A Canadian poker player who was chip leader at the final table of the Fallsview Poker Classic’s Event #1 was arrested for assault on Tuesday before play could finish. Harnam Matharu (pictured), a 21-year-old Edmonton resident, was in line for a potential $200k payday but ended up being escorted out of Niagara Falls’ Fallsview Casino in handcuffs before he could say ‘bad beat.’
It was subsequently reported that Matharu was the chief suspect in an assault and robbery of another poker player, Uri Miro, at the World Poker Tour Montreal tournament in Kahnawake, Quebec last November. Miro’s friends were at the Fallsview Casino and thought they recognized Matharu from the Kahnawake tourney. They managed to snap a picture of Matharu, then sent it to Miro, who agreed that Matharu resembled the man who stole $5k from him at a motel in Chàteguay, Quebec.
Following a dinner break, Matharu was about to take his seat at the five-man final table, only to be clapped in irons by two members of the Ontario Provincial Police’s Casino Enforcement Unit. Play continued with antes and blinds duly deducted from Matharu’s stack in his absence. Two players busted out before a winner was eventually declared, but Matharu’s stack was still $88k tall, so at least he’ll have bail money. Or cigarette and candy bar money, should he be convicted.
Casino Enforcement Unit Detective Sergeant Rick Davidson told The Globe and Mail that there was a Canada-wide warrant out for Matharu and the police in Chàteguay had been willing to travel to Ontario to collect their suspect. Matharu was interviewed by Chàteguay police on Thursday and was to appear in court the following day.
