2012 was an action packed year on the poker tournament felts across the globe, with the spotlight shining brightly on many of our own the whole way…but just who were the top 10 Canadian Live Tournaments Money winners last year? Where do some of the countries elite hail from when they aren’t crushing around the globe?
The answers and names might surprise some and with so much happening right out of the gate at the 2012 PCA, we figured a little recap and look at the top 10 couldn’t hurt.
Players from just 3 provinces dominate the list; Ontario had 4 players rack up $5,651,079, Quebec had 4 of their own players haul in about $5,099,377 and last but not least, 2 from British Columbia collectively won about $1,833,173.
As far as how it all went down, we take a look at the best of 2012:
1st – Michael Watson (Ontario/Newfoundland)- $2,088,032
Total 2012 Major Tournament Cashes: 14 Top 10 Finishes in 2012: 6 Wins: 2
Not only did “SirWatts” claim the most money, he was also one of only two players on the list to outright win more than one event last year; Super High Roller events were where it was at for Watson, both in the €50,000 in Barcelona were he took 3rd for the CAD equivalent of $490,847 and then winning the Majestic 50k in Cannes for $1,304,648!
Career All Time Total: $5,370,500 Current Rank on Canadian All Time: 5th
2nd – Guy Laliberte (Quebec/Outer Space) – $1,834,666
Total 2012 Major Tournament Cashes: 1 Top 10 Finishes in 2012: 1 Wins: 0
With so much money up top it might have been easy to over look Laliberte’s 5th place finish in the $1,000,000 “Big One for One Drop”. The man behind the spectacular event and it’s initiative wasn’t far behind the top spot with a single in the money finish.
While it was also his first major tournament cash in about 5 years, it seems Guy likes to make them count when he does make the money; last time was a 4th place finish in World Poker Tour $25,000 4th back in 2007 worth $696,220.
Career All Time Total: $2,608,000 Rank on Canadian All Time: 16th
3rd – Daniel Negreanu – (Ontario/Las Vegas) $1,690,021
Total 2012 Major Tournament Cashes: 16 Top 10 Finishes in 2012: 6 (Open Events) Wins: 0
While he didn’t win any titles, Canada’s poker poster boy proved why once again, cashing more times than any other Canadian player in the top ten. Pretty much free-rolling the year in it’s first few weeks, Negreanu racked up a million right out of the gates.
3 “Super High Roller” events did make up the bulk of his impressive total however, despite his constancy; in the 100k at PCA Daniel cashed for $250,900, then collected a few runner up finishes in both the Monte Carlo €100,000 for another $409,279 and in the €25,000 for $709,304.
While he didn’t add to his WSOP bracelet count this year, there was a final table in a $1,500 Pot Limit Hold’em where Negreanu finished 5th for $41,683.
Career All Time Total: $16,340,578 Rank on Canadian All Time: 1st
4th – Jonathan Duhamel (Quebec) – $1,494,638
Total 2012 Major Tournament Cashes: 13 Top 10 Finishes in 2012: 8 Wins: 1
Also having an incredible January, Duhamel rocked the PCA making 4 final tables that included winning a 5k for $239,830, another $313,600 in the 100k and then 2nd in $25k for $634,550. Wasting no time, Jonathan then made another 6 figure score at the LAPC where he chopped then took 2nd in a $5,000 No Limit Hold’em for $121,115.
Career All Time Total: $11,098,582 Rank on Canadian All Time: 2nd
5th – Andrew Chen (Ontario) – $1,049,758
Total 2012 Major Tournament Cashes: 6 Top 10 Finishes in 2012: 4 Wins: 0
Andrew wasn’t without also claiming his January cash with a 2nd in PCA High Roller 10k Six Max worth $191,984, but the big money for Chen came in the spring at EPT Berlin where he made a sweet deal then finished runner up for a sizable $801,391 score.
Career All Time Total: $2,838,478 Rank on Canadian All Time: 15th
6th – Shawn Buchanan (British Columbia) – $1,033,613
Total 2012 Major Tournament Cashes: 7 Top 10 Finishes in 2012: 3 Wins: 1
Never staying away from the big money for very long, Buchanan started off year winning the 10k Six Max at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (over Andrew Chen) for $202,360.
Come summer, Shawn was back at another final table, this time finishing 6th in a $2,500 Deuce to Seven Triple Draw at the World Series of Poker. Buchanan’s biggest score of 2012 came at the ended year with his third World Poker Tour final table finish, this time a respectable 2nd place at WPT Bellagio worth $746,502.
Career All Time Total: $5,493,723 Rank on Canadian All Time: 4th
7th – Marc Andre Ladouceur (Quebec) – $899,569
Total 2012 Major Tournament Cashes: 9 Top 10 Finishes in 2012: 4 Wins: 1
Marc-Andre seemed to be kissing the proverbial sister over and over again, finishing a frustrating second three times; first in Prague for $73,301 in a $5,000 No Limit Hold’em, then Barcelona in a 10k Heads Up for $124,000 and finally at the 2k Playground Poker Club Laak & Esfandiari Open for $20,173.
Despite those “oh so close” finishes, Ladouceur’s spotlight moments were very worthy of attention; he was last Canadian standing in the 2012 WSOP Main Event finishing 13th for $465,159 and then went on to win EPT San Remo €5k High Roller for $170,951.
Career All Time Total: $1,047,841 Rank on Canadian All Time: 45th
8th – Jonathan Roy (Quebec) – $870,504
Total 2012 Major Tournament Cashes: 4 Top 10 Finishes in 2012: 3 Wins: 2
Mr. Roy showed the poker world he meant business at EPT Monte Carlo back in April where he won an 8 max €2,000 for $76,575, but just in case there was any doubt, Jonathan next conquered a record setting field at WPT Montreal to claim a top payout valued at $777,210.
Career All Time Total: $920,364 Rank on Canadian All Time: 53rd
9th – Timothy Adams (Ontario) – $823,268
Total 2012 Major Tournament Cashes: 9 Top 10 Finishes in 2012: 4 Wins: 1
Adams snatched himself one of poker’s most coveted prizes, winning a 4 Max $2,500 at the 2012 WSOP for his first bracelet and $392,476. Then, just two weeks later, he came close to number 2 with a 7th in a $10,000 Six Max good for $100,696 more. His 2012 tear wasn’t over yet though and in September he made the final table of World Poker Tour Paris for a 4th place worth $158,349.
Career All Time Total: $1,006,114 Rank on Canadian All Time: 49th
10th – Ashkan Razavi (British Columbia) – $799,560
Total 2012 Major Tournament Cashes: 3 Top 10 Finishes in 2012: 2 Wins: 1
Razavi was on the rail when Matt Jarvis won a World Series of poker bracelet in 2011 and it seems that something might have rubbed off; Ashkan won his bracelet in the $1,500 Re-Entry during the 2012 WSOP, one of the largest fields who’s title came along with $781,398.
Career All Time Total: $992,301 Rank on Canadian All Time: 50th
It’s been said that 2012 will stand out for years to come in terms of how tough the top spots where to stay in, 5 more players who just missed the top ten but would have likely made it on any other year included; Jason Lavallee (QC) in 11th with $733,927, Xuan Liu (ON) in 12th at $676,228, Erik Cajelais (QC) at $615,353, Simon Charette in 14th for $571,353 and Mike McDonald in 15th with $539,253.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this recap and reminiscing of some of last year’s excitement and we look forward to bringing you all the poker excitement of 2013!
