WSOP Updates – Event 44 – Luske Smoothly Leads The Way at Final Table

Thursday saw the start of Day Two of the $2,000 buy-in Omaha Hi-Lo, Event #44 and the returning field had plenty of superstar players that managed to survive the Day One carnage. With 77 players still in the running for a coveted World Series of Poker bracelet, the field pressed on through the money bubble and played down to the final nine.

The early rounds saw plenty of action as the short-stacks tried to improve their positions in the chip counts while hoping to make the money at 54. The unfortunate bubble-boy honor went to Steve Cooper who ran into Tony Cousineau's pair of Kings.

Soon after bursting the bubble, the

remaining short-stacks did their best to climb in the chip totals, but for many the day would be over as the players who finished 54th through 46th collected their $4,276 from Harrahs .

The next series of eliminations saw some of the tournament's bigger-name players hit the rail. Busting out and collecting $4,957 for their play were top pros Todd Brunson, and Kathy Liebert.

As play continued and the field narrowed to the final three tables, the professional players turned up the heat as they took steps to secure places at the final table. With at least three notable pros seated at each table, the play moved at a break-neck pace thanks to the aggressive play of the pros with hopes of chipping-up.

The field narrowed to 16 just before dinner break, but the hour-long respite from the day's action didn't seem to diminish the players' aggressive tendencies as they returned to the felt to battle down to the final nine players. The day's final table bubble boy turned out to be early favorite John Juanda, who had the unfortunate luck of running into Thang Luu's set of Tens. Juanda collected $9,719 for his play.

The biggest story of the day was that of the dapper Dutchman, Marcel Luske. Starting the day near the top of the chip counts, Luske continued to steamroll the competition, overtaking the number-one spot going into the final table. Joining Luske at the final table are fellow professional players Stuart "The Donator" Patterson and Frankie O'Dell.

The final table seats and chip counts are as follows:

Seat 1- Martin Corpuz, Jr. 292,000
Seat 2- Ming Lee 373,000
Seat 3- Mitch Maples 70,000
Seat 4- Thang Luu 238,000
Seat 5- Jess Robinson 255,000
Seat 6- Frankie O'Dell 318,000
Seat 7- Marcel Luske 427,000
Seat 8- Marvin Ryan 104,000
Seat 9- Stuart Paterson 58,000

Make sure to check back with Pokernews.com for all the final table action of the $2,000 Omaha Hi-Lo Event #44 at 2:00 P.M. (PDT).