Banner Day: Dave Alfa Brings Plenty of Choctaw Success into Day 2

By Sean Chaffin

While he may not be a name that comes top of mind among poker players, Day 1a chip leader Dave Alfa (pictured) has seen plenty of success here at Choctaw Casino & Resort. A quick glance at the seating area in the Grand Theater might offer a glimpse into his success at the property.

A banner of Alfa hangs as the most recent champion banner displayed above players. His success here includes two WSOP Circuit rings and he’s now looking to build on that when Day 2 gets underway on Sunday.

The 30-year-old is originally from Ohio and now lives in Austin, Texas. Alfa entered the field late on Friday and hit the ground running.

“It was a pretty steady progression,” he said after the day’s action. “I never had any real big loss hands. I slowly just kind of chipped up throughout and had a gentleman give [me more through] some 10X pot-size shoves a couple hands in a row.”

Entering Day 2 with 414,000 chips, Alfa is riding a scorching hot streak – especially at the Choctaw. In January he won his first WSOPC ring here in Durant in a $400 Big O tournament, for $16,732. Only a few days later, he took down the $1,700 Main Event for $320,998.

“Choctaw has been great the times that I’ve been here,” he says. “I like it here. It’s a nice environment at Choctaw. The casino’s good and it’s friendly and laid back. It feels like home.”

Playing professionally for several years, Alfa now has more than $700,000 in live tournament winnings. He regularly travels the country at various tour stops and has also lived in Las Vegas and Oregon, where he played cash games for a living.

That move to Austin came after not even knowing anyone in the city, but has liked the change of location to the Lone Star State.

“I just recently moved to Texas and am definitely enjoying it,” he says.

Alfa says he stumbled into playing poker full-time after finding some initial success and just stuck with it. He majored in finance at Kent State University, and when not playing poker he enjoys reading, heading to the park, hanging out with his girlfriend and other friends, and hitting the gym.

What’s his plan for Day 2 here at his “home court”?

“Hopefully run good,” he adds, “and get lucky.”

Sean Chaffin is a freelance writer in Crandall, Texas, and his work appears in numerous websites and publications. Follow him on Twitter @PokerTraditions.

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