WSOPC Event #18: $1,700 WSOP Million Dollar Main Event

WSOP Circuit Choctaw Main Event champion Justin Lapka

Justin Lapka wasn’t even supposed to be at Choctaw this week. Like many poker players after seven long weeks at poker’s summer camp in Las Vegas, he had planned to just chill out and recharge.

“I wasn’t even planning on coming to Choctaw. A week ago, I was just planning to take time away from poker after the (World Series of Poker) long grind and then just come to Minnesota.”

Lapka was supposed to have checked into a cabin in his home state this morning, but after coming to Choctaw and then making Day 3 of the WSOP Circuit Main Event, those plans certainly changed.

He entered the final table fifth among the final 12 players but put on an outstanding performance, quickly building up to the second-biggest stack as the final table began, behind only start-of-day chip leader Kalyan Chivukula.

He then chopped down Chivukula’s stack himself before eventually eliminating him amidst a dominant final table run to his third WSOP Circuit ring, to go along with entry into the 2025 WSOP Tournament of Champions and the $252,258 first prize, the largest of his career.

Lapka defeated Gregg Merkow heads-up for the title

The win is especially satisfying for Lapka who’s success has primarily come in the online streets with both Circuit rings and a pair of WSOP bracelets all coming in those fields.

“Live’s been really frustrating for me. In my ten-year career, my biggest score was like the Main Event for $70k or something, and there have been times that I just wanted to give up playing live. There’s always been the bigger buy-ins and then I lose, lose, lose, come home play online, and build it back up with smaller buy-ins, so coming here and winning this Main Event just kind of means the world.”

Lapka’s first live victory included a memorable photo shoot, where along with the traditional winner’s photos and interviews, the nearly seven-foot champion was invited to pose stretched out across the Choctaw feature table with his new ring.

Justin Lapka

A little more fun than winning a tournament online?

“Oh yeah, by far. When I win something online, nobody knows that anything happened and I just go eat food alone at some bar. (laughs)”

Getting the live tournament monkey off his back also prompted Lapka to impart some words of encouragement to fellow tourney grinders who may be getting frustrated with their experiences.

“Honestly, I think the lesson here for myself or other people is just don’t give up. Keep putting the volume in, keep traveling, enjoy your experience when you’re traveling. That might be the most important thing, because the wins are just going to be so few and far between.”

Event #18: $1,700 Main Event final table results

• 1^st place: Justin Lapka - $252,282
• 2^nd place: Gregg Merkow - $168,169
• 3^rd place: Zak Baron - $118,278
• 4^th place: Mack Khan - $84,475
• 5^th place: Kalyan Chivukula - $61,281
• 6^th place: Nicolas Splawn - $45,165
• 7^th place: Derek Normand - $33,828
• 8^th place: Tim Faro - $25,754
• 9^th place: Kaleb Harwell - $19,936

As for how he’s going to celebrate the victory? Well, party at Lapka’s cabin!

“It’s a really nice cabin! It fits my whole family. I was just inviting people, if I haven’t seen you in a year or two years or longer, just come. I want to just spend a good time with you guys, and this will make this cabin experience even richer.”

Kalyan Chivukula leads the final dozen players into Day 3 of the Main Event 

An incredible couple of of weeks of tournament poker here in Durant, Oklahoma has all led up to this Monday, the final day of the WSOP-C Choctaw $1,700 Main Event.

Bringing back 135 yesterday, they weren’t quite able to get right down to a final table, but with multiple short stacks entering play today, it shouldn’t be much longer to thin the final 12 to nine.

That said, we don’t really have a runaway chip leader either, so anything is possible!

What we do have is an eclectic mix of wizards, crushers, recreationals, and personalities that’s going to make for an undoubtedly wild day inside the Grand Theater at the Choctaw Casino & Resort.

Kalyan Chivukula enters the day with the chip lead looking to better his career high-score from just weeks ago when he won $100,000 for his 114^th place finish in the WSOP Main Event.

Hot on his heels is the exuberant Nicolas Splawn, who is on the verge of topping his entire Hendon mob total with a good result today.

That duo are the only players entering play over 50 big blinds, but the litany of WSOP bracelets, rings, and accomplishments chasing them will certainly make their day difficult.

The most decorated of the bunch is Justin Lapka who sits just a double-up away from being right in the mix for the chip lead. With two bracelets and two rings, he’s shown he can win on any WSOP stage.

Tim Faro sits just behind Lapka on the leaderboard and is the other remaining bracelet winner in the field.

Gregg Merkow also enters the day amidst the cluster of players between 20 and 30 big blinds, but with two Circuit rings and over $1,000,000 in career WSOP earnings, he’s certainly a contender too.

The final ring winner left is David Soskin, who’s boisterous celebrations have been heard throughout the series, including when he won his ring last week.

He’ll need some of the help he’s screamed for from above today, entering the day with just 8 big blinds.

So let’s get to it!

Here’s where they sit in the standings, where they’re actually sitting, and how pretty they’ll be sitting with the money that’s up for grabs today.

Event #18: $1,700 Main Event Day 3 chip counts:

1. Kalyan Chivukula - 6,700,000 (55 bb)
2. Nicolas Splawn - 6,660,000 (55 bb)
3. Mack Khan - 5,250,000 (43 bb)
4. Kaleb Harwell - 4,040,000 (33 bb)
5. Justin Lapka - 3,150,000 (26 bb)
6. Zak Baron - 3,050,000 (25 bb)
7. Tim Faro - 2,820,000 (23 bb)
8. Preston Duron - 2,620,000 (21 bb)
9. Gregg Merkow - 2,550,000 (21 bb)
10. Derek Normand - 1,675,000 (13 bb)
11. Rohith Sontireddy - 1,290,000 (10 bb)
12. David Soskin - 1,000,000 (8 bb)

Event #18: $1,700 Main Event Day 3 seating assignments:

Table 69

Seat 1:

Seat 2: Nicolas Splawn – 6,660,000

Seat 3:

Seat 4: Derek Normand – 1,675,000

Seat 5: Mack Khan – 5,250,000

Seat 6: Tim Faro – 2,820,000

Seat 7: David Soskin – 1,000,000

Seat 8: Justin Lapka – 3,150,000

Seat 9:

Table 70

Seat 1:

Seat 2: Preston Duron – 2,620,000

Seat 3:

Seat 4:

Seat 5: Rohith Sontireddy – 1,290,000

Seat 6: Gregg Merkow – 2,550,000

Seat 7: Zak Baron – 3,050,000

Seat 8: Kalyan Chivukula – 6,700,000

Seat 9: Kaleb Harwell – 4,040,000

Event #18: $1,700 Main Event remaining payouts:

• 1^st place: $252,282
• 2^nd place: $168,169
• 3^rd place: $118,278
• 4^th place: $84,475
• 5^th place: $61,281
• 6^th place: $45,165
• 7^th place: $33,828
• 8^th place: $25,754
• 9^th place: $19,936
• 10^th – 11^th place: $15,696
• 12^th place: $12,574

Complete live reporting and highlights of Day 3 of the Main Event are available at Poker.org/instant, so head on over there for all the coverage, and be sure to check out Poker.org's Instagram for additional social media content!