Main Event
Day 3 Completed
2011-12 World Series of Poker Circuit Event - Choctaw Durant
Main Event
Day: 3
Event Info
Final Results
Event Info
Level Info
2011-12 World Series of Poker Circuit Event - Choctaw Durant
Buy-in
$1,600
Prize Pool
$1,422,990
Entries
978
Level
31
Blinds
40,000 / 80,000
Ante
10,000
Congratulations to Abraham Araya, Winner of WSOPC Choctaw ($270,380)
![[user127999]](/img/avatars/avatar.svg){kind=avatar}
Level 31
: 40,000/80,000, 10,000 ante
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.
Daniel Lowery Eliminated in 2nd Place ($167,230)
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.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
Busted |
Lowery Losing Traction
Daniel Lowery has slipped down to 4.6 million without any significant action. Abraham Araya has just been chipping away at Lowery steadily.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,600,000 | -1,400,000 |
Heads Up Chip Counts
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
14,000,000 | |
|
|
6,000,000 | 1,700,000 |
Michael Sanders Eliminated in 3rd Place ($123,430)
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.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
Busted |
Jack Miller Eliminated in 4th Place ($92,352)
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.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
4,000,000 | 1,700,000 |
|
Busted |
Level: 31
Blinds: 40,000/80,000
Ante: 10,000
Mark Burford Eliminated in 5th Place ($69,968)
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.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
14,250,000 | 1,050,000 |
|
Busted |
Derek Browning Eliminated in 6th Place ($53,675)
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.
| Player | Chips | Progress |
|---|---|---|
|
|
13,200,000 | 7,150,000 |
|
Busted |