Winfred Yu Wins 2023 Poker Dream Manila Short Deck Super High Roller (PHP18,700,000/$364,233)
The winner of the most expensive tournament during the 2023 Poker Dream Manila live poker stop in the capital of the Philippines has been crowned. None other than Poker Dream founder Winfred Yu defeated Triton Poker co-founder Paul Phua. It was a fiercely fought heads-up duel after which Yu claimed the bragging rights among high-stakes regulars as well as the golden dragon trophy in the PHP1,380,000 ($25,321) "White Horse Club" Short Deck Ante-Only Super High Roller.
Both received the biggest slice of the PHP55,000,000 guarantee ($1,071,273) in a field of 41 entries, which paid the top six spots. Players from two different countries returned for the live-streamed final showdown in the ballroom of the Newport World Resorts Integrated Resort and it was Yu who eventually prevailed to take home a top prize of PHP18,700,000 ($364,233).
Among the finalists was also Hong Kong's WSOP bracelet winner Danny Tang, as well as the three Malaysians Chen Ming Kong, Jun Wah Yap, and Ming Hong Teoh.
Final Result 2023 Poker Dream Manila Short Deck Super High Roller
| Place | Winner | Country | Prize (in PHP) | Prize (～ in USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Winfred Yu | Hong Kong | 18,700,000 | $364,233 |
| 2 | Paul Phua | Malaysia | 12,920,000 | $251,652 |
| 3 | Chen Ming Kong | Malaysia | 8,250,000 | $160,691 |
| 4 | Danny Tang | Hong Kong | 6,330,000 | $123,294 |
| 5 | Jun Wah Yap | Malaysia | 4,950,000 | $96,415 |
| 6 | Ming Hong Teoh | Malaysia | 3,850,000 | $74,989 |
| Prize Pool | 55,000,000 | $1,071,273 |
Yu entered the final day with a commanding lead but it wasn't an easy ride to victory by any means, as he dropped back into the middle of the pack. Instead, it was Phua who soared to the top and entered heads-up play with the lead. However, one double-up with ace-king versus ace-queen propelled Yu back into the driver's seat and the fiercely contested battle ultimately ended in his favour.
The first casualty on the six-handed grand finale occurred rather swiftly as Ming Hong Teoh was ousted by Danny Tang. Having played just two hands actively, Teoh's pocket kings couldn't hold up against ace-king suited and that spelled the end for the Malaysian. Phua then put a first dent into Yu's lead when he doubled with set versus top pair before taking over the lead.
Jun Wah Yap had survived several short stack all-ins and got it in ahead with ace-queen suited against the ace-ten suited of Chen Ming Kong, but the latter flopped broadway for the knockout. Tang's tournament then came to a crashing end when Phua limped pocket aces and snapped off the shove by Tang with pocket queens.
Kong remained very active in three-handed play but never recovered from doubling Yu, as he doubled his short stack only once before his dominated ace came up short against Phua.
Phua and Yu, who had played against each other in numerous other high-stakes competitions already throughout the years, then battled back and forth for more than two hours. Yu gained the upper hand with a superior ace and ultimately remained ahead with jacks versus ace-eight to claim the trophy.
While this wraps up the PokerNews coverage of the Short Deck Super High Roller Event, the live reporting team will be back the following day to pick up the conclusion of the PHP500,000 Super High Roller before turning the focus on the flagship 2023 Poker Dream Manila Main Event.