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

Manuel Carvalho called a 300,000 preflop raise by Hongru Zhang. The flop gave A♦ A♣ Q♦ . The players checked for the turn 5♥ . Zhang bet 1,000,000 following Carvalho's check. Carvalho called to see the river K♥ . Carvalho checks while Zhang bets all-in . After some thought Carvalho calls all-in with 2,525,000 . In the showdown, Zhang had A♠ J♣ while Carvalho held K♦ 5♦ . Zhang trips Aces knocked out Carvalho.

Manuel Carvalho raised 350,000 preflop and Hognru Zhang called for the flop, 8♣ K♠ 6♥ . Following a check, Carvalho placed a bet of 550,000 causing Zhang to call to see the turn, T♠ . The players checked to see the river, 6♣ . Carvalho places a bet of 1,400,000 following a check by Zhang. Zhang called into showdown with K♥ 2♠ while Carvalho held J♠ 9♥ . Zhang takes the pot with a pair of Kings.

Hongru Zhang raised 300,000 preflop and Manuel Carvalho three-bet 1,200,000. Zhang responds with a four-bet of 2,800,000 causing Carvalho to snap-fold.

Manuel Carvalho raised 250,000 preflop and Hongru Zhang called. The flop gave K♠ 5♠ 9♠ . Both players checked to see the turn 3♥ . Carvalho bet 300,000 following a check from Zhang. Zhang folds in response, backing off from the pot.

Hongru Zhang raised 250,000 preflop and Manuel Carvalho called to see the flop, K♣ 4♣ 3♣ . Carvalho checked while Hongru Zhang bet 250,000. Carvalho folded leaving the pot to Zhang.

The 8 Max Survivor 2K Bounty Event just reached heads-up with Manuel Carvalho and Hongru Zhang remaining on the felt. Manuel Carvalho has a total of 7,825,000 chips while Hongru Zhang had 11,400,000 chips. The game reached the peak of intensity as both players compete to be crowned champion.

Hongru Zhang raised 250,000 preflop and Manuel Carvalho called. The flop showed 9♠ 5♣ 2♣ . Both players checked down the board to see the turn J♣ and the river 8♠ . Carvalho bet 325,000 and Zhang raised 1,200,000. Carvalho folded giving the pot to Zhang.

Coming off of losing chips to Hung Nguyen, Hongru Zhang raised 375,000 preflop and Tuan Hung Nguyen called. The flop brought Q♥ J♣ 2♣ and Hung Nguyen checked. Hongru Zhang piled up the pressure with another bet of 250,000 causing Hung Nguyen to fold.

Tuan Hung Nguyen's 250,000 preflop raise was called by Hongru Zhang . The flop showed 2♥ 9♦ T♣ . Both players checked to see the turn, 2♦ . Hung Nguyen bet 300,000 following a check from Zhang. Zhang folded letting Hung Nguyen scoop the pot.

Hongru Zhang raised 250,000 pre-flop and Manuel Carvalho called. The flop showed T♦ 7♣ K♠ . Carvalho checked and Zhang bet 175,000. Carvalho folded leaving Zhang the pot.

Hongru Zhang on the big-blind checks to see the flop after Manuel Carvalho on the small-blind calls. The flop brought A♣ 3♥ 4♠ . The players check down to turn, 5♠ . Zhang bet 350,000 and Carvalho called tosee the river, 4♥ . Zhang made a bet of 1,000,000 and Carvalho called. Zhang showed K♦ 2♠ while Carvalho mucked.

Hongru Zhang raised 250,000 preflop and Manuel Carvalho called. The flop brought J♥ 3♦ 6♣ . Zhang bets 125,000 after Carvalho checked. Carvalho folded handing leaving the pot for Zhang.

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.

Manuel Carvalho raised 400,000 preflop to be called by Hongru Zhang. The flop showed K♥ 6♥ 8♦ . Carvalho made a bet of 300,000 and Zhang called to see the turn, 2♦ . Carvalho bet again with 800,000 and Zhang called yet again to see the river, A♦ . Both players checked to showdown. Carvalho had 8♣ 5♠ while Zhang had K♠ J♦ forming the higher pair.

Hongru Zhang raised 200,000 and Tuan Hung Nguyen hit back with an all-in raise of 4,930,000. Zhang responds by calling the all-in with 2,030,000. In the showdown, Zhang held K♣ Q♦ while Hung NGuyen held A♠ 4♦ . The board brought 2♠ 9♠ 9♣ 9♦ K♥ giving Zhang a full house.

Hongru Zhang raised 200,000 and Tuan Hung Nguyen responded by going all-in with 1,310,000 and Manuel Carvalho called. Zhang hit back with an all-in raise of 3,590,000 causing Carvalho to fold. Zhang with 8♠ 8♣ and Hung Nguyen with A♥ 3♥ enter showdown. The board, T♥ 5♦ 5♣ 3♣ A♠ gave Hung Nguyen the pot.

Manuel Carvalho raised 200,000 preflop and Hongru Zhang hit back with all-in of 1,620,000. Tuan Hung Nguyen called while Carvalho folded. Zhang held K♣ J♥ while Hung NGuyen held 8♥ 8♦ in the showdown. The board ran, 7♥ Q♦ 4♦ J♦ 3♥ giving Zhang the pot.

Tuan Hung Nguyen raised 200,000 preflop and Hongru Zhang hit back with all-in of 1,520,000. The board, A♥ T♠ Q♠ 3♦ J♥ left the players with a split pot.

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.

Hongru Zhang placed 510,000 into the pot to call Manuel Carvalho's 1,000,000 three-bet following Tuan Hung Nguyen's preflop raise of 300,000. Hung Nguyen folds leaving Zhang and Carvalho to go into showdown. Carvalho had Q♦ 8♦ while Zhang held A♠ 9♦ . The board ran, A♣ 6♥ 4♠ T♦ A♦ , giving Zhang trips Aces.

Yongjia Lin committed all-in preflop with 1,010,000 and Hongru Zhang called. The showdown saw Lin holding A♠ A♣ and Zhang holding A♦ T♠ . The board ran, Q♠ 3♠ 2♦ 6♦ J♦ giving Lin's pocket rockets a upper hand.

Hongru Zhang raised all-in preflop with 1,350,000 and Nikolai Guliaev called all-in with 400,000. The showdown saw Zhang holding 8♣ 8♥ ehile Guliaev had Q♥ 4♥ . The board 5♥ 3♥ J♣ A♠ 4♠ gave Zhang's pocket eights the advantage knocking out Guliaev.

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.

Tuan Hung Nguyen raised 120,000 before the flop and Hongru Zhang called. The flop brought, Q♠ 2♠ 2♦ . Hung Nguyen bet 80,000 after a check from Zhang. Zhang called Hung Nguyen's bet and the turn brought 4♦ . Zhang made a bet of 125,000 post turn, and Hung Nguyen called to see the river, 3♥ . Zhang checked while Hung Nguyen made a bet of 350,000 making Zhang think deeply before calling to showdown. Hung Nguyen showed A♠ 5♠ while Zhang mucked.

Jeremy Jehanne joined Honru Zhang's preflop all-in. Jehanne had K♠ Q♣ while Zhang had 5♠ 4♠ . The board, 8♠ 9♣ 7♣ T♣ 7♠ gaving the pot to Jehanne

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.

Hongru Zhang found himself in a preflop showdown after calling Robert Kiss's 352,000 all-in raise that followed Zhang's 50,000 preflop raise. Zhang held A♣ K♣ and Kiss had 5♣ 5♦ . The board A♥ 4♣ 8♥ Q♥ 9♥ gave Zhang an Ace-pair knocking Kiss out in the 22nd position.

Hongru Zhang, the small-blind, raised all-in preflop with 237,000 and Robert Kiss, the big-blind, called. Zhang held Q♥ 9♠ while Kiss held A♠ 4♣ . The board gave, 7♦ 5♣ T♠ Q♣ Q♦ giving Zhang trips queens.

Dhaval Mudgal's preflop raise of 36,000 was called by Hongru Zhang and the big blind. The flop, 3♦ 2♣ T♠ gave Mudgal the opportunity to bet 35,000 after big blind checked. Zhang called and big blind folded making way for the turn, J♣ . Mudgal and Zhang checked to see the river, J♠ . Mudgal raised the pressure with a bet of 108,000 and Zhang called into showdown. Mudgal showed A♠ T♦ giving him two pairs, while Zhang mucked.