Only 35 players remain after two days of play at the $3,700 buy-in WPT Choctaw poker tournament in Durant, Oklahoma. One of those individuals will take home $558,610, and all six who reach the final table have a six-figure payday awaiting them.
Another deep run for Brian Altman
On Sunday night, Day 2 wrapped up with most of the original 964 entries gone. Not long before the session concluded, 2019-2021 World Poker Tour season Player of the Year Brian Altman was eliminated in 48th place for $12,510. Altman is off to a strong start again in the 2021-2022 WPT season after having won the first event of the year last month at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tampa for $613,225.
The talented poker pro couldn't quite repeat his Tampa success at Choctaw, but he added a second cash in just three events thus far into the new season. A number of other familiar faces also successfully made it through the money bubble on Sunday. That includes Allen Kessler, a habitual min-casher who did exactly what we've all come to expect from "The Chainsaw," he min-cashed, taking 107th place for $6,410. World Poker Tour announcer Tony Dunst busted in 75th place ($7,910), and the WPT Choctaw's reigning champion, Craig Varnell went out in 58th place, good for $9,700.
Playing down to the final table
In total 122 players are set to be paid, but only 35 of them remain heading into Monday's Day 3 session. Albert Calderon bagged the biggest stack (3,160,000 chips). He is fresh off a fifth place finish for $326,750 in the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown back in April, the final event of the previous World Poker Tour season.
