Hand #177: James Mackey Wins the WPT Choctaw Championship! ($361,600); Eric Afriat Finishes as Runner-Up ($235,000)

Photo:  Two-Time WPT Choctaw Champion James Mackey

Eric Afriat moves all in for 3,500,000, and James Mackey calls with .

Afriat turns over , and needs it to hold to stay alive.

The board comes , and Mackey wins the pot — and his second WPT Choctaw title — with trip fives.

Eric Afriat finishes as the runner-up, earning $235,000.

Photo:  Runner-Up and Three-Time WPT Champion Eric Afriat congratulates James Mackey

James Mackey wins the WPT Choctaw Championship, earning $361,600. Mackey’s prize amount includes his $10,400 entry into the season-ending WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas. Mackey previously won this event back in 2016, and as a two-time champion, he will get a second plaque added to the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup, alongside all of the other champions from all 22 seasons of the World Poker Tour.

Congratulations to James Mackey!

1st:  James Mackey  –  $361,600*
2nd:  Eric Afriat  –  $235,000
3rd:  Adam Hendrix  –  $175,000
4th:  Sebastien Aube  –  $131,000
5th:  Danny Marx  –  $99,000
6th:  Erick Lindgren  –  $75,000

* First-place amount includes the winner’s $10,400 entry into the season-ending WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas.