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Poker face

Canadian takes $9m World Poker tournament

College drop-out Johnathan Duhamel scooped the world’s largest poker prize in Las Vegas.

A 23-YEAR-OLD CANADIAN MAN has won the biggest poker prize in the world, walking away from the table with $8.9m (€6.45m).

After quitting his college course in second year, Duhamel earned $3 an hour picking strawberries and worked at a grocery store before turning his attention to pro-poker.

He said he sticks to a steady, but simple, life of playing online poker throughout the day and watching Canadian hockey with friends over beer at night.

Duhamel told the Canadian Press he wants to focus on proving he can consistently play among the best after becoming the first Canadian to scoop the prize.

He said he’s getting used to the extra attention his success has brought him, USA Today reports:

It’s weird but it’s kind of fun at the same time. I’m not used to people (asking for autographs). It’s new for me, but I enjoy it a little bit.

The World Series of Poker tournament started back in July, paused for a few months, then resumed last Saturday. The prize fund was generated by entry fees, with over 7,300 players paying €10,000 each to enter.

PokerNews runs through the key moments of the tournament, hand by hand. Watch the final dramatic moments in the game before Duhamel takes the title: