WSOPC Event #11: $1,700 MAIN EVENT

After a full, exciting day of no-limit hold’em, the first flight of the Choctaw WSOP Circuit Main Event is officially in the books. Many elite poker players entered Choctaw Casino & Hotel’s Grand Hall hoping to make it to the end of the day, but only 14 of the 132 entrants will advance to Day Two.

It was a star-studded affair in Flight A of the Circuit Main, as not only were many Circuit ring winners in attendance but several bracelet winners as well. Although they did not find a bag for Day 2, we hope to see the following players enter one of the two remaining flights of the Circuit Main Event: Michael Lech, Brian Green, La-La Sengphat, Scott Squyres, Anthony Allison, Will Berry, Kalyan Chivukula, Tim Kelliher, Wendy Freedman, and Angela Jordison.

After firing his second bullet in Flight A of the tournament, reigning Choctaw WSOPC Main Event champion Harvey Castro quickly showed attendees how he became a champion by earning the chip lead early. While he would relinquish the chip lead on several occasions, Castro would quickly retain it and end the day as our overall chip leader, bagging a 874,000 stack.

Is this the beginning of a back-to-back title run for Castro? Maybe, but to do so he will have to outlast fellow Choctaw Circuit Main Event champion Danny Marx. 

Not only did Marx bring his French bulldog Bluey to Choctaw today, but he also brought his A-game. During the final hour of play, Marx would get full value from pocket aces and surge up the chip leaderboard. While it looked like Marx might overtake Castro by the end of the day, he would have to settle for being the second-biggest stack, bagging a total of 792,000.

While Castro and Marx certainly made a lot of noise today, two other Circuit Main Event champions would also find a bag and bring healthy stacks into Day 2. Jared Ingles, winner of the Cherokee WSOPC Main Event in 2022, bagged a total of 528,000 chips to end the day as the fourth biggest stack. Along with Ingles, Jose Montes, another Choctaw Circuit Main Event champion, bagged 265,000 and will also be in the hunt for his second title.

Not to be outshined by the three WSOPC Main Event champions who bagged Flight A, we look forward to seeing the following players of note on Day 2: Matthew Wantman (430,000 chip stack) and Karen Norman (123,000).

On Friday, November 3rd starting at 11 a.m. local time, the second flight of the Choctaw WSOPC Main Event will begin. Players who find a bag during Flight B will look forward to mixing it up with four WSOPC Main Event champions on Day 2, which is scheduled for Sunday, November 5th.

Raising 14,000 in early position, Danny Marx (pictured) was met with a 45,000 three-bet by Choctaw regular Derek Norman. Marx executed a 94,000 four-bet and got the call.

Flop:    

Marx down-bet 62,000 and Norman called.

Turn:  

With around a pot-sized bet behind, Marx moved al-in and sent Norman into the tank. "I'm about to give you the chip lead", Norman said as he placed a stack of chips into the middle, making the call.

Marx:   
Norman:   

Unable to hit his two-outer on the river, Norman was eliminated from the tournament and did in fact give Marx the chip lead. "Make him look good. Make him look like a superstar," Norman instructed Poker.org staff as he exited the Grand Theater.

Danny Marx (chip leader) - 837,000
Derek Norman- Eliminated

The 36 remaining players in Flight A of the Choctaw Circuit Main Event are having trouble ignoring Harvey Castro's growing chip stack. With a stack worth 640,000, Castro is well ahead of the next closest player and is running away with the chip lead. While not in the lead, second biggest stack Kalyan Chivukula still has plenty of momentum and hopes to find a bag with his 402,000 stack. Despite losing the chip lead earlier, local poker player Damarjai Davenport boasts a healthy stack of 351,000.

Joining our big stacks in the next level of play are the following players of note:

Will Berry - 243,000
Michael Lech - 104,500
Danny Marx - 136,000

Be sure to stay tuned to catch the latest from the Choctaw WSOP Circuit Main Event. If you are on social media, be sure to follow us on Twitter (@pokerorg) and Instagram (@poker_org_) for even more highlights from the day!

Opening 5,500 in early position, WSOP Circuit ring winner Tim Kelliher faced a 16,500 three-bet from his opponent in middle position and responded with a 37,500 four-bet. While Kelliher showed strength, his opponent confidently five-bet shoved, sending Kelliher into the tank.

"I know I should fold," Kelliver said, before eventually making the call.

Kelliher's instinct would be correct, as his ace-queen offsuit was behind his opponent's ace-king. Luckily for Kelliher, a flopped queen would be enough to eliminate his opponent and give his stack a huge boost.

Tim Kelliher - 265,000

Flight A chip leader Damarjai "Jai" Davenport

The players still competing in Flight A of the Choctaw Circuit Main Event have just left for a 90-minute dinner break. Leaving for dinner as the overall chip leader is Damarjai “Jai” Davenport, who is narrowly in the lead with a 240,000 chip stack. Just behind Davenport with a growing stack of poker chips is reigning Choctaw WSOPC Main Event champion Harvey Castro, who has 230,000 chips to his name.

Joining Davenport and Castro near the top of the chip rankings is local poker player Kalyan Chivukula (195,000 chip stack) as well as WSOP Circuit ring winner Anthony Allison (190,000). Although they are not leading the group, 2022 Choctaw WSOPC champion Danny Marx (63,700), three-time WSOPC champion Will Berry (18,400), and Karen “The Lollipop Queen” Norman (69,100) are still well in the mix to bag for Day 2.

Reigning Choctaw WSOP Circuit Main Event champion Harvey Castro

The champ is here!

Already on his second bullet, defending Choctaw WSOP Circuit Main Event champion Harvey Castro has entered Flight A of the tournament and currently sits with 64,700 chips. Joining Castro in Flight is 2022 Choctaw Circuit Main Event champion Danny Marx, who is accompanied by his french bulldog puppy Bluey (don't worry, we will post pictures of Bluey here shortly). Entering level 7, the duo of Danny and Bluey sit with a chip stack worth 57,600.

Along with our pair of Circuit Main Event champions, the following players of note have also found their seats in Flight A:

Michael Lech - 97,800
Brian Green - 10,900
La-La Sengphet - 43,200
Will Berry - 48,300

 
2022 Global Poker Index Breakout Player of the Year Angela Jordison

Breaking for the first time today, Flight A of the Choctaw WSOP Circuit Main Event will resume play here shortly. Pradeep Rajasekaran sits as the early Flight A chip leader, owning a stack worth 95,000. Of the 74 entrants so far, some players of note have hopped into the action, and hope to add even more chips to their stacks:

Wendy Freedman - 17,500
Joshua Brower - 54,900
Scott Squyres - 14,800
Trung Pham - 59,000
Karen Norman - 42,500
Angela Jordison - 16,500

 
Reigning Choctaw Circuit Main Event Champion Harvey Castro

The moment we have all been waiting for! Today, Flight A of the Choctaw WSOP Circuit Main Event will begin at 11 a.m. local time. Recent events like The Garnatuan and Seniors Event have been smashing guarantees, making local poker players excited to see if the Circuit Main Event surpasses the $1,000,000 advertised prizepool. While tournament entrants can anticipate a lucrative event, to “cash in” on a payday, they will first have to bag for Day 2.

Although his brother was spotted playing earlier in the series, defending Choctaw Main Event champion Harvey Castro has still yet to be seen on the tournament floor. While we still do not yet know if Castro will arrive to defend his title, we can look forward to many Choctaw regulars and visitors competing for the series’ top prize.

For players who plan on entering Flight A of the Choctaw Circuit Main Event, here is what you need to know:

$1,000,000 guaranteed prizepool

40,000 starting stack

40-minute blinds for the first 15 levels, 60-minute levels thereafter

One re-entry per flight

Registration open until the start of level 13

Minimum 15-minute break approximately every 2 hours of play

Flight B is on Friday, November 3rd starting at 11 a.m.

Flight C is on Saturday, November 4th starting at 11 a.m.

Poker.org will be on location posting live updates throughout the Circuit Main Event. We will be providing a recap of the action every break, and starting on Day 2, will be providing reporting on hands as well as keeping readers updated on chip counts.