As the 2026 Winter Olympics take center stage in Milan, the poker world has sparked an international showdown of its own—one that swaps skis and skates for chips and cards.
BetMGM ambassador Darren Elias recently stirred debate on social media by unveiling four hypothetical national poker teams representing the United States, Canada, England, and Germany. The question posed was simple: Who’s winning gold?
The Proposed Lineups
Team USA: Phil Ivey, Phil Hellmuth, Alex Foxen, Darren Elias
Team Canada: Daniel Negreanu, Jonathan Duhamel, Kristen Foxen, Ari Engel
Team England: Stephen Chidwick, Sam Grafton, Ben Heath, Sam Trickett
Team Germany: Fedor Holz, Christoph Vogelsang, Rainer Kempe, Koray Aldemir
On paper, every roster is stacked with elite talent and major titles. But as any sports fan knows, assembling superstars is only half the battle—chemistry, current form, and versatility matter too.
Roster Debates Begin
Unsurprisingly, the comment section lit up. Canada’s Sam Greenwood quickly weighed in, suggesting Team Canada would indeed win—provided they selected the right squad. Translation: he felt snubbed.
And he may have a case.
Team USA
It’s difficult to argue with the overall strength here. Ivey and Foxen bring elite-level consistency, and Elias himself has one of the best tournament résumés of the modern era. The wildcard is Phil Hellmuth. His record is historic, but in a team-based setting, personality and cohesion could be factors. If synergy is key, someone like Jason Koon might offer a steadier dynamic without sacrificing firepower.
Team Canada
Negreanu and Kristen Foxen are locks. Ari Engel’s volume and consistency make him a strong inclusion as well. The biggest question mark is Jonathan Duhamel, who hasn’t recorded a live tournament cash since 2018. With players like Sam Greenwood, Daniel Dvoress, and Mike Watson available, Canada’s depth makes that seat highly competitive.
Team England
Chidwick, Grafton, and Heath form a formidable core. The debate centers on Sam Trickett, who has stepped back from the tournament spotlight in recent years. England’s bench is deep—Chris Moorman’s online pedigree or Benny Glaser’s mixed-game brilliance could add strategic flexibility to the lineup.
Team Germany
Germany may boast the most balanced quartet. Holz, Vogelsang, Kempe, and Aldemir combine high-roller dominance with major championship experience. It’s hard to find a weak link. That said, Germany’s new wave—Leon Sturm or Leonard Maue—could inject youthful aggression if a shake-up were considered.
So, Who Takes Gold?
If left exactly as proposed, Germany might have the most cohesive and current lineup top to bottom. The U.S. has star power and experience. Canada’s ceiling is enormous if optimized. England’s trio at the top can compete with anyone.
But like any Olympic event, it likely comes down to format. Is this a team points race? A sit-and-go rotation? Mixed games? Freezeouts? The structure could dramatically influence which nation has the edge.
