By Sean Chaffin
The WPT gets a little Old West poker feel when the tour returns to Oklahoma for the second event on the Season XVII WPT Main Tour schedule. Choctaw Casino & Resort in Durant, Oklahoma, has become a popular stop with big fields, big payouts, and a great atmosphere.
The $3,700 buy-in WPT Choctaw Championship Event runs August 3-7, 2018, at Choctaw Casino & Resort. The casino is just a short drive from the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex in Texas, as well as Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri. In addition to the regional players the event attracts, WPT Choctaw also draws players from across the country.
“The Choctaw event is massive,” Matt Savage, WPT Executive Tour Director, said. “It is the only WPT Main Tour stop we have in the middle of the US, and it is so close to Texas that Choctaw has become a great destination for amazing fields.”
Big Beginning
Choctaw Casino & Resort first became joined the WPT schedule in August 2015 as part of Season XIV. Right from the beginning organizers knew Choctaw would be a popular location. That first event attracted a massive field 1,175 players.
The huge numbers have become the norm at the stop since the inaugural event, with the success of Season XIV being just the start.
After a long night of poker, Jason Brin emerged as the first WPT Choctaw champion at the televised tour stop. Brin hailed from Desoto, Kansas, and took home $682,975 in prize money and his first WPT title after coming on strong during the late stages of play. It was Brin’s first cash on the WPT and first major win, and he now has slightly more than $900,000 in live tournament winnings, according to HendonMob.com. Andy Hwang was denied his second title, finishing runner-up for $468,105.
READ: Jason Brin Tops 1,175 Entries to Win WPT Choctaw
The event featured some other big names at the final table. Darren Elias was coming off back-to-back wins and finished third for $303,593, and Jake Schindler took fourth for $224,913.
All in all, the event proved a great start to a new WPT tradition. Players were pleased with the big Southwest stop, and the top-notch service and comfortable environment will continue.
“The dealers and staff are top notch at Choctaw, ensuring a great experience for all who attend,” Savage said.
The Fun Continues
The Oklahoma action continued in 2016 when the WPT returned to the Choctaw Casino & Resort property for Season XV. The big fields continued and the Championship Event attracted 1,066 entries for a prize pool of $3.6 million. Professional poker player James Mackey took home the title and the $681,758 top prize. The win was Mackey’s first on the WPT and pushed him to $1.4 million in WPT winnings.
READ: James Mackey Wins Season XV WPT Choctaw
A year later, in Season XVI, the WPT Choctaw tournament saw 924 entries for a $3.1 million prize pool. This time it was a Texan taking home the title. Austin’s Jay Lee topped the field and took home $593,173. As a teenager, Lee regularly snuck out of the house to play poker with friends and dreamed of one day winning a major tournament. That mission was accomplished in Oklahoma. The 27-year-old is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Business but worked as a Chinese food delivery driver to supplement his poker income. Now, he’s a WPT Champions Club member who parlayed his winnings into a new business venture, a bar in his hometown of Austin called “Pour Choices.”
READ: Jay Lee Turns WPT Choctaw Win Into Business Venture
Another interesting story from that event was the success of Michael Stashin, who was only 20 years old at the time. He led the final 24 before finishing fourth for $202,617. While most casinos around the country require players to be 21, the age to gamble is 18 in Oklahoma. A native of Long Island, New York, and a student at the University of Albany, Stashin researched to find a tournament he could play in before heading south to Choctaw. He certainly made the most of his trip.
“Choctaw is one of the most well-attended events on the WPT, along with our events at Borgata in Atlantic City and Seminole in Florida,” Savage said of the event’s popularity. “Together, WPT and Choctaw take great pride in the numbers there, and the event has attracted an average of more than 1,000 entries across its first three seasons with the World Poker Tour.”
Moving Forward
Beyond the WPT, the Choctaw has become one of the Southwest’s poker leaders, and the casino has a cool vibe. Artwork and sculptures throughout the property pay tribute to Native American heritage.
READ: A Special Look Into the History of the Choctaw Durant Property
Players can expect a great atmosphere and, along with the WPT Choctaw Championship Event, the property will be offering an entire festival of poker tournaments that kick off on July 19. Tournaments run until August 7, with more than 80 events for players of every bankroll – from $100 to $3,700.
Plenty of players should be back in action in Durant and those who can’t make it can follow all the action with the WPT coverage team right here on WPT.com. One nice aspect of the tour stop is the interesting mix of players who always turn out.
“Choctaw is special because of the big fields full of both recreational and professional players alike,” Savage said. “Recreational players and satellite winners are the lifeblood of the poker industry. They love competing on the World Poker Tour stage against some of the best in the game. Choctaw is a very friendly field for recreational players and we expect them to be out in full force once again.”
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