Red Dragon's 2nd PokerMaster Tournament

Ria Jose

Got the chance to join the Red Dragon Poker Club 2nd PokerMaster Tournament last June 20 in Tagum City. And it was a different experience. With a buy-in of P2,000, registration at P500 plus an add-on worth P1,000, I set my eyes on part of the P100,000 guaranteed pot. 44 other poker players were also there to test their skills and try their luck.

Poker players from the Metro Card Club Davao also joined the tournament. With me were Metro Poker League leader, my uncle JVA, and my friends Bam, Mark Gempesaw, and Flo Aguilar. And representing the Davao poker ladies with me were Marilyn “Lala” Mejaro and Rose Newman.

Lala Mejaro

It was an entirely different game as Tagum players had very different styles and strategies compared to the Davao players that I'm used to play with. To start, there were a lot of limpers. And a lot of them really fought for and bought their draws. It was a stressful but fun tournament for me.

I made a big mistake of folding my pocket sevens in the final two tables after I heard the guy to my left say that he was gonna go all in. I was gonna win that hand and a monster pot if I did call. :( I was out at 14th place (I think) after I went all in with an Ace rags (it was that bad that I forgot what it was) that went against ... POCKET ACES! LOL!

Young poker players Garnet Campos, Mark G, and Ria J

Former champion, Tyron Uy bowed out early of the competition. The players in the final two tables were a mix of veteran players and young enthusiasts. Male players dominated the field as only three ladies entered the final 20. JVA bowed out of the competition during bubble time at 11th place.

Final Table

At the end of the night which ended at 5 am, Engr. Medel “Engin” Torres was declared the champion. Torres who was the chip leader with 369,900 coming into the Final Table beat Boy BM in the final heads up. Torres received a cash prize of P55,300 and the bragging rights as the Red Dragon Poker Master for June 2009.

Other players who cashed out were:

3rd - Garret Campos
4th - Christopher "Topher" Raymundo
5th - Macao Macalinao
6th - Lala Mejaro
7th - Romeo "Jack" Vias
8th - De Carlo "Oyo" Uy
9th - Rudyard Salazar
10th - Paolo Flores

Suffice to say, it was a long and stressful tournament. But I did enjoy it mainly because all the players were very light-hearted. The dealers and the staff of the Red Dragon Poker Club also took very good care of us. Plus I envy the really nice tables and buttons.

Thanks and kudos to Red Dragon big boss Tyron Uy for a successful tournament. :)

More poker action awaits poker enthusiasts as the next Red Dragon Poker Master in Tagum shall be determined on July 18, 2008. See you at the Red Dragon Poker Club!

The Red Dragon Poker Club is located at the 2nd floor of the Kopi Roti Building, along the National Highway in Tagum City.

Photos courtesy of the Red Dragon Poker Club staff. :)