GTPLQ: GAME CHANGER - NAHAS EARNS OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME

PHOTO: LOTO-QUEBEC

It was an epic heads up battle. After over 32 hours of play, 57 players had dwindled down to the final two. Pro Jean-Christophe Ferreira (well known in the French-Canadian poker community) and Carlos Nahas endured a 5 and half hour long battle for all the marbles.




Finally, Nahas' pocket kings allowed him to turn a flush, making him the very first Grand Tournoi de poker Loto-Quebec Main Event Champion, and earning him a 1M entry into the Big One for One Drop at the World Series of Poker.

Loto-Quebec and the Casino du Lac-Leamy certainly outdid themselves with this event, VIP treatment for the players and their families, amazing views from outside the Theatre (where the event was held) and a live kickoff speech from CEO guru Mitch Garber and Cirque du Soleil and One Drop Foundation creator Guy Laliberte - both Canadian by the way - amazing work by Richard Gunn and the whole team!

Congratulations Carlos, most of the crown was against you, but, you showed them! Well played, sir and see you at the One Drop!

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TOP 6 PAYOUTS (CAD) Carlos Nahas $17,143 + 1M One Drop seat Jean-Christophe Ferreira $73,347 Chanracy Khun $68,572 Franco Amoreli $59,221 Martin Fournier-Giguere $49,870 Jean-Philippe Matte $43,636 Everyone who finishes in the Top 16 also receives a trip for two to Las Vegas in July, in order to cheer on this tournament's winner. RELATED POSTS >> LADOUCEUR PACK-LEADER >> MORE THAN THE MILLION >> THE ADVENTURE: BEGINS >> LIVE BLOG HEADS UP >> LIVE BLOG 8TH TO 3RD >> LIVE BLOG 16TH TO 9TH >> LIVE BLOG LEVEL 7-12 >> LIVE BLOG LEVEL 1-6

PTPR TIER 3 EVENT Le Grand Touroi de poker Loto-Quebec NLH Main Event May 19-20, 2012 Casino du Lac-Leamy | Quebec Buy-in: $25,000 | Prizepool: $1,425,000 Entries: 57 PTPR POINTS DISTRIBUTION CARLOS NAHAS 100 JEAN-CHRISTOPHE FERREIRA 60 CHANRACY KHUN 35 FRANCO AMORELI 25 MARTIN FOURNIER-GIGUERE 18 JEAN-PHILIPPE MATTE 10 MARC-ANDRE LADOUCEUR 8 MICHEL ARSENAULT 5 CHRISTOPHER SPRYSA 5

LE GRAND TOURNOI LOTO-QUEBEC: SWEET SIXTEEN - LADOUCEUR LEADS THE PACK

PHOTO: POKERNEWS

The final sixteen players will be making their way to the Casino du Lac-Leamy on Sunday morning with at least one prize in their pocket.

The Sweet 16 have all won a trip to Las Vegas in July but, frankly, that's not what any of these players are here for. Sure maybe a few amateurs that qualified for only a few hundred dollars, the thought of spending a week in Vegas during the WSOP is great, but, for a guy like our chip leader, Marc-Andre Ladouceur, the stakes are much higher than that.

For Ladouceur and many others still alive, the trip to the WSOP in Las Vegas was already booked weeks ago, this is about the biggest opportunity of their careers, qualifying for the One Drop at the WSOP in Las Vegas with the opportunity win 15M!

Ladouceur's star was shinning bright throughout Saturday's Day 1 play.

Former PCA Champ Steve Paul Ambrose is second in chips entering Day 2 play - both Ladouceur and Paul-Ambrose - who finished the day playing at the same table for a few hours - will start Sunday play again at the same table.

SWEET 16 SEAT ASSIGNMENTS/CHIP COUNTS
TABLE 1
Seat 1 Martin Fournier Giguere 97,600
Seat 2 Eric Salvas 16,800
Seat 3 Christopher Sprysa 52,200
Seat 4 Carlos Nahas 73,800
Seat 5 Marc-Andre Ladouceur 230,900
Seat 6 Franco Amorelli 33,600
Seat 7 Michel Arsenault 124,600
Seat 8 Steven Paul-Ambrose 164,600

TABLE 2
Seat 1 Chanracy Khun 80,600
Seat 2 Louis Lam 77,600
Seat 3 Gabriel Houle Morin 96,700
Seat 4 Louis Crete 42,500
Seat 5 Jonathan Driscoll 90,100
Seat 6 Jean-Philippe Matte 69,300
Seat 7 Philippe Belley 45,300
Seat 8 Jean-Christophe Ferreira 130,200

Play resumes at 10AM ET - we'll be back with the live blog!

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EVENT PAYOUTS (CAD) 1st place $17,143 + 1M One Drop seat 2nd place $73,347 3rd place $68,572 4th place $59,221 5th place $49,870 6th place $43,636 Everyone who finishes in the Top 16 also receives a trip for two to Las Vegas in July, in order to cheer on this tournament's winner. RELATED POSTS >> LIVE BLOG LEVEL 7-12 >> LIVE BLOG LEVEL 1-6 >> MORE THAN THE MILLION >> THE ADVENTURE: BEGINS

PTPR TIER 3 EVENT Le Grand Touroi de poker Loto-Quebec NLH Main Event May 19-20, 2012 Casino du Lac-Leamy | Quebec Buy-in: $25,000 | Prizepool: $1,425,000 Entries: 433 PTPR POINTS DISTRIBUTION 1st place 100 2nd place 60 3rd place 35 4th place 25 5th place 18 6th place 10 7th place 8 8th place 5 9th place 5

MORE THAN A MILLION ON THE LINE - ONE DROP SEAT, FAME AND FORTUNE AWAITS WINNER OF GTPLQ

PHOTO: POKERNEWS

A total of 57 players have invaded Casino Lac-Leamy in Gatineau, Quebec (across the river from the Nation's Capital) with one thing in mind - qualify for the 1M buy-in Big One for One Drop tournament later this summer at the WSOP in Las Vegas.




A 25K buy-in event, prizepool way over 1M - this is absolutely the THE most prestigious poker tournament in Canadian history.

And contrary to popular belief, it's not just amateurs that picked up seats for the event. Former EPT Champion Mike McDonald highlights a star-studded field that includes bracelet winner Erik Cajelais - who bought in at the very last minute.

Both players spent most of the first six levels at the same table. Cajelais was banging hard early, bullying opponents into folds ... but, both players now sit with less than admirable chip stacks - although neither are on life support.

BREAKING!!! Mike McDonald has been eliminated in 40th position.

Former WPT Caribbean Adventure winner Steve-Paul Ambrose, WSOP bracelet winner and former November Niner Scott Montgomery and Christopher McClung highlight the stellar field.

It was a rough start to the day for pre-tournament favourite Samuel Chartier. Chartier, who's aces were cracked on the third hand of the day, barely had time to digest his breakfast before suffering his elimination.

Friend of Poker Eh! Laurence Grondin as well as fellow Quebec pro Marc-Etienne McClaughlin also exited the tournament earlier today.

A total of 40 players remain after six levels, we should be playing six more today and then we're back bright and early in the morning for Day 2.

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EVENT PAYOUTS (CAD) 1st place $17,143 + 1M One Drop seat 2nd place $73,347 3rd place $68,572 4th place $59,221 5th place $49,870 6th place $43,636 Everyone who finishes in the Top 16 also receives a trip for two to Las Vegas in July, in order to cheer on this tournament's winner. RELATED POSTS LIVE BLOG LEVEL 7-12 >> LIVE BLOG LEVEL 1-6 THE ADVENTURE: BEGINS

PTPR CHALLENGER EVENT Le Grand Touroi de poker Loto-Quebec NLH Main Event May 19-20, 2012 Casino du Lac-Leamy | Quebec Buy-in: $25,000 | Prizepool: $1,425,000 Entries: 433 PTPR POINTS DISTRIBUTION 1st place 100 2nd place 60 3rd place 35 4th place 25 5th place 18 6th place 10 7th place 8 8th place 5 9th place 5