The WSOPC makes its first-ever stop in Toronto next month
Many outstanding poker players have come from Toronto, including poker legend Daniel Negreanu. He and local players looking to create their own legacy will descend on the Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto for the city’s first-ever World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit event from March 22 through April 1.
Great Canadian Entertainment is the main sponsor of the tournament, which is the host for online qualifying tournaments for the WSOP Circuit’s Toronto stop. The eight Circuit Ring events will end with a $2,000 Main Event that’s anticipated to award approximately C$2.1 million (US $1.55 million) in total prizes.
Negreanu will also serve as one of the Brand Ambassadors for the series. The Toronto native is a Poker Hall of Fame member and holds six WSOP bracelets. “I have been playing WSOP events around the world for over 25 years,” said Negreanu in a press release. “There is something quite special about being able to finally compete in one in my hometown.”
The WSOP Circuit began in 2005 to help extend the brand outside the annual Las Vegas summer series. Events outside the US were grouped into the WSOP International Circuit in 2015. Toronto now joins the WSOP Circuit Calgary, a popular annual Canadian event at the Deerfoot Inn & Casino. Zhun Rui Chen won the Main Event of that series in January to secure the C$334,891 ($248,000) top prize.
Toronto native Ari Engel has succeeded in both the original series and the WSOP Circuit. He has the most WSOP Circuit rings with 17 after winning his most recent in an online event in Michigan this week and holds three WSOP bracelets. Engel has over 300 career cashes at WSOP events, earning him $2,788,000 in total prize money.
