Over $7.5 Million Awarded at Toronto WSOP Circuit Event

Posted on: April 29, 2025, 03:59h. 

Last updated on: April 29, 2025, 03:59h.

Mark Keast Read More

Expertise: Canadian Gaming, iGaming, Las Vegas, Sports Betting, NFL, Boxing, UFC.

A restaurant worker from Thornhill, Ont., is over CAD $500,000 richer after capturing the Main Event at a World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit Event held at Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto.

Big Uptick in Prize Money

The event, which ran from April 10-22, saw 8,203 total entries across 11 WSOP Circuit Ring Events – a 35.9% increase from the inaugural event last year.

Great Canadian Ontario is the only location in the province that hosts WSOP events, including ring and bracelet events.

The total prize pool also saw an increase to CAD $7.56 million, up 35.4% year-over-year. In total, 11 WSOP rings were awarded

Over 2,100 Entries in Main Poker Event

The big seller was the $2,000 Main Event, which drew 2,139 entries, with a record $3.74 million prize pool, up from $2.8 million last year. There were 413 Main Event online qualifiers from GGPoker, another increase from 2024. Great Canadian Casino Resorts sponsors the event in tandem with GGPoker.

The big story was Pengxiang Ruan, a restaurant worker from Thornhill, just north of Toronto, who captured the Main Event title, taking home $510,245 in first-place money. Ryan, who’s been playing poker for ten years, says he plans to take his winnings and open his own restaurant.

$3.74 Million Prize Pool

WSOP is the largest and richest gaming event and poker brand in the world, having awarded over $4 billion in prize money over the past six decades.

The record-breaking turnout, amazing competition, and incredible stories like Pengxiang Ruan’s are exactly what make the WSOP Circuit such a special experience,” said Michael Kim, Executive Vice President, Great Canadian Entertainment.  “We are proud to exclusively bring the magic of the WSOP to Toronto and look forward to building on this incredible momentum.”

Players also took part in the $3,500 High Roller Event, which had 291 entries and a prize polo $906,465, and the $1,000 No Limit Hold’em which drew a total of 847 entries with a prize pool of $719,950.