WSOP Circuit Thunder Valley Main Event champion Travis Egbert

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Travis Egbert entered Day 3 of the WSOP Circuit Thunder Valley Main Event holding the chip lead. Xiong (Peter) Thao came into the day 15^th of 15 with just eight big blinds.

By the time heads-up play was reached just over five hours into the day, somehow these were the two final players to battle for the title.

And from there, they went five more hours.

Travis Egbert and Xiong (Peter) Thao amidst their five plus hour heads up duel

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Egbert and Thao engaged in one of the longest heads-up matches in WSOP Circuit history before Egbert finally vanquished Thao to claim his third WSOP Circuit ring within 2024, all of them coming here at Thunder Valley.

Egbert now adds a WSOP Circuit Main Event title to his resume after winning a $400 buy-in event and the $2,200 High Roller in January's series here in Northern California.

“It’s definitely more special,” said the champ. “It’s the main event. It’s what everybody wants to win when they come out for a trip like this. There’s nothing that tops it.”

Their incredible battle initially looked like it would a quick one with Egbert in a dominant position as he had been the entire final table, entering heads-up play with a nearly 4 to 1 lead.

But Thao repeatedly kept himself in contention, taking the chip lead for the first time midway through the match before he and Egbert went on dinner break.

The rail watches and records a moment of of one of the longest heads-up matches in WSOP Circuit history

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An exhausted Egbert didn’t hide that not finishing off Thao early took its toll on him.

“It was frustrating, and it was mentally consuming because he was putting on a really good fight. Obviously, we played for a really long time, he just put on a good fight. It was tough. I had to get lucky a few times.”

Thao had high praise for his conqueror as he spoke after the event as well.

“He played really well, I played really well, and eventually it came down to a flip. There were so many times when I thought I was gonna get him, but instead he got me.”

Egbert and Thao developed a camaraderie throughout the match over mutual respect, and IPAs

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Egbert’s win came over a field of 812 entries for his largest career tournament score of $214,565 and a repeat appearance in the WSOP Tournament of Champions next year after making his debut there last summer for his wins in January. The $142,540 payday for Thao is also a career-best.

Egbert and Thao embrace at the conclusion of their epic heads-up battle

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Immediately, the champion has a very reasonable plan given the effort he put in to win the title.

“I’m ready to grab one more drink and go to bed.”

On a grander scale, now with a trio of Circuit wins under his belt the career plan is cut and dried.

“WSOP Main Event. I hope. One day. Maybe not this year, maybe not next, but one year. It’s my dream.”

WSOP Thunder Valley Main Event Final Table results:

1. Travis Egbert - $214,565
2. Xiong (Peter) Thao - $142,540
3. Gregory Pincombe - $100,065
4. Brock Wilson - $71,070
5. Thomas Morris - $51,905
6. Kirk Acevedo - $38,380
7. Jared Smith - $28,640
8. Colton Blomberg - $21,800
9. Michael Rossitto - $16,875

WSOP Circuit Thunder Valley Main Event runner-up Xiong Thao

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After Xiong Thao limped, Travis Egbert moved all in and Thao called for his last 8,500,000.

Xiong Thao:
Travis Egbert:

As the rail gathered, it felt like this finally was the hand to end the heads-up marathon.

Once the dealer spread a board of , it was.

Travis Egbert had finally defeated Thao after almost five and a half hours of battle.

• Travis Egbert - 32,500,000
• Xiong Thao - eliminated in 2nd place

Event #12: $2,200 High Roller champion Mehran Moeinzadeh

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Before Monday, Mehran Moeinzadeh had just two small WSOP Circuit cashes to his name. Now he's a WSOP Circuit champion.

Moeinzadeh more than tripled his career tournament earnings by taking down Event #11: $2,200 High Roller here in Thunder Valley, defeating accomplished tournament players like Taylor Black and Casey Sandretto at a loaded final table to win his first WSOP Circuit ring.

For the topping the field of 111 entries, Moeinzadeh earned $58,150 along with the ring and entry into the 2025 WSOP Tournament of Champions.

Event #12: $2,200 High Roller Final Table Results:

1. Mehran Moeinzadeh - $58,150
2. Casey Sandretto - $38,435
3. Young Eum - $26,225
4. Ryan Andrada - $18,840
5. Taylor Black - $13,470
6. Wesley Haymond - $10,165
7. Vy Nguyen - $7,955
8. Ian Steinman - $6,460

After a short heads-up match against Michael Needle, Ben Primus secured his first WSOPC gold ring after winning Event #13: $400 Series Finale, earning $8,035. Primus defeated a final table of tough competition, which included 18-time WSOPC ring winner Ari Engel, who finished in 3rd place for $3,415, and Andreas 'Rayo' Kniep who placed 7th for $1,100.

Outlasting a field of 86 players, Primus is one of thirteen players this week to win a gold WSOPC ring and claim a seat to the 2025 Tournament of Champions.