Huy Nguyen Wins WSOPC Choctaw Main Event

The World Series of Poker Circuit’s first ever visit to a Native American Casino Resort recorded solid attendance during its 19 days of poker action. From Jan. 6-24, masses of eager players from across the Texas-Oklahoma region swarmed to Oklahoma’s Choctaw Casino to participate in the first ever WSOPC destination not affiliated with Harrah’s. There were a variety of games at a variety of buy-ins (results can be found here), but none were more anticipated than the $1,600 no-limit hold’em main event.

A total of 808 players entered the championship event, creating a prize pool of $1,175,640. The top 81 players made the money. Notables participating in the event included the likes of Berry Johnston, Tom McEvoy, Tommy Vedes, Allen Kessler and Ylon Schwartz. But after three long days of play, Huy Nguyen claimed the WSOP Circuit ring and the $232,706 first-place prize.

Here’s a look at the final results:

1. Huy Nguyen – $232,706
2. Traci Brown – $143,462
3. Shallum Lynch – $105,764
4. Jeff Gibralter – $78,828
5. Bobby Hempkins – $59,537
6. Drazen Ilich – $45,552
7. Victor Haynes – $35,290
8. Andrew Watson – $27,680
9. Robert Cheung – $21,979
10. Charles Moore – $17,662

After the first day of play the field was down to 174 players. At the start of the third and final day, the field had reduced to just 14 players. A couple hours into the action, the final 10 players were set.

Their chip counts were:

1. Jeff Gibralter 3,300,000
2. Victor Haynes 2,385,000
3. Drazen Ilich 1,100,000
4. Andrew Watson 990,000
5. Charles “Woody” Moore 450,000
6. Bobby “Shooter” Hempkins 675,000
7. Huy Nguyen 4,120,000
8. Traci Brown 490,000
9. Robert “RCW” Cheung 900,000
10. Shallum Lynch 1,795,000

Here’s how the final table played out:

Charles ‘Woody’ Moore Out in 10th Place ($17,662)

Charles Moore has made two WSOPC final tables this year, including having won the Horseshoe Southern Indiana WSOPC main event. But as the short stack at the WSOPC Choctaw final table, he never got anything going. His final hand came when he moved all in preflop with KQ and Bobby Hempkins moved all in over the top. Everyone else folded and Hempkins showed AJ.

The board ran 543109 and Moore was eliminated in 10th place, earning $17,662. Moore already has his seat reserved in May’s WSOPC National Championship.

Robert Cheung Eliminated in 9th Place ($21,979)

WSOP bracelet winner Robert Cheung raise to 170,000 and was called by Huy Nguyen from the big blind. Both players checked the Q95 flop. Nguyen checked the 8 turn and Cheung bet 260,000. Nguyen moved all in, and Cheung called for his tournament life. Cheung showed 88 for a turned set, but was trailing Nguyen’s J10 for a turned straight. The 4 river changed nothing and Cheung was gone in 9th place, earning $21,979.

Andrew Watson Eliminated in 8th Place ($27,680)

Drazen Ilich raised to 150,000, Andrew Watson reraised to 450,000 and Huy Nguyen moved all in, having both opponents covered. Ilich folded and Watson called. He showed 44 and was crushed by Nguyen’s QQ. The board ran 101038K and Watson was gone in 8th place, earning $27,680.

Victor Haynes Eliminated in 7th Place ($35,290)

Victor Haynes raised to 200,000 from under the gun, and Shallum Lynch raised to 600,000 from the small blind. Haynes moved all in for 1,160,000 and Lynch called. Haynes showed KQ and Lynch turned over QQ. The flop brought A86, but the Q turn sealed it for Lynch. Haynes was eliminated in 7th place, earning $35,290.

Drazen Ilich Finishes in 6th Place ($45,552)

Traci Brown raised to 200,000 and was called by Drazen Ilich and Huy Nguyen. Action checked to Ilich on a A94 flop, and he bet 310,000. Only Nguyen called.

Nguyen checked the 3 turn and Ilich moved all in for around 2 million. Nguyen called and showed A6, leading Ilich’s J10. The 5 river missed Ilich and he was eliminated in 6th place, earning $45,552.

Bobby ‘Shooter’ Hempkins Busts in 5th Place ($59,537)

Facing a raise to 200,000 from Shallum Lynch, Bobby Hempkins moved his last 900,000 all in. Lynch called and showed KK. Hempkins turned over 44. The board ran A85A9 and Hempkins was gone in 5th place, earning $59,537.

Jeff Gibralter Eliminated in 4th Place ($78,828)

Jeff Gibralter raised to 255,000 from the button and Huy Nguyen called from the small blind. On a 833 flop Nguyen bet out 755,000. Gabralter called and the turn brought the K. Nguyen moved all in, having Gibralter covered and was called. Gibralter saw that he made the wrong read, and his 44 was well behind Nguyen’s QQ. The river was the K and Gibralter was eliminated in 4th place, earning $78,828.

Shallum Lynch Eliminated in 3rd Place ($105,764)

Huy Nguyen raised to 250,000 and Shallum Lynch moved all in for 2,100,000 from the big blind. It was bad timing for pocket fours again. Nguyen quickly called and showed AA, while Lynch showed 44. The board ran out 109535 and Lynch was gone in 3rd place, earning $105,764.

Huy Nguyen Wins WSOPC Choctaw ($232,706), Traci Brown Finishes Runner-Up ($143,462)

Entering heads-up play, Huy Nguyen held a 14.1 million to 2.1 million chip lead over Traci Brown. After a few hands, Brown moved all in preflop with A9 and Nguyen made the call with AQ. The board ran K526A and Brown took home $143,462 for her runner-up finish.

Nguyen earned $232,706 for the win, along with the WSOPC ring and automatic entry into the WSOPC National Championship in May.

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