7/24-27
Carson Wieland's previous finish in this event, a $4,380 score in January of this year.
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1ST
Carson Wieland
$268,245
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2ND
Alexander Ho
$179,030
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3RD
Braxton Dunaway
$125,510
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4TH
Lawrence Wayne
$89,400
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5TH
Brian Ellebracht
$64,710
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6TH
Viet Vo
$47,610
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7TH
Robert Hart
$35,620
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8TH
Mark Fisher
$27,100
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9TH
Christopher Rolhlmeier
$20,980
After years of coming close, Carson Wieland finally has the prize he had been chasing.
The Texas native captured his first World Series of Poker Circuit ring by winning the Main Event at Choctaw, outlasting a field of 1,117 entries.
Wieland defeated Alexander Ho in heads-up play after overcoming a sizable chip deficit. Ho entered heads-up with a healthy lead, but Wieland found a pair of crucial double-ups before taking control and eventually closing out the victory.
It was a fitting finish for a player who steadily built momentum throughout Day 2 before bringing an above-average stack into the final table.
"It's been a long time coming," Weiland said. "I've been playing this game for too long to not have a ring already."
Dictating the action
Wieland has reached multiple Circuit final tables before, often getting all the chips in with the best of it, only to come up empty. "Thankfully, it worked out in probably the biggest first-place prize I've ever been a part of."
Although he began the final table fifth in chips with just an above-average stack, Wieland felt the dynamics played in his favor. Rather than being pressured by the bigger stacks, he found himself dictating much of the action.
"Honestly, I thought I was going to get punished a little more than I did," he said. "I felt like I had too much control for where I should have been with the chips I had." That confidence carried him through the final table before he rallied from behind against Ho to secure the title.
The support behind Wieland was impossible to miss throughout the day, as a large group of friends cheered every big pot and celebrated every double-up that kept his tournament alive.
Having spent years playing alongside many of them in the Houston poker scene, the moment was one they all shared together.
"I'm blessed," Wieland told us. "I've got a lot of good friends in Houston. We've all been playing together for a long time, and everybody roots for everybody. I couldn't be more thankful for those guys."
'Just a little less stress'
Back home, Wieland's biggest supporters were following every update as well. His wife stayed home with their four children while he chased the title, and the family was anxiously waiting for the final result.
"My wife has probably already blown my phone up," he said, laughing. "She's at home taking care of our four kids so I could be here. The kids have been asking for updates all day, so I'm excited to call them and tell them we got the victory."
While the $268,245 payday is life-changing for most players, Wieland said his priorities remain exactly the same. "It won't change my life at all," he said. "The banner is super cool. The ring is great. The money is just a little less stress. I've still got a great family at home, and nothing's changed there."
The win does, however, buy him something he appreciates just as much as the trophy. Having alternated between poker and a career in sales for years, he joked that "this is probably going to be a longer time before I have to go back into sales."
After years of knocking on the door, Wieland finally broke through. Surrounded by friends at the table and family waiting for his call back home, the Texas grinder leaves Choctaw with his first WSOP Circuit ring, the biggest score of his career, and a victory that had been years in the making.
