Justin Lapka wasn’t even supposed to be at WSOP-C Choctaw this week. Like many poker players after seven long weeks at poker’s summer camp in Las Vegas, he had planned to just chill out and recharge.
Instead, Lapka has now claimed his third WSOP Circuit ring, an entry into the 2025 WSOP Tournament of Champions, and the $252,282 first prize — the largest of his career.
“I wasn’t even planning on coming to Choctaw. A week ago, I was just planning to take time away from poker after the (World Series of Poker) long grind and then just come to Minnesota.”
Lapka was supposed to have checked into a cabin in his home state this morning, but after deciding to come to Choctaw and then making Day 3 of the WSOP Circuit Main Event, those plans certainly changed.
He entered the final day fifth among the final 12 players. Still, he then put on an outstanding performance, quickly building up to the second-largest stack as the final table began, behind only start-of-day chip leader Kalyan Chivukula.
Lapka then chopped down and eventually eliminated Chivukula amidst a dominant final table run capped by a short heads-up match with runner-up Gregg Merkow.
'I just wanted to give up playing live'
The win is especially satisfying for Lapka, whose success has primarily come in the online streets, with both Circuit rings and a pair of WSOP bracelets all coming in those fields.
“Live [poker] has been really frustrating for me. In my ten-year career, my biggest score was like the Main Event for $70k or something, and there have been times that I just wanted to give up playing live. There’s always been the bigger buy-ins and then I lose, lose, lose, come home play online, and build it back up with smaller buy-ins, so coming here and winning this Main Event just kind of means the world.”
Lapka’s first live victory included a memorable photo shoot, where along with the traditional winner’s photos and interviews, the nearly seven-foot champion was invited to pose stretched out across the Choctaw feature table (as seen in the lead photo) with his new ring.
Party at the cabin!
A little more fun than winning a tournament online?
“Oh yeah, by far. When I win something online, nobody knows that anything happened and I just go eat food alone at some bar (laughs).”
Getting the live tournament monkey off his back also prompted Lapka to impart some words of encouragement to fellow tourney grinders who may be getting frustrated with their experiences.
“Honestly, I think the lesson here for myself or other people is just don’t give up. Keep putting the volume in, keep traveling, enjoy your experience when you’re traveling. That might be the most important thing, because the wins are just going to be so few and far between.”
As for how he’s going to celebrate the victory? A party at the cabin!
“It’s a really nice cabin! It fits my whole family. I was just inviting people, if I haven’t seen you in a year or two years or longer, just come. I want to just spend a good time with you guys, and this will make this cabin experience even richer.”
WSOPC Choctaw final table results
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Justin Lapka | $252,282 |
| 2nd | Greg Merkow | $168,169 |
| 3rd | Zak Baron | $118,278 |
| 4th | Mack Khan | $84,475 |
| 5th | Kalyan Chivukula | $61,281 |
| 6th | Nicolas Splawn | $45,165 |
| 7th | Derek Normand | $33,828 |
|
8th
|
Tim Faro | $25,754 |
|
9th
|
Kaleb Harwell | $19,936 |
