2023 WPT bestbet Scramble champion Fred Normand is a year removed from his then-career-best $351,650 win here in Jacksonville when he topped a 365-player field to etch his name on the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup.
The Canadian, who now has about $1.7 million in career live tournament earnings according to The Hendon Mob, has had an incredible 18 months on the felt, finishing fifth in the 2023 $3,000 event at WSOP for $177,732 before winning his first WPT title five months later. Normand followed up his Jacksonville win with an even larger victory at the WPT World Championship, winning the 2,109-entry $1,600 event for $417,828.
Still rolling in 2024
Normand hasn’t cooled off in 2024, finishing third at WPT Prime Aix-en-Provence for €61,000 in February, second for $105,250 at the PGT Texas Poker Open in a PLO High Roller in April, and taking $56,949 for a seventh-place finish in the $1,600 Century PKO at the Wynn in June.
Despite enjoying a hot run of success, Normand has remained humble and hasn’t made too many huge life changes, opting to keep his feet on the ground and continue working on his game.
On dinner break of Day 1A, Normand, having already accumulated over three starting stacks today, took the time to speak to PokerOrg.
How’s it feel to be back at bestbet Jacksonville? Will you always come back for this event?
When you win your biggest score (at the time), it’s something special you'll never forget. The last hand, how it played out, the cameras filming, my friends on the rail... it was a special moment.
I’ll try to come back and play here as much as I can. It’s a nice place to play, people are nice. It always feels good here.
How did you celebrate the win?
I actually didn’t. I had laundry to do and had to go back to Miami. A few days later, my friends and I had a little party. It was fun.
Your name is on the Mike Sexton Champions Cup forever. How significant is that to you?
To me, it’s like the Stanley Cup of poker. There’s only a small handful of WPTs a year, so it’s something special. It’s a very difficult achievement, so I’m very proud to have done it.
Tell us about your last year and a half. How’s your life changed?
You know, it hasn’t really changed that much. Poker-wise, I pretty much play the same stakes. I might try to move up in the next year or two but no. I’m still playing as much as I can but yeah, life’s been good.
What’s moving up stakes look like to you?
Maybe I’ll go play some Triton events eventually. We’ll see.
Have you made any big purchases over the last year and a half?
No, I don’t think so. None that I really consider big. It’s not really my style, eventually maybe.
What are your next goals in life and poker?
My plan for 2025 is to get more fit, for sure. I’m more focused on that. I’ll play less and focus more on my diet and working out. I want to have a more normal schedule and just keep improving on and off the felt. I want to keep playing when I feel like it and don’t play when I don’t feel like playing. I’ve been listening to myself a lot more lately and really only play when I feel like playing. I used to play when I didn’t feel like playing and that was never good. I never played well.
What’s the best piece of advice you received to take your game to the next level?
Well, I don’t want to give the secrets away but to take your time and to be hard on yourself. Be critical and don’t have the mindset that you’re the best. Always have room to improve and to ask advice from players that are better than you. Gain perspective and be open to change your game because this game is super psychological. There’s never a true answer, there’s many ways to see different things.
Photos courtesy of World Poker Tour/Katerina Lukina/Drew Amato
