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