Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto Celebrates First WSOP Circuit Success
Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto recently held the city's debut World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) series in collaboration with GGPoker, and the management hailed the event as a tremendous success.
This marked the largest WSOPC International series of the season, boasting a prize pool exceeding $5.5 million. Poker enthusiasts from all over North America flocked to the resort to participate.
"Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto hosted the most significant International Circuit Main Event this season, demonstrating its potential to become one of the premier stops on the International Circuit schedule," remarked World Series of Poker Vice President Gregory Chochon. "We extend our gratitude to the players for their participation, as well as to the Great Canadian staff and GGPoker for their dedication in making this a remarkable WSOP Circuit debut."
Series Highlights
The Toronto leg unfolded over 11 days, attracting over 6,000 entries, including 324 Main Event online qualifiers from GGPoker. Management reported that the series surpassed initial expectations of a $3.9 million prize pool.
Khaled Aljoma, a Great Canadian rewards club member from Burlington, Ontario, emerged victorious in the Main Event, claiming $427,191 and a coveted championship ring. He intends to have his ring engraved with the message, "We did it for the kids."
The 50-year-old, who works as a mechanic, plans to use part of his winnings to upgrade his home. Aljoma, considering poker a hobby, now boasts over $500,000 in live tournament earnings. The Main Event attracted 1,600 entries, generating a $2.8 million prize pool.
The series bestowed eight championship rings, with all winners also securing a seat to compete in the $1 million Tournament of Champions at Commerce Casino in Los Angeles in May.
Toronto native and GGPoker ambassador Daniel Negreanu participated in the Main Event. The Poker Hall of Famer finished in 230th place and praised Great Canadian Toronto as an ideal host for large-scale poker tournaments.
"After playing WSOP events worldwide for over 25 years, there's something truly special about competing in one in my hometown," Negreanu expressed.
The casino management was delighted by the overwhelming response to the property's inaugural WSOPC series and intends to continue hosting major poker tournament series.
"I am incredibly proud of the overwhelming success of our inaugural World Series of Poker® tournament in collaboration with GGPoker," stated Great Canadian Toronto general manager Robert Katsavelos. "The immense turnout from both players and spectators underscores the passion and enthusiasm for poker within our community. We are thrilled to have welcomed players from across Canada and beyond to our brand new resort and look forward to delivering more exceptional experiences in the future."
Mark Patterson is the news writer at CasinosInCanada who covers the latest developments in the iGaming industry, including casino launches, regulations, and market updates.
Daniel Negreanu's participation in the tournament adds an extra layer of excitement to the event. His presence undoubtedly contributed to the overall success of the WSOP Circuit series in Toronto. Can't wait to see what future poker tournaments Great Canadian Resort has in store!
Congratulations to Khaled Aljoma for his impressive win in the Main Event! It's inspiring to see someone turning their hobby into a substantial cash prize. The enthusiasm and turnout for this tournament speak volumes about the growing popularity of poker in the Toronto community.
What an exciting event! It's fantastic to see the WSOP Circuit series making its mark in Toronto. Kudos to Great Canadian Resort and GGPoker for hosting such a successful tournament. Looking forward to seeing more poker events like this in the future!