Record breaking Poker Dream Vietnam pays out over $3.8 Million; locals dominate; Dang Thanh Luong, Sin Ren Chen bag two; highlights inside

The inaugural Poker Dream Vietnam has come and gone but the experience will certainly not be forgotten by those that graced the felt. Running from October 14 to 23 at the Grand Hall of Hoiana Hotel & Suites, it was the first live poker event held in Hoi An, Vietnam, and it was an enormous success. Similar to its launch in Malaysia last July, the prize pools were immense, setting new heights in Asia.

Over 28 events, the series concluded with a grand total ₫94,572,158,000 (~$3,855,366,000) prize pool, making it the richest festival in the region this year. The Super High Roller contributed the most with a Vietnam record prize pool of ₫19,699,960,000 (~$803,100) for a single tournament. The Main Event was also a Vietnam chart buster with 822 entries, the largest attendance for a buy in of ₫25M, and a record prize pool of ₫17,940,150,000 (~$731,350).

In other results, host country Vietnam dominated, capturing 8 trophies which included the Main Event won by Minh Anh Nguyen. Two players bagged two events – Vietnam’s Dang Thanh Luong and Taiwan’s Sin Ren Chen -,and Philippines’ Jason Kyle Magbanua picked up four final table cashes. We’ve got all those highlights below and results of the remaining side events.

Festival review (trophy events only)

Festival prize pool: ₫94,572,158,000 (~$3,855,366,000)
Entries: 3,504
Record prize pools for Vietnam:

• Super High Roller – ₫19,699,960,000 (~$803,100)
• Main Event – ₫17,940,150,000 (~$731,350)

Largest tournament payout: Ewe Eng Soon – ₫5,230,000,000 (~$215,000)
Main Event champion: Minh Anh Nguyen – ₫3,378,000,000 (~$137,700)

Multiple wins:

• Dang Thanh Luong – Deepstack and Monster Stack
• Sin Ren Chen – PLO Turbo and High Roller

Most final table cashes: Jason Kyle Magbanua – 4
Trophy by flag:

• Vietnam – 8
• Korea – 5
• Malaysia – 4
• Hong Kong – 3
• Taiwan – 3
• Philippines – 2
• Thailand – 2
• India – 1

Festival highlights

Record high Vietnam tournament prize pool of ₫19,699,960,000 (~$803,100)

The Poker Dream Vietnam high roller scene was unlike any seen in Asia this year. In addition to the regular circuit pros was a star studded showing of Asian players mostly seen at Triton events. The Super High Roller was most impressive with a stunning 92 putting up the hefty ₫230,000,000 (~$9,400) buy in. This resulted in the single largest Vietnam tournament prize pool of ₫19,699,960,000 (~$803,100). It was also just three buy ins shy of the inaugural Poker Dream Malaysia collection. Claiming the lion’s share was Malaysia’s Ewe Eng Soon, earning the single largest festival first prize of ₫5,230,000,000 (~$215,000) for his victory.

Record breaking Vietnam Main Event prize pool of ₫17,940,150,000 (~$731,350)

The Main Event was anticipated to be a big one that weeks prior, the guarantee was upped from ₫8 Billion to a very generous ₫10 Billion. The response was tremendous with 822 flooding the felt, the largest seen in Vietnam for a buy in of ₫25 Million (~$1,020). This also bloated the prize pool to ₫17,940,150,000 (~$731,350), making it the richest Main Event prize pool in the country. After four days of competition, Vietnam’s own Minh Anh Nguyen claimed it for a career high ₫3,378,000,000 (~$ 137,700).

VIETNAM closes with eight trophies claimed

Vietnam surged at the end of the series, capturing the last five events to bring its closing trophy total to eight. This was the most by any flag with Korea a far second with five under its belt.

• Minh Anh Nguyen – Main Event
• Hao Manh Nguyen – Short Deck Single Day
• Dang Thanh Luong – Deepstack
• Dang Thanh Luong – Monster Stack
• Thai Van Nguyen – Midnight Hyper Turbo
• Nhat Duc Nguyen – Turbo Edition of the Main Event
• Minh Quang Nguyen – Mini High Roller
• Ngoc Phuong Nguyen – Deepstack Hyper Turbo

DANG THANH LUONG and SIN REN CHEN bag two events

Vietnam’s Dang Thanh Luong and Taiwan’s Sin Ren Chen both walked away with two titles. Luong was first to achieve this with a victory at the Deepstack and Monster Stack for a total payout of ₫724,180,000 (~$29,520). As for Chen, he won the PLO Turbo event on Day 4 then closed out the series with a bang at the two-day High Roller. He earned a combined ₫2,317,800,000 (~$94,480).

Filipino JASON KYLE MAGBANUA with four final table cashes

On his first visit to Vietnam for a poker event, Filipino player Jason Kyle Magbanua finished as the player with the most final table cashes. Magbanua monied at four final tables with a victory at the Pot Limit Omaha for his first ever title outside home turf.

• 1st at Pot Limit Omaha
• 6th at Pot Limit Omaha Turbo
• 3rd at Deepstack
• 3rd at Mini High Roller

BRANDON KOH rises from 1 BB to Main Event runner up

Malaysia’s Hsien Ren Koh aka Brandon Koh staged the most stunning comeback at the Main Event. Down to 13 players, Koh lost a showdown against Wai Sim Kok to plunge to 1 BB. Forced to bring in the small blind on the next hand, he shortened further to half a big blind. As luck would have it, he won the pot to rise to 3 BB. From there, he claimed four more double ups to regain a healthy stack and eventually reached the final table. Koh took the lead at five handed and carried it into heads up where he finished in 2nd place.

Coming out in full force

Final side events

Event 23: High Roller 3BN GTD – SIN REN CHEN – ₫2,234,000,000 (~$91,000)

Buy in: ₫60,000,000 (~$2,445)
Guarantee: ₫3,000,000,000 (~$122,300)
Entries: 172
Prize pool: ₫8,910,420,000 (~$363,245)
ITM: 23 places

Event 21: NLH Turbo – HA YOUNG PARK – ₫92,800,000 (~$3,780)

Buy in: ₫6,000,000 (~$245)
Entries: 59
Prize pool: ₫309,402,000
ITM: 8 places

Event 22: NLH Turbo – JAEHO KIM – ₫125,000,000 (~$5,095)

Buy in: ₫6,000,000 (~$245)
Entries: 90
Prize pool: ₫471,420,000
ITM: 13 places

Event 24: Monster Stack: DANG THANH LUONG – ₫345,000,000 (~$14,060)

Buy in: ₫12,000,000 (~$490)
Entries: 131
Prize pool: ₫1,372,356,000 (~$55,940)
ITM: 17 places

Event 25: Midnight Hyper Turbo: THAI VAN NGUYEN – ₫108,598,000 (~$4,425)

Buy in: ₫6,000,000 (~$245)
Entries: 71
Prize pool: ₫371,898,000 (~$15,160)
ITM: 9 places

Event 26: Turbo Edition of Main Event: NHAT DUC NGUYEN – ₫138,300,000 (~$5,630)

Buy in: ₫8,000,000 (~$325)
Entries: 72
Prize pool: ₫502,848,000
ITM: 11 places

Event 27: Mini High Roller: MINH QUANG NGUYEN – ₫709,000,000 (~$28,900)

Buy in: ₫30,000,000 (~$1,225)
Entries: 102
Prize pool: ₫2,671,380,000
ITM: 13 places

Event 28: Deepstack Hyper Turbo: NGOC PHUONG NGUYEN – ₫49,050,000 (~$2,000)

Buy in: ₫6,000,000 (~$245)
Entries: 30
Prize pool: ₫157,140,000
ITM: 5 places

*Heads up deal

That completes our coverage of Poker Dream Vietnam! You can read up on the event via the links provided below.

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

Article links:

Main Event info
Main Event Day 1A recap
Main Event shatters guarantee, sets new Vietnam record
Main Event champion to be crowned

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
Poker Dream: Ewe Eng Soon wins the SHR for $215K