Ontario Poker News May Update: WSOP Circuit Toronto Big Success; Pengxiang R Wins Main Event

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I'm Kyle Anderson, poker player and Ontario resident. Here is an update on everything that's both happened and is coming up in the Ontario poker world.

Remember, ON players can legally play real money poker in Ontario, so PokerNews has come up with a list of the very best online poker sites in the Canadian province. Access real poker sites and play different games with poker players within the state.

What are the big issues and stories on everyone's minds? Let’s get into it.

Live Poker News

WSOP Circuit Toronto
The WSOP Circuit Toronto field.

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit Toronto is now over. Running from April 10-22, 2025, the event saw 8,203 total entries across 11 WSOP Circuit Ring Events, marking a 35.9% increase from 2024. The total prize pool soared to an astonishing $7.56 million, up 35.4% year-over-year, as 3,150 unique players brought energy and excitement to Toronto’s premier casino resort. 11 WSOP rings were awarded at the event.

This year, Great Canadian Rewards members had exclusive access to purchase tickets online – a new offering for 2025 – resulting in 2,123 entries registered through the online platform. Last year, online registration was not available.

A highlight of the series was the prestigious $2,000 Main Event, which drew an incredible 2,139 entries and generated a record-setting $3.74 million prize pool, up from $2.8 million last year. With 413 Main Event online qualifiers from GGPoker (another sharp increase from 2024) the buzz around this year’s WSOP Circuit was palpable.

In a storybook moment, Pengxiang Ruan, a Great Canadian Rewards member and restaurant worker from Thornhill, Ontario, captured the Main Event title and a life-changing $510,245 first-place prize. A passionate poker player for 10 years, Ruan plans to use his winnings to fulfill a lifelong dream of opening his own restaurant.

“This event proves once again that Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto is the home for world-class poker in Canada,” said Michael Kim, Executive Vice President, Great Canadian Entertainment. “The record-breaking turnout, amazing competition, and incredible stories like Pengxiang Ruan’s are exactly what make the WSOP Circuit such a special experience. We are proud to exclusively bring the magic of the WSOP to Toronto and look forward to building on this incredible momentum.”

Pengxiang R
WSOPC Toronto Main Event champ Pengxiang R.

Most of the events sold out of the initial entries, and while I did play the $1K event, I wasn't there long. I do I think the casino did a better job this year in regards to running a smoother operation. From what I hear, anybody who wanted a seat as an alternate did end up getting one.

It did seem to be a more successful WSOP series stop this year, and I really hope we can see more tables in the future to guarantee that we do not have alternates. However, I would say that this event was a step in the right direction.

Ontario Poker News May Update: WSOP Circuit Toronto Big Success; Pengxiang R Wins Main Event 101

The WSOPC may be over, but there are still other live poker tournaments happening here in Ontario. Casino Niagara is running tournaments every Wednesday and Friday, as well as the last Sunday of every month. Samuel L. took down the spring seasonal tournament for $59,896. Click here for more information.

Pickering is running six tournaments in the month of May, whereas Caesars Windsor is running tournaments every Friday and Sunday. Meanwhile, Branford does say that they are going to be running more tournaments in June, so I’ll be sure to keep an eye on that.

Ontario Poker News May Update: WSOP Circuit Toronto Big Success; Pengxiang R Wins Main Event 102

Ontario Live Poker Tournament Schedule

DateVenueEventTime (EDT)
riday, May 2Caesars Windsor$295 Bounty Tournament No Limit Hold'em6:15PM
Sunday, May 4Caesars Windsor$150 No Limit Texas Hold'em2:15PM
Wednesday, May 7Casino Niagara$275 No Limit Hold'em12:30PM
Wednesday, May 7Pickering Casino Resort$575 No Limit Hold'em12:30PM
Friday, May 9Casino Niagara$340 No Limit Hold'em $100 Bounty4:30PM
Friday, May 9Caesars Windsor$245 Bounty Tournament No Limit Hold'em6:15PM
Sunday, May 11Caesars Windsor$150 No Limit Texas Hold'em2:15PM
Tuesday, May 13Pickering Casino Resort$200 Turbo No Limit Hold'em12:30PM
Tuesday, May 13Pickering Casino Resort$200 Turbo No Limit Hold'em8:30PM
Wednesday, May 14Casino Niagara$275 No Limit Hold'em12:30PM
Wednesday, May 14Pickering Casino Resort$750 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em12:30PM
Friday, May 16Casino Niagara$340 No Limit Hold'em $100 Bounty4:30PM
Friday, May 16Caesars Windsor$295 Bounty Tournament No Limit Hold'em6:15PM
Sunday, May 18Caesars Windsor$150 No Limit Texas Hold'em2:15PM
Tuesday, May 20Pickering Casino Resort$200 Turbo No Limit Hold'em12:30PM
Tuesday, May 20Pickering Casino Resort$200 Turbo No Limit Hold'em8:30PM
Wednesday, May 21Casino Niagara$275 No Limit Hold'em12:30PM
Wednesday, May 21Pickering Casino Resort$575 Bounty No Limit Hold'em12:30PM
Friday, May 23Casino Niagara$340 No Limit Hold'em $100 Bounty4:30PM
Friday, May 23Caesars Windsor$245 Bounty Tournament No Limit Hold'em6:15PM
Saturday, May 24Caesars WindsorCW Freeroll12:15PM
Sunday, May 25Casino Niagara$550 No Limit Hold'em12:30PM
Sunday, May 25Caesars Windsor$150 No Limit Texas Hold'em2:15PM
Tuesday, May 27Pickering Casino Resort$200 Turbo No Limit Hold'em12:30PM
Tuesday, May 27Pickering Casino Resort$200 Turbo No Limit Hold'em8:30PM
Wednesday, May 28Casino Niagara$275 No Limit Hold'em12:30PM
Wednesday, May 28Pickering Casino Resort$750 Deep Stack No Limit Hold'em12:30PM
Friday, May 30Casino Niagara$340 No Limit Hold'em $100 Bounty4:30PM
Friday, May 30Caesars Windsor$295 Bounty Tournament No Limit Hold'em6:15PM

Online Poker News

Ontario Poker News May Update: WSOP Circuit Toronto Big Success; Pengxiang R Wins Main Event 103

The PokerStars Ontario SCOOP concluded in April, and it was a very successful series. We have an article covering the highlights and showcasing all the winners, which you can view here.

The next series coming to PokerStars will be their Summer Stacks series. Last year, it took place from June 14th to July 1st, so do keep an eye out for that.

Until then, be sure to check out all their weekly tournaments by clicking here.

Over on GGPoker Ontario, they will host their Ontario Festival from May 4 to June 10. It is a $6 million guaranteed series, and they have $75,000 to be won in leaderboards, as well as low, medium, and high events to ensure there are plenty of events for all stakes.

What’s more, GGPoker Ontario is hosting its Road to Vegas promotion with plenty of steps running every day. You can win your way into the 2025 WSOP Main Event for as little as $20. If you win a package, you get the Main Event buy-in, accommodation valued at about $1,425 CAD, as well as travel expenses valued at $1,425 CAD.

In other online poker news, 888Poker Ontario last hosted their XL Spring Series last year from May 12-27. Now, there's no official confirmation if that event will run this year, but there’s a good chance that it will. Be sure to check the 888poker Ontario client to see if/when it might be announced.

Also, BetMGM/Party Poker Ontario/Party Poker Ontario hosts their Daily Legends tournaments. They offer various formats and different buy-ins weekly.

Ontario Poker News May Update: WSOP Circuit Toronto Big Success; Pengxiang R Wins Main Event 104

In online poker rumors, Alberta is going to be going to regulate online poker. With that, there are rumors going around that they could enter a multi-provincial fenced-in shared player pool with Ontario. PokerFuse has posted some odds on what they believe is going to happen. Now, nothing has officially come up yet, but we will stay updated with all the rumors.

Eligible iGames conducted and managed by iGO are only available to those physically present in the Province of Ontario. PokerStars Ontario operates pursuant to an agreement with iGaming Ontario.

For more information, visit the Ontario Players Homepage

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