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DURANT, Okla., (January 17, 2019) – The first of many poker tournaments this year at Choctaw Casino & Resort – Durant ended this week with a big win for Dave Alfa of Austin, Texas. Alfa won the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Choctaw Main Event taking home an astonishing $320,998, his biggest cash win to date. This is Alfa’s second win of the WSOP series securing his seat into the Global Casino Championship on August 7.
“The main event attracted more than 1,100 entries,” states Bob Barnes, assistant table games manager at Choctaw Casino & Resort- Durant. “With that many entries, it put our prize pool well over the guaranteed threshold of $1 million dollars, breaking records for one of the largest prize amounts of the WSOP season so far.”
The World Series of Poker tournament began on Jan. 2 and will end with an exclusive Choctaw tournament of winners event on Jan. 20.
With increased number of entries consistently from year to year, the resort will host four major tournaments this year, one of only a few casinos to do so. Three World Series of Poker (WSOP) circuits and one World Poker Tour (WPT) will be held throughout the year.
Below are the top 10 places for the WSOP Main Event:
- Dave Alfa- Austin, Texas $320,998
- Adedapo Ajayi- Littleton, Colo. $198,265
- Kevin Rand- Austin, Texas $147,327
- Arshin Gamini- Plano, Texas $110,812
- Austin Lewis- Argyle Texas $84,375
- Amir Kaikhah- San Marcos, Texas $65,009
- Mohammad Abedi-Arani- Plano, Texas $50,674
- Brendon Onea- Cape May, N.J. $39,945
- William Berry- Norman, Okla. $31,836
- Srinivasa Vadlamudi- Plano, Texas $25,663
The next tournament held at the resort will be a World Poker Tour, on May 2 to May 20. World Series of Poker will return on July 11 to July 29 and Oct. 24 to Nov. 11.
For more information on the 2019 Choctaw Poker season and current tournament schedule, https://www.choctawcasinos.com/choctaw-durant/game/poker-promotions/
Choctaw Casino Poker Tournament
About Choctaw Casino & Resort in Durant, Okla.
Choctaw Casino Resort – Durant is a AAA Four Diamond resort and entertainment destination in Southeastern Oklahoma. The resort boasts new features and amenities as a result of a two-phase expansion project completed in 2015. The addition of the Spa Tower brings the total number of guest rooms to 776. The recently unveiled multi-purpose, three-level convention/entertainment venue offers over 100,000 square feet of meeting and convention space, seating for more than 3,000 people, and the Oasis Pool area with four tropical pools and private cabanas. The resort’s newest amenity is the region’s premier entertainment complex, The District. At The District, visitors can enjoy Tailgaters sports bar, 20 bowling lanes, a 40-game arcade, and a state-of-the-art movie theater. For more information, visit www.ChoctawCasinos.com.
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DURANT — Cards flew and multicolored chips hit the pot as poker players from around Oklahoma and nearby states converged on the Choctaw Casino on Dec. 10-11 for the new Native American Casino Poker Tour.
The two-week tournament series was the idea of Card Player magazine, a leading publication in the poker industry, which partnered with the casino for the first event.
The federal crackdown on online poker in April (known in the poker world as “Black Friday”) has been a boon to live tournaments and cash play, which has helped many casinos and poker tours. Dominik Karelus, spokesman for Card Player Media, said the tour was introduced because of a niche in the market — American Indian casinos — and that the Choctaw Casino was a property with experience running major poker events. The casino boasts a poker room with 30 tables.
“The idea for the tour was always there, but Black Friday made Card Player realize that there will be an increased demand for live tournaments,” he said. “The Native American casinos are and have always been great clients and partners, and Card Player wanted to do something to increase the players' awareness of how great the Native American casino properties really are. Things have gone great thus far, with Choctaw reporting tournament revenues and interest way up from last year.”
Kansas wheat farmer Kirk Stewart, winner of the $1,000 buy-in Main Event championship, would take home $50,000, an intricately designed buffalo trophy, a buy-in to the casino's World Series of Poker Circuit event in January, and appear on a future cover of the magazine. The final table was also broadcast on the magazine's website. The total prize pool for the event totaled $290,681.
After playing late into the night, Stewart was thrilled with his victory and planned on investing his newly won cash in his farm and adding a bit to his poker bankroll.
Ken Lambert Jr., poker room manager at the casino, said he jumped at the chance to be the first casino in the tour series — and boost a traditionally slow month for the poker room. The low buy-ins for the event (from $100 to $300 for preliminary events) also helped attract more players looking to test their poker chops.
“The whole event has been great for us. It was interesting to be first. If you're first you get the perks — advertising, notoriety, etc.,” Lambert said. “We're looking at being a part of it again next year.”
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- Video:Native American Poker Tour (2011-12-19)
Lambert expected between 200 and 250 players for the Main Event, but the turnout exceeded 320. Lambert said the low buy-ins definitely helped bring in players during a tough economy and holiday season. The idea worked and cardsharps and amateurs alike turned out for their chance at poker glory.
“To me it was more important to drive volume and get people in the door,” Lambert says. “Our idea was to give the average guys with a little money a chance to win some nice Christmas money.”
Most of the poker players seemed pleased with the events and turnout.
“I've enjoyed the experience. The facilities are nice and the people are always nice,” said Val Wood, of Durant, who took third in a $300 preliminary event for a $6,200 win. “The Main Event is affordable enough for most people who want to play.”
And what would he do with his winnings? Spend it on Christmas for his family, he said — no bluffing.
Related PhotosKirk Stewart, main Event winner (courtesy Card Player).