Anthony Zinno arrived at the WPT Choctaw final table in Durant, Oklahoma, with the smallest stack but still had dreams of tying Darren Elias as the only four-time World Poker Tour champions. But instead it was Brady Holiman walking away with the Hublot trophy and $469,185.
Zinno, one of the top players in the world over the past few years, busted in 5th place ($125,630) when Holiman’s river two-outer (queen to make trips) cracked his aces-up.
Although he didn’t tie Elias for the all-time WPT titles record which was set in May at the WPT Bobby Baldwin Classic in Las Vegas, Zinno can take solace in the fact he’s crushed it this summer.
In July, he scooped a $5,225 event in the Venetian DeepStacks for $466,670 and made two WSOP final tables in June. Coming in 4th at Choctaw isn’t the same as winning the title but it’s another cash on his already impressive tournament resume that now exceeds $8.1 million lifetime.
Zinno’s WPT brilliance began in the 2013-2014 season with a title at the Borgata Poker Open. The following year, he won two WPT championships – LA Poker Classic and Fallsview Poker Classic – to become the Season XIII Player of the Year.
A New WPT Champion
Brady Holiman, a Texan, had less than $40,000 in lifetime tournament winnings before buying into the $3,700 WPT Choctaw. With 755 entries, many of whom are among the top tournament pros in the world including Zinno, he would need some rungood just to cash in this event.
He got more rungood than he could have imagined. Heading into the final table, he held a massive chip lead with six players remaining.
At the final table, which lasted just four hours, he never relinquished that lead and was virtually unstoppable. Holiman eliminated four of the final five bust outs.
WPT Choctaw Final Table Results
1 Brady Holiman ($466,670)
2 Viet Vo ($302,725)
3 Christopher Smith ($223,370)
4 Tony Ruberto ($166,605)
5 Anthony Zinno ($125,630)
6 Timothy Domboski ($95,780)
Zinno and Ruberto were the lone past WPT champions at the final table. Holiman now also belongs to the WPT Champions Club and has a spot in the season-ending Tournament of Champions in the spring.
What’s Up Next?
WPT Choctaw was the second Main Tour event of the 2018-2019 season. Simon Lam took down the Gardens Poker Festival last month for $565,055.
There’s a month-long break from the action before the Borgata Poker Open on Sept. 16 in Atlantic City. Immediately after that tournament concludes, tournament grinders will head over the Baltimore for the WPT Maryland at Live Casino on Sept. 21.
