Manitoba Poker Network Founder Fabienne Spuzak Takes Third at WSOP Circuit Calgary, Wins $12,850

An aggressive game, a lucky card protector and a memorable night at the tables carried the Manitoba player to a five-figure finish.

Manitoba’s Fabienne Spuzak made her mark at WSOP Circuit Calgary, turning a $500 tournament entry into $12,850 in combined prize money and bounties.

The founder of Manitoba Poker Network finished third in a field of 477 entries in Event #8: $500 No-Limit Hold’em Progressive Knockout Bounty, earning $9,250 for her finish and another $3,600 in bounties.

It was a standout result for Fabienne—and an exciting run for the Manitoba poker community following her progress back home.

“I really enjoyed the experience and got lucky!” she wrote in her Facebook recap.

Behind the payout was a long night of bold decisions, final-table nerves and new friendships.

Finding Her Confidence Against Strong Competition

As the field narrowed and the stakes grew, Fabienne found herself competing alongside experienced players whose reputations added another layer of pressure.

“The professional players were really nice and intimidating at the same time,” she recalled.

Looking up her opponents through the tournament app brought those nerves closer to the surface. Still, she worked to keep the focus on her own decisions and the approach that had carried her through the tournament.

“I will say that I played this game very aggressive,” she wrote. “There were no opportunities to just call.”

Fabienne described a mindset of being willing to put her stack on the line when the situation called for it. She credited that commitment, along with some luck, for helping her reach the final stages.

And through it all, her lucky card protector stayed beside her.

Manitoba Followed the Action

As Fabienne advanced, updates in the Manitoba Poker Network Facebook group gave local players a glimpse of her progress.

Moderator Traci Henzel shared that Fabienne was among the final five with the third-largest stack, alongside photos from the tables.

“Online not being updated but she’s going steady !!!” Henzel wrote.

The updates captured a growing sense of excitement: the person behind Manitoba Poker Network was putting together a major tournament run of her own.

Play continued into the early hours of October 6. At approximately 4:10 a.m., tournament coverage reported Fabienne’s third-place exit—and the $12,850 total payday that came with it.

More Than a Payday

While the result was the headline, Fabienne’s recap also highlighted the people who made the experience memorable.

“Made some friends all the way through,” she wrote.

She spoke warmly about fellow final-table players Julius and Sebastian, describing both as friendly despite the intensity of the competition.

Another player lent her a phone charger during the long session, helping her stay connected and follow tournament information through the app as the night stretched toward morning.

Those small moments of support offered a welcome balance to the pressure at the tables.

A Proud Moment for Manitoba Poker

Through Manitoba Poker Network, Fabienne helps local players connect, follow events and celebrate achievements. This time, her own performance gave the community something to cheer about.

Third place among 477 entries and $12,850 in total winnings made Calgary a trip worth remembering.

Her assessment of the experience was simple: “Definitely worth checking out.”

She also expressed interest in visiting Playground for a future poker trip. For now, though, her Calgary result deserves the spotlight.

Congratulations to Fabienne Spuzak on an outstanding final-table run—a proud moment for her and Manitoba’s poker community.