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Toronto's Poker Triumph Ushers in New Era in Canadian Poker

By Shane Lambert

04 Mar 2025

Shane Lambert 04 Mar 2025

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2024 WSOP in Toronto saw solid numbers in terms of participation and prize money, encouraging developments on the Canadian poker scene.
Amateur Khaled Aljoma won the Main Event and a $427,191 prize.
2025 WSOP will expand and could see improved numbers this spring.

The 2025 WSOP Circuit Event in Toronto looks to build off of last year's success in the inaugural event.

Recapping the 2024 event in Toronto and looking ahead

Canadian poker fans will remember Toronto’s inaugural 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit Event. Canada's largest city hosted a total of eight WSOP Circuit Ring-awarding tournaments, which managed to draw over 6,000 total entries across all events.

GGPoker was a part of the qualifying events and the total prize pool from all the events combined was $5.5M.

Does it help poker when an amateur wins?

Khaled Aljoma, a poker hobbyist as opposed to a poker professional, won the Main Event in 2024. The entry fee was $2000 and his winnings were $427,191. In addition to the prize money, he also won a WSOP Circuit Ring.

Aljoma does have the making of a one-hit wonder in Canadian poker. Even with the ring and the big cash, he is still just 305th on Canada's All Time Money List.

Furthermore, he has not done much in the tournaments after his victory at the 2024 WSOP Circuit Event in Toronto with just modest cashes noted at his profile page at The Hendon Mob for the balance of 2024.

However, it is players like this that get other poker players dreaming. When a mechanic wins a mid-major poker event, then the reaction from Joe Public in the poker world can only be "It could happen for me as well."

Will a poker pro break through in 2025?

Looking back at other in-the-money finishers from last year, Daniel Negreanu, an ambassador for GGPoker, was there. He finished down in 237th.

The turnout for last year's event was considered to be a significant development for the poker scene in Toronto and Ontario. In fact, the 2025 WSOP Circuit Event in Toronto is a major part of the Canadian poker scene.

Will a poker pro like Negreanu break through and win the Main Event this year?

Last year, there was not even a hint of an established poker pro winning but the law of averages would suggest that the cream will rise to the top.

The 2025 edition is expected to expand and offer increased prize pools. The tournament will take place from April 10th – 22nd, 2025, featuring 11 WSOP Circuit Ring Events. Before then, GGPoker will host online satellites which offer a chance to refine your game as much as they offer a chance to get into the main draw at a reduced rate.

For further updates, including the full tournament schedule, please visit greatcanadiantoronto.com.

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