As the popular catch phrase “When will it end?” coined by well known pro Jason Mercier, it seems like once momentum starts, it just keeps rolling. In poker these words are usually associated positively with a players “on a heater”, seemingly unable to come up short. With all the top results being pulled by our players so far at WSOP and yet another weekend of great spots to be in, it feels only appropriate here. To do the meme justice, let’s take a look at the past two days for Canadians at the 2013 World Series of Poker…
Saturday seen two Canadians make Day 3 in two separate events; Greg “FBT” Mueller in the $5,000 Limit Hold’em where he finished 8th and Michael “SirWatts” Watson took 6th in the $1,500 No Limit Hold’em Shoot-out.
These results may seem pale in comparison to the record breaking bracelet wins already had by 7 of players so far, until you look at what both players have accomplished in the first 3 weeks of the 2013; Mueller has made 3 final tables over 8 events, with winnings now totaling $243,994 and climbing, while Watson has had 2 top ten finishes so far as well as a third cash, now totaling just shy of $75,000. Not a bad start for either, considering the bigger buy-in events are yet to be played.
Though the “stats” change daily, the world has definitely been taking notice of our poker performances, quick to point out that we seem to be coasting at making up less than ten percent of the entries, yet taking in double that ratio or better of the money and bracelets.
Sportscaster Lon McEachren has been actively summing things up jokingly via Twitter, including: “With so much WSOP success Canada’s national sport is in jeopardy. Young hockey phenoms will eschew 4am ice time for late night SNG’s”
“@lonmceachern: With so much WSOP success Canada’s national sport is in jeopardy. Young hockey phenoms will eschew 4am ice time for late night SNG’s”
All kidding aside, there are still quite a few stories in the making for Sunday’s play; we told you Quebec’s Jonathan’s D’Souza was one to keep an eye on over Day 2 of the $2,500 Four Handed Event #38 and he has indeed advanced to the final 8 of 566 making up Day 3, but he isn’t alone…Toronto’s Justin Oliver has also advanced, making for a 1 in 4 chance that Canada’s eighth bracelet, and a first place prize of $309,071 will be won tonight!
Those odds increase and even add a possible 9th piece of gold when we bring Event #39 into the mix. Only 17 of 558 players remain in the $1,500 Stud Hi-Lo Split, Eight or Better tournament, with Canucks sitting 3rd through 5th in chips; Anthony Gill, Mike “goleafsgo” Leah and Daniel Idema sit in those top spots, respectively. $184,590 will go to the winner, with everyone now guaranteed $5,273.
Lastly, we turn our heads to Events 4#0 & #41, a $1,500 No Limit Hold’em that began with more than 2,150 entries and a $5,000 Six Handed Pot Limit Omaha with 400 initial runners.
The NLHE has already been whittled down to 287, with Quebec’s Jonathan “J-Dog” Driscoll sitting 3rd in chips. In the PLO, Sorel Mizzi leads the final 117. In Event #40, first place will be more than $525,000 and see 243 players make the payouts, while 42 spots will pay in Event #41, with nearly $490,000 up top.
Driscoll is joined by David McMann and Griffin “Flush_Entity” Benger in the top 20 counts beginning Day 2.
For those keeping track of friends, two more tournaments are also set to get underway Sunday; Event #42 will be a $1,000 No Limit Hold’em and #43 a $10,000 No Limit Deuce to Seven Draw Lowball.
Go Canada Go!! 🙂