Bracelet No 8 and 9 for Canada: Justin Oliver, Daniel Idema strike WSOP Gold

Canada strikes a rich haul at the 2013 WSOP.
Canada strikes a rich haul at the 2013 WSOP.

Justin Oliver and Daniel Idema made it nine WSOP Gold Bracelets for Canada as they won Event 38 and 39 respectively making it a record for the maple leap nation. Oliver won the eighth Bracelet earlier today as he defeated American Nick Schwarmann in event 38, $2500 NL Hold’em four handed to get $309,071. Then he was joined by Idema who captured gold in $1500 Stud Hi/Lo conquering over Joseph Hertzog.

The good streak of Canada at the 2013 World Series of Poker continues as the USA behaves like a good host to its neighbouring nation. And it wasn’t an easy win for Oliver who made a dramatic comeback from very low stacks to take top spot. Oliver won at this event which is only appearing at the WSOP for the second time. A total of 566 players had contested and poker pros like Faraz Jaka, Maria Ho and Trevor Pope were amongst the top 64 who finished in the money. 

This double haul in one day makes it nine bracelets for Canada and a perfect ten if you include Daniel Negreanu’s WSOP APAC win earlier this year. This also marks a record for the maximum bracelets won at the WSOP by any non US nation. and it doesn’t look like the Canadians plan to stop there. 

Daniel Idema followed up Oliver’s bracelet with his personal second gold to give Canada its ninth gold. Idema won Event 39, $1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Low Split-8 or Better tournament and $184,000 in prize money defeating a field of 558 players. A total of 56 poker players finished ITM including Jason Mercier, Mike Sexton and Phil Hellmuth. This was Idema’s 19th WSOP cash, his fifth WSOP final table and his second final table in WSOP 2013. 

Lets wait to see how many more golds are struck by the Canadians since more than 20 bracelets are still to be awarded in the 2013 WSOP.