Mike McDonald

Biography

Mike McDonald is a Canadian professional poker player best known for being the youngest-ever European Poker Tour champion. He is also a well-known online grinder playing under the alias “Timex”.

Intro

Mike McDonald was born in 1989 in Waterloo, Ontario. He is best known for becoming the youngest European Poker Tour champion. McDonald won the EPT Dortmund Main Event in 2008 when he was just eighteen years old.

Background

McDonald started playing poker when he was a teenager and soon became known at the online poker tables by his nickname “Timex”. McDonald was still underage when he picked up the lifestyle of an online grinder, and as soon as he became of age, “Timex” took his game to the live felt.

World Series of Poker

McDonald's first World Series of Poker money finish was in 2011 as it was the year when he could start legally playing poker in the United States. He marked his debut by cashing in two events. In one of the two McDonald went all the way to the final table and collected over $70,000 for the 6th place finish in the $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha - Six Handed tournament. He came back to Vegas in the summer of 2012 and scored five more money finishes. His best result was once again the 6th place finish at the $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em / Ante Only event in which he cashed almost $40,000. A few months later he went to the WSOP Europe in Cannes, France and placed 11th in the €1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha / Six Handed event for just over €5,000.

Mike McDonald's Top 5 WSOP Results

World Poker Tour

McDonald has a total of two World Poker Tour money finishes on his record. His first one came in 2009 when he placed fourth in the €4,000 No-Limit Hold'em event at the WPT Venice for €109,540. He then cashed again in 2011 at the WPT Prague €3,200 Main Event. “Timex” finished that tournament in 63rd place collecting €6,400 in prize money.

European Poker Tour

McDonald made a name for himself on the live tournament scene in January, 2008 when he became the youngest ever European Poker Tour champion. He took down the EPT Dortmund €7,700 Main Event for more than €930,000 along with the title. McDonald also has a first-place finish in the 2010 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em side event on his record as well as a third place finish in the 2010 EPT Dauville Main Event.

Mike McDonald's Top 5 EPT Results

Other Achievements

In January, 2008 McDonald won the A$1,000 PokerPro No-Limit Hold'em event at the Aussie Millions Poker Championship in Melbourne collecting A$33,950 in cash. He then scored another first-place finish in 2011 at the Epic Poker League Event 2 in Las Vegas. McDonald bested the field of 97 players and came out victorious in the $20,000 No-Limit Hold'em 8 Handed League Main Event which was good for $782,410.

Did you know?

• Not only was McDonald the youngest player to win an EPT event, but he also became the youngest person to score a win in the infamous Epic Poker League. He won the $20,000 No-Limit Hold'em 8 Handed League Main Event just before his 22nd birthday.