Summer is almost here, but the WSOP doesn’t wait for summer to arrive before getting started.  The 2011 WSOP started on a sour note on the heels of “black friday” but this did not stop players from across the world to begin their trek in Las Vegas with their ultimate goal in winning a world series of poker bracelet.

Canadians will once again try to dominate the WSOP, headed last year by main event winner Jonathon Duhamel.

Tyler Bonkowski of Regina Saskatchewan has lead the charge becoming the first Canadian to win a WSOP bracelet in 2011.  By taking down event #14 the $3000 Limit Hold’em event, Tyler took home a hard earned $220,817, the largest cash of his career.

Mark Radoja of Guelph Ontario has won Canada’s second bracelet in Event #24, the $5000 No Limit Hold’em Shootout.  Mark bested 386 opponents to take home $436,538, also the biggest cash in his career, and his 9th career WSOP cash.

Daniel Idema from British Columbia has just made it back to back bracelet wins for Canadians by shipping Event #27, the $10,000 Limit Hold’em event for a $378,472 earning.  This is definately his marquee event as he narrowly missed winning a bracelet in the same event last year losing headsup.

Kirk Caldwell from Orangeville Ontario became the biggest Canadian winner so far taking home $668,276 for his win in event #32, the $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em. With 2,828 entries and an overall prizepool of $3,817,800 this was a huge event. Not too bad for a guy who won a private home game satellite in the Orangeville Poker Tour for $150. Event #32 was special for Canada Poker as 4 Canadians made the final table! Canadians came 1st, 3rd, 4th, and 10th.

Shawn Buchanan just missed out on Canada’s 5th bracelet, losing heads-up to Frenchman Fabrice Soulier in the $10k H.O.R.S.E Championship.

Matt Jarvis has gone from November Nine member to bracelet winner! Matt beat out a strong field to win Event #40 the $5,000 NLHE 6max event and becomes the first Canadian to win over a million dollars in the 2011 WSOP by shipping $1,045,743 and the bracelet.

A bracelet near miss for Simon Charette finishing 2nd in Event #48, the $1,500 NLHE event. No WSOP for Simon but $404,235 should cheer him up.

Another near bracelet miss, this time Michael Yee places 2nd in Event #51 $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-low Split-8 or Better game. He took home $165,346 as a consolation prize.

Canadian Final Tables at the 2011 WSOP
Event #54 $1,000 NLHE: Ren Ho Zhang 4th for $213,539
Event #54 $1,000 NLHE: Sebastien Roy 9th for $53,333
Event #53 $1,000 Ladies NLHE Championship: Gloutnez Genevine 8th for $17,537
Event #51 $1,500 PLO 8B: Michael Yee 2nd for $165,346
Event #49 $2,500 2-7 Triple Lowball: Shawn Buchanan 9th for $13,897
Event #49 $2,500 2-7 Triple Lowball: Nicholas Verkaik 10th for $13,897
Event #48 $1,500 NLHE: Simon Charette 2nd for $404,235
Event #40 $5,000 NLHE 6 Max: Matthew Jarvis 1st for $1,045,743
Event #39 $2,500 Pot Limit Omaha: Jonas Mackoff 8th for $30,040
Event #37 $10,000 Horse Championship: Shawn Buchanan 2nd for $376,458
Event #35 $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha: Michael McDonald 5th for $73,965
Event #32 $1,500 NLHE: Kirk Caldwell 1st for $668,276
Event #32 $1,500 NLHE: Marc Mclaughlin 3rd for $292,634
Event #32 $1,500 NLHE: Gabriel Houle 4th for $211,353
Event #32 $1,500 NLHE: Michael Whitfield 10th for $38,445
Event #28 $1,500 NLHE: Owen Crowe 4th for $190,147
Event #27 $10,000 LHE: Daniel Idema 1st for $378,472
Event #24 $5,000 NLHE Shootout: Mark Radoja 1st for $436,568
Event #14 $3,000 LHE: Tyler Bonkowski 1st for $220,817
Event #13 $1,500 NLHE Shootout: Erik Cajelais 5th for $79,315
Event #11 $10,000 Omaha Hi-Low Split 8+: Guillaume Rivet 6th for $92,908
Event #8 $1,000 NLHE: Jonathan Driscoll 10th for $38,128
Event #7 $10,000 PLHE: Eric Cloutier 7th for $87,702
Event #4 $5,000 NLHE: Sean LeFort 3rd for $348,128
Event #1 Employees $500 NLHE: Jason Baker 2nd for $50,807

Congratulations go out to all Canadians who have cashed in the 2011 WSOP. Unfortunately there is too many to list here. For those who have cashed in the WSOP or any other poker tournament in Vegas and need help reclaiming the 30% withholding tax that has been stripped from your winnings, contact RMS it is the easiest and most painless way to get your money back.