Grant Hinkle already has an extended listing of poker accomplishments: a WSOP Gold Bracelet, over $1.7 million in dwell event earnings, and a WSOP Circuit Major Occasion title. Right now, he added one other accolade to that listing after successful the $800 Major Occasion right here on the 2025 Oklahoma State Championship of Poker.
The Kansas Metropolis native took residence $55,249 for his efforts after solely deciding to play the occasion on a whim.
The Oklahoma State Championship of Poker returned to Exhausting Rock On line casino Tulsa for the primary time since 2019, and it featured a packed schedule of 21 trophy occasions, whereas all eyes have been on this prestigious title.
A complete of 417 entries have been tallied for the occasion to generate a prize pool of $291,900, with simply 32 returning for Sunday’s finale.
Ultimately, it was Hinkle who held on the chips after prolonged heads-up match with Terry Harrell and a good longer three-handed battle with Anthony Finley.
Ultimate Desk Outcomes
Winner’s Response
“I really feel aid,” Hinkle admitted shortly after taking down the title, “I had an enormous chip lead three or 4 handed and it slipped away.”
“You form of envision your self on the finish and as quickly as you do this, than swiftly it begins slipping away and I assumed that was occurring once more,” Hinkle continued, “Simply [feel] aid and gratitude that I battled again and was in a position to take it down.”
Whereas Hinkle beforehand spent his total concentrate on poker, life had different plans as he spends way more time away from the felt lately.
“It’s principally child actions for me. I’ve obtained a 15-year-old and an 11-year outdated, so that they take up quite a lot of my time. Though they’re attending to the ages now that I can play a bit of bit extra as a result of as they get to teenage age, they don’t wish to hang around with their dad and mom as a lot,” Hinkle joked with a proud smile.
In a remaining desk that lasted over six hours, Hinkle emphasised the significance of staying affected person and choosing his spots.
“It was principally opponent particular [his aggression and strategy]. If I can get to showdown usually I’ve obtained a great likelihood of successful, but when I get blown off it, it’s not a great feeling,” Hinkle defined relating to his postflop selections.
It was a remaining desk full of large swings and momentum shifts, however Hinkle’s expertise allowed him to journey the waves.
“You simply made certain that you simply’re nonetheless taking part in your greatest with the stack you might have going ahead every hand, and that you simply’re not going to punt after a troublesome state of affairs. Simply taking part in one hand at a time, despite the fact that it’s a frenzy inside [my head].
Hinkle was fast to offer a shoutout to his help system for the assistance all through the journey.
“[Thanks to] my spouse and children for letting me go down right here. I’m wanting ahead to spending time with them tomorrow. Due to my RunGood household, they have been cheering me on within the Telegram chat, so shoutout to them and all my mates.”
The Day’s Motion
From a beginning discipline of 417 runners, simply 32 returned for at present’s motion with William Scarsdale holding the chip lead, though he would ultimately bow out in seventeenth place.
The eliminations have been quick and livid to start the day, with a number of notable gamers hitting the rail early together with Brent Gregory, Eric Bunch, John Reynolds, Todd Tucker, and Michael Perrone.
After simply two hours, the sector had been lower to its remaining 11 gamers.
Ultimate Desk Motion
Following the elimination of Jim Wilson in tenth, the ultimate 9 gamers mixed at a single remaining desk with Anthony Finley holding the lead, adopted by Hinkle.
William Berry and Eric Salazar have been two of essentially the most achieved gamers remaining within the discipline, however they have been additionally the primary to hit the rail after getting into the ultimate 9 with brief stacks.
John Smith would then fall in seventh place earlier than the ultimate six gamers went on dinner break.
Johnnie Place was the following casualty in sixth. After defending the large blind, he would flop center pair towards the highest pair of Terry Harrell and obtained the remainder of his brief stack into the center however couldn’t enhance.
Virtually an hour would go earlier than Sarah Renko was eradicated in fifth because the final girl standing in a formidable run, and Rehman Zahid would hit the rail in fourth shortly after.
Then started an prolonged three-handed battle because the chip lead modified on a number of events. It was virtually throughout in a single hand for a three-way all-in, however Terry Harrell scooped to remove Anthony Finley in third as he additionally doubled by way of Hinkle.
The heads-up match featured brief stacks as cagey play continued for over an hour. Ultimately, Hinkle would jam the button with queen-jack suited and Harrell known as off his remaining 12 large blinds with ace-five. Hinkle would flip a flush to seal it, and he was in a position to breathe a sigh of aid after successful an absolute struggle of a remaining desk.
