BJ McBRAYER - HPT VICKSBURG CHAMPION

One year ago at @HPTpoker $1,100 Main Event @AmeristarVI, it was BJ @showtime1603 McBrayer finishing in 3rd place, a $16,181 cash. Today, he stepped up two spots on the pay ladder, winning the 2018 HPT Vicksburg Main Event to bring his poker tournament winnings to just shy of $1 million.

McBrayer defeated Joshua Patrick heads-up in a battle that lasted more than two hours to win the 199-entry tournament, earning $45,946 - plus a $3,500 package to play the 2018 HPT Season Championship at Ameristar East Chicago in November. The victory pushed his poker tournament resume to $988,993.

McBrayer began heads-up play with better than a 7-1 chiplead, but saw Patrick double on the 3rd hand heads-up, then fight back to cut the lead to less than 2-1 at one point, and after extending heads-up play to a full hour, it was Patrick in the lead. McBrayer regained his momentum shortly thereafter and despite doubling-up Patrick three times, McBrayer eventually secured the victory. Patrick earned $28,319 as runner-up.

Freddie Ardoin - the defending HPT Ameristar Champion - also made back-to-back final tables, finishing in 8th place today. This was Ardoin's third HPT Vicksburg final table in 7 total HPT_VI main events, as he was 6th in 2015 also.

Alton Peterson freerolled his way to the event, earning a $130 satellite entry from the Ameristar Vicksburg poker room's monthly leaderboard competition. He won a Main Event entry from that free $130 satellite entry ... parlaying that in to a Day2Bag, a final table appearance and a 5th place finish, good for $10,315.

HPT St. Charles Mini-series runner-up Seth Evans (6th/$8,439) Tim Burt (7th/$7,127) and 2016 HPT Vicksburg Champ Jay Friedman (12th/$4,126) were among those cashing in the Main Event.

Among those who came out for the main event but did not cash was former HPT Vicksburg champs Chris Lane, Larry White and the inaugural champ Jay Bishop, as well as Dan Lowery, Craig Casino, Michael Monaghan, Gary Germann, Judge Leo Boothe, Nick Jivkov, Danny Doucet, Jonathan Hart

Here's the final results from the 2018 HPT Vicksburg Main Event

199 entries
$191,040 Prize Pool
23 Place Paid

PLACE	NAME		CITY	PAYOUT
1	BJ	McBrayer	Tuscaloosa, AL	$45,946
2	Joshua	Patrick	W. Monroe, LA	$28,319
3	Jeff	Baxter	Oakland, OR	$18,942
4	Dustin	Stewart	Biloxi, MS	$13,597
5	Alton	Peterson	Canton, MS	$10,315
6	Seth	Evans	Lake Tapuwingo, MO	$8,439
7	Tim	Burt	Diberville, MS	$7,127
8	Freddie	Ardoin	Lacasinne, LA	$6,095
9	Frederick	Schneider	Lake Prov., LA	$5,064
10	Richard	Norman	W. Monroe, LA	$4,126
11	Daniel	Marcus	Memphis, TN	$4,126
12	Jay	Friedman	Memphis, TN	$4,126
13	Benny	Champlin	Jonesville, LA	$3,563
14	Joel	Doney	New Orleans, LA	$3,563
15	Charles	Leroi	n/a	$3,563
16	Douglas	Moon	Rayville, LA	$2,813
17	Michael	Holland	W. Monroe, LA	$2,813
18	Gary	Eagle	El Paso, TX	$2,813
19	James	Stumpley	Ridgeland, MS	$2,413
20	Halbert	Moncrief	Clinton, MS	$2,413
21	Daniel	Doucet	Opelousas, LA	$2,413
22	Duane	Fontenot	Baton Rouge, LA	$2,413
23	Nicholas	Graphia	Baton Rouge, LA	$2,413

-- Dan Ross, Hold'em Live Updates