USOP Danang 2024 pays out over VN₫ 226 Billion (~$9.26 Million); Ian Lee, Josh McCully, Tao Wei Chang top performers

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As promised, USOP Danang 2024 delivered the richest U Series of Poker festival to date with two weeks of thrilling poker taking place in Danang, Vietnam. Running from March 19 to April 1, 2024 at the Pullman Danang Beach Resort, the festival paid out a jaw dropping VN₫ 226,182,700,000 (~USD 9,268,221) across 71 trophy events. This was VN₫ 63 Billion (~$2.5M) more than its previous high, setting a new brand record. Let’s take a look at the numbers.

USOP Danang 2024 – Festival Results
USOP Danang 2024 – Player of the Series Leaderboard
USOP Danang 2024 – Photo Gallery

USOP Danang 2024  by the numbers

Date: March 19 to April 1, 2024
Venue: Pullman Danang Beach Resort, Vietnam
Trophy events: 71
Guarantee: VN₫ 60,000,000,000 (~USD 2.45 Million)
Festival prize pool: VN₫ 226,182,700,000 (~USD 9,268,221)
Seven figure USD events: Main Event, Billionaire Club Challenge

Main Event results

Entries: 1,702
Prize pool:
VN₫ 44,575,300,000 (~USD 1,800,000)
Champion: Ian Lee – Malaysia – VN₫ 7,120,000,000 (~USD 287,677)

High Roller Series

Events: 12
Guarantee: VN₫ 27,300,000,000 (~USD 1.09 Million)
High Roller Series prize pool: VN₫ 113,631,600,000 (~USD 4,540,770)

High Roller Event Guarantee Prize pool in VN₫ ~USD
Warm Up 1,200,000,000 2,599,600,000 103,984
Mystery Bounty 1,500,000,000 3,104,000,000 124,160
Deepstack 1,800,000,000 6,111,000,000 244,440
Single Day 1,500,000,000 3,152,500,000 126,100
Championship 2,500,000,000 11,271,400,000 450,856
Superstar Challenge 3,000,000,000 12,819,500,000 512,780
Bounty Hunter 1,800,000,000 7,857,000,000 314,280
Megastack 2,100,000,000 11,475,100,000 459,004
Super High Roller 2,400,000,000 15,054,400,000 602,176
Billionaire Club Challenge 4,000,000,000 25,142,400,000 1,005,696
The Finale 4,000,000,000 11,872,800,000 474,912
Last Change 1,500,000,000 3,171,900,000 126,876

Player achievements

Player of the Series: Tao Wei Chang – 11 cashes – VN₫ 2,617,500, (~USD 104,577) – 2,490 points – 
Single largest tournament winner
: Ian Lee – Main Event champion – VN₫ 7,120,000,000 (~USD 287,677)
Biggest earner: Josh McCully – VN₫ 12,332,800,000 (~USD 495,850)
Muti-winners: Josh McCully (2), Vladimir Litasov (2), Thanh Hung Tran (2), Rungrot Nuannoi (2), Jooree Kim (2)
Most final table cashes: Thanh Hung Tran
Trophy by Flag: Korea (15), Vietnam (14), China (11), Australia (6), UK (5), Singapore (4), Russia (4), Malaysia (2), USA (2), Thailand (2), Hong Kong (1), Philippines (1), Taiwan (1), Serbia (1), India (1), Indonesia (1)

USOP Danang 2024 top performers

Ian Lee wins record breaking Main Event for career high VN₫ 7.1 Billion (~USD 287.6K)

The USOP Main Event generated a record-breaking VN₫ 44,575,300,000 (~USD 1,800,000) prize pool, surpassing its previous high by VN₫ 10 Billion. Drawing in 1,702 entries across four entry flights, the event saw Malaysia’s Ian Lee emerge as champion, securing the largest USOP payout ever of VN₫ 7,120,000,000 (~USD 287,677). This victory marked Lee’s first live title and the highest score of his career. Another interesting fact, the top four places paid out the equivalent of six figures USD.

Ian Lee wins USOP Danang 2024 Main Event
Ian Lee and friends

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

Final table payouts

Place Player Flag Payout in VN₫ ~USD
1 Ian Lee Malaysia 7,120,000,000 284,800
2 Phan Quang Thai Vietnam 4,916,000,000 196,640
3 Gabriel Carter UK 3,422,000,000 136,880
4 Thomas Ward New Zealand 2,504,200,000 100,168
5 Fan Ying Kan China 1,877,100,000 75,084
6 Chun Hao Zhang China 1,512,000,000 60,480
7 Truong Vu Tran Khanh Vietnam 1,230,700,000 49,228
8 Buyu Sakurai Japan 960,300,000 38,412
9 Alok Birewar India 712,800,000 28,512

Read up on his victory via the live updates.

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

Josh McCully earns VN₫ 12,332,800 (~USD 495,850) for festival’s biggest earner

Josh McCully at USOP Danang 2024
Josh McCully and friends

Australia’s Josh McCully was on fire at the series, racking up five high roller event cashes with massive takedowns at two of the Super High Roller events Due to this, he emerged the richest earner, walking away with a combined VN₫ 12,332,800,000 (~USD 495,850) in winnings.

Event # Event Place Payout in VN₫ ~USD
Event 12 High Roller Deepstack 7th 232,600,000 9,304
Event 24 High Roller Championship 2nd 2,160,200,000 86,408
Event 30 Superstar Challenge 1st 3,222,800,000 128,912
Event 46 Super High Roller 20th 167,200,000 6,688
Event 55 Billionaire Club Challenge 1st 6,550,000,000 262,000

Interview with Josh McCully after winning the Billionaire Club Challenge

Josh McCully at USOP Danang 2024
Josh McCully

SMP: You take the word “challenge” out of the Super High Roller events! How does it feel to win the Billionaire Club Challenge just after the Superstar Challenge? And how did you endure the 19 hours and keep sharp? 

Josh: It was an incredible run and amazing to finally get some back-to-back massive scores! I feel very blessed and grateful. Firstly, I always make sure I am heavily caffeinated and have a good supply of snacks and liquids to get me through the grueling hours. Also I am very fortunate I have my supportive partner Bella who is always there to provide whatever I need throughout the series.

SMP: What was the toughest part?

Josh: Staying focused and dialled in. But I always try to do my best to reset my mindset.

SMP: At the Billionaire Club Challenge, you were up against many of the same players leading up to it but this was Soo Jo Kim’s first appearance. You were behind at the start of heads up, what was your strategy against him?

Josh: I’ve played with SJ many many years ago and he usually plays quite well so I was just looking to play my usual game and then switch up if necessary. When I took the lead, it wasn’t an easy hand. He was representing a bigger Ace than my A2 hearts. I eventually put the chips in and fortunately he was bluffing.

SMP: Coming off a Triton event where the stakes were much much higher, did you take anything from that experience and apply it at this event? 

Josh: It was my first Triton experience and on my first event I was fortunate enough to final table however after all the events were concluded, I ended up in a net loss. The competition in Triton Jeju was certainly much touger so I was back in my comfort zone playing USOP events where I’ve played often with my competition.

SMP: With all this success, when will you be back in Asia

Josh: I’m sure I’ll be back sometime this year for some of the bigger series. Poker in Asia is booming so I would recommend for anyone to experience it as it is enjoyable and great atmosphere.

Tao Wei Chang rakes in 11 cashes to win Player of the Series

Tao Wei Chang wins USOP Danang Player of the Series
Tao Wei Chang

Taiwan’s Tao Wei Chang aka David Chang was another strong force cashing out in an impressive 11 events! At one point he was seen multi-tabling the Mini Main and the High Roller Megastack. Despite having no victories, Chang’s stats dominated to become the first ever USOP Player of the Series winner. He was awarded the first USOP Ring and is now frontrunner in the USOP Player of the Year race. In total, he accumulated VN₫ 2,617,500,000 (~USD 104,700) in winnings.

Event # Event Place Payout in VN₫ ~USD
Event 4 Mini High Roller 2nd 223,100,000 8,924
Eent 19 High Roller Single Day 4th 298,400,000 11,936
Event 27 Pot Limit Omaha – Turbo 2nd 67,900,000 2,716
Event 31 Short Deck 4th 33,900,000 1,356
Event 11 Bounty Hunter – Hyper Turbo 11th 10,200,000 408
Event 35 Mini Main Event 33rd 69,800,000 2,792
Event 41 High Roller Megastack 2nd 1,769,500,000 70,780
Event 56 Mystery Rush Bounty 26th 12,400,000 496
Event 57 Tag Team Event 10th 21,100,000 844
Event 65 Mixed NLH/PLO 2nd 90,300,000 3,612
Event 71 Hyper Turbo 4th 20,900,000 836

Korea captures the most trophies

Jooree Kim at USOP Danang 2024
Jooree Kim

Throughout the series, several international contingents were present fielding large numbers. One of the biggest was Korea which saw the presence of top pros Steve Yea, Gab Yong Kim, Yoh Wan Lim, Soo Jo Kim, Hyun Sup Kim, Nam Hyung Kim, to name a few. The latter Nam Hyung was one of players from Korea to score a trophy, his first USOP win.

Another noteworthy player was Jooree Kim who bagged two events taking down the Ladies Event and the record breaking Megastack where she outlasted the 381 entry field.

Up next: USOP Hanoi in late May

With USOP Danang Part 1 in the books, players can start preparing for the brand’s next festival which will take place in Hanoi, Vietnam at the Crown Poker Club. Exact dates and other information has yet  to be revealed.

USOP Danang 2024
Lo Wan Yu and Erique Tam

Links:

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

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