Seat 2: Mike Watson, 39, St Johns, Newfoundland, Canada, now lives in Toronto, Ontario – 8,135,000
It would take a real veteran to remember Mike Watson’s first appearance in a PokerStars-sponsored event. He was one of four members of the Canada team that played the inaugural World Cup of Poker, hosted alongside EPT Barcelona, in 2007. The team, which also included Daniel Negreanu, finished fourth and the players picked up €4,000 apiece.
Even back then, however, "SirWatts" was making a name for himself at the online tables, and Watson's career has flourished in all environments in the subsequent 15 years.
Watson is now established as a regular in the very biggest games in the world and has $19 million in live tournament earnings to his name. That includes victory in the 2016 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) Main Event — remarkably, only the fifth biggest score of his career.
He has also won a €50k event at the WSOP Europe and a he has a WPT title from the 2008 Bellagio Cup. He has tournament results from across the globe.
His online game is exceptional too. SirWatts has won seven SCOOP titles in six different poker variants: badugi, 2-7 single draw, 6+ hold'em, PLO and PLO Hi/Lo, as well as no limit hold'em. He has three WCOOP titles as well.
Watson is by far the most experienced player at this EPT final table and brings the most exemplary reputation. He has the chance to join only two other players as a two-time EPT champion.