Another Two WSOP Bracelets for Canadians

Justin Oliver of Toronto and David Idema from Vancouver won another two bracelets at this year's World Series of Poker contributing to Canada's bracelet count which now totals nine. WSOP Event 38 - $2,500 buy-in No-Limit Hold'em Four-Handed was very successful for 37-year-old Oliver who claimed his first piece of WSOP jewelry and took home the amount of $309,071. The Canadian bested the entry field of 565 hopefuls even though his play was not impressive throughout all stages of the game, in particular in the six-and-a-half-hour final table. Yet he managed to recover and defeat his rival Nick Schwarmann in the heads up. In spite of Schwarmann's 6 to 1 lead, Oliver played a few double ups very well and overtook his opponent who eventually left the table at 115th hand of the heads up with the runner-up prize of $191,434. The total prize pool was worth $1,287,650 and enabled 64 players to cash for a minimum of $4,223. The other two finishers were Jared Jaffe - $129,447 in 3rd place and David Pham - $89,736 in 4th place. Event 39, $1,500 buy-in Seven-Card Stud of this year WSOP competition was also marked by a Canadian's triumph. The Vancouver professional player Daniel Idema (29) won his second WSOP gold after two years by outplaying the field of 557 entrants. The final table saw Idema play against Joseph Hertzog, Raul Paez, Matt Vengrin, Mike Leah, Tony Gill, Fei Chu and Artie Cobb. After Spanish player Raul Paez was sent home with the third-placing prize of $71,736, the heads up stage between Idema and fellow Canadian Joseph Hertzog was set to begin. Even though Hertzog held the lead going into the 92-hand heads up, when both players celebrated with a round of drinks, Idema gradually returned into the game and finally managed to beat his opponent. Hertzog earned the amount of $114,109 as the second placing, while Idema took the main prize of $184,590. This win improved Idema's personal record as this was his fifth WSOP final table, his nineteenth WSOP cash in 28 career live tournament cashes, and his second WSOP bracelet. Other handsome final table payouts included: 4. Matt Vengrin $51,488 5. Mike Leah $37,552 6. Tony Gill $27,834 7. Fei Chu $20,964 8. Artie Cobb $16,037