2023 Poker Dream Manila

Main Event
Day: 3
Event Info

2023 Poker Dream Manila

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
106
Prize
5,510,000 PHP
Event Info
Buy-in
66,000 PHP
Prize Pool
28,751,382 PHP
Entries
499
Level Info
Level
31
Blinds
100,000 / 200,000
Ante
200,000
Players Info - Day 3
Players Left
1

Main Event

Day 3 Completed

Edwin "Hit D' Heat" Dela Cruz Wins the 2023 Poker Dream Manila Main Event (PHP5,510,000/$99,518)

Level 31 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Edwin Dela Cruz Wins the 2023 Poker Dream Manila Main Event
Edwin Dela Cruz Wins the 2023 Poker Dream Manila Main Event

The flagship event of the 2023 Poker Dream Manila live poker stop at the Grand Wing Casino at Newport City in Metro Manila has crowned a winner and the golden dragon trophy stays on home soil. Pinoy poker player Edwin "Hit D' Heat" Dela Cruz entered the nine-handed final table out of a field of 499 entries with the lead and ultimately came out on top of a topsy-turvy heads-up duel with Italy's Alessandro Taranto.

Both shared the lion's share of the PHP 28,751,382 ($519,578) prize pool and Dela Cruz scored a third victory on the live poker circuit since February 2023, taking home the top prize of PHP5,510,000 ($99,518). Taranto put in a valiant effort especially considering that he dropped all the way down to just three big blinds in heads-up play and was just one diamond away from securing a miracle comeback victory. However, he ultimately had to settle for a consolation prize of PHP3,460,000 ($62,492).

The final spot on the podium belonged to a veteran poker pro from the Philippines in Terry Gonzaga, while fellow countryman David "Dave Spade" Erquiaga became the first casualty of the day.

RankWinnerCountryPrize (in PHP)Prize (in USD)
1Edwin Dela CruzPhilippines5,510,000$99,518
2Alessandro TarantoItaly3,460,000$62,492
3Terry GonzagaPhilippines2,471,382$44,636
4Tor WeloNorway1,946,000$35,147
5Ryan McAllisterUnited States1,523,000$27,507
6William TeohMalaysia1,184,000$21,385
7Valeriy PakBelarus885,000$15,984
8Nicola MontalbanoItaly609,000$10,999
9David ErquiagaPhilippines499,000$9,013
Edwin Dela Cruz Wins the 2023 Poker Dream Manila Main Event
Edwin Dela Cruz Wins the 2023 Poker Dream Manila Main Event

Aforementioned Erquiaga has taken the Asia-Pacific live poker scene by storm in the last two years with nine victories and more than half a dozen runner-up finishes. However, he became the first casualty of the final table when his pair of eights and a gutshot was looked up by Taranto with king-jack suited for top pair and top kicker.

The next casualty was Taranto's countryman Nicola Montalbano, who bowed out in a three-way all-in showdown that propelled Gonzaga right back into contention. Valeriy Pak and the always dangerous William Teoh were the next two to collect their pay checks and Ryan McAllister followed suit in sixth place.

Until then, Dela Cruz was cruising atop the leaderboard but Tor Welo pulled ahead. In a pivotal hand, Dela Cruz then missed a flush draw with eight-six suited but rivered the nut straight and Welo paid off a heavy pot-sized bet in a duel of the chip leaders to shift the momentum back to the pinoy player.

The Norwegian never recovered from that heavy blow and bowed out in fourth place. Heads-up play was reached only a short while later when Gonzaga was dispatched by Taranto and the duel for the trophy started with a small lead for crowd favourite Dela Cruz.

Taranto dominated the early stages to pull even only for a string of hands to cut into his stack. The Italian was with one foot out of the door already when his last three big blinds went into the middle with eight-trey suited. However, the seven-deuce suited of Dela Cruz missed and the comeback commenced. Three double-ups later, Taranto even gained the lead, which then changed several times as both players were on the verge of victory.

Three and a half hours after the elimination of Gonzaga in third place, the champion was then crowned. In a limped pot, Dela Cruz's ten-six flopped two pair and Taranto's slow-played pocket queens went down in flames.

Alessandro Taranto
Alessandro Taranto

This concludes the fourth ever edition of the up and coming Poker Dream live poker series, as well as the PokerNews live reporting from the Philippines but the next international poker stops are right around the corner.

Tags: Alessandro TarantoDavid ErquiagaEdwin Dela CruzNicola MontalbanoRyan McAllisterTerry GonzagaTor WeloValeriy PakWilliam Teoh

Alessandro Taranto Eliminated in 2nd Place (PHP3,460,000/$62,492)

Level 31 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Alessandro Taranto
Alessandro Taranto

Alessandro Taranto limped in from the button and Edwin Dela Cruz checked his option to a flop of J106.

Dela Cruz bet 300,000 and Taranto called. On the 3 turn, Dela Cruz increased his bet sizing to 750,000 and that now prompted a raise to 2,000,000 by Taranto, who had 3,300,000 behind. Dela Cruz studied his opponent and the board carefully before moving all-in, as Taranto then called within a second.

Alessandro Taranto: QQ
Edwin Dela Cruz: 106

Once the cards were revealed, Dela Cruz showed a quick fist pump as they awaited the river card. That was the 8 to seal the victory for the local player, who instantly grabbed the trophy for a second to then shake hands with Taranto.

The miracle comeback from just three big blinds for the Italian was cut short, as Dela Cruz became the champion. Taranto takes home PHP3,460,000 ($62,492) while the golden dragon trophy and top prize of PHP5,510,000 ($99,518) belongs to Dela Cruz.

Edwin Dela Cruz
Edwin Dela Cruz

A recap of today's action is to follow.

Player Chips Progress
Edwin Dela Cruz ph
Edwin Dela Cruz
Day 2 Chip Leader
15,000,000 5,900,000
Alessandro Taranto it
Alessandro Taranto
Busted

Tags: Alessandro TarantoEdwin Dela Cruz

Taranto Hits Back With Another Double

Level 31 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Alessandro Taranto
Alessandro Taranto

Down to 2.8 million on the button after losing some pots, Alessandro Taranto moved all-in and Edwin Dela Cruz called.

Alessandro Taranto: A10
Edwin Dela Cruz: Q10

The A937K board locked up the double for the Italian on the turn already and he preserved the chances to claim the title.

Player Chips Progress
Edwin Dela Cruz ph
Edwin Dela Cruz
Day 2 Chip Leader
9,100,000 -1,900,000
Alessandro Taranto it
Alessandro Taranto
5,900,000 1,900,000

Tags: Edwin Dela CruzAlessandro Taranto

Only One Street of Value for Taranto

Level 31 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante
Alessandro Taranto
Alessandro Taranto

Edwin Dela Cruz limped the Q7 on the button for Alessandro Taranto to check his option with the 109. The QJ8 flop gave Taranto the straight which he bet for 200,000. Dela Cruz flat-called with his top pair and then folded the J turn when Taranto bet once more.

Player Chips Progress
Edwin Dela Cruz ph
Edwin Dela Cruz
Day 2 Chip Leader
11,000,000 -1,300,000
Alessandro Taranto it
Alessandro Taranto
4,000,000 1,300,000

Tags: Alessandro TarantoEdwin Dela Cruz

Dela Cruz Bluffs With the Nut Low

Level 31 : Blinds 100,000/200,000, 200,000 ante

Alessandro Taranto limped the J5 and Edwin Dela Cruz checked with the 32. The Q74 flop was checked by both before Dela Cruz check-called for 200,000 on the 9 turn. The bluff followed on the K river as Dela Cruz bet 1,000,000 with the nut low and Taranto folded.

Player Chips Progress
Edwin Dela Cruz ph
Edwin Dela Cruz
Day 2 Chip Leader
12,300,000 400,000
Alessandro Taranto it
Alessandro Taranto
2,700,000 -400,000

Tags: Alessandro TarantoEdwin Dela Cruz

Level: 31

Blinds: 100,000/200,000

Ante: 200,000

Dela Cruz Doubles Right Back Into the Lead

Level 30 : Blinds 100,000/150,000, 150,000 ante
Edwin Dela Cruz
Edwin Dela Cruz

Edwin Dela Cruz limped in with the 72 and Alessandro Taranto checked the 109. The QJ5 flop gave Dela Cruz a flush and Taranto check-called for 250,000.

What followed was the K turn on which Taranto checked again. Dela Cruz bet 650,000 and Taranto check-raised to 2,000,000 to then call the shove by his opponent.

The 7 river kept Dela Cruz ahead with the flush and he doubled right back into the lead.

Edwin Dela Cruz
Edwin Dela Cruz
Player Chips Progress
Edwin Dela Cruz ph
Edwin Dela Cruz
Day 2 Chip Leader
11,900,000 6,000,000
Alessandro Taranto it
Alessandro Taranto
3,100,000 -6,000,000

Tags: Alessandro TarantoEdwin Dela Cruz

Boat Over Boat Changes the Lead

Level 30 : Blinds 100,000/150,000, 150,000 ante
Alessandro Taranto
Alessandro Taranto

Alessandro Taranto raised to 300,000 with the 99 and Edwin Dela Cruz called out of the big blind with 87.

The 984 flop gave Taranto top set which he bet for 150,000, Dela Cruz check-called.

On the 7 turn, Dela Cruz checked and Taranto bet 700,000 only to get check-raised to 1,500,000, earning a call by Taranto after some consideration.

Worst case scenario for Dela Cruz came with the 8 river on which Dela Cuz jammed and was snap-called by Taranto, who soared into the lead once more.

Player Chips Progress
Alessandro Taranto it
Alessandro Taranto
9,100,000 3,800,000
Edwin Dela Cruz ph
Edwin Dela Cruz
Day 2 Chip Leader
5,900,000 -3,800,000

Tags: Alessandro TarantoEdwin Dela Cruz

Not Many Things Change for Now

Level 30 : Blinds 100,000/150,000, 150,000 ante

Alessandro Taranto raised to 300,000 with the KJ and Edwin Dela Cruz flat-called with the Q10.

The Q65 flop was checked by Dela Cruz with the top pair, who then called a bet of 200,000. On the 9 turn, both players checked and the K came on the river. Dela Cruz checked again, Taranto bet 1,000,000 and received no call.

Dela Cuz limped in with the 73 and Taranto raised to 550,000 with the A10 as a fold from Dela Cruz ended the proceedings.

Player Chips Progress
Edwin Dela Cruz ph
Edwin Dela Cruz
Day 2 Chip Leader
9,700,000 -300,000
Alessandro Taranto it
Alessandro Taranto
5,300,000 300,000

Tags: Alessandro TarantoEdwin Dela Cruz