The 2026 World Series of Poker Circuit Choctaw stop kicked off in Durant, Oklahoma during the final day of WSOP action in Las Vegas. The festival featured 22 events, with the centerpiece of the whole affair being the $1 million guaranteed $1,700 no-limit hold’em main event that ran from July 24-27. A total of 1,117 entries were made before the end of registration. As a result, the guarantee was bested by over $692,000.
After two starting flights and another pair of combined-field sessions, Carson Wieland emerged victorious with the title and the top prize of $268,245. This career-best score for the Texas resident more than doubled his overall earnings on the felt. Before this, his top payday was the $35,070 he earned for a runner-up showing in a $1,100 pot-limit Omaha event at the 2024 Champions Winter Poker Open.
Plenty of big names ran deep in this event, including Brian Green (21st), Luis Yepez (14th), and Hunter Cichy (12th).
The final day began with nine remaining and Brian Ellebracht in the lead. Wieland was in the middle of the pack to start. Ellebracht busted Christopher Rohlmeier (9th – $20,980) to kick off the action, with Wieland soon landing the final blow on Mark Fisher (8th – $27,100). Alex Ho moved into the top spot during seven-handed play, then eliminated Robert Hart (7th – $35,620) to narrow the field to six.
Six To Two
Braxton Dunaway
2025 WSOP main event third-place finisher Braxton Dunaway cracked Viet Vo’s pocket kings with pocket nines to leave the four-time World Poker Tour finalist short. The two soon squared off again, with Dunaway’s A♠J♦ leading Vo’s K♣10♦. The vast majority of the chips went in preflop, with the rest after the Q♥6♥5♦ rolled off. The board double paired with 5♠ and Q♣ to keep Dunaway’s ace high best. Vo settled for $47,610 as the sixth-place finisher.
Ellebracht soon bowed out in fifth place ($64,710). He ran pocket threes into the pocket fives of Ho and was unable to come from behind. Then, Dunaway outraced Lawrence Wayne (4th – $89,400) with his pocket threes holding off K♣J♦.
Dunaway soon clashed with Ho in a massive pot. Stacks were wagered after a K♦J♠2♦ flop, with Dunaway’s 9♦7♦ flush draw facing the A♠A♦ overpair of Ho. The 3♠ turn and Q♥ river kept aces best, ending Dunaway’s run in third ($125,510). The two-time bracelet winner now has nearly $6 million in career earnings, including the $288,064 that came with his victory in the WSOP $2,000 no-limit hold’em event earlier this summer.
Three Key Preflop Races Go Wieland’s Way
Ho took more than a 3.5:1 chip lead into heads-up play with Wieland. An early preflop coin flip went Wieland’s way, though. Pocket fours bested A-J suited to all but level the playing field.
The final two were soon off to the races again, this time with 8♥8♦ for Wieland and K♥Q♦ for Ho. The pocket pair held again to see Wieland move into a healthy lead.
The last hand of the tournament also pitted a pocket pair against overcards. This time around, it was Ho’s A♣K♣ against 4♠4♥ for Wieland. The flop of Q♠Q♣4♦ all but ended the sweat, but the J♣ turn gave Ho a single out heading into the river. The royal flush did not materialize, though. Instead, the 7♠ saw Wieland’s full house earn him the pot and the title. Ho was awarded $179,030 as the runner-up.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Payout | POY Points |
| 1 | Carson Wieland | $268,245 | 960 |
| 2 | Alexander Ho | $179,030 | 800 |
| 3 | Braxton Dunaway | $125,510 | 640 |
| 4 | Lawrence Wayne | $89,400 | 480 |
| 5 | Brian Ellebracht | $64,710 | 400 |
| 6 | Viet Vo | $47,610 | 320 |
| 7 | Robert Hart | $35,620 | 240 |
| 8 | Mark Fisher | $27,100 | 160 |
| 9 | Christopher Rohlmeier | $20,980 | 80 |
Photo credit: WSOP / Poker.Org
