Top 10 Canadian Poker Players
Did you know Maple Land has the biggest legends in poker history? If you’re interested in poker, I invite you today to discover Canada’s best poker players.
Explore the top 10 moments from poker history and who made them. You never know how you pick up a few practical hints for your next poker session.
Top 10 Poker Players in Canada
We’ll get straight to the subject. So who are the most successful poker players in Canada?
#10 Pascal Lefrancois
Total career earnings: Over $7 Million
Started early but managed to build quite a career in the poker field? Yep, and even with lots of achievements and real money earnings.
One of the most popular poker players started playing at only 17 with his hockey teammates. Guess what! He ended up winning big prizes at poker main events. The first WSOP bracelet at 23 and an impressive finish in the WSOP Main Event in 2010, to start with.
A pretty aggressive but well-thought-out playstyle describes him. Tell you what, he is known for using well-timed bluffs.
Still, the highlight of his success is his ability to adjust to different situations and opponents. How? Through emotional control, balance, and continuously staying updated.
#9 Peter Jetten
Total career earnings: Over $9 Million
Left university to follow his passion and became one of Canada’s best poker players. No kidding. That’s one of the few stories when dropping out of university to follow your passion ended up paying dividends, right?
His first visible success was his victory at the 2006 WSOP, but the 2008 event brought him even more cash. That’s all? No. Read on.
More tournaments followed suit and brought him more earnings. But what really contributed to his budget was the 5th place at one of the main poker events.
Can you imagine that his biggest single cashout was around $1.32 Million?
Jetten is more of a calm and calculated player. He uses analytical thinking and focuses on adjusting strategies wisely. He hasn’t shared any tips with other players publicly but his poker career shows that maintaining composure under pressure is essential.
#8 Sorel Mizzi
Total career earnings: Over $13 Million
Became popular due to a scandal but managed to stand out as one of the most successful poker players in the Great White North.
Are you in the mood for some tea? All the drama from 2007 revolves around him using multiple accounts to gain an edge. Let’s be real, haven’t you ever thought about it?
Still, he managed to build a new reputation as a top poker player. Both online and live tournaments are his playing fields. Mizzi demonstrated his skill through several victories across major events.
This leading poker player is recognized for his fearless strategy and pretty aggressive gameplay. Making bold moves is part of his game.
Interestingly, this approach works for him both online and in live settings. He focuses on well-timed pressure, learning, and the ability to adjust strategies to different situations.
#7 Mike McDonald
Total career earnings: Over $13 Million
Known as Timex, and not by coincidence – he used to win significant amounts in almost every event over a long period.
Like the others, he developed an early interest in poker. This allowed him to gain quite some achievements. First, he’s the youngest European Poker Tour champion, at just 18. Other successes are his victory at the Epic Poker League and consistent performances with notable victories at various events.
McDonald is known for impressive composure and analytical thinking when it comes to poker. A strategic mindset and the impressive ability to read your opponents seem more than enough for this top poker player. It’s amazing how he navigates pressuring situations so professionally.
McDonald is one of the players who shared valuable insights with the public. He even launched the PokerShares platform for investments in poker players’ performances. That’s when the business side kicks in.
#6 Jonathan Duhamel
Total career earnings: Over $18 Million
Another successful player who began playing poker at an early age. He even dropped out of University to pursue his poker career.
Duhamel didn’t make history only by becoming one of the best poker players in Canada but also by becoming the first Canadian to win at the World Series of Poker Main Event, walking away with over $8 Million. He also won two WSOP bracelets.
Compared to other players on the list, he is known for a more aggressive but calculated style. Making bold moves and reading opponents is his thing. Regarding tips from the player, Duhamel released the book “Final Table” in 2012 with strategic advice for large tournaments. Among his musts are resilience, never-stopping learning, and adaptability.
#5 Michael Watson
Total career earnings: Over $20 Million
Aka SirWatts.
Watson is another successful poker player who had an early interest in strategy and mathematics. You’re right, that’s what became essential in his poker career. From his career’s cornerstones – a first-place prize in the 2008 World Poker Tour, two wins in the European Poker Tour, and his first WSOP bracelet in 2024.
Strategic thinking is essential to his playstyle, while his background in mathematics helps him make calculated decisions. He knows how to adapt the game to various situations, leading to one thought – versatility is his key to success.
There are no specific tips shared by the player publicly, but his game over the years shows a focus on analytical strategy, ability to perform under pressure, and adaptability.
#4 Sam Greenwood
Total career earnings: Over $36 Million
This story has quite a plot twist, from stock trader to online poker player and finally to one of the most successful poker players in Canada.
He was already doing well earning millions when playing online. His first major success was the 2015 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure event, followed by a WSOP bracelet, a European Poker Tour victory (going home with a million win), another PokerStars win, and the British Poker Open Success in 2019.
Greenwood has an analytical approach to the game, adjusting his strategy depending on the game. Continuous learning and flexibility seem to be a must for one of the best Canadian poker players.
#3 Daniel Dvoress
Total career earnings: Over $38 Million
Another prominent figure on the poker scene.
Daniel was actually born in the Soviet Union but emigrated to Canada. Dvoress started his poker adventure online on PokerStars and Full Tit Poker. He’s not much of a public person, but he’ll most likely make an appearance if it’s a big event with huge rewards.
From his career highlights: The largest single cashout in the 2019 live tournament in the Bahamas of over $4 Million, 2020 first WSOP bracelet, and 2023 second WSOP bracelet adding to his earnings.
Daniel is known in the industry for his analytical strategies and solid mathematical background. He’s a consistent competitor in high-stakes events. While he hasn’t shared publicly any specific tips, his career shows a focus on continuous learning, analytical thinking, and emotional control.
#2 Timothy Adams
Total career earnings: Over $38 Million
A standout figure on the poker scene who began his career at 18 and is known by his online nickname Tim0thee. Have you heard about him?
He collected over $2 Million on PokerStars, but his career took off all the way back in 2007 with his first appearance at WSOP. But the cornerstone came in 2012 with his first WSOP bracelet.
Adams is known for a disciplined playstyle in high-stakes games, which allowed him to win in some of the most prestigious events, such as the European Poker Tour. Discipline and patience are a must in his game.
#1 Daniel Negreanu
Total career earnings: Over $50 Million
We’ve reached the No1 and it’s Daniel Negreanu, the most successful poker player in Canada and not only.
Interesting fact, he is actually Romanian (his parents emigrated from Romania).
Negreanu won his first WSOP (World Series of Poker) bracelet at a very young age, becoming “Kid Poker”. But he didn’t stop there. He has 7 WSOP bracelets, 2 World Poker Tour titles, and he is the only player who has been named WSOP Player of the Year not once but twice.
Negreanu is known for his exclusive ability to read his opponents and the small ball strategy, focused on playing a wider range of hands with constant small bets. Positional awareness, patience, and analysis are essential for his playstyle.
I didn’t share this info with you today to show off other players’ achievements only but also to underline their skills and personality traits. For some of you, it may serve as tips; for others as inspiration. After all, playing poker isn’t about luck (maybe to a small extent). It’s more about having the right abilities and using the right skills to build strategies and win.
But what I mostly noticed about all these top poker players is their personalities, which played quite a role. Some of them are good friends with composure, while others know how to read their opponents.
This article is written by Mary, a seasoned professional with a rich background as a casino croupier now transitioned into a digital publisher with a keen focus on the online casino scene. With years of firsthand experience on the casino floor, Mary offers her unique perspective to the digital world of gambling.
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