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?

Craig Jones made the call on Phan Huu Minh Tri’s open-shove from his immediate right, risking his tournament life in the process.

Jones was relieved to see he had A♣ J♥, a strong favorite against Tri’s K♦ 7♦. But the poker gods had other plans.

The flop of T♥ Q♣ 3♥ kept Jones ahead, but when the 7♣ landed on the turn, the tide turned sharply in Tri’s favor. The river 4♠ sealed Jones’ fate, sending him to the rail, visibly disheartened, as Tri collected the pot with a timely pair of sevens.

Action was picked up on the flop of A♦ 7♣ 4x with two players all-in — Huncao Tri Nguyen and Viet An Nguyen, the latter at risk.

Viet An Nguyen: K♠ K♥

Huncao Tri Nguyen: A♣ Q♣

Tri Nguyen had already found an ace on the flop to take the lead. The runout of 4♣ and Q♦ gave him two pair, sending Viet An Nguyen to the rail.