George McDonald

George McDonald, commonly known as Mike McDonald, was born on September 11, 1989, in Canada. He began playing poker as a teenager, quickly gaining recognition on online tables under the alias "Timex." His early online success laid the foundation for a remarkable live tournament career.

In February 2008, at just 18 years old, McDonald won the EPT German Open in Dortmund, Germany, taking home €933,600 (approximately $1,370,161). This victory made him the youngest player ever to win an EPT event, a record that stood for years. Earlier that same year, he had already shown promise by winning the A$1,000 PokerPro No Limit Hold'em preliminary event at the Aussie Millions and finishing runner-up in another preliminary event.

McDonald's career is marked by numerous deep runs and high-profile finishes. In 2009, he finished fifth in the EPT Dortmund Main Event and third in the EPT Deauville Main Event for €295,000. He also placed fourth in the 2009 World Poker Tour Venice Main Event. In 2011, he won the $20,000 buy-in 8-max No Limit Hold'em tournament at the Epic Poker League, earning over $780,000, and later that year he made his World Series of Poker debut, cashing in two events, including a sixth-place finish in the $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Six-Handed event for over $70,000.

In 2014, McDonald had a trio of seven-figure scores. He finished runner-up to Dominik Panka in the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Main Event, earning just over $1,000,000 and narrowly missing becoming the first two-time EPT champion. The following month, he placed second in the Aussie Millions $100,000 Challenge for $1,343,436, and two days later took third in the $250,000 Challenge for a career-high $1,701,808. In 2015, he again finished second in the $250,000 Challenge for $1,235,228, with Phil Ivey winning both of those $250K events. McDonald also won the EPT Malta €25,000 High Roller in 2015 for $561,622.

Beyond traditional tournaments, McDonald has excelled in high-roller events and team competitions. He finished third in the 2013 WPT Alpha8 St. Kitts for $434,560. He was a key member of the Montreal Nationals team that won the inaugural season of the Global Poker League (GPL). In 2017, he topped a 53-entry field to win the $10,300 partypoker MILLION North America High Roller for CA$200,000, which remains his last recorded tournament victory.

McDonald is known for his aggressive and analytical approach to poker, honed through years of online play. He is often described as one of the best players without a WSOP bracelet, despite his limited participation in WSOP events. His total live tournament winnings exceed $13,300,000, placing him among Canada's all-time money leaders. He is also an entrepreneur, having been involved in the creation of the poker staking platform PokerShares.

McDonald's early EPT victory and consistent high-level results have cemented his legacy as a poker prodigy. He has traveled the world, cashing in events across Australia, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and the Bahamas. As of 2022, his live earnings stand at over $13.3 million, and he remains a respected figure in the poker community, both for his achievements and his contributions to the industry.