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A terrified Jonathan Duhamel spoke to the media just one week after a harrowing home invasion left him badly beaten and robbed of his 2010 World Series of Poker bracelet. The suspects, four in total, have been arrested. One of those charged is a former girlfriend of Duhamel’s, Bianca Rojas-Latraverse, who we are learning actually accompanied Duhamel to the WSOP Main Event this past year.
"I've played hockey all my life, so I've had some fights -- but not one like this one," Duhamel, 24, said in an interview Friday.
"They beat me up just enough so that they could control me... They threatened me for my life, they threatened my parents for their lives, too."
Duhamel also described his rocky five month relationship with Rojas-Latraverse that included a pregnancy scare.
"There's no relationship that can end on good terms, so of course it was bad, but it wasn't bad, like, real bad," he said.
"It was just like normal bad, I guess."
The cherished bracelet remains missing.
"It means everything," Duhamel said of that item.
"It was a realization of a dream to me to win the biggest, most prestigious tournament in the world.
"It's kind of like a Stanley Cup ring for me."
The good news is, the bracelet can be replaced!
"We reached out to Jonathan when this occurred to let him know we'll be able to replace it if need be," said Seth Palansky, a spokesman for the World Series of Poker.
"We're not concerned with that yet. We're going to let the police continue their investigation."
In addition to the bracelet, Duhamel walked away with $8.9 million after winning the WSOP 2010 Main Event.
More Poker News Headlines for Saturday December 31, 2011 (Morning Edition)
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New WPT Florida Event Added for 2012 – Following enormous success in the state of Florida, the World Poker Tour has added a new event (venue) as part of the tour. The Seminole Hard Rock Lucky Hearts Showdown will be held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood, Florida from February 11 to February 14, 2012.
- Ace King, Gambling911.com
