Viet Nam, InterContinental Halong Bay ResortEVENT #1

2026.05.19 - 2026.05.21Add to Calendar

U Series Of Poker

Blind level

Level 4: 200 / 300 ante: 300

Entries

34/37

Total Chips

1,110,000

Average

32,647

Level 4: 200 / 300 ante: 300

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 34/37

JJ DuqueJJ Duque

5/19/2026, 4:25:40 AM

Nguyen Wins It On The River

Level 3: 100 / 200 ante: 200

Duy Hung Nguyen was on the lowjack against Ivan Lukianov on the hijack. Both players were competing for a pot of around 2,500 with a flop that showed 8♠ J♣ 2♣

Nguyen check-called the 600 bet of Lukianov to see a 7♦ on the turn

Nguyen check-called again for 1,000 to see a Q♠ land on the river

This time around, it was Nguyen who led out for 2,200. Lukianov took a moment, took a quick stare at his seat mate and eventually threw in the chip to call.

Nguyen peeled open Q♣ 8♣ for two pair, while Lukianov tapped the table "nice hand" and mucked his cards.

Player	Chips	Progress
IL Ivan LukianovRussia	31,300(157 BB)	-11,000
DH Duy Hung NguyenViet Nam	23,400(117 BB)

JJ DuqueJJ Duque

5/19/2026, 4:18:44 AM

Tran Barrels Through

Level 3: 100 / 200 ante: 200

Quang Thang Do opened for 500 from early position. Manh Duong Tran then three bet to 2,000 on the button with Yonghwi Im defending the big blind with a call.

Do stood down, leaving the two players to see a flop drop T♣ J♠ A♥

Im check-called the 1,500 bet of Tran and were shown a 7♥ on the turn.

Im tapped his option over to Tran, who barreled another 2,500. Im took a peek at his cards before flicking them back to the dealer, awarding the sizable pot to Tran.

Player	Chips
QT Quang Thang DoViet Nam	31,500(158 BB)
MD Manh Duong TranViet Nam	28,600(143 BB)
YI Yonghwi ImSouth Korea	17,500(88 BB)

Level 4: 200 / 300 ante: 300

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 32/33

JJ DuqueJJ Duque

5/19/2026, 3:49:55 AM

How They Stack Up

Level 2: 100 / 100 ante: 100

There are a total of 29 entries so far with 27 players on their seats. A quick scan around the room revealed that Thailand's Supatchai Waukasigorn has the chip lead with 60,500 chips.

Although this is not an official leaderboard, here are some other random sizable chip counts:

Player	Chips
SW Supatchai WaukasigornThailand	60,500(605 BB)
TP Trong Phuc HaViet Nam	44,800(448 BB)
AP Anh Phuong TranViet Nam	44,500(445 BB)
IL Ivan LukianovRussia	42,300(423 BB)
XG Xuan Giang NguyenViet Nam	37,200(372 BB)

JJ DuqueJJ Duque

5/19/2026, 3:44:22 AM

30 Million Chip Leader Bonus

Level 2: 100 / 100 ante: 100

An added incentive was given for those who joined Flight A with the chip leader at the end of the day set to earn a VND 30 Million bonus. That amount secures a triple up from the VND 11 million buyin.

Level 4: 200 / 300 ante: 300

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 26/27

JJ DuqueJJ Duque

5/19/2026, 3:18:53 AM

Early Birds At The Tables

Level 1: 100 / 100

A total of 19 entries signed up early for the first of five Day 1 flights. Some of the more familiar names already riffling some chips are the likes of Thanh Long Bui of Vietnam, who is still seeking his first poker title. Bui was a runner-up in the Monster Stack event during VPG Ho Chih Minh, where he banked a career best USD 10,534.

Sweden's Johnni Nielsen is ready to make his mark in the USOP. With nearly USD 180,000 in total live earnings, Nielsen is a two-time USOP winner. In fact, Nielsen won the Madness Kickoff event during USOP Hai Phong 2024, scoring a career high USD 66,912.

Scotland's Kevin Hunter has been making the poker rounds around the region. Hunter recently booked a championship in the Mini High Roller during RPTC II Hanoi.

Player	Chips
TL Thanh Long BuiViet Nam	30,000(300 BB)
JN Johnni NielsenSweden	30,000(300 BB)
KH Kevin HunterUnited Kingdom	30,000(300 BB)

JJ DuqueJJ Duque

5/19/2026, 3:05:30 AM

Blast Off!

Level 1: 100 / 100

Cards are in the air and the USOP Ha Long Bay 2026 is officially underway with Flight A of the Madness Kickoff getting the ball rolling.

Stay tuned for live updates.

Level 3: 100 / 200 ante: 200

30 minutes

Remaining Players: 19/19

Derick ElominaDerick Elomina

5/19/2026, 1:00:00 AM

USOP Vietnam Halong Bay Kicks Off Today at InterContinental Halong Bay Resort

The wait is almost over. Day 1A of the Madness Kick Off is about to begin, marking the highly anticipated return of the USOP to Vietnam. The tables are set inside the InterContinental Halong Bay Resort, where players will get to look out at the famous green islands and clear waters of Halong Bay while they play.

This opening event features a buy-in of VND 11,000,000 (~USD 420) and a massive VND 10,000,000,000 (~USD 380,000) guaranteed prize pool. Everyone will start the day with 30,000 chips, and the blinds go up every 30 minutes. Late registration stays open for the first 11 levels, giving players until about 4:00 PM to jump into the action.

The plan for today is to play down to the final 12.5% of the field, with everyone making it through securing a cash. On top of that, there is an extra VND 30,000,000 (~USD 1,140) bonus waiting for whoever bags the chip lead at the end of the flight.

For those who miss the morning start or need to fire another bullet, Day 1B kicks off later today at 4:00 PM.

Follow Somuchpoker for today's live updates and action straight from the tournament floor.

Event starts 10:00 local time..