Edmonton’s Alemu ‘Jerome’ Makonen Ships Venetian DSE & WSOPC Ring In Same Week

Alemu 'Jerome' Makonen

We have seen a few Canadian players already shine as poker kicks off 2012 on the world felts, but Edmonton’s Alemu “Jerome” Makonen certainly owns most of the bragging rights so far after winning both a Venetian Deep Stack Extravaganza event and World Series of Poker Circuit ring at Caesars. Combined, the 1st place finishes in two $340-$350 buy-in events were worth more than $55,000.

Jerome, as Alemu prefers to be called, started his heater in Event #1 at the first VDSE of 2012, defeating a starting field of 568 other players. Judging by the winners photo, it looks like a pair of sixs were good enough for to seal the deal for Makonen; earning him more the title, more than $37,000 and a shiny gold watch.

It seems that Jerome decided to accessorize furher however; after all whats a flashy time piece with-out some nice gold on your finger to go with it? Just 4 days later in Caesars Palace WSOP-C Event #12, a Turbo No Limit Hold’em, Makonen earned that “bling” after outlasting 235 other entries.

Prior to this epic week, Makonen also has a final tables at the 2011 Harvest Poker Classic in Regina, a $300 NLH at the 2011 Canadian Open Poker Championship and several other medium limit cashes at the 2011 Western Canadian Poker Classic in Edmonton.

Ontario’s Greg Hartwick was the only other Canadian to win a WSOP-C ring at this stop and we told you about our players who finished in the top 20 in WSOPC Events 1 through 9 at Caesars Palace; it’s only fair we make mention of those who went deep in the $1,600 Main Event (#10) and Event #11.

Vancouver’s Jonas Mackoff, was near the top of the pack to begin Day 2 and did find his way into the final day, along with fellow Canucks Joseph Grey from Marquis Saskatchewan and Igor Grinevsky of Winnipeg. All 3 unfortunately fell short of the final table, but not without some 5 figure scores as follows; Jonas took 15th place for $12,088, Igor placed 13th for the same, Joseph squeaked into the next pay jump and 12th place for $14,853. With a starting field of 662 players, theses boys definitely proved they have game.

In Event #11, a $350 No Limit Hold’em, we had yet another final table with some Canadian presence; Dominick French of Victoria made a nice run to place 6th for $3,724 while Jeffery Harcourt of Peace River Alberta just missed the top ten with an 11th place finish worth $1,463. Adding to the haul going back to Victoria, Sebastian Smitsdorff claimed 16th for $1,002.

Congratulations to all our players who headed south for inaugural series of 2012 in Vegas and we’ll keep an eye on the Venetian Deep Stack Extravaganza Series taking place until February 21st for some more notable Canadian results.