VPT Championship III 2026 Festival Concludes with Cong Song Phan Claiming Main Event Glory and Edition IV Announced

The VPT Championship III 2026 has officially concluded at the Corona Resort and Casino in Phu Quoc, Vietnam, marking another successful run for the brand. Held from May 6 to May 18, 2026, the twelve-day festival drew a total of 5,197 entries across its entire schedule, generating a total prize pool of VND 83,252,514,000 (~USD 3,161,950). The series awarded 59 coveted trophies to a diverse field representing 17 different countries, locking in its status as a must-attend stop in Asia.

Cong Song Phan Wins Main Event Title

The flagship VPT Championship III 2026 Main Event served as the primary highlight of the festival, featuring a buy-in of VND 28,000,000 (~USD 1,060). The event attracted 969 entries across five starting flights, building a final prize pool of VND 25,220,000,000 (~USD 957,100) and easily clearing its VND 12,000,000,000 guarantee with the top 123 players making the money.

Vietnam's Cong Song Phan emerged as the champion, overcoming the odds after entering the final table as the absolute shortest stack in the field. Phan navigated his way through the final field before defeating China's Tongfei Xu in heads-up play to claim the victory.

With the win, he captured the prestigious Golden Lion trophy along with the top prize of VND 4,380,800,000 (~USD 166,250). In addition to the massive payout and a Red Dragon Plus Championship Main Event ticket for the upcoming series this July, this victory officially crowns him as the biggest earner of the entire festival, walking away with a total of VND 4,396,100,000 (~USD 166,830) in overall series cashouts.

Main Event Comparison: Edition II vs. Edition III

A closer look at the data shows a shifting strategy in the Main Event configuration between the last two editions. For VPT Championship II Main Event, organizers set a massive initial guarantee of VND 20,000,000,000 (~USD 760,000) with a lower buy-in of VND 26,000,000 (~USD 985), logging 1,532 entries and building a total prize pool of VND 27,236,956,000 (~USD 1,034,900).

In contrast, VPT Championship III saw an increased buy-in of VND 28,000,000 (~USD 1,060) alongside a lower guarantee of VND 12,000,000,000 (~USD 455,500). While the higher price point resulted in fewer entries overall at 969, the final prize pool generated remained highly competitive, reaching over VND 25,220,000,000 (~USD 957,100) and proving the strong drawing power of the series.

Neng Zhao Secures VPT Championship Event

Another focal point of the series was the VPT Championship event, which carried an VND 8,000,000,000 (~USD 303,700) guarantee. The field grew to 230 entries, pushing the final prize pool to VND 10,039,500,000 (~USD 380,700). The tournament paid out the top 29 finishers.

Neng Zhaoclaimed the victory, taking home the Silver Lion trophy and a top prize of VND 2,427,400,000 (~USD 92,045). Similar to the Main Event champion, Neng also secured a bonus entry ticket to the upcoming Red Dragon Plus Championship, which is scheduled to run from July 8 to July 19.

Multiple Trophy Winners at VPT Championship III

A standout group of six players distinguished themselves during the festival by winning two separate titles each. Players from Vietnam and the United Kingdom led this charge, with both nations boasting two multi-title winners.

The top individual performances are highlighted in the table below, listing the players, nationalities, and their respective winning events.

Trophy Standings by Country

The host nation of Vietnam led the way in the trophy race, with local players securing 19 titles throughout the series. Thailand followed with 7 trophies, while Singapore claimed 6, and the United Kingdom took home 5. The full flag standings highlight the global footprint of the festival across Europe, Asia, and Oceania.

Up Next: VPT Championship IV

The action doesn't stop here, as organizers have confirmed that VPT Championship IV will run from October 7 to October 19, 2026. The official venue and location for the fourth edition are still yet to be announced.

For more information and updates, be sure to follow the Vietnam Poker Tour (VPT) social media channels.

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