U Series of Poker (USOP) wrapped up its 2023 season with an unforgettable grand finale at Furama Resort in Danang, Vietnam running November 17 to 27. In partnership with Crown Poker Club and Lucky Poker Tour, USOP Danang was the brand’s most ambitious festival of the year and crushed it across the board. Guarantees were shattered and new records were set for a festival prize pool of VN₫ 163,438,680,000 (~$6,741,140). Here are the highlights.
USOP Danang – Festival Results
USOP Danang – Coverage
USOP Danang – Photos
USOP Danang – Player Guide
Festival review
Date: November 17 to 27, 2023
Venue: Furama Resort Danang, Vietnam
Festival prize pool: VN₫ 163,438,680,000 (~$6,741,140)
Trophy events: 53
Record Main Event: VN₫ 34,810,800,000 (~$1,434,020)
Record Superstar Challenge: VN₫ 14,449,100,000 (~$595,470)
Main Event winner: The Naing – VN₫ 4,979,000,000 (~$205,190)
Superstar Challenge winner: Jaewook Shin – VN₫ 3,967,000,000 (~$163,500)
Biggest festival earner: Jinho Hong – 3 cashes – VN₫ 5,327,900,000 (~$219,570)
First USOP Billionaire Club Champion: Jinho Hong – VN₫ 4,585,700,000 (~$188,985)
High Roller series prize pool: VN₫ 85,872,600,000 (~$3,538,950)
Multi-winners: Liew Yew Tong (3), Romain Bier (2), Dong Yixuan (2)
Most final tables: Anton Lu (4), Rohit Begwani (4), Yu-Chung Chang (4), Natalia Rozova (4), Ng Tsun Yin (4), Nguyen Quang Huy (4), Pham Song Hau (4),
Trophy by Flag: China (8), South Korea (8), Vietnam (7), Australia (5), India (4), Malaysia (3), Russia (3), Taiwan (3), Canada (2), France (2), Singapore (2), Germany (1), Ireland (1), New Zealand (1), Philippines (1), Thailand (1), USA (1)
Record breaking Main Event – VN₫ 34,810,800,000 (~$1,434,020)
USOP produced another record breaking Main Event for Vietnam with its 1,595 turnout for a prize pool of VN₫ 34,810,800,000 (~$1,434,020). This was five billion dong more than its previous turnout in Hanoi. Singapore’s The Naing dominated the last two days to seize the single largest festival payout of VN₫ 4,979,000,000 (~$205,190).
High Roller Series amasses over VN₫ 85.8 Billion
The USOP Danang season finale showcased nine high roller events, including the debut of the Billionaire Club Challenge and High Roller Charity Event. In total, the high roller series contributed a substantial VN₫ 85,872,600,000 (~$3,538,950) to the overall festival prize pool, accounting for more than half of the total amount.
| Event | Entries | Prize pool | Champion | 1st place payout |
| Billionaire Club Challenge | 72 | ₫16,761,600,000 | Jinho Hong | ₫4,585,700,000 |
| Superstar Challenge | 133 | ₫14,449,100,000 | Jaewook Shin | ₫3,967,000,000 |
| Super High Roller | 177 | ₫13,735,200,000 | Song Li | ₫3,376,500,000 |
| High Roller The Finale | 191 | ₫11,116,200,000 | Dinh Duc Linh | ₫2,690,000,000 |
| High Roller Megastack | 141 | ₫9,873,900,000 | Do Xuan Huan | ₫2,589,000,000 |
| High Roller Bounty Hunter | 105 | ₫6,111,000,000 | Thomas Ward | ₫1,302,000,000 |
| HIgh Roller Charity Event | 123 | ₫5,842,500,000 | Tobias Bui | 1,100,000,000 |
| High Roller Warm Up | 127 | ₫4,927,600,000 | Nevan Chang | 1,360,000,000 |
| High Roller Last Chance | 105 | ₫3,055,500,000 | John Perry | 851,000,000 |
Other high generating events
Aside from the Main Event, which set a record with a staggering VN₫ 34,810,800,000 (~$1,434,020) prize pool, various non-high roller events also exceeded expectations, resulting in some of the most lucrative prize pools for the greater crowd.
One of the newcomers was the Midweek Superstack. With a 258-entry field and VN₫ 2,502,600,000 (~$103,100) prize pool, there’s a high chance it earned a spot in next year’s roster.
| Event | Entries | Prize pool | Champion |
1st place payout
|
| Main Event | 1,595 | ₫34,810,800,000 | The Naing | ₫4,979,000,000 |
| Mini Main Event | 935 | ₫7,255,600,000 | Oliver Schulze | ₫1,056,000,000 |
| Mystery Millions | 568 | ₫5,509,500,000 | Robert Kiss | ₫820,000,000 |
| Megastack | 279 | ₫2,706,300,000 | Nguyen Chi Cong | ₫614,600,000 |
| Midweek Superstack | 258 | ₫2,502,600,000 | Pham Song Hau | ₫584,000,000 |
Biggest earner: Jinho Hong
One of South Korea’s most famous players, Jinho Hong, displayed why he has a WSOP bracelet. Hong outlasted fellow super high rollers at the Billionaire Club Challenge to claim an ICM deal payout of VN₫ 4,585,700,000 and be the first player in the USOP Hall of Fame.
In addition, Hong finished 4th at the High Roller Charity Event and 9th at the Mini High Roller for a combined payout of VN₫ 5,327,900,000 (~$219,570). He was the festival’s biggest earner.
Liew Yew Tong, Romain Bier, Dong Yixuan win multiple events
Taking down one event is no easy feat and at the series three players took down more than one. Malaysia’s Liew Yew Tong was crowned at three events to walk away with the most trophies. China’s Dong Yixuan and France’s Romain Bier lifted two trophies each.
| Champion | Event | Prize pool | 1st place payout |
| Tommy Liew | Event 26: Turbo | 213,400,000 | 79,000,000 |
| Tommy Liew | Event 42: Turbo | 657,600,000 | 198,600,000 |
| Tommy Liew | Event 53: Short Deck Turbo | 174,600,000 | 53,150,000 |
| Champion | Event | Prize pool | 1st place payout |
| Dong Yixuan | Event 17: Bounty Hunter Hyper Turbo | 291,000,000 | 92,500,000 |
| Dong Yixuan | Event 37: 5-Card PLO | 415,100,000 | 90,200,000 |
| Champion | Event | Prize pool | 1st place payout |
| Romain Bier | Event 16:Turbo | 372,400,000 | 114,000,000 |
| Romain Bier | Event 21: Mini High Roller | 2,366,800,000 | 703,000,000 |
Seven players with four final table cashes
Several players secured multiple final table cashes during the series, with seven individuals accomplishing this feat four times. Taiwan’s Nevan Yu Chung Chang led the pack, claiming victory in the High Roller Warm Up and narrowly missing a second title with a 2nd-place finish at the Heads Up Challenge.
Australia’s Natalia Rozova triumphed in Event 31: Pot Limit Omaha and secured three additional near-wins. India’s Rohit Begwani may have missed the trophy by one spot at a turbo event but he wasn’t going home empty-handed. Five days later, Begwani shipped Event 50: Hyper Turbo for his maiden live title.
Vietnam’s Nguyen Quang Huy notched four final table cashes, including two runner-up finishes in High Roller events and a 4th-place finish in the Main Event. Other players with four final table cashes: Anton Lu, Ng Tsun Yin, and Pham Song Hau.
South Korea and China win 8 events
South Korea displayed dominance at the festival, locking up 8 event trophies and and extra one at the Tag Team tournament. Notably, Jinho Hong and Jae Wook Shin claimed championship titles at the super high roller events – the inaugural Billionaire Club Challenge and the record-breaking Superstar Challenge. These were the 2nd and 3rd richest events on the roster.
| Champion | Event | Prize pool |
1st place payout
|
| Kim Wooseok | Event 11: Hyper Turbo | ₫209,500,000 | ₫104,700,000 |
| Jaewook Shin | Event 13: Superstar Challenge | ₫14,449,100,000 | ₫3,967,000,000 |
| Lee Koangho | Event 23: Hyper Turbo | ₫209,500,000 | ₫73,300,000 |
| Youjin Jang | Event 27: Crazy Pineapple | ₫168,700,000 | ₫79,200,000 |
| Yohwan Lim | Event 28: Heads Up Challenge | ₫1,105,800,000 | ₫552,900,000 |
| Jinho Hong | Event 39: Billionaire Club Challenge | ₫16,761,600,000 | ₫4,585,700,000 |
| Dong Hyun Kim / Junam Lee | Event 41: Tag Team | ₫1,018,500,000 | ₫356,400,000 |
| Kang Wongyu | Event 49: Mixed NLH-PLO | ₫320,100,000 | ₫113,600,000 |
China also came out headstrong, capturing 8 trophies. Dong Yixuan picked up two trophies to match her performance at WPT Vietnam last month. The biggest earner in the list was Super High Roller champion Song Li who pocketed VN₫ 3,376,500,000 (~$139,150).
| Champion | Event | Prize pool |
1st place payout
|
| Yin Wenhua | Event 3: Deepstack | ₫388,000,000 | ₫145,000,000 |
| Zhiwen Deng | Event 4: Mini High Roller | ₫1,202,800,000 | ₫330,500,000 |
| Qui Quan | Event 9: Mini High Roller | ₫737,200,000 | ₫302,000,000 |
| Dong Yixuan | Eent 17: Bounty Hunter Hyper Turbo | ₫291,000,000 | ₫92,500,000 |
| Do Xuan Huan | Event 24: High Roller Megastack | ₫9,873,900,000 | ₫2,589,000,000 |
| Song Li | Event 30: Super High Roller | ₫13,735,200,000 | ₫3,376,500,000 |
| Dong Yixuan | Event 37: 5-Card PLO | ₫415,100,000 | ₫90,200,000 |
| Zhang Menghong | Event 43: Double Board Single Winner | ₫166,800,000 | ₫68,400,000 |
Up next: USOP Taiwan 2024
Returning to where it all began, USOP is set to kick off its new season in Taipei City, Taiwan at the CTP Asia Poker Arena. USOP Taiwan 2024 takes place from January 5 to 15, 2024 featuring a NT$ 40 Million guarantee (~$1.3 Million). Riding on the brand’s growing popularity, anticipate a thrilling start to the new year with added features and exciting player perks. Stay tuned for all the updates.
See you in Taiwan!
Tricia David
Tricia David has long experience as a recreational poker player and has been covering poker events since 2010 for numerous outfits in Asia. She spent one year working part time with Poker Portal Asia then became editor and lead writer for all event coverage of the Philippine Poker Tour (PPT). Under the PPT, she overlooked content for their website, and produced live updates on all their events. In addition, she served as the live and online events website content writer for the Asian Poker Tour. Currently, she does live events reporting in Asia for online news site Somuchpoker and is also one of their news contributors.
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