Canadian Wins Exotic PokerStars Contest

Canadian Poorya Nazari, 22, won the top prize of $3 million in the 2009 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Saturday in the Bahamas, after qualifying for the tournament on PokerStars.com.

Nazari qualified through a $33 rebuy turbo tournament.

The youngster, who only recently graduated from McMaster University with a degree in biochemistry, didn't look like a chance to win the tournament until he made the final table, after holding on to a short stack through large parts of days three and four of the event.

He entered the final table in second place to chips-leader Alex Gomes, but his main rival went out in fourth and Nazari went on to win the tournament.

Nazari then eliminated Tony Gregg on the final hand of the night to capture the $3 million first place prize and the first major championship of 2009. His pair of tens was enough to beat Gregg's Queen high. Gregg earned $1,700,000 for his runner-up performance

Over 1000 players took part in PokerStars Carribean, the majority of whom had won their seats online. They were all competing for a total prize pool of more than $12.5 million.

"It hasn't sunk in it, it hasn't hit me yet. It definitely feels unbelievable; it feels surreal. I can't believe what's happening," Nazari told a PokerStars interviewer after the game.

The next stop for the new poker pro is the European Poker Tour Grand Final, being held in Monaco from April 28 to May 3.