It has been won by 1996 WSOP Main Event Champion Huck Seed, claiming his first major win since his WSOP success. 

Huck Seed has a good record in heads-up tournaments in recent years coming close to winning in many tournaments.  He came third in this year’s NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championships held in Las Vegas after finishing ninth last year, third in 2006 and ninth in 2005.  At the first ever Canadian Open Championship Seed came third and so his return this year to win the tournament must be all the more sweet.

For his efforts, Seed wins $100,000 as well as the title for a tournament that had a $5,000 buy-in.

64 players contested the 2008 Canadian Open Championship.  However, just because it was such a small field, doesn’t mean there weren’t some real quality professionals taking part.  Joe Hachem, Jennifer Tilly, Phil Laak, Mel Juda, Bill Edler and Antonio Esfandiari were all here aiming to lift the Canadian Open Main Event title.

In the end Huck Seed competed against Canadian Brad Booth in the final heads-up match.  It lasted over five hours before Seed eventually defeated Booth in the best-of-three match. 

After his win Huck Seed said, “This was an amazing tournament in terms of both structure and quality of players.  I love it when the cream rises to the top, and I get a chance to play with the best in the world.  I am so happy that I finally won a heads-up tournament.”

Joe Hachem was perhaps the other big name to go far in the tournament.  He was eliminated in the quarter-final for a $20,000 payday and had some good things to say about the tournament.

“This is by far the best heads-up tournament I have ever played in, and I will definitely be back next year, Hachem said.  “The structure is much better than the World Series or NBC Invitational with the best-of-three format and terrific blind structure.”

Here is a list of the top eight players from the Canadian Open Main Event Heads-up Championship and their prize money:

Huck Seed ($100,000)
Brad Booth ($50,160)
Graeme Putt ($30,000)
Gavin Smith ($30,000)
Nghi Van Tran ($20,000)
Joe Hachem ($20,000)
Van Marcus ($20,000)
Shawn Buchanan ($20,000)

The Canadian Open featured four other events.  The winners of these events were:

$500 Charity Event: Jody Lewchuk
$1,500 Event: Steve-Paul Ambrose
$1,000 Event: Bradley Ginet
$500 Event: Harey Hammoud

The Canadian Open has been a great success with over 600 players and more than $700,000 prize money in the five events.

“I am very pleased with the success of the event, said Kelly B. Kellner, HeadsUp Entertainment president and CEO.  “The staff at the Deerfoot Inn and Casino were amazing and that is reflected in the comments from all the players.”

Source:http://www.onlinecasinopress.co.uk/