After the US Department of Justice shut down a number of top online poker sites in April, on a day that came to be known as Black Friday, many professionals found that their prime sources of livelihood were literally taken away overnight.
Some of these pros commented in the media that they may have no choice but to leave the United States and move to Canada, as at least the industry was more liberal there.
Now, it seems that we can put a name to the face of this group of migrating professionals, following the announcement by World Series of Poker bracelet winner, Justin Pechie, that he is moving across the border in order to pursue his online poker career.
The 26 year old player, who hails from Putnam, Connecticut, won the bracelet for event number 41, the $1,500 Limit Hold ‘em Shootout Championship. This was his first WSOP gold bracelet, after he beat a field of nearly 540 players to take home over $167,000.
Speaking after his win, Pechie stated: “Shooutouts are my favorite kind of tournament because there is more short handed play throughout the tournament. That gives an edge to people who play short handed. In a regular tournament, it’s always a full ring game until you make it to the final table. The shootout format gives people who play short handed well an edge.”
Moving Expenses Made Easier
Pechie’s decision to move to Canada in order to continue his promising poker career, has not been an easy one, but the WSOP win certainly gives him some financial security to make the move go smoother.
He said that although winning the gold bracelet means a lot, “I must be honest that the money means more, because of the Black Friday thing.”
“I have a bigger cushion to fall back on,” he said, “with the uncertainty of online poker. But the gold bracelet does mean a lot to me.”
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