Slew of repeat winners strike at Oklahoma Circuit. Casino Champ decided in Main Event finale.
January 15, 2019 (Durant, Okla.) -- Following a midway break, the World Series of Poker Circuit fired back up with a series at Choctaw Durant, the second of the 2018/19 season. Over the course of 13 days, there was a total of 13 WSOP gold rings handed out at the Southern Oklahoma stop.
The Circuit began with a string of first-time winners. Leading off was Dennis Brand who topped Event #1: $400 No-Limit Hold’em Monster Stack, the first of multiple Double Stack tournaments. Along with a debut gold ring, Brand banked $42,620 for conquering the 615-entrant field.
Next up, Ronald Neuman took down the solo, Big Blind Ante event at the Choctaw Circuit. Event #2 drew a field of 414 entrants and left the family man from Oklahoma with $30,052 and his first WSOP gold ring. Neuman’s win kicked off the first weekend of the series, which was ultimately highlighted by Multi-Flight competition.
Normally a four-flight endeavor wrapped into one ring event, the No-Limit Hold’em Multi-Flight tournament was split in half this time around, creating two separate ring events entailing two flights a piece.
First off, was Event #3. The $400 buy-in tourney generated a payout sum of $252,780 from 766 entries. Aside from the Main Event, it would be the largest pirzepool of the series. Bagging the grand prize of $50,557 was Darin Utley. The former boxer from Iowa with eight golden glove titles added a debut gold ring to his competitive accolades.
The second Multi-Flight tournament, Event #4, attracted a total of 1,077 entrants. Although the starting field stood tall, the prizepool was short of Event #3’s due to a smaller, $250 buy-in. When all was said and done, Justin Adkins clenched his first gold ring. The Stay-At-Home dad also won $39,853, which was a satisfying win after a disappointing 2018 on the tournament poker scene.
Two new ring events reached their respective conclusions on the first Monday of the series. Finishing first was Event #6: $400 Big O, or “Congress” as the call it at Choctaw Durant. Dave Alfa ended up making a huge comeback, after entering the final 10 with seven big blinds, to claim his first gold ring, and it was certainly not the last Alfa sighting there would be.
Event #5: $400 No-Limit Hold’em Double Stack was the other event to finish on Monday and providing the initial point in a slew of repeat winners at the Circuit was the unstoppable Martin Ryan. Claiming victory yet again, Ryan was awarded $30,563 and an astounding 9th career gold ring. The 56-year-old has now won four Circuit titles so far during the 2018/19 season.
An uncommon event on the Circuit scene was tested at Choctaw Durant. Event #7 kept the tables short, featuring four-handed play throughout. Although the ring event drew a modest field of 185 entrants, one player positively enjoyed the competition.
Andrew Robinson reigned as Champion of the Four Max, picking up his fifth gold ring. The 38-year-old Poker Pro had not won a Circuit title since 2015 but returned to the winner’s circle in a huge way. Following his victory, Robinson immediately jumped in Event #9 just before the close of late registration. He found a bag on Day 1, then went on to claim victory once again.
The impressive back-to-back triumphs provided Robinson with his sixth career gold ring and more. With two wins and a third, small cash, Robinson had accumulated 110 points, placing him firmly atop the leaderboard in the race for Casino Champion.
A fourth cash later in Event #11 would bring Robinson to his final sum of 112.5 points. The lead seemed substantial with only a handful of events remaining for players to secure points. However, an incredible sweat would occur on the final day of the Choctaw ring-event series.
In between Robinson’s gold-ring runs, Bart Bogard defeated 147 players in Event #8. The Choctaw favorite snagged his second gold ring of the season.
Continuing the string of repeat winners was Carl Brewington, the Monster Stack phenom. The Poker Pro from Nashville, Tennessee conquered a field of 470 entries in Event #11 of the series, successfully winning his third gold ring and third Monster Stack title within four months, an astounding feat to say the least.
Then came the Choctaw Main Event, highlighting the last weekend of the series. Day 1A, on Friday, drew 441 entries and Day 1B, on Saturday, added another 720 to the mix. A grand total of 1,161 entrants and overall prizepool of $1,758,915 made it the largest Main Event of the 2018/19 Circuit season thus far, marginally edging out Harrah’s Cherokee and Horseshoe Hammond.
There were 65 players who survived Flight A and 105 players who did the same in Flight B. The 170 advancing players merged for Day 2 of the Main Event. AJ Ajayi, who bagged the Flight A chip lead, began way out in front with nearly one million in chips.
By the end of Day 2 there were only 14 players remaining, including Dave Alfa. Besides winning Event #6 for 50 points, Alfa also had a 5th-place finish and three small cashes for a total of 85 points. This meant he was in striking distance of Robinson’s Casino Championship lead.
Alfa needed to finish in at least 7th place to surpass Robinson's total. Day 3 commenced with the final 14 competitors. Playing restrained poker, Alfa made the official final table of nine with a below average stack.
Soon after the final table was formed, Alfa found a crucial double up with pocket rockets. Two-time gold ring winner Will Berry fell in 9th place. Brendon O’Neal dropped in 8th place and it was official, Alfa secured himself an automatic bid to the 2019 Global Casino Championship.
However, Alfa continued his momentum and went on to win the entire Main Event. This provided Alfa with no points. He instead secured his seat in the 2019 GCC by way of Main Event victory, leaving Robinson as the Choctaw Casino Champion.
Completed Events
Event #1: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Monster Stack - Dennis Brand defeats 615 entries to win $42,620
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #2: $400 No-Limit Hold'em BB Ante - Ron Neuman defeats 414 entries to win $30,052
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #3: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Mult-Flight - Darin Utley defeats 766 entries to win $50,557
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #4: $250 No-Limit Hold'em Mult-Flight - Justin Adkins defeats 1,077 entries to win $39,853
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #5: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Double Stack - Martin Ryan defeats 421 entries to win $30,563
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #6: $400 Big O - Dave Alfa defeats 195 entries to win $16,732
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #7: $400 No-Limit Hold'em 4-Handed - Andrew Robinson defeats 185 entries to win $15,873
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #8: $400 No-Limit Hold'em - Bart Bogard defeats 147 entries to win $13,583
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #9: $400 NLHE Double Stack - Andrew Robinson defeats 429 entries to win $31,146
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #10: $600 No-Limit Hold'em - Mike Hulme defeats 242 entries to win $30,533
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #11: $400 NLHE Monster Stack - Carl Brewington defeats 470 entries to win $33,341
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #12: $1,700 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event - Dave Alfa defeats 1,161 entries to win $320,998
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Event #13: $600 No-Limit Hold'em - Chad Smith defeats 202 entries to win $27,048
Official Report | Winner Photo | Results
Casino Champion Update
Andrew Robinson has won the Choctaw Durant Casino Championship, but not after an incredible sweat on the last day of the Circuit. Robinson won back-to-back ring events, good for 100 points combined. The Poker Pro also had two other cashes, bringing him to a final sum of 112.5 points.
About the Winners
Event #1 - Dennis Brand
The World Series of Poker Circuit stop at Choctaw Durant kicked off with a signature event, the Monster Stack. After two long days of tournament poker, it was Dennis Brand gracing the winner’s circle. The 63-year-old conquered a field of 615 entrants in Event #1, winning $42,620 and his first WSOP gold ring.
It was an accomplishment that Brand narrowly missed out on just three weeks prior, when he placed 2nd in the final event of the IP Biloxi Circuit. When asked if the runner-up finish motivated him to make another push for gold, Brand responded.
“It definitely did. I mean, I was way ahead and got it in good and the guy ends up sucking out on me to beat me,” said Brand.
Following the holiday break, Brand wasted no time in getting to Choctaw for the first ring event. With fire in his belly, the Houston, Texas resident registered for the Monster Stack and ended up closing it out.
Since retiring a couple years ago, Brand has been using some of his newfound free time to indulge in a hobby of his, poker. He plans to continue to bounce around to different poker series when he can. Brand now has 92.5 Casino Championship points and could make a run at a bid to the 2019 Global Casino Championship.
Event #2 - Ron Neuman
Ron Neuman struck World Series of Poker gold by taking down the Big Blind Ante tournament at the Choctaw Durant Circuit series. The 34-year-old from Piedmont, Oklahoma defeated a total of 414 players in Event #2: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Big Blind Ante to win his first gold ring and $30,052.
It was a long road to victory for Neuman, which included an epic heads-up battle. In the end, Neuman scooped the all the chips in play. The family man from Oklahoma, with two boys and a wife back home, has a 6th-place finish, a 5th-place finish, and now a shiny new WSOP gold ring to show for his time on the Circuit.
“It Feels good; I’ve been working on it a couple years now,” said Neuman. “I come down here when I get a chance.”
Event #3 - Darin Utley
Darin Utley bagged his first World Series of Poker gold ring Saturday night at the Choctaw Durant Circuit series. The 48-year-old from Cedar Rapids, Iowa outlasted a combined total of 766 entries in Event #3: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Multi-Flight.
Utley registered for Flight A and did more than endure, he excelled. Entering Day 2 with chips to work with, Utley strolled into the money but then began a long stretch of playing from behind.
The former boxer jabbed his way back into contention and rode his momentum all the way to the winner’s circle where he got to raise his debut Circuit gold ring. Utley is no stranger to “gold” triumphs. In fact, he lays claim to eight golden glove titles in the world of amateur boxing.
“I started [boxing] when I was eight years old and I did it for like 20 years or so; but I just got inducted into the Iowa Boxing Hall of Fame this summer,” Utley revealed. “I think you see a lot of ex-athletes that play poker because you’re used to being competitive your whole life,” he added when asked to compare boxing with poker.
Poker has also been a longtime facet of Utley’s life. He grew up learning about the game from his father and has carried the hobby with him ever since. However, these days it is a bit more than a hobby for Utley.
“I’m kind of playing it for a living now. I’ve been in the car business for 25 years and six months ago I quit,” Utley mentioned. At first, Utley planned on taking a year off but instead decided to take a stab at the card playing career. It is a decision that seems to be working out great so far for the Iowa native.
Along with the gold ring, Utley took home just over $50,000 for his triumph. The purse marks Utley's fourth WSOP cash, but first on the Circuit. His total WSOP earnings now stands over $100,000.
Event #4 - Justin Adkins
The World Series of Poker crowned another first-time Circuit Champ on Saturday in the Choctaw Grand Theater. It was 38-year-old Justin Adkins who conquered a four-figure field of 1,077 entries in Event #4: $250 No-Limit Hold'em Multi-Flight to seize $39,853 and his first WSOP gold ring.
“It feels great,” Adkins expressed after his triumph. “Last year was a pretty rough year in the tournament scene for me. This was the first one of 2019, so it couldn’t start off a better way I guess.”
Event #4 of the Durant, Oklahoma Circuit series was the first tournament Adkins entered in 2019 after coming off a disappointing 2018. Ultimately, the two-day competition provided him with a tremendous bounce-back win to start the year off right.
The victory marked Adkins’ fourth, and by far larges, cash with the WSOP. The Iowa native, now living in Coppell, Texas, does not play poker for a living, but does relish his full-time job that allows him some flexibility to hit the felt once in awhile.
“I’m actually a Stay-At-Home Dad. This is just kind of my side gig,” Adkins mentioned. “Now I got a little jewelry to show the boys… I’ve got a seven y.o. and a three y.o. They’re at home in bed, but I’ll show them when they wake up.”
Event #5 - Martin Ryan
To kick off the year, Martin Ryan continued his tear on the 2018/19 World Series of Poker Circuit tour. The Trinidadian topped 421 players in Event #5: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Double Stack at the Choctaw Durant stop.
Claiming victory yet again, Ryan was awarded $30,563 and an astounding 9th career gold ring. The 56-year-old has now won four Circuit titles this season, tying his own record set during the 2016/17 Circuit tour.
Ryan won his 8th gold ring at the end of November in the Harrah’s Cherokee Monster Stack. Following the Circuit, Ryan returned home to Trinidad and Tobago to take care of some business, also poker related.
“I went to Trinidad, started a [home] game,” Ryan said. “It’s going good. Got the guys back together. We have like about 20 guys.”
After an extended time in his home country, Ryan flew back to the States. He directly made his way to the first Circuit of 2019, Choctaw Durant, where he has won before, and got the job done again.
Event #6 - Dave Alfa
Dave Alfa picked up his first World Series of Poker gold ring Monday night after a huge comeback in Event #6: $400 Big O at the Choctaw Durant Circuit stop. All in all, the poker player from Austin, Texas defeated 195 entrants in the two-day competition.
When the unofficial final table of eight was reached, Alfa was still alive, but in critical condition. He amazing made it to heads-up action against Wade Lightsey. Both Lightsey and Alfa were on their second final table appearance of the series and the toe-to-toe matchup would determine who took the lead in the Casino Champ race.
Alfa and Lightsey faced off for multiple levels. It was a long battle that ultimately left Alfa as the winner, earning $16,732, the gold ring, and 50 points for his first-place conquest.
It was Alfa’s third final table appearance of the 2018/19 Circuit tour that finally provided him with a push to the winner's circle. He now sits atop the Choctaw leaderboard with 80 points in the race for Casino Champion. The Ohio native plans to stick around for the rest of the series and defend his lead.
Event #7 - Andrew Robinson
Andrew Robinson captured his fifth World Series of Poker gold ring on Tuesday. The Poker Pro, living in Texas, topped 185 players in Event #7: $400 No-Limit Hold'em 4-Handed at the Choctaw Durant Circuit stop.
Although it was Robinson’s fifth Circuit title run, the 38-year-old has not seen the winner’s circle in some time. His last gold-ring triumph was back in 2015 at Harrah’s Cherokee. Part of long spell can be attributed to a decrease in Circuit appearances.
Robinson admittedly does not travel the Circuit as much as he used to, on account of family matters. The Indiana native is married with two daughters, 7 and 11 years old. Although Robinson has cut back a bit, he still frequents Choctaw when the WSOP comes to town. The Durant, Oklahoma Circuit location is the closest one to his home.
“I like this casino, so this feels pretty good,” said Robinson following his victory. “It’s the first time I’ve won one here.”
Robinson has now won gold rings in five different states: Oklahoma, North Carolina, Indiana, Nevada, and Louisiana. Along with adding another piece of Circuit gold to his collection, Robinson also banked $15,873. The Poke Pro now boasts over $350,000 in WSOP earnings.
Event #8 - Anthony "Bart" Bogard
A repeat achiever was crowned Tuesday evening at the World Series of Poker Circuit stop in Durant, Oklahoma. It was Bart Bogard taking down a 147-entrant field in Event #8: $400 No-Limit Hold'em to win $13,583 and his second gold ring of the 2018/19 Circuit season.
During the first Choctaw Circuit of the season, Bogard went on a tear, cashing in six events and grabbing his debut gold ring. The 38-year-old returned for round number two at Choctaw and picked up his second title in exactly two months’ time.
Although Bogard had a dominate series back in November, the Casino Championship eluded him on account of Jared Hemingway having an unprecedented series himself.
“No, not at all,” Bogard responded when asked if the Casino Champ snub tilted him in any way. “I knew I had enough points to where I just grind this event here in Choctaw… then also Tulsa, so there would be plenty of time for me to hit a top-50 [spot].”
Bogard put the near miss behind him and set his sights on grinding the future Oklahoma Circuit series in order to solidify himself among the top-50 points leaders, all of whom receive an automatic bid to the 2019 Global Casino Championship at the end of the season.
With another win under his belt and 50 more points, the Texas native now sits tied for 9th on the National Leaderboard with 175 points. Bogard is in good position and there are still ring events to be weathered at his seemingly second home, Choctaw Durant.
Event #9 - Andrew Robinson
Andrew Robinson cruised to another World Series of Poker title on Wednesday, winning back-to-back tournaments at the Choctaw Durant Circuit series. The 38-year-old Poker Pro had just claimed his fifth gold ring 24 hours prior, by topping Event #7. Immediately after his victory, Robinson registered for Event #9: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Double Stack and, playing with confidence, once again ran away with the whole thing.
“I think confidence is pretty key,” stated Robinson. “I mean, when you are running good it exudes from you and kind of makes people a little scared to play against you, so it makes things easier.
During the final stretch, Robinson began to rake in chips like a high-powered magnet. By the time heads-up action was reached he was in a great position to take it down, and did, picking up his sixth ring and $31,146. With another first-place finish at the current Choctaw Circuit series, Robinson also gained another 50 points, giving him the the lead in the race for Casino Champion.
The Texas resident sits atop the venue leaderboard with 110 points. Robinson revealed that he has played in the “National,” now “Global,” Casino Championship a few times in his career. In fact, the Poker Pro has even won the Choctaw Casino Champ honors once before, back in 2013, and now looks to do it again in 2019.
Event #10 - Mike Hulme
Mike Hulme snatched up his first World Series of Poker gold ring on Thursday at the Choctaw Durant Circuit. Ultimately, the 61-year-old Pharmacist beat out 242 entrants in Event #10: $600 No-Limit Hold’em, but it took a colossal comeback to realize the accomplishment.
Going into heads-up action in, Hulme was way behind against Danny Burks’ massive chip pile. Hulme opted to bide his time and eventually found a double up, then another, then another. With all the momentum, Hulme scooped the last pot of the tournament. Burks bowed out as the runner-up, earning $18,866 and Hulme hauled in the top prize of $30,533 to go along with his debut gold ring.
“Twelve years in the making,” Hulme stated after his comeback win. “What set me in was, the very first tournament played I made a final table… Played ever since. When you’ve got a regular day job, you just play when you can,” he continued.
Hulme’s first cash with the WSOP was a 10th-place finish at the Grand Casino Tunica back in 2006. From that point on, he blipped on the radar here and there, with cashes on the Circuit as well as a handful at the annual WSOP in Las Vegas. Now, the Oklahoma native has a crowning, gold achievement to adorn his stat sheet.
Event #11 - Carl Brewington
The Monster Stack, a World Series of Poker signature event, may as well be dubbed the “Brewington” Stack henceforth. Late Friday night, at the Choctaw Durant Circuit series, Carl Brewington successfully claimed his third Monster Stack title of the 2018/19 Circuit season.
The $400 buy-in, No-Limit Hold’em tournament featured a twice-enlarged starting stack, a bonus that Brewington has seemed to master.
The 39-year-old’s first Monster Stack victory was realized at Horseshoe Southern Indiana in early October. His second soon followed, also occurring at Choctaw Durant Circuit, during the Fall stop in November.
Although both wins were special to Brewington in their own right, his recent achievement ultimately outweighed the others.
“This one’s above the rest… cause it’s my dad’s birthday and he’s past and it’s just amazing,” Brewington expressed “He was with me tonight. I just know he was.”
Event #12 - Dave Alfa
Dave Alfa is the latest ring winner of the World Series of Poker Circuit, taking down the Choctaw Main Event for a staggering $320,998. This is Alfa's second ring, both coming from this series. He locked up a seat into the Global Casino Championship with this main event win, as well as recorded his biggest cash to date.
There were a total of 1,161 registration slips sold for this main event, by the start of the third and final day the field had dwindled down to just 14, with Alfa sitting near the bottom of the pack. It was early when Alfa started climbing, finding a double with queen ten against Dapo Ajayi's queen eight during the first round of the day.
When Alfa was asked about his play throughout the day he replied, "I just think my sheep are giving me some good luck and run good, ya know!". Which seemed to be true as he was running over the tournament for most of the day.
Once the tournament had just four remaining it really started to heat up. It seemed as a player was dropping every other hand, each of which were falling victim to the hands of Alfa. Gamini would take a leave first to, failing to connect with his eight high against Alfa's king jack.
Kevin Rand would exit just two hands after when he moved all in six high into Alfa's king high, failing to hit anything and exiting the tournament in third. Heads-up play lasted just two hands before Ajayi would move all in with pocket ducks against Alfa's ace four. A four would come on the flop and the rest is history, as Alfa would take down the tournament, eliminating the final three and earning a Main Event victory in the process.
Event #13 - Chad Smith
Chad Smith seized his first World Series of Poker Circuit gold ring on Monday at Choctaw Durant, a feat he narrowly missed out on last year in Tulsa. The 47-year-old topped 202 entrants in the last ring event of the series, Event #13: $600 No-Limit Hold’em and was awarded $27,048 along with the golden hardware.
The Business Owner from Plano, Texas has nine cashes, ten now, with the WSOP. His largest to date, by far, came in the Hard Rock Tulsa Circuit Main Event where Smith finished as the runner-up for $133,349.
“Well clearly, the Main Event is the ring you want to win but winning your first ring is incredible,” Smith responded when asked to compare the two accomplishments. “And I think having placed second there, I learned a lot that led me not to get too worried here,” he continued.
In the end, Smith beat Harry Arutyunyan in heads-up play, leaving Arutyunyan just short of his fourth ring. It was a great win for Smith, who plays poker as a recreationally.
“I have a company and kids for a living, and this is my hobby,” Said Smith. “I play every event at Choctaw, then I’ll go to New Orleans, Tulsa, Cherokee, and then I’ll go to Vegas four, or five, times a year and play those.”
Smith is CEO of Clearwater Payments. The company deals in electronic bill payment presentment. The fun-loving poker player is also married with four children.