South Korea’s Juyeol Lee wins USOP Hai Phong Main Event for VN₫ 6.3 Billion (~US$ 257K)

The U Series of Poker Hai Phong Main Event has officially wrapped up with South Korea’s Juyeol Lee hailed as this season’s champion, having defeated Australia’s Julian Warhurst in heads up play. Lee bested the 1,507 entry field and took down the most extravagant trophy on display following a bulldozing run across the final round. Lee was close to banking a USOP title back in the recent Da Nang games, but fell one spot short of the Super High Roller title. This time around, Lee closed out the victory, taking with him a bigger VN₫ 6,320,000,000 (~US$ 257,590) payday for his maiden win.

USOP Hai Phong – News
USOP Hai Phong – Main Event Updates
USOP Hai Phong – Schedule / Player Guide
USOP Hai Phong – Photos
USOP Hai Phong – Festival Results

Main Event Final Day Recap

Tension was high across the Final Day of the USOP Hai Phong Main Event with the action down to two tables remaining, and the VN₫ 6,320,000,000 (~US$ 257,590) top prize at stake. Six hours of play ensued before the final table was set, with China’s Xin Tang inching over the lead to start the final games. Tang delivered the final table bubble and sent Li Shankui out in 10th place to land the advantage.

The final table began with several of the remaining contenders hovering around the 30 big blind mark, leaving it to become anyone’s game. However, by the first hour in, Juyeol Lee managed to rise to the lead,  and proceeded to continuously chip up, widening the gap even further. A dominant force across the table, Lee’s advantage failed to falter with his aggressive postflop play continuing to pay off immensely, earning him pots with no showdown. 

By seven-handed play, Lee had amassed more than a third of the chips in play and consistently put pressure on his opponents, in addition to running good. Faring unrelentless, Lee delivered the next two eliminations, sending Leo Kamiya out in 6th place followed by Tony Miles’s exit in 5th. Miles was struggling to pick up momentum across the final rounds and decided to go with 5♦5♥ for his last sixteen big blinds. Unfortunately for him, running chip leader Lee was at the top of his range A♥A♣, crushing Miles’s run entirely.

Attempting to catch up to Lee, Julian Warhurst did so, beginning with Tang’s elimination in 4th. Just minutes later, Warhurst picked up another boost with A♥J♦ against Lee’s K♥8♣ on board 3♥5♥5♦9♥2♥, to be at par in chips. Warhurst however, quickly lost it all with Tran Huy Phong shipping back to back pots against the Australian runner. While the two shifted stacks back and forth, it was Lee who took it all just minutes later. Tran couldn’t escape his fate and lost the most crucial flip of the day, with his J♥J♣ falling against Lee’s A♥Q♦.

Down to heads up play, Lee held a 3:1 advantage against Warhurst and closed out the win following three deals. The final hand saw Lee raise all-in with A♣5♣, followed by a quick call from Warhurst with A♥10♣ for his last ten big blinds. Whilst dominated, Lee outran his opponent on board J♦Q♠5♠5♦A♠, earning him the final victory.

Date/s: September 19 – 23, 2024
Buy-in: VN₫ 30,000,000 (~USD 1,200)
Guarantee: VN₫ 15,000,000,000 (~US$ 609,500)
Prize pool: VN₫ 38,247,660,000 (~US$ 1,554,470)
Entries: 1,507 (1,067 unique)
ITM: 188 places

Day 1A: 341 entries / 43 qualified
Day 1B: 378 entries / 47 qualified
Day 1C: 522 entries / 65 qualified
Day 1D (Turbo): 266 entries / 33 qualified
Day 2: 188 players / 18 qualified

Backtrack on all the Final Day action via SMP Live Updates
Relive the Featured Table play – USOP Livestream

Final Table Payouts

1st Juyeol Lee – VN₫ 6,320,000,000 (~US$ 257,590)
2nd Julian Warhurst – VN₫ 4,450,000,000 (~US$ 181,370)
3rd Tran Huy Phong – VN₫ 2,900,000,000 (~US$ 118,200)
4th Xin Tang – VN₫ 2,150,000,000 (~US$ 87,630)
5th Tony Miles – VN₫ 1,600,000,000 (~US$ 65,210)
6th Leo Kamiya – VN₫ 1,309,000,000 (~US$ 53,350)
7th Jianfeng Sun – VN₫ 1,060,760,000 (~US$ 43,230)
8th Tran Van Phuc – VN₫ 840,000,000 (~US$ 34,230)
9th Cao Tran Ngoc – VN₫ 632,000,000 (~US$ 25,760)