In just over a year, Won Poker has firmly established itself as one of the leading regional poker tours, successfully hosting three major series to date.Its most recent event — the 3rd Won Poker Cup (Won Poker Cup III) — was held from May 14 to 21, 2025, in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, marking a significant milestone as the most successful edition in the tour’s history.
Hosted at the elegant Won Majestic Hotel & Casino, the festival drew a record-breaking 1,448 total entries across 22 trophy events, awarding over USD $1.34 million in total prizes — the largest prize pool in Won Poker’s history.Notable players such as Khayal Abbasov, Anzhela Vasylenko, Armon Van Wijk, and Craig Jones returned to the felt, showcasing the growing prestige and appeal of the Won Poker experience, which continues to attract players back event after event.
Just like its previous editions, the 3rd Won Poker Cup once again exceeded all expectations —providing a competitive arena for seasoned professionals while also giving emerging talents the perfect stage to make their mark on the regional poker scene.
Event Summary
- 📅 Dates: May 14 – 21, 2025
- 📍 Location: Won Majestic Hotel & Casino, Sihanoukville, Cambodia
- 🏆 Trophy Events: 22
- 💰 Total Prize Pool: USD 1,348,513
- 👥 Total Entries: 1,448
🎯 Main Event Highlights
- 🥇 Main Event Champion: Khayal Abbasov — USD 116,500
- 💎 High Roller Champion: Hoang Hai Nam — USD 78,681
- 💰 Top Earner: Khayal Abbasov — The most profitable player of the entire series
- 🏅 Most Final Table Appearances: Anzhela Vasylenko — Reached 3 final tables
🌏 Trophy Breakdown by Country/Region
- 🇻🇳 Vietnam: 5 trophies
- 🇵🇭 Philippines: 3 trophies
- 🇦🇺 Australia: 2 trophies
- 🇨🇳 China: 2 trophies
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom: 2 trophies
- 🇮🇩 Indonesia: 2 trophies
- 🇺🇦 Ukraine: 2 trophies
- 🇦🇿 Azerbaijan: 1 trophy
- 🇮🇳 India: 1 trophy
- 🇱🇻 Latvia: 1 trophy
- 🇷🇺 Russia: 1 trophy
Khayal Abbasov Claims His First Major Title
The Main Event of the 3rd Won Poker Cup featured a USD 600,000 guaranteed prize pool, drawing an impressive 415 total entries across four starting flights — setting a new record as the largest Main Event in the series’ history, surpassing the previous two editions.
Representing Azerbaijan, Khayal Abbasov became the undisputed star of the festival.
He not only captured the Main Event title, but also earned the top prize of USD 116,500 — the largest payout of the entire series and the biggest live cash of his career. Abbasov’s calm and precise playing style helped him secure his first major poker championship, cementing his place on the international poker stage.
In addition to his Main Event victory, Abbasov also posted strong results in side events, including:
🏅 8th place in the Mystery Bounty (USD 7,920 including bounties)
💪 20th place in the Warm-Up Event (USD 1,000)
This brought his total series earnings to USD 125,420, making him the top earner of Won Poker Cup III.
It’s worth noting that Abbasov also won the Mini Main Event at the previous edition of WPC — a clear sign that his success is no coincidence.
🎭 A Familiar Face Returns: Armon Van Wijk Finishes Runner-Up Again
From Australia, Armon Van Wijk — last year’s Main Event runner-up — nearly completed a dramatic comeback this time.
Despite entering heads-up play at a massive chip disadvantage, Van Wijk fought valiantly but ultimately fell short once again, finishing as runner-up for the second consecutive year.He earned USD 73,800, a new personal best payout.
Van Wijk’s performance throughout the series was consistently strong — he also finished 7th in the W High Roller, earning another USD 13,200, bringing his total festival winnings to USD 87,000.His steady results continue to affirm his reputation as one of the most competitive and respected players in the regional poker circuit.
🏆 Won Poker Cup III Main Event Summary
- 📅 Dates: May 17–21, 2025
- 💰 Buy-in: USD 1,320
- 🎯 Guaranteed Prize Pool: USD 600,000
- 👥 Entries: 415
- 💎 Total Prize Pool: USD 600,000
- 💵 Players Paid: 52
📊 Flight Breakdown
Day 1A
Entries: 70
Players Advancing: 9
Day 1B
Entries: 89
Players Advancing: 11
Day 1C
Entries: 155
Players Advancing: 19
Day 1D Turbo
Entries: 101
Players Advancing: 13
This record-breaking Main Event drew players from across the globe, solidifying Won Poker Cup’s reputation as one of Asia’s fastest-growing poker series.
With its largest field to date, the 3rd Won Poker Cup not only showcased elite competition but also delivered a world-class experience for all poker enthusiasts in attendance.
Main Event Final Table Results
Rank | Player Name | Nationality | Prize | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
🥇 1 | Khayal Abbasov | Azerbaijan | $116,500 | Champion — first major career title |
🥈 2 | Armon Van Wijk | Australia | $73,800 | Runner-up again after finishing 2nd in 2024 |
🥉 3 | Anzhela Vasylenko | Ukraine | $53,400 | Consistent final table performer |
4 | Patrick Hansen | Denmark | $38,500 | First-ever WPC final table appearance |
5 | Yin Zhang | China | $28,400 | Best finish among Chinese players |
6 | Ryo Tanaka | Japan | $21,600 | Only Asian player on the final table |
7 | Hoang Hai Nam | Vietnam | $16,500 | Also the Super High Roller Champion |
8 | Alexei Borodin | Russia | $12,600 | Reached final table in his debut appearance |
9 | Muhammad Iqbal | India | $9,800 | The only South Asian player on the final table |
🌟 Anzhela Vasylenko Continues Her Hot Streak
Ukrainian player Anzhela Vasylenko once again demonstrated remarkable consistency and skill at the Won Poker Cup series.After finishing 4th in the inaugural Main Event and winning the Women’s Event at the second edition,she continued her success this year by capturing another championship title.
Vasylenko took down the Sunday Deepstack Event, earning $4,600,and also reached two additional final tables, showing her versatility across multiple formats.
Her results this series:
🥇 Sunday Deepstack — 1st Place — $4,600
🥈 Mini Main Event — 8th Place — $2,000
🥈 Warm-Up Event — 9th Place — $2,000
Vasylenko’s consistent deep runs have firmly established her as one of the Won Poker Cup’s standout performers,proving her all-around competitive strength across various event types.
Craig Jones Shines Once Again
Representing the United Kingdom, Craig Jones returned to the Won Poker Cup stage and once again drew attention with his exceptional skills.
The former PLO Turbo Champion delivered another impressive performance in this year’s marquee event — the W High Roller — where he narrowly missed the title but secured 2nd place for a payout of $56,500.
Jones also made another deep run in the Mystery Bounty event, finishing 6th and adding $4,820 to his total earnings.
With $61,320 in combined winnings, he ranked among the top earners of the entire series.
Results Summary:
🥈 W High Roller — 2nd Place — $56,500
🏅 Mystery Bounty — 6th Place — $4,820
Craig Jones’ consistent and disciplined play continues to prove his strength,reinforcing his reputation as one of the most reliable and respected performers in the Won Poker Cup circuit.
🇻🇳 Vietnam Leads the Trophy Count
Among the 22 total events, Vietnamese players delivered outstanding results,capturing five championship titles, the most of any country in this edition of the Won Poker Cup.
Notably, Hoang Hai Nam, the W High Roller Champion, claimed one of the largest prizes of the festival,while Viet An Nguyen added further glory for Team Vietnam by finishing 4th in the Main Event,earning an additional $43,100.
Vietnam’s strong collective showing made them the most dominant nation of Won Poker Cup III,further establishing the country as a rising powerhouse in the Asian poker scene.
Vietnam’s Championship Titles and Winnings
Event No. | Event Name | Champion | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
#5 | Mystery Bounty | Hoang Duy Hien Nguyen | — |
#7 | Freezeout | Hoa Thinh Nguyen | — |
#9 | W High Roller | Hoang Hai Nam | — |
#17 | Hyper Turbo | Viet An Nguyen | — |
#21 | Deepstack | Hoang Nam Nguyen | — |
The Vietnamese delegation delivered an outstanding overall performance at the Won Poker Cup III,capturing five championship titles — the most of any nation in this series.
Their collective success not only showcased Vietnam’s growing strength in competitive poker but also firmly established the country as one of the dominant forces in the Asian poker scene.
Red Dragon Poker APP Officially Launched
The long-established tournament brand Red Dragon Cup has now released its own app — “Red Dragon Poker.”
The Red Dragon Cup is a well-known Asian poker brand with a strong reputation across the region. Originating in Macau, it quickly became one of the most influential poker events in Asia. Red Dragon Poker tournaments regularly attract players from all over the world, offering massive fields and impressive prize pools.
For those interested, we highly recommend downloading the “Red Dragon Poker” app to join more exciting tournaments.