 and 200,00 bets. Dao shows his K♠ T♣ pair, Takayama mucks.

Utg Nam Hyung Kim min-raises, big blind Dao Minh Phu defends, flop runs A♣ K♠ 3♠ . Kim c-bets 35,000, Dao check-calls. Both players check the 4♦ turn, then Kim calls Dao’s 100,000 lead out bet. Dao shows A♦ 7♣ , Kim mucks.