Asian circuit regulars and local poker enthusiasts from Vietnam can look forward to another blockbuster local series with the Vietnam Poker League staging its second event in less than a month. Dubbed the VPL Summer Series Hanoi 2024, the event takes place at the Grand Loyal Poker Club from May 3 to 15, 2024 in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Vietnam Poker League Summer Series Hanoi 2024
Following in the footsteps of its successful debut earlier in March, expectations are high for the upcoming Vietnam Poker League Summer Series Hanoi 2024 with boosted overall guarantees of VN₫ 40 Billion (~USD 1.67 Million), up 25% from previous. There has also been an increase in the number of events with 39 titles up for grabs.
Vietnam Poker League Summer Series Hanoi – Player Guide
Players from all buy-in levels will find something to compete in with a very diverse schedule. Additionally, VPL maintains the “no winning fee” status for the entire series. Satellites kick off for as little as VN₫ 600,000 (~USD 24) while the cheapest Side Event comes with a price tag of VN₫ 800,000 (~USD 33).
The flagship Main Event costs VN₫ 25,000,000 (~USD 1,020) whereas several High Roller tournaments have an even higher entry fee. It all culminates in the VN₫ 88,000,000 (~USD 3,592) Super High Roller as well as the VN₫ 120,000,000 (~USD 4,898) Super Star Challenge, both of which are two-day tournaments and play out on four consecutive days from May 7 to May 10.
Crown Jewel of the Series: VPL Main Event
The VPL Main Event buy-in has increased slightly from the debut edition while the guarantee has been boosted by 50 percent. In March 2024, the event drew a field of 778 to nearly double its guarantee for a prize pool of VN₫ 15,093,200,000 (~USD 612,022). Pham Tien Dung came out on top of a stacked final table, which included Chi-Jen “Justin” Chu, Peng Sen Wu, and Bien Mai.
As has been the case in the previous edition, a total of four entry days are available starting May 9 with the final two flights taking place on Saturday, May 11. All participants receive 40,000 in chips and levels of 40 minutes each across the regular Day 1s while the turbo heat Day 1D has a reduced duration of 25 minutes throughout. The four Day 1 heats all play down to the top 12.5% of each field to secure a cash prize.
Should players bag up multiple times, they will carry over the best stack to Day 2 and receive a min-cash for all other inferior stacks. The registration for all four Main Event flights remains open until the start of level 11.
With cash prizes locked up for Day 2, the level duration increases to 50 minutes each and gets bumped up further to one hour each for the final day of the tournament, when a winner will get crowned.
Date/s: May 9-13, 2024
Buy-in: VN₫ 25,000,000 (~USD 1,020)
Guarantee: VN₫ 12,000,000,000 (~USD 489,795)
Day 1A: Thursday, May 9
Day 1B: Friday, May 10
Day 1C: Saturday, May 11
Day 1D (Turbo): Saturday, May 11
Day 2: Sunday, May 12
Final Day: Monday, May 13
Further Key Events on the Schedule
On opening day, May 3rd, there is something for everyone. The first of three starting days of the Kick Off Event gets underway with a buy-in of VN₫ 5,000,000 (~USD 200) and the tournament has a guarantee of VN₫ 3,000,000,000 (~USD 120,800). This will certainly attract a large field for such a bargain buy-in across the three available starting days.
A similar buy-in comes in Event #8 Megastack, which features a price tag of VN₫ 6,600,000 (~USD 269) and a guarantee of VN₫ 1.2 billion (~USD 48,000). This one-day tournament has a clock of 30/25 minutes and deep structure with 40,000 chips. Event #27 Super Stack on Friday, May 10, has the same buy-in and structure but slightly smaller guarantee of VN₫ 1 billion (~USD 40,000) while Event #36 Double Stack Closer has 30-minute levels throughout with at least VN₫ 666 million (~USD 26,680) up for grabs.
Besides these one day specials, the Mini Main Event will certainly catch the eye of the low and mid-stakes players as it comes with an entry fee of VN₫ 8.8 million (~USD 359). Satellites cost as little as VN₫ 1.05 million (~USD 43) to qualify for one of the three starting days on May 6 and 7, all of which play down to the top 12.5% and in the money. The winner will be crowned on May 8, at least VN₫ 4.5 billion will be up for grabs.
On the penultimate day of the series, Sunday May 12, another one-day special awaits with Event #32 Monster Stack. Initial levels of 35 minutes will be reduced to 30 minutes later on and 50,000 in chips provide plenty of wiggle room. For a buy-in of VN₫ 11 million (~USD 449), everyone competes for at least VN₫ 1.2 billion.
Kick Off
Date/s: May 3-5, 2024
Buy-in: LP 5,000,000 (~USD 204)
Guarantee: LP 3,000,000,000
Megastack
Date/s: May 5, 2024
Buy-in: LP 6,600,000 (~USD 269)
Guarantee: LP 1,200,000,000
Mini Main Event
Date/s: May 6-8, 2024
Buy-in: LP 8,800,000 (~USD 359)
Guarantee: LP 4,500,000,000
Monster Stack
Dates: May 12, 2024
Buy-in: LP 11,000,000 (~USD 449)
Guarantee: LP 1,200,000,000
Welcome to the High Rollers
Likewise on the very first day, the High Roller Opener (VN₫ 22 million/~USD 898) and the Mini High Roller (VN₫ 11 million/~USD 449) get underway with entry fees in the medium price range. On May 4, the High Roller Warm Up increases the stakes to VN₫ 33 million (~USD 1,347) before the action becomes even more pricy in the days thereafter.
Event #14 High Roller Deepstack with a buy-in of VN₫ 55 million (~USD 2,245) is followed by the Super High Roller on May 7 and 8. That one comes with a price tag of VN₫ 88 million (~USD 3,592) and is only topped by the Super Star Challenge on May 9 and 10 (VN₫ 120 million/~USD 4,898). Back-to-back high-stakes competitions will be one to watch for the High Roller regulars from Vietnam, France, Philippines, and Australia.
Last but not least, there is also a two-day High Roller Finale on May 12 and 13, which costs VN₫ 66 million (~USD 2,694) to enter. And if that one fails, the trip saver at the end of the series may very well be the Last Chance High Roller with a more moderate price tag of VN₫ 33 million (~USD 1,347).
Early Bird Packages Available
There is a popular saying in the English language: “The early bird catches the worm.”
Those knowing for sure they will play a full series might as well take advantage of the Early Bird Packages, of which 50 each are available for the Main Event and the High Roller tournaments – first come, first serve – don’t be late!
Three different Main Event packages with five, eight or eleven nights of accommodation can be reserved but the preferred events and number of nights can also be customized to your own liking as well. Just the Main Event itself with five nights costs VN₫ 39 million (~USD 1,592) but the Mini Main Event and Kick off Event can also be added on top.
For those with deeper pockets who will be taking part in the High Roller Events, the same 50 packages are available as well. The Silver level includes three events and costs VN₫ 263 million (~USD 10,735) whereas the Gold package bumps up the expenses to VN₫ 362 million for six high-stakes events. Last but not least, the Platinum package covers the entire 11 days of the series and seven High Roller Events at a cost of VN₫ 428 million (~USD 17,469).
All of these all-inclusive packages come with several perks. You will be picked up for free from the airport right to the Grand Vista Hotel where the event takes place and can take advantage of a dedicated VIP line to sign up for the events. The bubble protection for all events purchased up front is active and a welcome package with VPL merchandise as well as the daily breakfast is included, too.
Now the choice is yours: Do you want to arrive a few days late or battle on the felt every day? But don’t wait too long, because the VPL Summer Series Hanoi 2024 is just three weeks away and the Early Bird Packages may sell out early.
VPL Summer Series Hanoi 2024 – Schedule
*Article by Christian Zetzsche
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