The 2024 U Series of Poker (USOP) Grand Finale has reached its climax. It will wrap up today at the Pullman Grand Hotel in Hai Phong, Vietnam with the conclusion of the Championship event, which drew a record-breaking 1,059 entries across four flights to surpass its VND 20 billion ($788,000) guarantee and generate a whopping VND 23 billion.
A total of 133 players return for the final day today. While everyone is guaranteed at least $1,655, all eyes will be focused on the grand top prize of VND 3.7 BILLION ($145,700). China’s Chen Xiong leads the way with 1,643,000. Chen Peng, also of China, is second with 1,643,000 chips.
Following their impressive showing in the Main Event, Team India had a strong presence in the championship event. More than a dozen of Indians have made to the final day today, including Shravan Chhabria (624,000), Abhijith Cheruku (543,000), Harsh Bubna (360,000), Amit Kaushik (285,000), Karia Siddharth (267,000), Aayush Arya (228,000), Ankit Jain (203,000), Deepankur Gupta (192,000), Ashish Munot (157,000), Kunal Patni (148,000), Nageshwara Alaparthy (69,000), and Ashwin Vijayvergiya (50,000).
India’s Nishant Sharma Shines In the High Roller Sunday Special Mega Boost
In one of the major highlights from the series, Malaysia’s Kin Hang Wai topped a 311-entry field in Event #51: VND 77 Million High Roller Sunday Special Mega Boost, winning his second live title and a career-high VND 3.77 Billion ($148,780). Dutch player Tom Verbruggen claimed the runner-up spot, earning a career-best VND 2.63 Billion (~$103,686).
However, the highlight for Indians in this event was the power-packed performance by Nishant Sharma. The three-time Poker Dream Main Event champion, who had a historic run at Poker Dream 13 Malaysia, continued his momentum with a third-place finish in this High Roller Sunday Special Mega Boost. His impressive finish earned Sharma a massive VND 1.98 Billion (INR 66.24 Lakhs) – the biggest Indian score so far in the series. With this, Sharma became India’s top earner in the series, overtaking the Natural8 India director and ambassador Kunal Patni.
WSOP bracelet winner Aditya Agarwal finished 17th in the High Roller Sunday Special Mega Boost for VND255 Million, while Ashish Munot scored a fourth cash of the series with 33rd place for VND 130 Million, pushing his series winnings to VND 477.50 Million (INR15.97 Lakhs).
India’s Harsh Bubna & Kartik Ved Shine With Runner-Up Finishes
Meanwhile, Vietnam’s Dac Dung Duong overcame a field of 365 entries to win Event #50: VND 15 Million Megastack. He took home VND 896 Million ($35,324) from the VND 4,631,850,000 ($182,740) prizepoo, following a heads-up deal with Quang Tung Bui (2nd for VND 738 Million).
India’s Harsh Bubna had a strong showing in this particular event. Starting the final day second in chips, he came close to winning the title, eventually finishing third for VND 436 Million (INR 14.59 Lakhs). This was his fifth cash of the series, taking his winnings from the series to VND 577 Million.
Singapore’s Teng Yang Hoo topped a star-studded field of 91 entries to emerge victorious in Event #57: VND 22 Million Mini Highroller. He took home VND 515 Million (~$20,304) from the VND 1,710,800,000 ($ 67,495) prize pool, which was eventually shared by the top 11 finishers.
Shining for India in this event was none other than Kartik Ved. The WSOP bracelet winner narrowly missed out on his first live title in Asia, finishing runner-up for VND 322.30 Million (INR 10.78 Lakhs). This was his fourth cash of the series, boosting his total series winnings to VND 657.5 Million.
India’s Shravan Chhabria also made it to the Mini Highroller final table, finishing in 8th place for VND 61.50 Million (INR 2.06 Lakhs). All eyes are now on the Championship Event where over a dozen Indians have made it to the Day 2 finale, with Shravan Chhabria headlines them in chips.
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