8 Max Survivor 2K Bounty to ITM ($1,000)

The WPT Cambodia 2025 festival delivered high-stakes action and thrilling moments with the 8 Max Survivor 2K Bounty event standing out as one of the most exciting tournaments. Featuring a bounty structure, the tournament attracted 482 entries across three Day 1 flights, with 61 players advancing to Day 2.

In the end, it was Hongru Zhang of China who emerged victorious, securing the title and a payout of US$ 46,188, along with six bounties collected throughout the event. Runner-up Manuel Carvalho of Portugal played an outstanding game as well to earn US$ 31,442 and seven bounties. Slashing the most number of players was Yongjia "Gary" Lin with a total of nine collected until he was downed in 5th place.

Champion Zhang, shared some insights after the event:

How does it feel to win this event?

I’m very happy. I feel lucky. It’s been a year and a half since my last win.

Your last victory was in August 2023, also in an 8-Max event. Why do you excel in this format?

I play a lot of online poker, and most online tables are 8-Max. So, I’m very comfortable with this structure.

How did you adjust knowing that each knockout was worth $2,000?

On Day 1, I had a chance to knock out two players for $4,000 in bounties, but I folded. It turned out to be the right decision. On Day 2, I started with a short stack, dropping to 150,000-200,000 chips, but I stayed patient and made a comeback.

What was your strategy at the final table?

Honestly, I think I was just very lucky. I haven’t run well in the last two years, but this final table felt like a turning point for me.

At the start of heads-up play, you asked for an ICM deal, but Manuel declined. Why did you make the request?

Manuel is a strong player. I had 11 million chips, and he had 7 million. I thought an ICM chop would be a fair deal.

What was your heads-up strategy?

Just playing my game. I had strong hands, and Manuel tried to bluff me multiple times, but I called correctly.

The WPT Cambodia 2025 - 8 Max Survivor 2K Bounty featured three intense starting flights for a total of 482 entries. The prize pool reached US$ 230,813, with 61 players qualifying for Day 2.

For a majority of the final table, Abhishek Paul was the player to catch until Manuel Carvalho landed a double up that sent him skyrocketing to over 40% of the chips in play with four players remaining. After Hongru Zhang eliminated Paul in 4th place, he gained momentum, successfully grinding to amass a big lead. When Carvalho eliminated Tuan Hung Nguyen in 3rd place, the Portuguese still could not penetrate Zhang's big stack to eventually settle for 2nd place. On a side note, moments before entering the final flight of this event, Carvalho finished 2nd at the Super High Roller Warm-Up.

8 Max Survivor 2K Bounty

Dates: February 11-13, 2025

Buy-in: $1,000

Total Entries: 482

Total Prize Pool: $230,813

Abhishek Paul raised 250,000 preflop and Hongru Zhang three-bet 750,000. Paul responded with and all-in of 3,000,000 and Zhang snap-called. Paul with 5♠ 5♥ and Zhang with Q♦ Q♠ saw the board run, J♥ 9♥ 7♦ 4♠ J♠ handing the pot to Zhang.

Tuan Hung Nguyen raised 250,000 preflop and Abhishek Paul raised all-in causing Hung Nguyen to fold.

Tuan Hung Nguyen raised 200,000 preflop and Abhishek Paul called. The flop gave 8♦ 4♦ 9♠ . Hung Nguyen bet 350,000 after Paul checked. Hung Nguyen's bet caused Paul to fold.

Manuel Carvalho called Abhishek Paul's preflop raise of 200,000 and the flop showed, 4♥ T♥ Q♣ . The players checked down to see the turn and river, 8♦ 6♠ respectively. Carvalho made a bet of 550,000 on the river causing Paul to fold.

Hongru Zhang on small-blind called Abhishek Paul on big-blind. Paul checked to see the flop, A♥ 4♦ 6♥ . Zhang made a bet of 100,000 and Paul called to see the turn, 9♥ . Both players checked to see the river, 3♠ . Zhang adds on the pressure with a continuation bet of 200,000 and Paul folds.

Manuel Carvalho once again faces off with Abhishek Paul, this time calling Paul's 160,000 preflop raise. The flop brought 2♠ 6♠ 8♦ . Carvalho checked after the flop allowing Paul some room to bet 250,000 . Carvalho called to see the turn, 7♣ . Carvalho made a bet of 250,000 and Paul raised to 500,000. Carvalho responded by going all-in with 3,630,000 and Paul called into showdown. Paul had A♣ 8♥ while Carvalho had 4♦ 5♦ . The river gave Q♥ giving carvalho a straight.

Tuan Hung Nguyen called Abhishek Paul's preflop-raise of 160,000. The flop brings Q♥ Q♣ 5♣ . The players check to see the turn A♣ . Paul made a bet of 275,000 after the turn and Hung Nguyen called to see the river, A♦ . Paul piled up the pressure with a continuation bet of 500,000 and Hung Nguyen called into showdown. Paul held 6♠ 3♠ while Hung Nguyen held K♥ 5♣ giving him the pot.

Manuel Carvalho called Abhishek Paul's preflop raise of 200,000 and the flop brought J♥ A♠ 7♦ . Carvalho checked while Paul made a bet of 200,000. Carvalho called to see the turn, 8♦ . The players checked to see the river, 7♥ . On the River, Carvalho placed a bet of 400,000 dialing up the pressure on Paul. Paul folds leaving the pot for Carvalho.

Abhishek Paul raised 175,000 preflop and Sartec Turker responded by goign all-in. Paul called with J♣ T♣ and Turker held 8♠ 8♦ . The board, J♦ 7♠ 8♣ 9♠ K♣ gave Paul a straight knocing out Turker.

Tom Maguire, four-bet 1,500,000 following a three bet of 360,000 by Abhishek Paul who followed a preflop raise of 120,000 by Hongru Zhang. Maguire's bet caused Zhang to fold while Paul raised the stakes higher by going all-in and Maguire called all-in with 1,830,000. Paul had J♥ J♣ and Maguire had A♦ K♥ . The board, A♠ J♠ 3♥ 3♦ 2♥ gave Paul a full-house Jacks full of threes knocking out Maguire.

Abhishek Paul and Nikolai Guliaev called Yongjia Lin's 200,000 preflop raise. The flop brought 5♦ 4♦ 3♥ . Guliaev and Lin checked while Paul bet 120,000. Lin raised to 475,000. Paul called and Guliaev folded. The turn brought A♣ . Paul raised all-in with 2,120,000 in response to Lin's bet of 450,000. Lin snap-called the players showed their cards. Lin had 3♠ 3♦ while Paul had A♠ 2♠ . The river brought T♣ giving Paul a straight.

Abhishek Paul raised 100,000 preflop and Jeremy Jehanne responded with an all-inof 660,000. Paul called and the players entered showdown. Paul held A♦ Q♠ while Jehanne held 2♠ 2♦ . The board, A♥ T♦ 7♦ Q♥ 4♠ favoured Paul, knocking Jehanne at the 12th position

Tuan Hung Nguyen and Abhishek Paul called Manuel Carvalho's preflop raise of 80,000. The flop brought, A♣ 4♦ 9♣ . Tuan Hung Nguyen saw Carvalho bet another 80,000 and called, while Paul raised to 255,000. Carvalho called and Hung Nguyen took the opportunity to three bet all in, 635,000. Paul joined all-in while Carvalho folded. Hung Nguyen held 9♦ 9♥ while Paul held A♥ 4♥ . The turn and the river gave T♦ 2♥ giving Hung Nguyen a set of nines.

Hongru Zhang three-bets 350,000 following Tom Maguire's 100,000 preflop raise and a call by Abhishek Paul. The staggering bet caused both Maguire and Paul to back-off from the pot.

Kristof Mato committed his entire stack 500,000 preflop and Abhishek Paul called. Mato entered the showdown with J♠ 8♣ and Paul entered with A♠ Q♦ . The board ran, K♣ 5♦ 9♠ 7♥ 5♥ giving Paul the upper hand, knocking Mato out at the 15th position.

Following Tom Maguire's 65,000 preflop-raise, Achishek Paul, three-bets 200,000. Maguire called to see the flop, J♣ 6♣ 5♦ . Maguire checked and Paul made a bet of 250,000 causing Maguire to dial-up the pressure by raising 750,000 . Paul raises to 1.19million all-in and Maguire snap-calls. Maguire Had 4♣ 5♣ while Paul had A♥ J♥ . The turn and river ran 8♥ K♥ giving Paul a pair of Jacks.

Manuel Carvalho raised 65,000 to have Abhishek Paul call. The flop brought 6♠ 4♣ 4♥ . Carvalho bets another 60,000 following Paul's check. Paul called and the turn brings Q♠ . Carvalho vets an additional 300,000 following Paul's check again. Paul folds leaving the pot to Carvalho.

Coming off of a victory in the previous hand, Abhishek Paul three bets 90,000 as a response to Yakiv Syzghanov's 32,000 preflop raise. Seeing Paul's three-bet, Syzghanov four-bet all-in, 341,000 and Paul snap-calls. In the showdown Syzghanov had T♣ T♠ while Paul had Q♣ Q♦ . The board, 9♣ 8♣ 7♣ 9♣ Q♠ gave Paul a full house knocking Syzghanov out.

Abhishek Paul on the button, called Yakiv Syzghanov's preflop raise and Dhaval Mudgal on small-blind called as well. The flop revealed 3♦ J♦ 2♥ . Mudgal check-folded after Syzghanov made a bet of 47,000. Abhishek called to see the turn, 7♥ . Paul raised all-in following Syzghanov's bet of 145,000. Syzghanov folded immediately after Paul goes all-in.