Miguel Goncalo Wins WPT500 Montreal 2018

Canada’s rising poker star, Miguel Goncalo, defeats 2016 WSOP Global Champ, Said El-Yousfi of France to win 2018 WPT500 Montreal.

There are exciting events in everyone’s life. Events that bring about tremendous happiness and joy, making us smile broadly in that moment. Then there are life-changing moments that cause so much elation, it elevates who we are as a person, validates our reason for doing everything that we do, and creates exalting memories that last a lifetime.

The birth of a child is a great example of such a moment. Dropping on one knee, heart in hand, to propose your undying devotion as you ask for your beloved’s hand in marriage—and receiving an affirmative response—is another. And so is winning your very first major live poker tournament for a 6-figure score, as one of Canada’s rising poker stars did last night.

Miguel Goncalo Wins 2018 WPT500 Montreal

For Miguel Goncalo, it wasn’t just the fact that he outlasted 2,536 competitors to win the ultimate prize of $152,596. It was the fact that he did so against incredible odds. As the final table reached its climactic, heads-up finale, Miguel found himself staring into the eyes of none other than French poker pro Said El-Yousfi.

For those of you who’ve followed the live tournament circuit for a few years now, you’ll recognize that name. Said El-Yousfi is the ferocious poker pro who took down the World Series of Poker Global Casino Championship in 2016.

Prior to that phenomenal victory, El-Yousfi did the vast majority of his live poker gaming in Morocco, landing 4- and 5-figure cashes in one tournament after another. Following that elite title and $343,256 score, he spread his wings and begun traveling much farther distances to wrangle in profits. That’s what lead the 2016 WSOP Global Champ to the Playground Poker Club for the WPT500 Montreal this week, where another 1st place routing was so close, he could smell it…

Canada’s Rising Poker Star Overcomes Championship Adversity

The final day of action saw 35 players returning to the Playground Poker Club. Both Goncalo or El-Yousfi were in the middle of the pack to start the day. When the final 7 rounded the last table, Yousfi got to work. First, he eliminated Sebastian Lepine (7th, $23,652), followed shortly after by Dave Graham (6th, $30,519).

Next to the hit the rail was Trevor Argue (5th, $38,912), after which Goncalo got his first final table elimination, knocking out last month’s PartyPoker MILLIONS Dusk Till Dawn champion, Tom Hall (4th, $51,120). El-Yousfi then put William Blais (3rd, $69,413) out to pasture, bringing up head-to-head action between him and the fresh Canadian.

Said had a distinct advantage going into heads-up play, carrying a 2-to-1 chip lead over Miguel. But he wouldn’t find the rising poker star to be an easy target. The two went back and forth for quite some time before Miguel found himself leading in the count on what turned out to be an incredible hand for both players.

El-Yousfi limped on the button. Goncalo raised 4.25 million, and got the call to see the flop: 8♠ 9♦ Q♠

Both players checked, followed by a 3 million bet from Goncalo on the turn: 8♣

El-Yousfi called, then bet 9.5 million to Goncalo’s check on the river: J♦

Goncalo check-raised 36.9 million, forcing El-Yousfi to get it all in for 22.3 million. He turned over K♣ 10♥ for the nut straight, confident he’d claim the enormous pot and take a debilitating lead.

Instead, Miguel Goncalo turned over Q♣ 8♦, sending Said El-Yousfi out in 2nd ($105,337) and scooping the 1^st place prize of $152,596 with a beautiful full house.

The 2018 WPT500 Montreal win is by far the largest score of Miguel’s rising career, bringing his total live tournament earnings to $170,990.

2018 WPT500 Montreal Final Table Results