Malaysia’s Ewe Eng Soon clinches Poker Dream Vietnam Super High Roller for ₫5.3BN ($215K); Devan Tang creeps up to 2nd place

SMP Editor
SMP EditorEditor-in-Chief

Poker Dream may be new in the circuit but it has already shown what sets it apart. Just like its debut in Malaysia, the brand’s inaugural stint in Hoi An, Vietnam has witnessed mass participation by Asia-Pacific’s creme de la creme that you’d think it was a Triton series.

Since the start, the festival’s high roller events have generated bloated prize pools making every low to mid ranged player wish they had the bankroll to join the big action. Even more so at the recently concluded Super High Roller where a staggering 92 runners coughed up the costly ₫230,000,000 (~$9,400) buy in for a jaw dropping prize pool of ₫19,699,960,000 (~$805,000). To emphasize the enormity of this pot, its min cash is higher than several side event prize pools. This is also within range of its debut in Malaysia where the SHR gathered a slightly larger pot of US$ 826K.

Among the players seen rubbing elbows wereSung Are Joo Hyun,Kartik Ved both had arrived just in time for the big game, Danny Tang who had already played every high roller event offered since the start, Abhinav Iyer and poker figure Paul Phua both carrying the biggest stacks into Day 2, and Elton Tsang and Devan Tang, rarities in the Asian circuit. In the end the title went to Malaysia’s Ewe Eng Soon for first first ever live poker title. Ewe shipped the coveted ₫5,230,000,000 (~US$ 214,400) first prize and the brand’s custom designed high roller trophy.

Bubble time recap

On the ninth hour of play, it was bubble time with eventual champion Soon seen all in nearly back to back, and both times he doubled up through Ewe Eng Siang. The first hand was Add SMPBONUS RocketPlay Promo Code standing firm against AdKd followed by Ac ahead of Ah.

The bubble burst on the lone Filipino remaining, Lester Edoc who shoved his last 8 BB with Kd into newly crowned Short Deck High Roller champion Yeu Wei Hsiang‘s AcAs. From there saw the fast fall of the short stacks. New Zealand’s Hamish Crawshaw was credited for two knockouts, Chi Jen Chu (13th) and Wai Leong Chan(10th) to form the final table

Buy in: ₫230,000,000 (~$9,400)
Entries: 92
Prize pool: ₫19,699,960,000 (~$805,000)
ITM: 13 places

Payouts

1st

Ewe Eng Soon

Malaysia

₫5,230,000,000

2nd

Devan Tang

Hong Kong

₫3,634,000,000

3rd

Hamish Crawshaw

New Zealand

₫2,403,000,000

4th

Danny Tang

Hong Kong

₫1,882,000,000

5th

Tzer Chiuan Lim

Malaysia

₫1,516,000,000

6th

Pham Tien Dung

Vietnam

₫1,182,000,000

7th

Yeu Wei Hsiang

Malaysia

₫935,960,000

8th

Zhi Yi Ning

Malaysia

₫729,000,000

9th

Ewe Eng Siang

Malaysia

₫552,000,000

10th

Wai Leong Chan

Malaysia

₫424,000,000

11th

Kartik Ved

India

₫424,000,000

12th

Ferdinand Putra

Indonesia

₫394,000,000

13th

Chi-Jen Chu

Taiwan

₫394,000,000

You can watch the final table race via the Poker Dream social media channels or read on for the brief recap below.

The final table opened with three players dwarfing the rest – Danny Tang, Crawshaw, and Soon. Three players were quickly dusted Siang (9th), Zhi Yi Ning (8th), and Hsiang (7th). Out next was Vietnam’s last hope, Pham Tien Dung, who couldn’t bring up his stack and took a stand with Ac that missed against Crawshaw’s pocket Nines. It took some time before another tumbled, Tzer Chiuan Lim, who also went down at the hands of Crawshaw.

While Crawshaw seemed to be cruising, Devan Tang survived multiple shoves to rise from just 3 BB. The biggest pot of the table came down between Soon and Danny Tang with the former winning the race with holding against AhKs on a board Jh. Tang plunged to 3 BB and was later put out of his misery in 4th place by Crawshaw.

Despite having railed half of his final table opponents, Crawshaw had it rough at three-handed. He lost two showdowns against Devan Tang then fell in 3rd place to Soon to bring about heads up. Soon was ahead 82 BB to Tang’s 25 BB. On the second hand, Tang was all in with to Soon’sAdJd. The final board ran AhJc.

Stick with us here at Somuchpoker as we bring you full coverage of the festival from start to finish. Poker Dream Vietnam has been ongoing since October 14 and will run through October 23 at the Grand Hall of Hoiana Hotel & Suites.

Live Updates page
Poker Dream Player Guide
Daily event pics – Somuchpoker fb page
Main Event info

Article links:

Poker Dream releases Hoi An full schedule
Poker Dream makes landfall in Hoi An, Vietnam
Poker Dream kicks off
Poker Dream: Day 1 recap
Poker Dream: First four trophies awarded
Poker Dream: Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand lift trophies

About the Editor

SMP Editor

The SMP Editor covers international poker and iGaming for SoMuchPoker, providing news, tournament coverage, and industry insights. With a focus on accuracy, clarity, and relevance, the editor helps readers stay informed about developments across the global poker community.