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 raised 250,000 preflop and Tuan Hung Nguyen called. The flop brought 5♣ J♣ T♠ . Carvalho bet 150,000 following a check by Hung Nguyen. Hung Nguyen raised 700,000 and Carvalho hit back with an all-in three-bet holding A♠ A♥ . Hung Nguyen called all-in with J♦ 7♦ in hand. The turn and the river ran Q♠ and 3♦ . Carvalho's pocket rockets knock out Tuan Hung Nguyen.

Manuel Carvalho called Tuan Hung

Nguyen's preflop raise of 250,000. The flop brought 8♣ 6♦ 4♠ . The players checked down the board to see the turn J♠ and river A♥ . Another round of checked lead to the showdown. Carvalho showed K♦ 4♥ while Nguyen mucked.

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.

Tuan Hung Nguyen called Manuel Carvalho's preflop raise of 250,000 and the flop brought, K♦ 9♥ 9♣ . Hung Nguyen checked post-flop while Carvalho bet 125,000. Hung Nguyen hit back with 409,000. Carvalho called to see the turn, T♥ . Hung Nguyen bet all-in 1,150,000 post-turn and Carvalho folded.

Tuan Hung Nguyen raised 250,000 preflop and Manuel Carvalho three-bet 550,000. Hung Nguyen folded giving the pot to Carvalho.

Manuel Carvalho raised 250,000 preflop and Tuan Hung Nguyen called. The flop showed, A♠ K♠ 5♣ . Hung Nguyen checked and Carvalho made a bet of 200,000 causing Hung Nguyen to fold.

Manuel Carvalho raised 250,000 preflop and Tuan Hung Nguyen called. The flop brought A♥ 8♦ 7♥ . Hung Nguyen checked letting Carvalho bet 250,000. Hung Nguyen folded leaving the pot to Carvalho.

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

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.

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.

Tuan Hung Nguyen raised 200,000 preflop and Manuel Carvalho called. The flop brought 9♣ 7♠ 4♠ . Carvalho pushes further with a bet of 250,000 causing Hung Nguyen to fold.

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 Tuan Hung Nguyen called. The flop brought J♠ 2♥ 2♣ . Carvalho made a bet of 100,000 following Hung Nguyen's check. Hung Nguyen folded giving the pot to Carvalho.

Tuan Hung Nguyen on the small blind calls Manuel Carvalho on the big-blind. Carvalho raises 350,000 causing Hung Nguyen to fold.

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.

Tuang Hung Nguyen on small-blind called Manuel Carvalho on big-blind. Carvalho checked. The flop gave A♠ 2♣ Q♦ . Hung NGuyen made a bet of 100,000 and Carvalho called to see the turn, J♠ . Hung Nguyen checked while Carvalho bet 300,000 causing Hung Nguyen to fold.

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.

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.

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.

Tuan Hung Nguyen three-bet 300,000 following Manuel Carvalho's preflop raise of 100,000. Carvalho called to see the flop, 3♣ 6♠ 8♥ . Hung Nguyen checked and Carvalho made a bet of 200,000. Hung Nguyen called to see the turn, 7♥ . The players checked down to see the river, Q♥ . The players checked down again to showdown. Hung Nguyen showed K♦ Q♣ while Carvalho mucked.

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.

Tom Maguire called to see the flop after Tuan Hung Nguyen raised 80,000. The flop brought, 3♥ K♦ J♦ . Maguire checked and Hung Nguyen bet 70,000. Maguire called and the turn brought, Q♦ . The players checked down to the river, 5♠ .Maguire made a massive river bet of 360,000 and Hung Nguyen folded.

Tom Maguire called Tuan Hung Nguyen's pre-flop raise and the flop brought T♠ 8♠ 6♦ . Maguire check-raised 250,000 following Hung Nguyen's 50,000 bet. Nguyen folded handing the pot to Maguire.

Tuan Hung Nguyen raised 32,000 preflop and Yiannis Liperis called. The flop, J♦ 6♦ 8♥ , made Liperis check-raise 87,000 after Hung Nguyen made a bet of 27,000. The turn gave K♣ . Liperis check-folded following Hung Nguyen's bet of 110,000 on the turn.