The inaugural Canadian Open Poker Championship, held at the Stampede Casino in Calgary last weekend was won by 23-year-old rookie player James Lopushinsky, who left the final table with the grand prize of C$250 000.
Second place, and C$125 000 went to Karim Chatur, also of Calgary
Former poker player Kelly Kellner organised the heads-up, No-Limit Texas Hold ‘Em format event, along with management at the Calgary Stampede Casino. The prizes are believed to be the largest guaranteed payouts ever offered for a Canadian poker tourney.
Kellner said he wanted to do something different from the current poker tournaments being played and shown on TV in North America.
“It’s two players at the table. One guy goes on, one comes out,” said Kellner, the CEO of HeadsUp Entertainment. “I love playing heads-up – most poker players do. It is the ultimate challenge of your ability. When you’re there and it’s just you and I, if I can read you and I can bluff you, that makes me a great poker player. It gives players an opportunity to shine and it’s something that hasn’t been done in Canada.”
Also competing in the championship was Brad Booth, a local poker celebrity who first took Lopushinsky under his wing and taught the championship winner the intricacies of the game. Lopushinsky worked for Booth as a dealer at his gaming facility and has a relatively short history as a poker player.
A total of 64 players competed in the event, entering by paying a fee of $5,000 or through qualifying events and satellite tournaments, where entry fees started at $60.