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History in Bangkok: Haoran Sun Wins Inaugural WPT Prime Exhibition Thailand Championship; Nikhil Kedia’s Breakout Run Anchors Indian Charge

Poker history was made in Bangkok this past week. From July 30 to August 5, the 2025 WPT Prime Thailand Exhibition unfolded at the UOB LIVE in the heart of the capital, creating the first-ever international poker festival to be held in the Kingdom of Thailand. The timing was perfect, though it was anything but a coincidence. Just days before the series began, the Thai government officially recognized poker as a game of skill. This groundbreaking decision wasn’t a sudden change of heart; it was the successful outcome of a months-long strategic effort by the World Poker Tour and its local partners, a move that paved the way for this landmark festival.

This wasn’t just another tournament festival but a cultural and legislative turning point for poker in Southeast Asia. The series featured 25 events, headlined by the ฿37 Million GTD WPT Prime Thailand Exhibition Championship. Organized in partnership with the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the festival drew players from all over the world. The main attraction saw a sprawling field of 2,337 entries, crushing its guarantee to create a final prize pool of ฿75.49 Million.

When all was said and done, China’s Haoran Sun claimed the title, while a powerful Indian contingent, led by a spectacular run from Nikhil Kedia, made a lot of noise. For Indian players, Thailand’s easy travel access and visa-on-arrival policy made it a prime new destination, and the healthy turnout from the Indian community at this inaugural series was a clear sign of things to come.

The Champion’s Story: Haoran Sun’s Dream Run

The man of the hour was Haoran Sun. The 33-year-old former engineer, who quit his job to pursue his passion for poker, was playing in his very first international tournament. He turned that debut into a life-changing victory, winning the title, ฿11,477,000 in travel funds, and a coveted $10,400 seat to the 2025 WPT World Championship in Las Vegas. The runner-up, Canada’s Philipp Zukernik, collected a handsome ฿7.62 Million for his efforts.

Sun’s victory was a masterclass in navigating a brutal turbo structure where average stacks rarely stretched beyond a dozen big blinds. He was down to just a handful of big blinds on Day 2 but found a crucial triple-up with pocket kings to keep his tournament alive. From there, he said he focused on “cherishing every big blind” and picking his spots carefully.

His aggressive approach proved perfect for the format, and when it came time for the heads-up finale, Sun wasted no time closing things out. The final showdown lasted just two hands, with Sun’s decisive play sealing his remarkable debut victory!

A Strong Showing From the Indian Contingent

The Indian squad put on a strong showing throughout the week, recording an impressive 26 cashes and four final table finishes.

Nikhil Kedia – The Indian Star of the Series

The undisputed star of the Indian campaign was Nikhil Kedia. While a known name with a solid record, Kedia isn’t one of the high-volume grinders. He came into this series on a documented online downswing and with just over ₹39 Lakhs in live tournament earnings. He almost doubled that figure in one spectacular week. He was the only Indian to reach two final tables, kicking off the series with a fourth-place finish in The Opener for ฿200,000 (~₹5.40 Lakhs) and then making a deep run in the Championship.

His performance in the WPT Prime Thailand Exhibition Championship was the one that really turned heads. He navigated the huge field to the final table, finishing in ninth place for ฿1,142,000 (~₹30.99 Lakhs)—the single biggest score by an Indian at the festival. His combined winnings for the series topped a very healthy ฿1,342,000 (~₹36.39 Lakhs).

When all the chips were in the middle for the last time, China’s Haoran Sun stood alone. The 33-year-old former engineer-turned-poker pro battled through a blistering final day to capture the inaugural WPT Prime Thailand title. For his win, he banked ฿11,477,000 in travel funds and earned a $10,400 seat to the season-ending 2025 WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas.

Sun’s win was a perfect example of how to handle a tough turbo structure where survival was key. He was down to just a few big blinds on Day 2 but found a crucial triple-up with pocket kings to keep his dream alive. From there, he focused on conserving every chip. “I just cherished every big blind,” he said. By the time he reached the final table, he was second in chips and wasted no time applying pressure. He closed out the heads-up match against Canada’s Philipp Zukernik in just two hands, with Zukernik taking home a handsome ฿7.62 Million for his runner-up finish.

Team India Shines: Kedia’s Breakout Performance Leads the Charge

It was a breakout series for the Indian contingent, but the story of the week belongs to Nikhil Kedia. After a heroic grind, he made his second final table of the series in the championship event, finishing ninth for a career-best ฿1,142,000 (~₹30.99 Lakhs).

Close behind was Thiyam Dannish, who also made a deep run, just missing the final day with a 15th-place finish worth ฿579,000 (~₹15.71 Lakhs).

The landmark inaugural festival saw a full stampede of Indian players fly down to Bangkok, and an incredible 20 other Indian names made it into the payouts, showing just how popular Thailand is poised to become for the Indian poker community.

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