Hollis Holcomb Wins 2019 WSOP Circuit Choctaw Main Event

The 2019 World Series of Poker Circuit Choctaw $1,700 buy-in no-limit hold’em main event attracted a total field of 976, blowing away the $1 million guarantee to create a final prize pool of $1,478,640. After three full days of action, that sea of players was narrowed down to just one champion: 47-year-old cybersecurity expert Hollis Holcomb. The Fort Smith, Arkansas native earned $255,535 and his first WSOP Circuit gold ring for the win. After securing the title, Holcomb told WSOP reporters that he was dedicating the win to his late friend Chris Ghylin.

“I do want to say that I had a really good friend of mine that taught me a lot about poker and life, passed away two years ago. He would just love this, he was in his thirty’s and its just unfortunate that such a good player passed so soon. I wouldn’t be here without Chris Ghylin,” said Holcomb.

Holcomb actually won his seat in this event in his hometown poker club by earning their player of the year award. In addition to winning the Chris Ghylin trophy, he also got to represent the club in this WSOPC main event, with half of any earnings to be shared amongst his fellow club members. Holcomb cashed for more than a quarter of a million dollars by winning the event, meaning that he earned quite a lot of money for himself and the other members of his local club.

Holcomb made the final day of this tournament with the third largest stack of ten remaining players. He earned his first knockout of the day by eliminating Shomari Williams in eighth place ($32,314). Williams got his last chips in with pocket jacks, which were ahead of the 55 of Holcomb until the 5 hit the flop. Holcomb ended up with a full house to earn the pot and the knockout.

Holcomb picked up pocket jacks for himself during six-handed play and called the all-in of Matt Russell, who held A7. Holcomb’s pocket pair was able to hold up and he earned his second bustout of the day, climbing into second place on the leaderboard with five remaining.

Seven-time WSOP Circuit ring winner Vincent Moscati won a race against Braxton Dunaway to send him to the rail in fifth place ($68,390). Holcomb then cracked the pocket kings of Tony Nguyen to knock him out in fourth place ($89,536), taking the lead into three-handed play.

Holcomb ended up clashing with Jesse Solano in an impactful hand. Holcomb opened for 750,000 from the small blind with 77. Solano raised all in for 2,200,000 from the big blind holding 55. The board came down QJ1032 and Holcomb’s superior pocket pair was enough to send Solano home in third place ($118,349).

With that, Holcomb took a massive lead of more than 14-to-1 into heads-up play with Moscati. On the second hand of one-on-one action, Moscati got all-in with AK. Holcomb called with JJ. The 974 gave Moscati a flush draw to go along with his overcards, but the Q on the turn left him in need of help with one card remaining. The Q on the river locked up the pot and the title for Holcomb, while Moscati earned $157,929 for his runner-up finish.

Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded at the final table:

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