Choctaw Champ: Brady Holiman Reflects on Possibility of Two Titles in Season XVII

By Sean Chaffin

It’s been nine months since Brady Holiman made a dream come true right here at the WPT Choctaw. Topping a field of 755 he earned $469,185 and a seat in the season-ending Baccarat Crystal WPT Tournament of Champions for his win here last August.

Holiman is now back in the field on Day 1b hoping his massive run at the property continues. A general sales manager at a car dealership in Athens, Texas, the married father of four not only took the title, but scored a final table victory after only about three hours.

“It feels pretty cool to be coming back,” he said at the first break in the action. “I’m excited.”

How has life changed since adding his name to the Champions Cup?

“It’s been a lot less financially stressful,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed it. It’s definitely been a blessing.”

Back home, Holiman still works at the dealership in Athens, which is located about 80 miles southeast of Dallas. He used a bit of his money to buy a rental property and paid off some bills. Friends and family showed some major support for his accomplishment.

“Oh my gosh, it was overwhelming,” he says. “Everybody was just so excited and happy, and I felt like I had all of East Texas supporting me. It felt really nice.”

At the first break in the action, a big hand had diminished his chip stack considerably. His pocket Jacks took a tough loss to a player who flopped a set of sevens. The loss put him on a shorter stack, but he had another bullet budgeted if needed.

How would it feel to make another deep run, this time playing a final table in Las Vegas at HyperX Esports Arena?

“To be able to run that good and play that well twice in such a short time, as minimal as I’ve played, would be nothing short of a miracle,” he says, “It would definitely be another huge blessing.”

This won’t be the end of his Season XVII run, no matter what happens.

“I’m going to play in the Tournament of Champions too,” Holiman says. “I’m excited about it. It’s a tough field, but I’m looking forward to it.”

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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