Main Event | 2023 Poker Dream Manila

05-07-2023 15:11 UTC+9

Gonzaga Jams Into Taranto

Christian Zetzsche

Level 24 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

Alessandro Taranto opened to 80,000 from under the gun with the 6♠6♣ and Tor Welo three-bet to 220,000 with the A♠K♦ in the cutoff. It folded back to Taranto, who opted to fold the small pocket pair.

Soon after, Terry Gonzaga pushed all-in for 820,000 in the small blind with the A♣5♥ and Taranto folded the 9♦6♦.

Player	Chips	Progress
Tor Welo	2,400,000 200,000	200,000
Alessandro Taranto	1,400,000 -290,000	-290,000
Terry Gonzaga	900,000

Tags: Alessandro Taranto Terry Gonzaga Tor Welo

05-07-2023 15:05 UTC+9

Dela Cruz Rivers a Full House

Christian Zetzsche

Level 24 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

Terry Gonzaga made it 80,000 to go with the K♠Q♥ and Edwin Dela Cruz flat-called with the 5♠5♦, William Teoh also called with the 10♣5♣ in the big blind.

The 7♠7♦4♦ flop was checked to Gonzaga, who bet 100,000 and Dela Cruz was the only caller. That led them to the 8♠ turn and both players checked to see the 5♥ on the river. Dela Cruz bet 300,000 into 480,000 but couldn't get Gonzaga to pay it off.

Player	Chips	Progress
Edwin Dela Cruz	4,700,000 400,000	400,000

Terry Gonzaga	900,000 -200,000	-200,000

Tags: Edwin Dela Cruz Terry Gonzaga William Teoh

05-07-2023 15:00 UTC+9

Welo Beats Dela Cruz in Small Showdown

Christian Zetzsche

Level 24 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

Valeriy Pak raised to 80,000 with the A♦10♠ in the cutoff and then folded when David Erquiaga jammed with the superior stack out of the small blind holding the A♣4♣.

Tor Welo then limped the A♣9♥ and Edwin Dela Cruz checked the 9♠7♠. The J♠6♥5♦ flop was checked by Welo, who then called a bet worth 40,000 by Dela Cruz. Both checked the 6♦ turn to the 5♥ river on which Welo checked again. Dela Cruz aka "hit the heat" bet 110,000 and Welo called to win the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Edwin Dela Cruz	4,300,000 -300,000	-300,000

Tor Welo	2,200,000 120,000	120,000
David Erquiaga	1,400,000 65,000	65,000
Valeriy Pak	800,000 -90,000	-90,000

Tags: David Erquiaga Edwin Dela Cruz Tor Welo Valeriy Pak

05-07-2023 14:53 UTC+9

Montalbano Gets a Shove Through

Christian Zetzsche

Level 24 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

Edwin Dela Cruz made it 80,000 to go with the K♠Q♥ and Valeriy Pak defended the big blind with 5♥4♥. The A♠Q♠9♦ flop hit Dela Cruz's range and he bet for the win.

Terry Gonzaga then opened to 80,000 with the A♠6♦, earning a call from Pak with the 10♦9♦ in the small blind. Nicola Montalbano then jammed for 520,000 with the 4♥4♣ in the big blind.

No calls followed as Montalbano earned the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Edwin Dela Cruz	4,600,000 275,000	275,000

Terry Gonzaga	1,100,000 -80,000	-80,000
Valeriy Pak	890,000 -200,000	-200,000
Nicola Montalbano	720,000 160,000	160,000

Tags: Edwin Dela Cruz Nicola Montalbano Terry Gonzaga Valeriy Pak

05-07-2023 14:47 UTC+9

Teoh Wins a Pot on the Flop

Christian Zetzsche

Level 24 : Blinds 20,000/40,000, 40,000 ante

Edwin Dela Cruz won the blinds first and Nicola Montalbano then raised to 80,000 with the A♣5♣ next. William Teoh called with the 9♦4♦ in the cutoff and Ryan McAllister defended the big blind with the 10♣8♦.

The K♠Q♠3♥ flop missed everyone and it checked to Teoh, who bet and claimed the pot without resistance.

Player	Chips	Progress
William Teoh	1,700,000 230,000	230,000
Ryan McAllister	1,000,000 -165,000	-165,000

Nicola Montalbano	560,000 -80,000	-80,000

Tags: Edwin Dela Cruz Nicola Montalbano Ryan McAllister William Teoh

Level: 24

Blinds: 20,000/40,000

Ante: 40,000

05-07-2023 13:30 UTC+9

A Winner Will be Crowned in the 2023 Poker Dream Manila Main Event

Christian Zetzsche

The final day of the 2023 Poker Dream Manila live poker series has arrived in the Grand Wing Casino at Newport City in Metro Manila and all eyes are set on the conclusion of the flagship 2023 Poker Dream Manila PHP66,000 Main Event. Out of a 499-entry strong field, nine players from six different countries remain return to their seats on the feature stage to battle for the biggest portion of the PHP 28,751,382 ($519,578) prize pool.

Three locals poker players are in contention to try and keep the trophy on home soil with Edwin Dela Cruz sitting atop the leaderboard by some margin, as he boasts an impressive stack of 4,325,000. David "Dave Spade" Erquiaga, one of the hottest-running players in Asia in the last few years, returns in the middle of the pack 1,335,000 narrowly ahead of veteran Terry Gonzaga (1,180,000).

Norway's Tor Welo is second in chips with 2,080,000 while the always dangerous William Teoh possesses 1,470,000. Day 1b chip leader Ryan McAllister also made it through, alongside Valeriy Pak, and the two Italians Alessandro Taranto as well as Nicola Montalbano.

Final Table Seat Draw

Seat	Player	Country	Chip Count	Big Blinds
1	Nicola Montalbano	Italy	640,000	16
2	David Erquiaga	Philippines	1,335,000	33
3	Tor Welo	Norway	2,080,000	52
4	Edwin Dela Cruz	Philippines	4,325,000	108
5	William Teoh	Malaysia	1,470,000	37
6	Terry Gonzaga	Philippines	1,180,000	30
7	Alessandro Taranto	Italy	1,690,000	42
8	Ryan McAllister	United States	1,165,000	29
9	Valeriy Pak	Belarus	1,090,000	27

The final table continues at approximately 1 p.m. local time with 35:03 minutes left in Level 25 at blinds of 20,000/40,000 with a big blind ante of 40,000, which creates an average of 41 big blinds and a potentially long night ahead to determine the champion here in Manila.

All the action can be followed on a security delay of 30 minutes with cards-up coverage and commentary available on the Poker Dream Facebook page, the PokerNews updates will be published according to the delay as well to not spoil any of the hands.