Negreanu Wins Canadian Poker Challenge

Having been born and raised in Canada I have come to learn that there are a couple of things you do not want to have at your poker table. Despite what may be the the reputation of us Canucks, the beer should wait until after play has come to an end. There are some players who swear by it and believe they can't play without it, I just don't need my senses being dulled at that moment. The other thing I would never want at my table is Daniel Negreanu.

Negreanu left his humble beginnings behind in Toronto, Ontario, Canada to pursue bigger game hunting in the U.S. He has managed to find his prey time and time again after settling in the centre of the poker universe, Las Vegas. He has managed to take home numerous titles, bracelets and has crushed the egos of champions who came before him. Daniel Negreanu continues to be an unassuming force to be reckoned with.

All of his success and accolades could not hold him back from returning to his native Canada where he ventured upon the B.C. championships at the River Rock Casino in Richmond, British Columbia, just outside of Vancouver. News of his arrival would have sent most scurrying for the rails but this field was anxious to take a shot at the champion. It has been said time and again that luck plays a prominent role in a game of chance like poker, however it fails to explain the continuing successes of this superstar. It can not be ignored that Negreanu is a force to be reckoned with on the felt.

The tournament series in B.C. consisted of five events. Negreanu was particularly drawn to the main event. With an entering field of 689 players it was a smaller tournament for Negreanu in comparison to what he has been used to in the past but it was business as usual. He set his sights on taking down the Main Event and he did it with authority. It was not that the field was any less challenging than what the champion is used to. Quite the contrary. Negreanu himself stated the competition was very good and he particularly enjoyed the structure. He went so far as to say it was the best $2,500.00 buy in structure he has ever played. A little extra praise for the home turf? Perhaps. That doesn't change how he played. Nobody was safe and the lion's share of the pool went to the champion.

According to Darryl Schiewe, the BCLC's Vice President of Casino and Community Gaming, this year's tournament had the best "big name" showing so far in the history of the tournament. He is hoping that Negreanu winning the Main Event this year will attract even more attention in upcoming seasons.

For his efforts, Daniel Negreanu's win netted him a little over $370,000.00. He can now add that to his growing cache of winnings which include four WSOP bracelents and two WPT titles. Not too shabby for a kid from the frozen nether regions of the earth.