Malaysia’s Ian Lee wins USOP Danang 2024 Main Event for ₫7.12 Billion (~$287K)

Ian Lee at USOP Danang 2024
Ian Lee

Malaysian player Ian Lee emerged victorious after a four hour heads up battle at the U Series of Poker – USOP Danang 2024 record breaking Main Event! With both Lee and runner up Phan Quang Thai aiming for the massive top prize, no deal was discussed. Lee walked away banking VN₫ 7,120,000,000 (~USD 287,677) and his first ever poker career title. This was the largest first prize payout ever awarded to a player at the USOP.

“I’ve been on a marathon for three days and three nights coz I played Day 1B, I dropped, Day 1C, I dropped. Then I played Day 1D which finished at like 5am. So for like three days, I slept for I think only ten hours. Look now, three days, three nights, and I am here. The feeling is so amazing it’s like after so many hours and opponents are all so great and very skillful. Really takes perseverance. First time in my life.”

USOP Danang Part 1 Main Event final table

Indeed, getting to heads up was no easy task with some of the biggest names in poker vying for every chip. From a record 1,702 entries, the final day opened with 18 players led by New Zealand’s Thomas Ward and UK’s Gabriel Carter. To maintain focus, Lee shared,

“The opponents are all very strong but I believe that poker is a mind sport, mind game, so all you need is perseverance. The mindset is so important, you need to stay alive, think positive. At every break I meditate, I calm my mind and focus and try to relax.”

Phan Quang Thai
Phan Quang Thai

As the final table commenced, Vietnam’s Phan Quang Thai emerged as the new frontrunner. Several busts later, at the five-handed, Lee picked up momentum, cleaning out Fan Ying Kun (5th) and Ward (4th) to overtake with a massive lead. The stage was set for heads-up play after Phan eliminated Carter in 3rd place. Lee was ahead 2:1 with players both very deep. However there were multiple chances for Lee to close it out.

“I grinded him down slowly then I lost three flips, that was so crazy. So I changed strategy, I just shoved any cards, all in and all in because the blinds were quite big. My momentum came back.

So how will the champ celebrate, he says, “I vowed that if I win, I wll stop two things, one is vaping, smoking, bad vices.” Read up on Lee’s victory via the Final Day live updates.

USOP Danang 2024: Main Event – Final Day

USOP Danang 2024 Main Event final results

The USOP Danang 2024 Main Event attracted a record field of 1,702 entries to build the richest USOP prize pool of VN₫ 44,575,300,000 (~USD 1,800,000). The top seven places became billionaires and the top four won  the equivalent of USD six figures. Make sure to read up on the action via the Live Updates.

Date: March 28 to April 1, 2024
Buy in: VN₫ 30,000,000 (~USD 1,235)
Guarantee: VN₫ 15,000,000,000 (~USD 614,500)
Total entries: 1,702
Prize pool: VN₫ 44,575,300,000 (~USD 1,800,000)
ITM: 213 players

Day 1 results

Day 1A: 366 entries (282 unique) / 46 ITM
Day 1B: 416 entries (314 unique) / 52 ITM
Day 1C: 587 entries (411 unique) / 73 ITM
Day 1D: 333 entries (241 unique) / 42 ITM

Final Day payouts

Place Player Flag VN₫ ~USD
1 Ian Lee Malaysia 7,120,000,000 285,944
2 Phan Quang Thai Vietnam 4,916,000,000 197,430
3 Gabriel Carter UK 3,422,000,000 137,430
4 Thomas Ward New Zealand 2,504,200,000 100,570
5 Fan Ying Kun China 1,877,100,000 75,386
6 Chun Hao Zhang China 1,512,000,000 60,723
7 Truong Vu Tran Khanh Vietnam 1,230,700,000 49,426
8 Buyu Sakurai Japan 960,300,000 38,566
9 Alok Birewar India 712,800,000 28,627
10 Anthony Lewis USA 501,300,000 20,133
11 Do Tuan Phong Vietnam 501,300,000 20,133
12 Le Giang Nam Vietnam 501,300,000 20,133
13 Le Ngoc Minh Vietnam 389,400,000 15,639
14 Hyo Seok Park Korea 389,400,000 15,639
15 Seung Hun Ko Korea 389,400,000 15,639
16 Tae Hyoeng Kim Korea 302,300,000 12,141
17 Jun Ma China 302,300,000 12,141
18 Chang Xiang Guang Malaysia 302,300,000 12,141

Links:

USOP Danang 2024 – News
USOP Danang 2024 – Festival Results

USOP Danang 2024 – Player of the Series Leaderboard
USOP Danang 2024 – Schedule
USOP Danang 2024 – Photo Gallery

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