As one of Canada’s newest owners of a World Series of Poker bracelet after winning Event #40, a $5,000 buy-in 6 Handed No Limit Hold’em in 2011, Matt “Jarfish” Jarvis has certainly established himself as one of the best players on the world poker circuit today. With combined live and online winnings of over $2,750,000, it’s almost ironic that Jarvis truly hasn’t really yet decided if he wants to “go pro”.
Now around 16th on “Canadian All Time Live Tournament Money Lists”, In just the span of a year, he has already accomplished what many players dream of, on more than one account, all in the course of having a little fun deciding what he wants to do as a career.
Jarvis really only first “broke out” onto the poker scene recently, first getting “noticed” in 2009-2010 when he was eliminated one seat shy of the TV final table of the British Columbia Poker Championships.
Outgoing and comfortable in front of the cameras, it seemed Jarvis was destined for “poker fame”, with his next big television appearance coming with the deep run almost every player is after; the 2010 World Series of Poker $10,000 No Limit Hold’em Championship final table and “November Nine.”
With months to wait before a winner would be decided, Matt hit the tournament circuit in preparation of what has historically been a “once in a lifetime opportunity”. It worked out pretty well for him, first in Calgary, just a month after the WSOP drew to a close, where he went on to defeat a 60 player starting field in the $5000 Heads Up Event at the Canadian Open Poker Championship for a top prize of $100,000.
Shortly after, Jarvis went on to claim a World Poker Tour Event win at Festa Al Lago, defeating a final table in the $1000 re-buy. The win was worth almost $72,000 and combined with the just past COPC win definitely showed the poker world that Jarvis meant business.
Come November, Jarvis pretty much everything in his corner that a player could hope for; he was on top of his game and received coaching from Bluff/ESPN player and fellow Canadian Sorel Mizzi. When Matt took his seat at with the other November Nine, he played with obvious confidence, putting pressure on opponents. After continually attacking Mike “The Grinder” Mizarchi, the two ended up all in pre-flop with Jarvis holding 9-9 and Mike holding Ace Queen. It was a nasty flop for Jarvis with “The Grinder” hitting top two pair. The turn made Matthew a set; the 9 on the turn bringing those on the rail to their feet, but an Ace on the river sent Jarvis to join them; out in 8th for just over $1,045,000.
So close yet so far, Jarvis had a a bit of a fun second chance to prove he was amongst the best of the players at that WSOP final table, when Foxwoods Resort Casino invited them all to attend and play in a “Reunion” event; with all of the 2010 November Nine and 21 other players who won a draw to get in. In the end, Jarvis finished the tournament in second place; the last man standing of the bunch.
Then came the 2011 WSOP, where ironically late in Day 1 of the $5000 NLH 6 Max, Jarvis would send Mizrachi to the rail with a full house on the river and never look back; eventually the last man standing of the 732 player field and earning himself another $808,538 to go with his 1st WSOP gold bracelet.
Besides a Full Tilt Poker patch, Matt has always proudly worn and displayed the logo of his “home ice”;The Edgewater Casino in Vancouver.
