Main Event
Day 3 Started
Main Event
Day 3 Started
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.
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.
Rank | Winner | Country | Prize (in PHP) | Prize (∼ in USD) |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 5,510,000 | $99,518 | ||
2 | 3,460,000 | $62,492 | ||
3 | 2,471,382 | $44,636 | ||
4 | 1,946,000 | $35,147 | ||
5 | 1,523,000 | $27,507 | ||
6 | 1,184,000 | $21,385 | ||
7 | 885,000 | $15,984 | ||
8 | 609,000 | $10,999 | ||
9 | 499,000 | $9,013 |
Level: 24
Blinds: 20,000/40,000
Ante: 40,000
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
Edwin Dela Cruz made it 80,000 to go with the A♣10♥ and Ryan McAllister folded the 2♠2♥ in the small blind, but was called by Valeriy Pak with the A♣10♥. The J♠5♣2♦ flop was check-called for 60,000 by Pak and the A♦ turn saw Pak check-fold.
Player | Chips | Progress |
---|---|---|
Edwin Dela Cruz |
4,800,000
100,000
|
100,000 |
|
||
Valeriy Pak |
620,000
-180,000
|
-180,000 |