Poker Dream Manila to crown a Main Event champion today; Edwin Dela Cruz leads the Final 9 lineup

Excitement in the air as the Final 9 players of the Poker Dream Manila Main Event return to Newport World Resorts to hunt down the coveted title and PHP 5,510,000 (~US$ 99,4000) cash prize. Who will take it? Catch the action via the livestream broadcasted in the Poker Dream facebook page or via the SMP Live Updates. Cards in the air at 1pm.

Main Event info

The Main Event was a huge success, attracting 499 runners over three starting flights to easily breach the PHP 20M guarantee. Each flight played down to the money. In total, 76 players advanced to Day 2 and were guaranteed a piece of the PHP 28,751,400 prize pool. Bagging up the chip lead was Filipino Edwin Dela Cruz.

Dela Cruz is one of the fastest rising players in the Asian circuit live scene. In February, he came into radar after winning the USOP Taiwan series Main Event for six figures. Last month, Dela Cruz added a side event title at the USOP Vietnam series, and today, he is in the finest shape to take down another major as he enters with a commanding 108 bb.

To help boost his stack, Dela Cruzeliminated Beh Kok Weng in 10th place with cracking on a board that completed .

Starting stack: 30,000

Final Day opening blinds: 20,000-40,000, 40,000 ante

Chips in play: 14,970,000

Day 2 opened with USA’s Ryan McAllister leading the pack. It took eight hours for the field to trim down to the Final 9 players. McAllister made the final table cut ranked seventh in chips with 29 bb.

Another player to watch for is David Erquiaga who topped last year’s GPI National Philippines and won the WPT Cambodia Main Event. Erquiaga carries in 33 bb into the final table.

Running second in chips with 52 bb is Tor Anton Welo from Norway. Welo is seeking his first major title on Asian soil. To reach the final table, he knocked out fellow Norwegian Henrik Tollefsen and caught a lucky trips on the river to stay in the running.

UK’s Alessandro Taranto carries in 41 bb. He entered Day 2 running 10th in chips and drove his stack north to stay in the upper tier throughout the day.

Malaysia’s William Teoh has been tearing up the felt in Manila and reaching numerous Main Event final tables. However, he has yet to put a lid on one. He will have that opportunity once again as he enters with a decent 37 bb.

Next one down the rung is FilipinoTerry Gonzaga who entered Day 2 running third in chips and maintained his upper tier status for most of the day. Out of his many deep runs throughout his career was a recent victory at PokerStars Manila Super Series Main Event for US$ 37K. He enters with a decent 30 bb.

Russia’s Valeriy Pak enters with 26 bb. He is decorated with a WPT Korea Main Event title. To help him reach the final table, he knocked out Indian online player Sriharsha Doddapaneniwhen the board completed a higher two pair for his ace kicker to play.

To complete the final 9 is Italy’s Nicola Montalbano who entered Day 2 running fourth in chips. Taranto has cashed in several events in the Philippines since last year however he has yet to bring in that first career title. He enters the final table with 16 bb.

Read up on the Day 2 action via the SMP Live Updates.

Date: May 4-7, 2023

Buy in: PH₱ 66,000 (~US$ 1,200)
Guarantee: PH₱ 20,000,000 (~US$ 360,960)
Total Entries: 499

Prize pool: PH₱ 28,751,400 (~US$ 519,480)

Total Day 2 qualifiers / ITM: 76 players

When the Final 9 players return, each on is guaranteed to earn a minimum PHP 499,000 (~US$ 9,000) however all eyes will be on the champion’s purse of PHP 5,510,000 (~US$ 99,400).