Frankie O'Dell Wins His Third WSOP Omaha Hi-Lo in $10K Championship Event

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Frankie O'Dell Wins His Third WSOP Omaha Hi-Lo in $10K Championship Event

Frankie O'Dell stands alone at the top of the Omaha hi-lo bracelet count.

After winning Event #18: $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship for his third bracelet — all in that variant of Omaha — O'Dell surpassed the likes of Chris Ferguson, Scotty Nguyen and Daniel Alaei, all of whom also have two Omaha hi-lo bracelets.

"There's only one person in the WSOP who has three Omaha eight-or-better bracelets and you're talking to them."

This one came with quite a bit more prize money than his last two — $443,641, after he won a $1,500 event in 2003 for $133,760 and a $2,000 event in 2007 for $240,057. O'Dell defeated a field of 183.

"There's only one person in the WSOP who has three Omaha eight-or-better bracelets and you're talking to them," he said when asked where he stood among the top Omaha hi-lo players. "So, until someone passes me or catches me, I'm not gonna say nothin'. I'm just gonna leave it at three."

Event #18: $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship Final Table Results

PlaceWinnerCountryPrize (USD)
1Frankie O'DellUnited States$443,641
2Owais AhmedUnited States$274,192
3Robert MizrachiUnited States$194,850
4Nick GuagentiUnited States$140,522
5Robert CampbellAustralia$102,868
6Jake SchwartzUnited States$76,456
7David BenyamineFrance$57,709
8Ed VartughianUnited States$44,245
9Shaun DeebUnited States$34,467

O'Dell's win came over a characteristically tough final table that included Shaun Deeb, David Benyamine, and Rob Campbell.

"It was a war because you had warriors in there [...] "Then you've got me; old school poker."
"

The two toughest opponents to overcome proved to be fellow bracelet winners Owais Ahmed and Robert Mizrachi. After Jake Schwartz, Campbell and Nick Guagenti busted relatively early from the streamed on PokerGO final day, a three-handed war ensued that lasted nearly six hours.

"It was a war because you had warriors in there," O'Dell said. "You had one of the Mizrachi, great f****** player brothers, then you had one of the guys who knows almost everything in stud hi-lo and Omaha hi-lo.

"Then you've got me — old school poker."

The final three battled for almost six hours.
Frankie O'Dell (left), Owais Ahmed (center), and Robert Mizrachi (right) battled for almost six hours.

Things got dire at one point for O'Dell, after Ahmed scooped him with the nut flush and nut low to leave him on 95,000 at 100,000/200,000 limits. However, he scooped or chopped a succession of pots and was "right back in it," as someone yelled from his rail, back over 10 big bets just 20 minutes later.

Ahmed appeared to be on the verge of bracelet No. 2 when he worked his way to over 70 percent of the chips, but O'Dell roared back to surpass him after both players held kings but O'Dell made a straight.

It was a lead he wouldn't look back from as he sent first Mizrachi packing then Ahmed after a heads-up match that lasted only about half an hour.

"We had the best Omaha players in the world in this tournament and I ended up on top."

"Basically, the wind blew my way and I got the win," O'Dell said. "I had an opportunity today. I had chips. We had the best Omaha players in the world in this tournament and I ended up on top."

O'Dell credited his success in Omaha to continuous grinding in the format, along with the hours spent playing stud hi-lo. He also said he was motivated by last year's second-place finish to Jeremy Harkin in $1,500 Dealer's Choice.

Finally he said he wanted to dedicate the bracelet to his daughter Victoria and her newborn son.

"I love you guys with all my heart," O'Dell said.

The final table of the $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo Championship was broadcasted LIVE on PokerGO and CBS All-Access. The next event you can watch live is the final table of Event #20: $1,500 Seven Card Stud with Eli Elezra and Anthony Zinno leading the six remaining players. Catch it on PokerGO June 10th.

Frankie O'Dell
Frankie O'Dell

This concludes the coverage for this event but stick around as the PokerNews live reporting team will be here all summer to bring you all the action from Sin City. You can also watch the live-streamed final table action all summer long at PokerGO.

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