Holding all the cards

Like the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Curt Kristian is going to Toronto looking for a big win during Grey Cup weekend.

After that, though, the similarities fade: if the Riders win, they'll come home to a mob of adoring fans, but if Kristian wins, he'll be bound for the Bahamas.

Kristian is one of nine Canadians - and the sole Western representative - destined to play at a special poker tournament hosted by online Texas Hold 'em game site Pokerstars.net.

Kristian had to battle thousands of other eager Canadians through two stages of online poker play to earn his berth to Toronto.

As part of his prize package, he has also earned a seat in a luxury skybox to watch the big game, along with a host of other niceties, including a Barenaked Ladies performance and a free pass to a special invite-only party at the CN tower.

The 29-year-old Meath Park resident normally works on offshore oil rigs in Mexico, but a series of heavy storms in October led to some spare time.

With computer in hand, Kristian killed some of that time playing one of the Pokerstars.net online "freeroll" entry tournaments.

Kristian has played poker for three years, but this will be his first live event.

"I've never played in a casino, never actually sat at a live poker table - other than at a cabin with a few friends."

On Saturday, he'll play a tournament against nine others, plus poker legend Daniel Negreanu. The winner (or second-place finisher if Negreanu wins) will earn a berth in a $1-million poker tourney in the Bahamas.

Yet Kristian - who leaves today for Toronto - said he's not nervous.

"I'm looking forward, more, to the Grey Cup festivities."

The fact that he's Saskatchewan-born and (naturally) a Rider fan only adds to the pleasure of the trip.

Wife Susan agrees.

"What the heck, Saskatchewan is going to the Grey Cup for the first time in 18 years and he gets to go; lucky boy."

On the game itself, Kristian is optimistic the home squad will prevail.

"I've been keeping a pretty close eye on the last couple of Sundays. I was hoping Toronto would win, because it would make it more interesting, but it was good to see Winnipeg go, too."

With an injury suffered by Winnipeg quarterback Kevin Glenn, "It's looking better for us," Kristian said, predicting a 41-14 "blowout."

And ultimately, he admits, even if he can't claim the poker tourney, going to the big game is a pretty good consolation prize.

"Even if I don't win, I'm going to the Grey Cup."

vfaulkner@paherald.sk.ca