Inaugural WPT Prime Vietnam pays out over $2.37M; Duy Ho wins Player of the Festival; next stop Gold Coast from June 9 to 20

The World Poker Tour roared through Hanoi, Vietnam with the first ever WPT Prime series packing the house for twelve straight days. This was the brand’s first international event in Asia since the pandemic struck and it was through the roof. Running from May 19 to 30 at the Crown Poker Club, the event amassed 4,698 total entries, awarded 24 champions, produced a record breaking Main Event turnout for the country, smashed all guarantees, and paid out a staggering VN₫ 55,201,933,700 (~US$ 2,379,292).

Among the long list of flags represented, host country Vietnam topped 14 events, Philippines, France, and Thailand bagged 2 each, USA and Malaysia won 1 each, and India walked away hoisting 2 with Zarvan Tumboli clinching the series headliner Main Event. Tumboli followed in the footsteps of Ashish Munot, becoming the second player from India to win this prestigious title.

In addition, the event witnessed the WPT Feeder and Funnel Program in full swing with player groups attending from Korea, India, and via Poker King. On behalf of the brand, WPT Live Events Specialist, Danny McDonagh, expressed his gratitude,

“WPT is very grateful to the support from Platinum Partners Hot Stone Venture and X-Pentagon from Korea, Thank God for Poker (TGFP) from India, and Poker King who in total sent more than 70 players to the event.”

Up next for the brand is WPT Prime Gold Coast which takes place from June 9 to 20 at The Star Gold Coast in Queensland. This will be WPT‘s third visit to the bustling coastal city and it is expected to make a huge splash as it did last year. The Main Event drew a massive 1,113 entries and paid out A$ 3.1 Million across the board.

And now, here are the final highlights of WPT Prime Vietnam.

Festival review

Grand prize pool: VN₫ 55,201,933,700 (~US$ 2,379,292)
Total entries: 4,698
Main Event prize pool: VN₫ 17,131,373,700 (~US$ 739,220)
Main Event champion: ZARVAN TUMBOLI

Player of the Festival: DUY HO

DUY HO steals the Player of the Festival title

It was down to the wire for the Player of the Festival title with multiple players in contention on the final day. However, after the fall of Vietnam’s Bui Duc Tu “Tobias (3rd) and Hong Kong’s Dennis Ng (6th) at the High Roller event, the win was locked up by USA’s Duy Ho who racked up a total of 975 points. Impressively, Ho reached four final tables which included a victory at the Mystery Bounty. For his stellar performance, he was awarded the coveted US$ 5,000 WPT Passport to any WPT Main Tour Main Event of his choice. With a trip to the USA already planned in the coming days, there is no doubt Ho will be using up that ticket fairly fast. Here’s a look at Ho’s festival results:

1st – Mystery Bounty

2nd – Hyper Turbo

2nd – Megastack Closer

9th – Opener

Record-breaking Main Event

The Main Event set a new record turnout for Vietnam with 777 entries pulled in across three starting days. Not only did this breach the 8BN guarantee, it more than doubled it to VN₫ 17,131,373,700 (~US$ 739,220). This was also the second largest WPT Main Event attendance by the brand in Asia, behind 2014 WPT National China with 898 entries.

Among the players who reached ITM were WPT Main Event decorated champions Phinh Van Nguyen (2021 WPTDS Hanoi), Vincent Chauve (2019 WPTDS Vietnam), Dhaval Mudgal (2018 WPT Vietnam), Shingo Endo (2018 WPT Japan), and Ashish Munot (2019 WPT India) who was denied a second title by fellow Indian pro Zarvan Tumboli. Also running deep was France’s Anthony Cierco who placed 3rd at last month’s inaugural WPTDS Sydney Main Event.

Final side event results

Tag Team Freezeout: SON LAM / HUU MANH – VN₫ 52,000,000 (~US$ 2,230)

Buy in: VN₫ 6,600,000 (~US$ 285)

Teams: 33

Prize pool: VN₫ 192,060,000 (~US$ 8,287)

ITM: top 5 teams

Payouts in Vietnamese Dong

*Three way even deal, biggest stack wins the trophy

Crown Poker Club SuperStack Classic: FRANCIS GARSON – VN₫ 244,000,000 (~US$ 10,528)

French player Francis Garson tumbled out of the Main Event in 65th place then proceeded to sign up to the Crown Poker Club SuperStack Classic Freezeout, taking it down the following day. Nearing the bubble round, Garson was already backed by a fortress of chips which he carried all the way to heads up against Chu Quang Dung. It was no contest. The Frenchman denied his opponent any chance of clawing in to seize his first WPT title and a handsome payout of VN₫ 244,000,000 (~US$ 10,528).

Buy in: VN₫ 7,700,000 (~US$ 332)

Players: 124

Prize pool: VN₫ 841,960,000 (~US$ 36,323)

ITM: 16 places

Payouts in Vietnamese Dong

High Roller: NGUYEN VU HUY – VN₫ 1,980,000,000 (~US$ 85,341)

The two day High Roller was a huge crowd pleaser attracting 133 entries at VN₫ 66,000,000 (~US$ 2,850) a pop. This more than tripled up the 2.5BN guarantee for a jaw-dropping VN₫ 7,740,600,000 (~US$ 334,000) prize pool. Amid a lineup of well known pros at the final 9, it was unknown player Nguyen Vu Huy surprising the table as he snatched up the victory. Nguyen overcame a deficit at heads up against pro Pham Duy Anh with over to turn the count in his favor. From there, he grinded down the pro to lift his first ever WPT trophy and a career high VN₫ 1,980,000,000 (~US$ 85,341).

Buy in: VN₫ 66,000,000 (~US$ 2,850)

Guarantee: VN₫ 2,500,000,000 (~US$ 107,875)

Entries: 133 (91 unique, 42 re-entry)

Prize pool: VN₫ 7,740,600,000 (~US$ 334,000)

ITM: 17 places

Payouts in Vietnamese Dong

MegaStack Closer: NGUYEN DUC NHAT – VN₫ 220,000,000 (~US$ 9,482)

The MegaStack Closer attracted 153 to just edge over the 1BN guarantee. The Player of the Festival title was decided at this event when USA’s Duy Ho reached heads up to pad his points an extra 225 for a total of 975 points. This sent him surging well past Bui Duc Tu “Tobias” with 820 points. The event wrapped up with Nguyen Duc Nhat awarded the victory after a four way deal.

Buy in: VN₫ 7,700,000 (~US$ 332)

Guarantee: VN₫ 1,000,000,000 (~US$ 43,150)

Players: 153 (112 unique, 41 re-entry)

Prize pool: VN₫ 1,038,870,000 (~US$ 44,776)

ITM: 20 places

Payouts in Vietnamese Dong

*Four way deal

SuperStack Closer Turbo – ISARA PREMPHON KAMOL – VN₫ 110,500,000 (~US$ 4,734)

Buy in: VN₫ 16,500,000 (~US$ 711)

Entries: 19 (`8 unique, 1 re-entry)

Prize pool: VN₫ 276,450,000 (~US$ 11,915)

ITM: 3 places

Payouts in Vietnamese Dong

*Heads up even chop

That concludes Somuchpoker’s full coverage of inaugural WPT Prime series in Vietnam. Check out the recaps below. We also have pics and videos in our facebook page.

Event articles:

WPT Prime Vietnam: Zarvan Tumboli clinches record breaking Main Event

WPT Prime debuts in Hanoi
Launch day of WPT Prime Vietnam
WPT Prime Vietnam – Day 1 results
WPT Prime Vietnam – Day 2 results
WPT Prime Vietnam – Locals heat up Day 1C
WPT Prime Vietnam – Day 3 results
WPT Prime Vietnam – Filipinos dominate
WPT Prime Vietnam – Phuong Xu wins the Opener
WPT Prime Vietnam – Bien Mai, Duy Thuc Nguyen, Pham Quang Huy win trophies
WPT Prime Vietnam – Duy Ho wins Mystery Bounty
WPT Prime Vietnam – Indian contingent and side event results
WPT Prime Vietnam – Main Event smashes records with 777 entries
WPT Prime Vietnam – Main Event Final 9