2011-12 World Series of Poker Circuit Event - Choctaw Durant

Day 3 completed

Posted 01-24-2012 06:10 GMT by MartyDerby

Congratulations to Abraham Araya, Winner of WSOPC Choctaw ($270,380)

Posted 01-24-2012 06:05 GMT by MartyDerby • Level 31: 40,000-80,000, 10,000 ante

WSOPC Choctaw Champ Abraham Araya.

Abraham Araya outlasted 977 others to win the 2011/2012 World Series of Poker Circuit Choctaw Main Event title and $270,380 in Durant, Oklahoma tonight.

No stranger to the winner's circle at the Choctaw Casino and Resort, Araya also took down the 2011 T.J. Cloutier Choctaw Poker Challenge this past October and appears unbeatable here.

He grabbed the chip lead on Day 2 when it appeared he could do no wrong. In fact, even when he got it in behind, Araya seemed to find a way to get ahead, busting more than his fair share of players en route to a healthy overnight chip lead.

However, the final day was not an easy one, as his stack was cut to a third of its original size in the first 30 minutes while others progressed above and beyond.

He held tight though and by the time the final table rolled around had righted the ship somewhat, coming in sixth in chips.

Throughout the final nine Araya appeared to remain patient, and struck when the time was right.

Derek Browning took the chip lead right before the dinner break making a huge call with pocket fours, but when the players returned, Araya pushed ahead of him, busting Will Nguyen when his tens held against Nguyen's big slick.

That set up what had to be the biggest hand of the tournament, with Browning shoving aces on a flop containing two hearts. Araya called with a flush draw and found a heart on the river to bust Browning and take control of more than half the chips in play.

He busted Mark Burford next, getting it in dominated with ace-jack against ace-queen, but sucking out.
And as four-handed play began, he held 14 million in chips with the rest of the table combined hanging on to just six million.

Daniel Lowery took care of Jack Miller next and after Aray busted Michael Sanders, the two went heads up with Aray enjoying a better than 2:1 chip lead.

Heads-up play was a rather quick one-sided affair with Aray dominating Lowery from start to finish, finally getting him all in with fives against ace-eight and holding to collect the $270,380 first-place prize and all the glory here at WSOPC Choctaw.

Thanks for following all the action here on PokerNews.com and be sure to tune in to our coverage from the next WSOPC Main Event live from Caesars Las Vegas, beginning Jan. 27.

Tags: Abraham Araya.

Daniel Lowery Eliminated in 2nd Place ($167,230)

Posted 01-24-2012 05:51 GMT by Paul_Oresteen

Daniel Lowery 2nd Place

On the button Daniel Lowery three-bet all in and Abraham Araya took just a few moments before announcing a call. The hands were tabled and Lowery was at risk for his tournament life.

Araya:
Lowery:

The board ran and Araya claimed the title with the last elimination of the evening.

Tags: Daniel Lowery, Abraham Araya.

Lowery Losing Traction

Posted 01-24-2012 05:35 GMT by Paul_Oresteen

Daniel Lowery has slipped down to 4.6 million without any significant action. Abraham Araya has just been chipping away at Lowery steadily.

Chip Counts
	Daniel Lowery		4,600,000	-1,400,000

Heads Up Chip Counts

Posted 01-24-2012 05:24 GMT by Paul_Oresteen

Chip Counts
	Abraham Araya		14,000,000	0
	Daniel Lowery		6,000,000	1,700,000

Michael Sanders Eliminated in 3rd Place ($123,430)

Posted 01-24-2012 05:23 GMT by Paul_Oresteen

Michael Sanders 3rd Place

Abraham Araya limped from the small blind and Michael Sanders shoved from the big blind. Araya called after a count of Sanders' stack.

Sanders:
Araya:

Araya flopped a monster when the dealer spread and Sanders needed another queen or a seven to take the lead. He would not get either as the board completed and Araya took the pot.

Tags: Abraham Araya, Michael Sanders.

Jack Miller Eliminated in 4th Place ($92,352)

Posted 01-24-2012 04:58 GMT by Paul_Oresteen

Jack Miller 4th Place

Daniel Lowery opened for 225,000 on the button and Jack Miller moved in from the big blind. Lowery called and the hands were turned face up.

Lowery:
Miller:

The board ran and Lowery's seven made him a seven-high straight and sent Miller to collect his payout.

Chip Counts
	Daniel Lowery		4,000,000	1,700,000
	Jack Miller		Busted

Tags: Daniel Lowery, Jack Miller.

Level 31 started

Posted 01-24-2012 04:34 GMT by Paul_Oresteen

Mark Burford Eliminated in 5th Place ($69,968)

Posted 01-24-2012 04:11 GMT by Paul_Oresteen

Mark Burford 5th Place

Mark Burford open shoved on the button for just under 800,000. Abraham Araya was in the big blind and asked for a count. Araya called and the hands were tabled.

Burford:
Araya:

The board ran and Burford fell victim to Araya's steamroll heater.

Chip Counts
	Abraham Araya		14,250,000	1,050,000
	Mark Burford		Busted

Tags: Mark Burford, Abraham Araya.

Derek Browning Eliminated in 6th Place ($53,675)

Posted 01-24-2012 04:06 GMT by MartyDerby

Derek Browning 6th Place

We're down to five in the WSOPC Choctaw Main Event after Abraham Araya found a creative way to crack Derek Browning's aces and send him home 6th.

The hand began with a 135k bet from Daniel Lowery. Araya called on the button, but Browning decided to make it 400k from the small blind. Both Lowery and Araya called and after the flop, Browning pushed.

Lowery quickly got out of the way, but Araya made the call with . Browning's aces were ahead, but after the gave Araya an up and down straight draw as well, Browning's demise seemed inevitable.

Sure enough, the on the river gave Araya the flush and while Browning exited 6th, Araya pushed over the 13-million chip mark.

Chip Counts
	Abraham Araya		13,200,000	7,150,000
	Derek Browning		Busted

Tags: Abraham Araya, Derek Borwning.