The 2018 WSOP Circuit Thunder Valley $1,700 NLH Main Event attracted a field of 464 entries to comfortably cross the event’s $500,000 guarantee and create a new prize pool of $702,960. The lion’s share of the prizepool went to the eventual winner Brett Murray, who earned $151,145 and his third gold ring for the win. This was the best live score for the player in his live tournament career. He has now surpassed the $135,980 he earned for his runner-up finish in the 2018 California State Poker Championship main event. Murray now holds $974,505 in lifetime earnings.
Murray entered the final day action as the chip leader among the final nine players. The player scored two eliminations just early at the final table to enter the 3-handed play as the chip leader with Viet Tran as the next largest stack. The two players kept chipping up and down for a while before Murray eliminated Adam Duong in 3rd place to take the lead into heads-up.
The two players – Murray and Tran battled hard chipping up and down. However, on the final hand, Murray had the chip lead. On the flop reading Js 8h 3s, Murray lead out for 800,000 and Tran moved all-in with 10h 7h for a gutshot straight. Murray snapped with Ks Kd for an overpair. The turn 5s left Tran needing a non-spade nine on the river. Finally, the river came Qs to give Murray the flush.
Final Table Payouts (USD):
| Place | Player | Earnings |
| 1 | Brett Murray | $151,145 |
| 2 | Viet Tran | $93,444 |
| 3 | Adam Duong | $68,264 |
| 4 | Paul Richardson | $50,606 |
| 5 | Stuart Tuvey | $38,058 |
| 6 | Eyyal Altar | $29,032 |
| 7 | Marlon Nonales | $22,460 |
| 8 | Jason Mayer | $17,623 |
| 9 | Tommy Chen | $14,024 |