Previewing the 2011-2012 World Series of Poker Circuit Choctaw Durant

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Jan 21, 2012 5 min read

The World Series of Poker Circuit returned to Durant, Oklahoma, for its second annual stop at the Choctaw Casino Resort. The series kicked off on Jan. 5 and runs through Jan. 22. Known as Choctaw Durant, the stop will feature 12 ring events, including the $1,600 Main Event that began Saturday, Jan. 21.

With its central location in the United States, the stop has a reputation of drawing big crowds, and this year was no different.Event #1 $345 No-Limit Hold’em with Re-Entry kicked things off in a big way as 1,219 players entered and created a prize pool of $353,379. After a few days of grueling play, Justin Gardenhire emerged victorious to capture the $62,709 prize. The win marked Gardenhire’s second on the WSOPC, with his first coming last year at the same stop in a $555 no-limit hold’em event.

In Event #6 $345 No-Limit Hold’em Six Handed, Harold “Buddy” Lockwood overcame a more than 2-to-1 chip disadvantage in heads-up play against Raja Kattamuri to win his first gold ring and the $23,526 first-place prize. Kattamuri was fresh off a victory in Event #3 $555 No-Limit Hold’em and came just shy of locking up a second ring.

In regards to his comeback win, Lockwood, a 66-year-old retiree from Weatherford, Texas, said, “This is a goal achieved. The ring is like an Olympic gold medal, you can’t measure it in dollars.”

He went on to add, “I knew I could win when I couldn’t get through stacking my chips before the next hand started. I never looked up. I was always just stacking chips, taking a quick peak at my hand and then playing. After a while it dawned on me that’s all I was doing. I couldn’t even take time to count them."

“A few years ago I won a World Poker Open bracelet, and I wanted to prove to myself it wasn’t just a flash-in-the-pan happening,” Lockwood said. “Now at least it’s a two-time flash in the pan.”

Amazingly, the aforementioned Kattamuri didn't have to wait long for that piece of jewelry because he outlasted 173 players in Event #8 $555 Heads-Up NLHE to win his second ring of the stop and a $23,475 first-place prize. As if that wasn't enough, Kattamuri final tabled Event #9 $345 Pot-Limit Omaha, where he finished in sixth place. With four final tables, two victories, and a runner-up finish, Kattamuri has secured the title of Choctaw Durant Casino Champion and qualified for the National Championship.

This week, the PokerNews Live Reporting Team will be providing coverage of the Main Event. Here's a look at the WSOP Circuit Choctaw Durant events completed thus far:

WSOP Circuit Choctaw Durant Ring Event #1 No-Limit Hold’em Re-Entry

WSOP Circuit Choctaw Durant Ring Event #2 No-Limit Hold'em

WSOP Circuit Choctaw Durant Event #3 No-Limit Hold’em

WSOP Circuit Choctaw Durant Ring Event #4 No-Limit Hold'em

WSOP Circuit Choctaw Durant Event #5 No-Limit Hold'em

WSOP Circuit Choctaw Durant Ring Event #6 No-Limit Hold’em Six Handed

WSOP Circuit Choctaw Durant Ring Event #7 No-Limit Hold’em

H]WSOP Circuit Choctaw Durant Ring Event #8 Heads-Up NLHE [/H]

WSOP Circuit Choctaw Durant Ring Event #9 Pot-Limit Omaha

There are several events yet to be determined, and while the WSOP Choctaw Durant Casino Champion has been won by Raja Kattamuri, there is still plenty of action to be had in Choctaw. The Casino Champ, along with the eventual winner of the Main Event, will automatically qualify for the Second Annual $1 Million National Championship. That event is limited to 100 players, and so far only a handful of players have qualified:

National Championship Qualifiers

In addition to the qualifiers, players who earn enough points on the National Leaderboard will be able to buy-in to the National Championship:

WSOPC National Leaderboard Top Ten*

*Leading up to the WSOP Circuit Choctaw Durant stop.

Don’t miss your chance to qualify for the National Championship. There are still plenty of opportunities to play, including any of the remaining stops on the WSOP Circuit schedule.

Remaining 2011-2012 WSOPC Schedule

*Photo courtesy of Eric Harkins and ImageMasters.

Get all the latest PokerNews updates on your social media outlets. Follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook today! In the meantime, see who qualifies for the National Championship this week by following our Live Reporting Team’s coverage from Choctaw Durant.

PR & Media Manager for PokerNews, Podcast host & 2013 WSOP Bracelet Winner.

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