The U Series of Poker (USOP) takes place in Taipei, Taiwan, from January 5th to January 15th, 2024. Here is an insightful interview featuring Alex Wong, the COO of USOP. In this an interview with Noel Zarate originally published on SMP, he gives us an inside look at the behind-the-scenes magic that makes USOP a worldwide sensation in poker.
Q: What does the USOP stand for? What is the significance of the ‘U’ in USOP?
A: The ‘U’ represents the players. USOP stands for U Series of Poker, emphasizing our player-centric approach. We ensure top-notch experiences, value their feedbacks, and continually improve based on their inputs.
Q: How did the idea for USOP come about?
A: During the pandemic, with no tournaments happening, our passionate group saw an opportunity post-pandemic to venture into places like Taiwan and Vietnam. All our events are player-focused, and planned based on their feedback.
Q: What gap did USOP aim to fill in the market?
A: Player experience was lacking. As a tournament player myself, I’d travel for tournaments without any organizer support. USOP aims for personal connections, arranging services, and valuing player feedback for continuous improvement.
Q: How was the experience launching USOP in Taiwan?
A: Initially planned pre-pandemic, we faced delays. When it finally launched after the pandemic hiatus, it was a test phase. We wanted to gauge player support in Taiwan and ensure a successful start. It turned out to be quite a success.
Q: The main event buy-in was set at around $660, quite low, yet it had over 1,000 entries. What were the highs and challenges?
The highs were the tremendous support we received but there were a few hiccups along the way, as expected for a first-time event. Nothing major, though.
Q: You changed the buy-in for the Vietnam event. What led to that decision?
A: For us, it’s all about understanding the market, working with local partners, and aligning with the preferences and comfort levels of the players there. It’s a collaborative effort to create a structure that works best.
Q: From Taiwan to Vietnam, what adjustments did you make to improve the event?
A: We adjusted the buy-ins and introduced more High Roller events. The High Roller series became our flagship, attracting players specifically for those events, though the main event remained crucial.
Q: Returning to Hanoi, the USOP broke records. What contributed to this success?
A: It was largely due to branding and word of mouth. Each successful event attracted more participants from countries like the Philippines, India, Korea, and China, where our numbers were previously low.
Q: You have taken the USOP outside poker rooms to Da Nang. Why this massive shift?
A: The challenge was to break the misconception that Da Nang lacked local players. We were confident about breaking records, and securing the right partners and numbers before the event was crucial to proving everyone wrong.
Q: What sets the USOP apart and makes it an attractive poker event?
A: The feedback on our trophies has been amazing, and players fight for something beyond just money. The atmosphere at USOP is enjoyable, balanced, and not as intense as some other competitive brands.
Q: Any plans for USOP in 2024?
A: We are aiming for multiple tournaments in Vietnam due to strong local support, possibly in Da Nang and Hanoi. Taiwan’s event in January is also on the cards, with hopes for more partnerships in other countries.
Q: Your message to poker players yet to experience the USOP?
A: Come and experience first-class service, personal touch, excitement, and unleash your inner champion at our next event in Taiwan happening from January 5th to 15th.
Watch full interview here:
Interview Credits: SoMuchPoker
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