After a lengthy 15+ hours of Day 2 play, the World Poker Championship MAIN EVENT Final 8 was established. Hong Kong’s Hoi Wai Tam bagged up the mightiest stack of 81 BB and holding firm as last rank was Day 2 chip leader Grant Gardner with 15 BB. The title-chase continues on Saturday, January 14 starting at 12pm (Vietnam time). Up for grabs is the ₫2,710,000,000 (~$115,600) top prize.
Who will lift the crown? Find out via the livestream hosted on the Grand Loyal Poker Club‘s facebook page or track the action right here via the SMP live updates.
FINAL 8 PLAYERS BY CHIP RANK
Seat
Player
Flag
Stack
BB
2
Hoi Wai Tam
Hong Kong
4,860,000
81
5
Hyun Sup Kim
Korea
3,235,000
54
4
Thang Ngoc Dao
Vietnam
2,640,000
44
3
Thanh Huy Le
Vietnam
2,470,000
41
7
Hung Van Huynh
Vietnam
1,960,000
33
6
Apoorva Goel
India
1,935,000
32
1
William Kang
UK
1,565,000
26
8
Grant Gardner
UK
900,000
15
FINAL 8 PLAYERS BY SEAT
Seat
Player
Flag
Stack
BB
1
William Kang
UK
1,565,000
26
2
Tam Hoi Wai
Hong Kong
4,860,000
81
3
Le Huy Thanh
Vietnam
2,470,000
41
4
Dao Ngoc Thang
Vietnam
2,640,000
44
5
Hyun Sup Kim
Korea
3,235,000
54
6
Apoorva Goel
India
1,935,000
32
7
Huynh Van Hung
Vietnam
1,960,000
33
8
Grant Gardner
UK
900,000
15
WPC Main Event Final 8 review
Starting January 10, the WPC Main Event drew 651 entries across four starting heats to surge way past the guarantee, settling at a larger ₫14,244,000,000 (~$607,600) prize pool. 82 players advanced to Day 2, each one was guaranteed a minimum ₫36,000,000 (~$1,535). We will have the official Day 2 payouts once it has been released.
Dates: January 10 to 14
Buy in: ₫25,000,000 (~$1,060)
Guarantee: ₫10,000,000,000 (~$425,080)
Entries: 651
Prize pool: ₫14,244,000,000 (~$607,600)
ITM: 82 players
Starting Day
Entries
Survivors
Day 1A
139
17
Day 1B
168
22
Day 1C
233
29
Day 1D
111
14
Day 2 was an absolute grind with nonstop action running for over 15 hours. UK’s Grant Gardner opened as chip leader and was successful in staying afloat with 15 BB at bagging to secure his first ever Main Event Final 8 seat in Asia. Last year Gardner finished 21st at the Poker Dream Vietnam Main Event. When he returns, he has his work cut out if he hopes to catch the leader Hong Kong’s Hoi Wai Tam who amassed 81 BB.
Hoi Wai Tam
Tam is running red hot at the series with a victory at the Megastack and 9th place at the Superstack Turbo. At the Main Event, Tam’s mission began by racking up the second largest stack at Day 1B, entered Day 2 running 10th in chips, then closed as Final 8 chip leader with a 27 BB advantage over his closest challenger. No matter where Tam finishes, he will have scored his largest live tournament career payout.
Earning second rank was Hyun Sup Kim with 54 BB. Kim is already decorated with a title at the Hyper Turbo. He is Korea’s last hope after Soojo Kim and Gab Yong Kim missed the mark in 11th and 9th place.
The next three players are from host country Vietnam – Thang Ngoc Dao (44 BB), Thanh Huy Le (41 BB), Huynh Van Hung (33 BB). Of the three, only Le has prior Main Event final table experience, finishing 7th at the WPTDeepStacks Hanoi back in April 2021.
Apoorva Goel
Next down the line is seasoned player Apoorva Goel who was one of two players from India that made it to Day 2. Apoorva’s impressive portfolio includes a six figure payout at the 2017 Macau Red Dragon for 3rd place and an APPT 2013 6-Max Championship title. With 32 BB at his disposal, players have much to fear.
Coming in with 26 BB is Asian circuit regular William Kang from the UK. Kang has two side event cashes – 6th at the Mystery Bounty and 16th at the Megastack. Despite his substantial list of deep career runs, he is still seeking his first major Main Event title. Last month, he came close at the Hanoi Super Series placing 8th.
The Final 8 are guaranteed a minimum payout of ₫335,000,000 (~$14,290) but what everyone will be eyeing is the ₫2,710,000,000 (~$115,600) winner’s purse.
Place
Payout in ₫
1st
2,710,000,000
2nd
1,880,000,000
3rd
1,140,000,000
4th
860,000,000
5th
680,000,000
6th
540,000,000
7th
425,000,000
8th
335,000,000
*All images from Grand Loyal Poker Club
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Live Poker, News, WPCHanoiLoyal2023
