USOP Hai Phong: Ilia Timofeev tops record-breaking Mini Main Event; Chen Peng ships HR: Megastack; Baiyu Ni clinchest third series win; Four more winners emerge
The U Series of Poker Hai Phong festivities, in partnership with Crown Poker Club and Lucky Poker Tour, continue to be in action at Dream Dragon Resort, Hai Phong, Vietnam, with 42 of the 66 trophy events already dusted. Day 8 of the series saw seven runners emerge victorious with Mini Main Event champion Ilia Timofeev topping the largest highlight on schedule.
Joining the winner spotlight is China’s Chen Peng with a victory over the High Roller: Megastack and local runner Baiyu Ni locking up a third series trophy. Single day events Midweek Superstack, Mini High Roller, NLH Turbo, and Big Buy-in Deepstack Event, likewise played down to completion with Bien Mai, Zhichen Yu, Nguyen Manh Cuong, and Nguyen Dang Khoa newly minted.
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Ilia Timofeev reigns supreme at the Mini Main Event
“It’s my first time to play in Asia! It is my biggest cash. I’m very happy and it’s a victory for me and my wife.“, commented Ilia following his win.
“USOP is the best series for me. In Russia, there’s no good series but here the series is good and also the Vietnamese people.”
A great preview of the Main Event, this season’s Mini Main Event games recorded a smashing turnout across three flights with only 139 runners returning for the Day 2 battle. Many fell short on making the cut of which included notables Pham Tien Dung (16th), Lee Kun Han (27th), Ian Lee (63rd), and Kyle Bao Diep (99th).
The Mini Main Event final table games began with Russia’s Ilia Timofeev just slightly behind running chip leader Nguyen Manh Tu. Ilia took a backseat early on, avoiding any significant clashes up until seven-handed action came into play.
The turning point saw the USOP first-timer scoop up a three way all-in with pocket kings to take the lead. From there, an ICM deal was agreed upon amongst five players, with Ilia taking the biggest cut of the VN₫ 10,518,600,000 (~US$ 427,410) prize pool. Guaranteed VN₫ 1,254,244,830 (~US$ 51,000) in winnings and a fighting chance to claim the trophy, Ilia went on to bust Nguyen Manh Tu in third place finish and arrive at heads up play almost at par in chips with Do Khac Thang.
It took another half an hour of back and forth before Ilia managed to finish off his last opponent, shipping back to back pots to signal the end of the tournament. An incredible feat, Ilia stands tall over the 1,120 (732 unique) entry field, earning him a truly memorable career first victory.
When asked if we can expect him in the next USOP, Ilia replied “Yes yes, of course! I like Vietnam!”
Date/s: September 16-18, 2024
Buy in: VN₫ 11,000,000 (~US$ 440)
Guarantee: VN₫ 3,000,000,000 (~US$ 122,220)
Prize pool: VN₫ 10,518,600,000 (~US$ 427,410)
Entries: 1,120 (732 unique)
ITM: 140 players
Final Table Payouts
1st Ilia Timofeev – VN₫ 1,254,244,830
2nd Do Khac Thang – VN₫ 919,567,520
3rd Karia Siddarth – VN₫ 743,701,770
4th Nguyen Manh Tu – VN₫ 1,209,653,36
5th Nguyen Viet Dang – VN₫ 763,232,510
6th Defeng Liu – VN₫ 388,000,000
7th Tran Van Tai – VN₫ 307,900,000
8th Tran Anh Dung – VN₫ 236,000,000
9th Erik Rozhynskyi – VN₫ 176,000,000
Backtrack on the day’s action via SMP Daily Updates
All information on concluded events can be found in the USOP Hai Phong Festival Results.
Chen Peng ships High Roller: Megastack for VN₫ 1,600,000 (~US$ 65,060)
The two-day High Roller: Megastack saw only twelve players return for the Day 2 games, each locking up a share of the VN₫ 5,461,400,000 (~US$ 222,410) pot. It took only one level before the final table was set with Lee Juyeol holding down the lead.
A bulldozing win, China’s Chen Peng fared unrelentless having survived his first all-in against running chip leader Lee Juyeol early on. From there, Chen picked up momentum and used this ammo to eliminate Nguyen Trung Quan in seventh place. Two hours in, Chen finally overtook the lead and went on to crush Ryan Plant’s Q♦Q♣ with A♠9♠ for over half the chips in play.
Running table captain, Chen pumped up the aggression and grinded down his last two opponents, pulling bluffs and putting maximum pressure preflop. Toan Chan Truong finally took a stand with A♥4♥ yet failed to turn the tables after Chen’s Q♠7♦ paired up on board 4♠2♥Q♥K♣5♠ to knock the former out in third place finish. With a 9:1 advantage onto heads up, the battle only lasted one deal with the final hand seeing Lee call off for his last ten big blinds with A♦2♥ against Chen’s Q♦9♦. The board 3♥5♠K♠9♠6♣ remained in favor of Chen, securing him his maiden USOP win for VN₫ 1,600,000,000 (~US$ 65,060).
Relive the action via USOP Hai Phong – High Roller: Megastack Final Table livestream
Date: September 17-18, 2024
Buy in: VN₫ 77,000,000 (~US$ 3,080)
Guarantee: VN₫ 2,100,000,000 (~US$ 85,520)
Prize pool: VN₫ 5,461,400,000 (~US$ 222,410)
Entries: 83 (52 unique)
ITM: 12 players
Final Table Payouts
1st Chen Peng – VN₫ 1,600,000,000
2nd Lee Juyeol – VN₫ 1,040,000,000
3rd Toan Chan Truong – VN₫ 700,000,000
4th Jason Lau – VN₫ 500,000,000
5th Ryan Plant – VN₫ 362,400,000
6th Tianhao Zheng – VN₫ 275,500,000
7th Nguyen Trung Quan – VN₫ 214,600,000
8th Lee Hasung – VN₫ 178,400,000
9th Kazuo Yamamoto – VN₫ 160,000,000
All information on concluded events can be found in the USOP Hai Phong Festival Results.
Baiyu Ni tops 10/10/10 NLH for third series title
China’s Baiyu Ni has been having a stellar run at this season’s USOP Hai Phong games, being the sole runner to bag a third series trophy. Ni booked another win at the 10/10/10 NLH event and locked in the VN₫ 59,500,000 top prize after outlasting the 43 (34 unique) entry field. With five days left on schedule, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Chinese runner top the Player of the Series (POTS) race by the end of the week.
Date: September 18, 2024
Buy-in: VN₫ 4,000,000 (~US$ 160)
Prize pool: VN₫ 145,512,000 (~US$ 5,900)
Entries: 43 (34 unique)
ITM: 5 places
All information on concluded events can be found in the USOP Hai Phong Festival Results.
Bien Mai locks in maiden USOP trophy at Midweek Superstack
The earliest event on yesterday’s schedule, Midweek Superstack wrapped up with Vietnam’s own Bien Mai topping the charts. Bien survived the long grind and rose to become the last man standing across the 259 (188 unique) entry field. The highly decorated runner secured the final victory after finishing Duc Kien Tran in heads up play, earning him his maiden USOP trophy and VN₫ 520,000,000 in prizes.
Date/s: September 18, 2024
Buy in: VN₫ 10,000,000 (~US$ 400)
Guarantee: VN₫ 900,000,000 (~US$ 36,650)
Prize pool: VN₫ 2,191,140,000 (~US$ 89,230)
Entries: 259 (188 unique)
ITM: 32 places
All information on concluded events can be found in the USOP Hai Phong Festival Results.
Zhichen Yu triumphs over Mini High Roller
Relatively new to the live tournament scene, China’s Zhichen Yu clinched his maiden USOP win at yesterday’s Mini High Roller games. Yu powered through ten hours of play which lasted until the early morning, to bag the day’s last trophy to be awarded. For his efforts, Yu secured the lion’s share of the VN₫ 1,034,000,000 (~US$ 42,000) pot, earning him his best live cash to date at VN₫ 382,900,000 (~US$ 15,550).
Date: September 18, 2024
Buy-in: VN₫ 22,000,000 (~US$ 880)
Guarantee: VN₫ 500,000,000 (~US$ 20,310)
Prize pool: VN₫ 1,034,000,000 (~US$ 42,000)
Entries: 55 (54 unique)
ITM: 7 places
All information on concluded events can be found in the USOP Hai Phong Festival Results.
Nguyen Manh Cuong ships NLH Turbo
The third trophy event of the day saw Nguyen Manh Cuong reign victorious at the NLH Turbo event. It took only six hours of play before Nguyen came out on top of the 63 (53 unique) entry field, earning him the largest payout of VN₫ 84,000,000 (~US$ 3,410). An incredible feat, Nguyen locked up his career first USOP win for his worthy performance.
Date: September 18, 2024
Buy-in: VN₫ 4,500,000 (~US$ 180)
Prize pool: VN₫ 236,880,000 (~US$ 9,625)
Entries: 63 (53 unique)
ITM: 8 places
All information on concluded events can be found in the USOP Hai Phong Festival Results.
Nguyen Dang Khoa bags victory at Big Buy-in Deepstack Event
Another Vietnamese runner lifted a series trophy with Nguyen Dang Khoa topping the Big Buy-in Deepstack Event. It took over eight hours on the felt before a champion was crowned with Nguyen defeating Haiyang Yang in heads up play for the USOP title. Nguyen takes with him the VN₫ 275,000,000 top prize and coveted golden trophy for his impressive run.
Date: September 18, 2024
Buy-in: VN₫ 14,000,000 (~US$ 560)
Prize pool: VN₫ 817,236,000 (~US$ 33,200)
Entries: 69 (58 unique)
ITM: 9 places
All information on concluded events can be found in the USOP Hai Phong Festival Results.
