WARM-UP ($565)

Sacha Bayard raised to 10,000, only to see Anzhela Vasylenko shove all-in. Bayard called, putting his tournament life at risk.

Sacha Bayard: A♠ T♠

Anzhela Vasylenko: J♣ J♥

The board ran out 2♥ Q♣ 9♠ K♠ 4♣, and without an ace in sight, Bayard was forced to leave the floor as Vasylenko scooped the pot.

Jian Lin opened to 8,000 from the lowjack and was called by Chao Luong in the cutoff. But in the small blind, Sacha Bayard pulled the trigger, shoving all-in. His move was quickly met with a call from his co-blind Hoang Duy Nguyen, putting himself at risk.

Lin and Luong wisely stepped aside, leaving the blinds to battle it out.

Hoang Duy Nguyen: A♣ A♠

Sacha Bayard: A♥ 3♥

Bayard’s shove backfired the moment Nguyen tabled pocket rockets. The board ran out 2♣ 6♥ 7♠ 2♦ 4♣, offering no escape.

Nguyen’s bullets hit their mark, cutting down Bayard’s stack and earning him a crucial double-up.

Ihor Yerofieiev shoved all-in from under the gun, and Khayal Abbasov called, setting up a showdown between the two players.

Ihor Yerofieiev: A♥ K♠

Khayal Abbasov: A♠ Q♦

The board ran out 7♠ 7♥ 2♥ A♣ 5♦, and while both players hit an ace, Yerofieiev’s kicker was the difference, giving him the win. He doubled up, leaving Abbasov in the danger zone with just over 4BBs remaining.

With just a few players left before the end of the day, it was double up or bust for many.

Such was the case for Hoa Nguyen. While we didn’t catch the full action, we saw Sacha Bayard scoop the pot after eliminating Nguyen, who held pocket tens against Bayard’s ace-four. The tens couldn’t hold as the dealer dropped an ace on the flop — ending Nguyen’s run painfully close to bagging for the day.

Alfie Adam shoved all-in from under the gun for 77,000, and Anzhela Vasylenko, on the button, quickly followed with an all-in of her own — pushing the blinds out of the way and putting Adams at risk.

Alfie Adam: A♥ 8♥

Anzhela Vasylenko: 8♦ 8♠

Vasylenko’s snowmen held firm on the 7♥ 4♣ 9♥ flop, though Adam picked up a flush draw for some life. The J♣ on the turn added potential for a chop, giving Adam a few more outs. But the river blanked, missing all of them, sending Adam to the rail while Vasylenko stacked the pot and chipped up.

David Erquiaga limp-called Neng Zhao’s all-in shove from the big blind. With his tournament life on the line, Erquiaga revealed his hand and awaited the dealer’s verdict.

David Erquiaga: Q♦ Q♥

Neng Zhao: A♣ 9♠

Board: A♦ 5♦ 2♥ K♠ 3♦

Zhao wasted no time, spiking an ace right on the flop to take the lead and leave Erquiaga on the ropes. The turn and river brought no help, sealing Erquiaga’s fate and sending him to the rail — heartbreakingly close to the money.

Martin Gonzales raised to 35,000 from middle position, prompting an all-in shove from Tomas Dedinas for 90,000. Gonzales went into the tank, eventually using a time bank before ultimately folding.

David Erquiaga raised to 12,000 from under the gun and was called by Neng Zhao on the button.

On the 9♣ 5♥ K♠ flop, Zhao led out for 10,000, only to be check-raised by Erquiaga. Zhao called, and both players checked down the Q♥ turn and 6♥ river.

Erquiaga tabled A♥ 7♦ for ace-high, but Zhao revealed T♥ 6♥ for a rivered pair to take down the pot.

We caught the tail end of a hand where Alfie Adams scooped a pot for a double-up against Van Tien Dinh in a classic showdown — ace-queen for Adams versus pocket fives for Dinh. Cheers to Adams, who found top pair on an ace-high flop for a much-needed boost to his stack.

ong Jongbae shoved all-in for his tournament life after David Erquiaga raised from the cutoff. Erquiaga called without hesitation. Jongbae, now at risk, tabled his hand.

Jong Jongbae: K♥ Q♠

David Erquiaga: A♣ A♠

The moment Erquiaga revealed his aces, a cloud of quiet resignation seemed to settle over Jongbae’s face. He watched intently as the dealer spread the J♦ 8♣ 5♣ flop — no help yet, but not the end. Then, a flicker of hope danced in his eyes as the T♥ landed on the turn, giving him a gutshot to salvation.

But fate had already chosen its path. The river 5♣ sealed his doom, a final blow that pommeled Jongbae into the felt, his tournament life extinguished just like that.

Tomas Dedinas raised from the lowjack, prompting an all-in shove from Tran Cong Huan. Dedinas made the call, looking for a chance to eliminate Huan.

Tran Cong Huan: Q♠ Q♥

Tomas Dedinas: A♠ K♠

Huan’s queens were ahead, but with two overcards, it was still a classic coin flip. The flop came K♥ T♦ 3♦, giving Dedinas top pair and dashing Huan’s hopes of survival.

The 8♣ turn and T♠ river brought no help for Huan, eliminating him just short of making it to the end of the day.

Tan Lining went all-in from the small blind after Neng Zhao raised to 8,000 from the button. Zhao called, putting Lining at risk.

Tan Lining: A♦ 8♣

Neng Zhao: A♠ T♥

Zhao was ahead preflop and improved further when the flop fell Q♥ Q♦ K♦, giving him a gutshot straight draw. The J♣ on the turn completed Zhao’s Broadway straight. With both players holding an ace, Lining still had a chance to chop — but the river 9♣ sealed his fate, eliminating him and giving Zhao a healthy chip boost.

Bien Mai raised from under the gun and was called by Jian Lin and Tan Tan in the big blind.

The flop came 3♥ 5♣ J♣. Both Tan and Mai checked the action to Lin, who bet 11,000. Tan didn’t want to take any more heat and folded.

On the 9♣ turn, Mai check-called Lin’s all-in shove, putting himself at risk of elimination.

The river J♥ hit the board, and Lin revealed 7♣ 3♣ for a flush. Mai mucked and exited the tournament floor.

In middle position, Hoang Hai Nam raised to 4,000 and got two callers — Martin Gonzales in the cutoff and Armon van Wijk in the big blind.

The flop came 9♠ Q♣ 5♣, and after the action was checked to him, Nam continued for 5,000. Gonzales called, while van Wijk folded.

On the 6♣ turn, Nam moved all-in, and Gonzales called, putting Nam’s tournament life at risk.

Hoang Hai Nam: 6♠ 6♦

Martin Gonzales: A♦ A♣

Nam had turned a set, crushing Gonzales’ pocket aces. The river 4♣ changed nothing, and Nam secured a big double-up.

Armon Van Wijk, with only 11,000 behind, shoved all-in from the cutoff and received another all-in from Khin Naing for 35,500 on the button. Khayal Abbosav, who covered both players, called from the big blind.

Khin Naing: T♥ 9♦

Armon Van Wijk: A♦ Q♣

Khayal Abbosav: A♥ 9♣

Van Wijk was ahead of both players and was looking at a potential triple-up. The flop came 8♠ Q♠ 3♦, strengthening Van Wijk's lead and leaving the other two hoping for the side pot. The turn 3♠ and the river 5♥ didn't help Naing, eliminating him and tripling Van Wijk up, while Abbosav could only watch as the chips were pushed in Van Wijk's direction.

Tomas Dedinas raised in hijack and got called by Khin Naing in small blind. Quong Do Trinh, had other things in mind, and shoved all in for 26,500. Dedinas went all-in with his huge stack ushing Naing out of the picture.

Quong Do Trinh: A♣ 2♦

Tomas Dedinas: A♠ K♥

Dedinas had Trinh dominated with his big slick. The flop went 6♦ 3♠ 8♠ making Trinh fear the worst. Sure enough, the K♣ was dealt making Trinh draw dead. The board was completed with a 4♥ eliminating Trinh in the process.

Lanh Tian Dinh opened from the hijack for 3,500, only to be met with a massive all-in shove for 315,000 from Tomas Dedines. The pressure sent Dinh deep into the tank, burning through two time banks before ultimately folding to Dedinas’ aggression.

In a battle of the blinds, Kinh Huyan Nguyen shoved all-in from the small blind for 15,800. Deng Hao Yang, with a significant stack in front of him, made the call, putting Nguyen at risk.

Kinh Huyan Nguyen: J♣ 9♠

Deng Hao Yang: A♣ 2♣

Yang was ahead with ace-high, leaving Nguyen hoping to pair up or find a way to improve. The flop Q♣ 8♠ 3♣ gave Nguyen a glimmer of hope with a gutshot straight draw. The 8♣ turn didn’t change the situation, and to solidify Yang’s lead, the 2♥ landed on the river, giving him a pair and the pot.

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In middle position, Rawinruchiroch Deesit open-shoved all-in for his tournament life and was called by Jongbae Jang, taking them to showdown.

Rawinruchiroch Deesit: K♣ T♣

Jongbae Jang: A♥ K♦

Jang had Deesit dominated, and that domination held through the board of Q♠ 5♦ 3♠ 7♥. The river A♣ sealed the deal, securing the pot for Jang and sending Deesit to the rail.

Rawinruchiroch Deesit opened for 3,000 in middle position and got called by Chaiwat Prajuabjiuda in the big blind. Deesit didn’t stay long in the hand, however, as he mucked the moment Prajuabjiuda fired 10,000 on the flop 2♠ A♦ 4♥.

Fireworks erupted when two unknown players—one on the button and the other in the small blind—engaged in a raising war preflop. Deng Hao Yang, sitting in the big blind and covering both, calmly flatted all the action, sending the three players to a high-stakes showdown.

Small Blind: A♣ K♥

Button: Q♣ 9♦

Deng Hao Yang: A♦ J♦

The small blind player breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing his Ace-King was ahead. That relief held briefly as the flop came 9♣ 3♠ 9♥, giving the button trips but still leaving the small blind slightly ahead with two overcards.

But the board had more drama in store. The J♠ on the turn and the J♣ on the river gave Yang trip jacks and the winning hand—crushing both opponents in a huge three-way pot.

After a raise from Ronald Haverkamp in late position, Titov Oleg, seated to his left, moved all-in. Haverkamp made the call, looking to score an elimination.

Titov Oleg: 7♠ 7♦

Ronald Haverkamp: K♠ T♠

The board ran out A♦ 5♠ 6♥ 4♥ J♣, keeping Oleg’s pocket sevens ahead and securing him a double-up—though he remained short-stacked.

After Sergey Kharitonov limped under the gun, Nahn Trang Nguyen raised, prompting an all-in from Kharitonov. Nguyen called for his tournament life.

Nahn Trang Nguyen: A♣ A♠

Sergey Kharitonov: K♠ K♥

Nguyen was understandably thrilled to see pocket aces and confidently engaged in the preflop showdown. The dealer fanned out T♥ 6♣ 4♥, and Kharitonov could only watch, knowing he was behind, while Nguyen was well on his way to a double-up.

But the K♦ on the turn flipped the script, giving Kharitonov a set and crushing Nguyen’s hopes. The river 8♦ sealed the result, sending a disheartened Nguyen out of the tournament area.

Zhing Fan Ye opened to 2,500 in middle position and received an all-in shove from Jo Seng Mok in the small blind. Ye made the call, putting himself at risk and taking both players to showdown.

Zhing Fan Ye: T♥ 9♦

Jo Seng Mok: T♦ T♣

Mok’s tens held on the board of 7♥ 3♥ K♠ 8♦ 5♥, giving him a much-needed double-up at the expense of Ye.

From under the gun, Quang Do Trinh shoved all-in after Le Nhu Hai limped in middle position. Hai made the call, putting Trinh at risk.

Quang Do Trinh: 8♣ 5♦

Le Nhu Hai: A♠ 2♠

Board: 8♥ 9♦ J♥ 3♥ 2♥

Trinh immediately hit a pair on the flop, giving him a reprieve and allowing his tournament journey to continue with a double-up through Hai.

Zuo opened to 2,000 and got called by Sean Keeton to see the flop.

The flop came T♠ 5♦ K♣. Keeton checked, and Zuo continued with a 5,500 bet. Keeton called.

On the A♣ turn, following another check from Keeton, Zuo fired a hefty 20,000, prompting a snap fold from Keeton

We arrived at the table with the flop already dealt, showing 3♥ 7♠ K♥ and 8,000 chips in the middle.

Sacha Bayard check-called Deng Hao Yang’s bet of 2,200, and did the same on the turn when Yang fired 8,500 on the T♠. After another check from Bayard on the river, Yang moved all-in for 55,000, sending Bayard deep into the tank. Ultimately, he folded.

The blinds, Anzhela Vasylenko in the small and Hoang Nam Nguyen in the big, decided to join Gagandeep Malik under the gun in a hand after the early-position player bet 1,200.

The flop came 7♣ 4♠ Q♣, and the trio checked.

Vasylenko led with 1,600 on the turn, K♣, and got called by her fellow big blind. Malik decided he'd seen enough of the hand and folded.

Vasylenko bet another 6,200 on the river, 8♥, and Nguyen decided he wanted to see her hand and called.

Vasylenko showed J♣ 9♣ for the flus. Nguyen mucked, leaving the table to wonder what he could have possibly had on that hand.

Neeraj Gajria raised to 1,000 and was called by an unknown player to his left. Tan Tan in cutoff re-raised to 4,000. Garjia called, but the unknown player four-bet all-in, prompting Tan to five-bet all-in, forcing Gajria out of the hand and setting the stage for a showdown.

Unknown Player: 9♣ 9♠

Tan Tan: Q♥ Q♦

When the flop came down K♠ A♦ K♦, the unknown player immediately stood up and walked out, unwilling to wait for the board to run out. Tan’s queens held firm through the runout of 8♥ 5♠, securing the pot and eliminating the unknown player.

Alfie Adams raised to 1,200 under the gun and was met with an unexpected response — four callers from the unknown lowjack, Anzhela Vasylenko in the cutoff, Hoang Nam Nguyen on the button, and Gagandeep Malik. Unimpressed by the growing pot, Hoang Nguyen decided to take control with a three-bet to 8,500, forcing all the other players to fold.

Khayal Abbasov opened to 1,000 and was called by Dennis in the big blind.

Dennis check-called Abbasov's 1,000 bet on the 7♦ A♥ T♣ flop. Both players checked the K♠ turn, but after another check from Dennis on the river 4♣, Abbasov decided to bet 5,500, claiming the pot.

Ihor Yerofieiev opened under the gun to 5,000 and was called by Minh Truong Nguyen in late position and Yang Yang in the big blind.

The flop came 7♥ Q♠ 7♦. After a check from Yang, Yerofieiev shoved all-in and was called by Nguyen, putting Yerofieiev's tournament life at risk. Yang folded, and the two remaining players went to the showdown.

The runout came 3♣ T♦, and Yerofieiev revealed Q♣ Q♠ for a full house on the flop. Nguyen, unable to improve, mucked his hand as Yerofieiev scooped the pot.

On a flop of A♠ 6♥ 3♦ and a pot of 9,000 chips, Dennis bet 2,200, which Khayal Abbasov called. The 5♠ turn was checked by Dennis, allowing Abbasov to fire 6,500, prompting Dennis to fold.

With action folded to the button, Michael Smith opened to 600, and both blinds — Jian Lin in the small and Tomas Dedines in the big — made the call.

The dealer fanned out 6♦ 7♥ T♥, and after the blinds checked, Smith continued the pressure with a bet of 2,000. Lin called, while Dedines opted to fold.

The T♦ on the turn prompted an all-in shove from Lin, which Smith couldn’t call. Lin happily revealed 4♥ 4♠ before scooping the pot.

Craig Jones raised to 800 from middle position and received calls from Sean Keeton in the cutoff and Dennis in the big blind.

The flop came A♠ 7♣ 5♣, and Dennis checked. Jones continued with a bet of 1,000, prompting both opponents to fold and concede the pot to him.

Huynh Ngoc Thai opened for 1,000 on the button and got a call from big blind Sean Keeton.

The flop fanned out A♠ Q♠ 4♠, which Keeton checked. Thai fired 6,000 and was called.

Fireworks exploded on the 2♦ turn. After action checked to him, Thai fired another 6,000. Keeton responded with an all-in shove, and Thai snap-called, putting his tournament life at risk.

Sean Keeton: K♠ 5♠

Huynh Ngoc Thai: Q♥ Q♦

Thai called catching a set on the flop unaware that Keeton had flopped a flush. The 8♠ river changed nothing, and Keeton secured a double-up.

Yang Yang opened to 500 from the hijack and picked up two callers — Manh Truong Nguyen on the button and Jian Lin in the big blind.

The trio went to a 4♠ 3♠ Q♥ flop. After Lin checked, Yang continued for 1,000, prompting both opponents to quickly fold.

Jo Seng Mok opened to 500 in late position and got called by Anzhela Valysenko to his left. Khin Naing, with other plans, three-bet to 2,000 making Mok fold. Vasylenko called to see the flop.

Vasylenko checked the Q♥ 2♥ 2♦ flop. Naing kept the pressure with a 5,000 bet forcing Vasylenko to fold.

John Murphy raised to 5,000 from under the gun and was met with a three-bet to 17,000 by Bein Mai. Murphy responded by shoving all-in for his tournament life, and Mai, with only 1,100 left behind, snap-called.

John Murphy: K♣ K♥

Bein Mai: A♥ A♦

The board ran out 2♥ 8♥ T♥ T♣ 6♠, keeping Mai’s aces ahead to scoop the pot.

Rawin Deesit opened to 300 on the button and got called by the big blind, Lewis Adams. After the flop A♣ 3♠ 5♠, both players kept it cool, checking the runout of 8♠ 4♣ down.

Deesit showed J♣ 9♣ while Adams tabled K♠ 2♦ for king-high to scoop the pot.

Zheng Ang Shu opened for 4,000 from the lowjack and was re-raised by Da K on the button, bringing both players to the flop.

On a flop of K♣ Q♥ 2♠, Shu continued with a bet of 3,000. Showing strength, Da K raised to 10,000. Undeterred, Shu shoved all-in, and Da K snap-called, putting himself at risk.

Da K: A♠ K♥

Zheng Ang Shu: K♠ Q♠

Da K had top pair with top kicker, unaware that Shu had flopped two pair. The board ran out 7♠ 4♥, offering no help to Da K, who was eliminated from the tournament.

Alfie Adams, the very first player to register for the tournament, showed that the early bird doesn’t just get the worm—it gets the chips. Before his seat was even warm, Adams secured an early double-up and claimed the tournament’s first elimination.

Though the full action wasn’t caught, it unfolded in a 5-bet all-in preflop showdown. Adams tabled pocket Aces, looking poised for a strong start, while his opponent revealed Ace Ten. With the best hand by far, Adams must’ve known he had it in the bag. His aces held firm, sending his opponent to the rail—hopefully to hit the registration desk for another shot.

Jian Lin opened to 500 from the hijack and was called by Da K in the cutoff, taking both players to the flop.

On the 8♦ 6♣ 2♠ flop, Lin continued for 2,000, and Da K made the call.

Both players checked the 6♦ turn. On the K♦ river, Lin fired 5,000, which was enough to make Da K fold.

Shuffle Up and Deal has been announced and play has started here are Won Poker Cup III Warm-Up Event happening at the Won Majestic Hotel in Sihanoukville, Cambodia.

Day1A will feature 30-minute levels and will be playing to the money. Players will start with 100/100 blinds and with a starting stack of 30,000.

Late registration remains open until the start of Level 11 at 5:54pm local time.

Stay tuned as we give you live updates from the coastal city of Sihanoukville, Cambodia.

The Won Poker Cup is back for its third edition, running from May 14 to May 21, 2025, at the luxurious Won Majestic Hotel in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. Following the overwhelming success of its first two festivals, this year’s series is expected to attract even more players from around the world. Set against the stunning backdrop of a coastal city with warm beaches and scenic views, the festival promises an exciting week of top-tier poker action.

Some of the most recognizable names in the Asian poker scene are expected to hit the felt, adding intensity and flair to the tables. Among them is Henri Hinds, the defending champion of the Won Poker Cup II Main Event, who is rumored to return to defend his title. Anzhela Vasylenko of Ukraine—last year’s Ladies Event winner—is confirmed to return, bringing both charm and sharp play back to the spotlight. Indonesia’s Jhon Hendri, who took down last year’s Mystery Bounty and W High Roller, has already been spotted in the country and is expected to compete again. Meanwhile, Yunsheng Sun, winner of the Single Day High Roller Event, is also set to return for more high-stakes action.

Other notable players expected to join the festivities include Hai Ha Tran, Quang Do, Minh Thang Tran, Bien Mai, and Armon Van Wijk—all of whom promise to add even more firepower to the tournament fields.

Festival Kickoff: The Warm-Up Event

The festival opens with the Warm-Up Event, featuring a guaranteed prize pool of $50,000 for a buy-in of $565. This event offers two Day 1 flights on the same day:

Day 1A begins at 12:00 noon

Day 1B starts at 5:00 PM, local time

Both flights will play down to the money. Day 1A will feature 30-minute levels, while Day 1B will run with 30/25-minute levels. All players will begin with four time banks, giving them extra time to make critical decisions under pressure.

Late registration remains open until the start of Level 11, approximately 5:45 PM for Day 1A and 10:45 PM for Day 1B.

Stay tuned as we bring you live updates and coverage from the opening moments of the much-anticipated Won Poker Cup III.