Canada’s best-known poker pro, Daniel “Kid Poker” Negreanu, has won the Main Event at the 2008 British Columbia Poker Championships (BCPC).

The Main Event, a no-limit Texas hold ‘em tournament that had a buy-in of $2,500 and a field of 690 entrants, concluded Sunday at the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.

The Main Event was the fifth and final tourney at the fourth annual BCPC.

For the victory, Negreanu, who now lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, earned $371,910.

The runnerup in the ‘08 BCPC Main Event was Adam Croffut of Everett, Washington, USA, who earned $238,191.

Finishing in third was Warren Russel of North Delta, British Columbia, Canada, who earned $150,285.

Finishing in fourth was Vorakbotgh Eam of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, who earned $118,335.

Finishing in fifth was Vincenzo Abate of Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, who earned $97,204.

Finishing in sixth was Tyler Patterson of Seattle, Washington, USA, who earned $76,580.

Finishing in seventh was Chad Thomsen of Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, who earned $59,675.

Finishing in eighth was Christopher Dinson of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, who earned $46,489.

Finishing in ninth was Mal Hagan of Langley, British Columbia, Canada, who earned $33,810. =A0 All monetary figures are in Canadian dollars.

A Canadian dollar is worth about 80 cents in U.S. money.

After the victory, Negreanu, who is of Romanian ancestry, was born in Canada and lives in the USA, told reporters: “Being Canadian myself, playing and winning the British Columbia Poker Championships is extra special to me. The tournament was extremely well organized and my opponents were very good. It may have been a smaller tournament, but I would say this has been the best $2,500 buy-in event structure I’ve ever played. I’ve been to many casinos all over the world but the River Rock Casino Resort is truly unique and it’s been a great experience.”

Besides Negreanu, other famous poker names who participated in the BCPC Main Event were Brad “Yukon” Booth, Gavin Smith, Lacey Jones, Mark Napier, Gabe “Welcome Back, Kotter” Kaplan, Dennis “Fordman” Phillips, Steve Paul Ambrose, Isabelle Mercier, Maria Ho, Tiffany Michelle and Liz Lieu.

(E-mail Tom Somach at tomsomach@yahoo.com.)