MYSTERY BOUNTY (200$ TO BOUNTY POOL) ($675)

Day1B of the Won Poker Cup III Mystery Bounty is officially in the books, and it's Neng Zhao who leads the survivors after amassing a towering 1,019,000 in chips.

Out of 119 total entries, only 15 players made it through to Day 2, joining the survivors from previous flights. This puts the running total at 194 entries, with Day 1C still underway and sure to push the field even higher.

Zhao, fresh off his victory in the Won Poker Cup III Warm-Up, is in prime position to capture a second trophy. His stack more than double Day 1A chip leader Khayal Abbasov, who bagged 410,000, and falls behind Kim Long Lam, who bagged 510,000 chips.

Zhao showcased a masterclass in chip accumulation throughout the day—building patiently, applying pressure at the right moments, and exploiting spots where others faltered. Once he established control, he wielded his stack with surgical aggression, often forcing opponents into uncomfortable folds or ill-timed shoves.

Fittingly, Zhao closed the flight with a bang—bursting the bubble when his queens held against Thai Cong Huan’s ace-jack, sending Huan to the rail just short of the money.

Several other notable names from Day 1B are also through to the final day, ready to chase bounties and glory.

With Day 1C still ongoing, the field will grow—but the question is:

Can Zhao hang on to the top spot and run it back for a second title in the same series?

Neng Zhao opened to 18,000 and was met with an all-in shove from Thai Cong Huan. Zhao didn’t hesitate—he made the call, putting Huan’s tournament life on the line right on the bubble.

Thai Cong Huan: A♣ J♦

Neng Zhao: Q♥ Q♠

The board ran out 2♥ 3♥ 9♦ K♣ 7♥, offering Huan no help as Zhao’s pocket queens held firm.

With that, Huan’s run ended just shy of the money, bursting the bubble and sending the rest of the field into a guaranteed payday.

Neng Zhao and Huynh Ngoc Thai clashed in a blind-versus-blind all-in showdown, with Thai's tournament life hanging in the balance.

Huynh Ngoc Thai: A♠ J♥

Neng Zhao: J♣ 2♦

The board ran out K♦ 2♥ 6♣ 3♣ 7♦, and sometimes all it takes is the smallest of hits—Zhao’s humble pair of deuces was enough to defeat Thai’s ace-high and end her run.

It wasn’t flashy, but it was effective—Zhao scooped the pot and added another elimination to his name.