The WSOP Circuit Playground Main Event delivered one of the most memorable championship moments of the 2025 WSOP International Circuit season. Toronto’s Kliment Tarmakov turned his 38th birthday into a life-changing victory, outlasting a massive 1,483-entry field in the $2,500 CAD main event at Playground Poker Club in Montreal.
With his win, Tarmakov earned $341,865, a coveted WSOP Circuit ring, and a $5,000 WSOP Paradise package, securing his return to the Bahamas for the first time since 2019. The triumphant performance also awarded him 1,440 POY points on the Card Player Player of the Year leaderboard presented by CoinPoker.
The event was one of the largest WSOP Circuit Playground festivals ever held, drawing players from across Canada, the United States, and Europe for a prize pool that reached deep into six figures for multiple seats.
🔥 WSOP Circuit: A Career-Defining Victory
Before this week, Tarmakov’s last significant live cash dated back to the 2019 Caribbean Poker Party. His previous strongest result was a deep run in the 2018 WPT Montreal Championship, also held at Playground. Returning to the spotlight with a title run on home soil made the win even more meaningful.
Turning 38 and lifting the WSOP Circuit trophy on the same day created a poker birthday story that instantly resonated across the Canadian poker community.
Looking for action closer to home? NYC hosts some of the best private poker games in the U.S.
If you’re in New York or visiting soon, the city’s private poker scene is booming — especially for:
- $1/3 and $2/5 NLH
- Deep-stack tournaments
- Private, secure, rake-friendly clubs
- Home game–style vibes with pro-level structures
Players searching for trusted NYC poker games can find consistent action every day of the week with friendly tables, bonuses, and safe environments.
🔥 WSOP Circuit Final Table Drama:
The final day of the WSOP Circuit Playground Main Event began with David Quang holding the chip lead. But the action swung wildly from the start.
Ricardo Cermeno-Sandoval stormed up the leaderboard after eliminating Louise Francoeur on the final-table bubble. Once nine players remained, eliminations came from several directions:
- David Orlando
- Behnam Patros
- David Quang
All scored knockouts as the table moved toward the final six.
Quang’s early advantage collapsed quickly when Orlando hit a miracle three-outer, allowing Cermeno-Sandoval to surge into the top position. The Canadian grinder later extended his lead by eliminating Charanjeev Malhotra in sixth place for $61,841 — winning with a runner-runner spade flush after falling far behind on the flop.
🔥 Tarmakov’s Birthday Momentum Begins
Four-handed play brought chaos, deep swings, and a crowded leaderboard. Tarmakov initially dipped to the shortest stack, but a rivered ace-high flush breathed new energy into his run.
Patros picked up steam, the chip lead exchanged hands repeatedly, and the stalemate persisted for hours.
The deadlock finally shattered when Quang eliminated Cermeno-Sandoval in fourth place ($115,091), winning a massive pot with ace-king against king-queen.
Quang then knocked out Patros in third place ($160,673) when his pocket sixes made a full house against ace-jack suited. That sent the tournament into heads-up play with Quang holding more than a 3:1 chip lead.
🏆 Heads-Up: Tarmakov Turns the Tables
Despite the deficit, Tarmakov dominated the opening exchanges, leveling the match dramatically. Quang fought back to regain a 2:1 lead, but the turning point came during the first all-in confrontation:
- Tarmakov: 7♣7♦
- Quang: 4♣4♠
The sevens held, putting Quang on the ropes.
Moments later, Tarmakov called Quang’s final shove holding pocket fours, which stayed ahead of J♦10♠ on the board — securing the championship for the Canadian birthday boy.
Quang earned $227,697 as runner-up, his second-largest career score.
🏅 Final Thoughts
The WSOP Circuit Playground Main Event showcased high-level play, massive fields, Canadian dominance, and a storybook victory for Kliment Tarmakov, who celebrated his 38th birthday with:
- A WSOPC ring
- A $341,865 payday
- A WSOP Paradise package
- Over 1,400 POY points
- And a comeback win for the ages
For Playground Poker Club and the WSOP International Circuit, this was a signature moment early in the 2025 season — and a highlight sure to inspire players across Canada and beyond.
