WPT Choctaw Main Event - Darren Elias eyes third WPT title

Darren Elias is a World Poker Tour beast, having won back to back titles last year and making several other deep runs since. Now he is looking to join the elite club of three-time WPT winners, but has tough competition to face, as Jake Schindler, winner of the $25,000 PCA High Roller is also amongst the final 6 players of the final table.

The WPT Choctaw $3,700 Main Event kicked off on July 31 with a $2 million guaranteed prize pool, but thanks to the huge number of entrants (1175) a prize pool of $3.989.125 was set, with $682,975 going to the winner.

On Monday 30 players returned for Day 3 of the event, the goal for the day was to play down to the 6-handed final table. There were plenty of big names in the field, Erik Seidel for example eliminated two players in the first hand of the day after his AQ held against Rodney Sprigg's QJ and extremely short stacked Bobby Layne's 8-3.

During Level 26 (20,000/40,000-5,000 ante), Bryn Kenney was eliminated in 19th place after losing a flip against Alex Lynskey and players continued on two tables.

Seat 1. Mukul Pahuja  –  1.950.000
Seat 2. Jared Jaffee  –  2.450.000
Seat 3. Erik Seidel  –  1.340.000
Seat 4. Caufman Talley  –  1.750.000
Seat 5. David Emmons  –  900.000
Seat 6. Jason Brin  –  2.700.000
Seat 7. Nipun Java  –  635.000
Seat 8. Darren Elias  –  3.000.000
Seat 9. Vince Van Patten  –  1.300.000

Seat 1. Joey Brown  –  550.000
Seat 2. Justin Custer  –  1.700.000
Seat 3. Andy Hwang  –  3.600.000
Seat 4. Mina Greco  –  2.100.000
Seat 5. Upeshka De Silva  –  2.580.000
Seat 6. Steve Sung  –  1.400.000
Seat 7. Jake Schindler  –  1.120.000
Seat 8. Alex Lynskey  –  6.080.000
Seat 9. Salvatore Dicarlo  –  580.000

David ''betudontbet'' Emmons finished in 18th place, and was followed by Joey Brown, Nipun Java and Salvatore Dicarlo.

WPT commentator Vince van Patten was eliminated in 14th place, he raised to 125,000 during Level 27 (25,000/50,000-5,000)  then called all-in after Darren Elias shoved from the big blind.

Van Patten showed 55 and couldn't improve against Elias' TT, he received $40,532 for his efforts.

The next players to be eliminated were Caufman Talley and Erik Seidel. Seidel got his stack in the middle with QJ on a T-9-8 flop against Elias' TT, but unfortunately for him, the turn and river came running fives and Elias improved to a  full house.

De Silva finished in 11th place, Pahuja finished in 10th, Sung in 8th and the final table was set with the elimination of Jaffee. The WSOP bracelet winner ran his AQ into Hwang's AK and couldn't improve his hand.

The chip leader to start the finale on Tuesdayis Andy Hwang, but Elias and Jake Schindler also have big stacks.

Final table:

Seat 1. Alex Lynskey – 5.925.000 (74 bb)
Seat 2. Andy Hwang – 10.935.000 (137 bb)
Seat 3. Darren Elias – 8.130.000 (102 bb)
Seat 4. Jason Brin – 2.390.000 (30 bb)
Seat 5. Mina Greco – 2.220.000 (28 bb)
Seat 6. Jake Schindler – 5.675.000 (71 bb)
 

Payouts

1.  $682.975
2.  $468.105
3.  $303.593
4.  $224.913
5.  $167.691
6.  $135.504
7.  $112.854
8.  $89.806
9.  $66.759
10-12.  $50.466
13-15.  $40.532
16-18.  $34.969
19-21.  $30.995
22-24. $27.419
25-27. $23.842
29-36. $20.266
37-45. $17.484
46-54. $14.703
55-63. $12.319
64-72. $10.332
73-81. $8.742
82-90. $7.550
91-99. $6.358
100-144. $5.166