The fact that Kessel thinks poker should come to no surprise. It is well known that Phil Kessel and GPI Poker Player of the Decade Daniel Negreanu are good friends. Kessel has actually played preliminary event at the World Series of Poker, cashing in back-to-back years in 2013 and earlier this summer. Kessel has also played in the PokerStars NHL Charity Shootout, pitting PokerStars pros Negreanu, Jonathan Duhamel and Vanessa Rousso with Kessel and NHL Alumni members all for charily.
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If you watched ESPN’s coverage of the WSOP Big One for One Drop Millon Dollar buy-in event earlier this summer, you probably noticed Kessel in the crowd, supporting Negreanu as Kid Poker was attempting to win the $15M first prize. Negreanu would finish second, taking home over $8M as a consolation prize!
Back in November of 2012, Kessel, Negreanu, former Montreal Canadians great Guy Carbonneau and a few poker players all took part in a fun game of shinny before play began in the World Poker Tour Montreal Main Event at the Playground Poker Club. You can see Kessel, amongst others, score on WPT Champions Club member Phil Laak:
