Craig Varnell Wins WPT Choctaw ($379,990); Will Berry Eliminated in 2nd Place ($243,330)

May 31, 2019

Champion Craig Varnell

Hand #163: Will Berry raises to 375,000 from the button before Craig Varnell three-bets to 1,175,000 from the big blind.

Berry responds by moving all in for 7,500,000 and Varnell snap-calls.

Varnell: Diamond ADiamond 10
Berry: Club 8Spade 8

Berry is at-risk with his pocket pair, but holds the advantage against Varnell’s suited over cards.

The dealer spreads the Club 5Heart 10Club K flop to thrust Varnell into the lead with second pair. The turn falls the Spade Q, and with Berry down to the final two outs in the deck, he sees the Spade K complete the board to send him to the rail in second-place at the WPT Choctaw final table for a $243,330 payday.

Craig Varnell wins the Season XVII WPT Choctaw for $379,990, along with a Hublot Big Bang Steel Watch, and a $15,000 entry into the season-ending Baccarat Crystal Tournament of Champions.

Champion Craig Varnell

WPT Choctaw Results
1st: Craig Varnell – $379,990*
2nd: Will Berry – $243,330
3rd: Nick Pupillo – $179,430
4th: Trung Pham – $133,770
5th: Stacey Jones – $100,850
6th: Austin Lewis – $76,890

* First-prize amount includes the winner’s $15,000 entry into the season-ending Baccarat Crystal Tournament of Champions.

Champion Craig Varnell

Photography by Joe Giron / PokerPhotoArchive


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