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Event 3 - $1,500 Omaha Hi/Lo 8-or-betterDay 3 completed
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Fri May 29 2009 10:27 GMT-70 | Posted by donpeters
Champion Thang Luu does it for the second time!Congratulations to Thang Luu - Event #3 Champion ($263,135)
It's been a year of records so far at the 2009 WSOP and only fitting that Event #3, $1,500 Omaha 8-or-Better, concluded with another history-making performance. Last year's defending champion, Thang Luu, eclipsed a record-setting field of 918 entrants to capture his second gold bracelet! Not only is this Luu's second bracelet, it's his second in the same event in consectutive years.
Back in 2007, Luu took second place in this same event for $147,726. Last year, Luu topped that performance with a win in the same event for $243,342 in what was the largest Omaha tournament ever played. This year, Luu came out on top of a larger field than last year and earned himself $263,135. In total, Thang's earned over $650,000 for all three of those finishes! As Nolan Dalla mentioned, "This feat has only been equalled by Johnny Chan back in the 1980s."
Luu was the chip leader after Day 1 finished up and as of yesterday, claimed that he was feeling really good about this tournament. He was never really the big stack at the final table, but drove the action and picked his spots well. When play got down to three handed, Luu simply took over and began crushing the competition. From there, it was smooth sailing.
Congratulations to Thang Luu for his win and amazing back-to-back-to-back performances! -
Fri May 29 2009 10:13 GMT-70 | Posted by donpeters
Ed Smith - 2nd PlaceEd Smith Eliminated in 2nd Place ($162,110)
Ed Smith limped in from the button and left himself with only a tiny bit more than one small bet left. Thang Luu opted to try and get his opponent all in and raised. Smith just called with a few thousand behind.
The flop came down
and Luu stuck in the money to put Smith all in. Smith went with his hand, saying, "All right, let's go."
Showdown
Luu:
Smith:
The turn brought the
and the river the 
and that was it for Smith. He would be eliminated in second place, earning $162,110 for his efforts.
On the other hand, the winner, Thang Luu, completed an amazing feat by winning the event for the second year in a row! Don't forget, in 2007 he also placed second in this event! -
Fri May 29 2009 10:06 GMT-70 | Posted by donpeters
Chop, Chop, Chop
Severely short stacked, Ed Smith has been getting his money all in preflop for the past few hands. Thang Luu was up to the challenge each time, but could only muster enough of a hand to score half of the pot. Smith has been taking the other half opposite Luu to stay alive.
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Fri May 29 2009 10:04 GMT-70 | Posted by donpeters
Smith Doubles and Stays Alive
With his last 100,000 or so, Ed Smith stuck it in preflop and Thang Luu made the call.
Showdown
Smith:
Luu: 
The flop was big for Smith when it landed
to give him a full house. Luu had outs to a low, but it wouldn't be after the turn and rive came the followed by the 
.
With that pot, Smith was able to double to a little over 200,000 chips. -
Fri May 29 2009 10:01 GMT-70 | Posted by donpeters
Smith sitting with a lot less chips nowLuu Cripples Smith
On a flop of
, Thang Luu bet out and Ed Smith called. The turn brought the 
and Luu stayed on the gas petal with another bet. Smith called again.
After the river fell the
, Luu backed down with a check. Smith checked behind.
Luu rolled over
for the winning hand after Smith showed 
.
With that crippled blow, Smith is left with only slightly over 100,000 chips. -
Fri May 29 2009 09:47 GMT-70 | Posted by donpeters
Another One For Luu
After Ed Smith limped his button, Thang Luu raised. Smith made the call.
The flop came down and Luu led with a bet. Smith came along.
The turn brought the and checks from both players. The river was the 
and Luu fired. Smith mucked his hand and Luu moved to three million chips. -
Fri May 29 2009 09:44 GMT-70 | Posted by donpeters
Omaha-8 Guru?
Thang Luu is steadily applying pressure to his opponent Ed Smith, especially from the button. Luu is raising almost every button to attack from position. Smith has dropped to just 1.3 million chips. Luu has over double him with approximately 2.9 million.
Is Luu going to repeat? This is already his third top-two finish in three years... amazing! -
Fri May 29 2009 09:39 GMT-70 | Posted by donpeters
Luu Storms Ahead
Thang Luu just scooped a pot worth a few hundred thousand chips when he made the nut low and a ten-high diamond flush. Ed Smith held the second-best low and mucked his other cards.
Luu - 2,600,000
Smith - 1,600,000 -
Fri May 29 2009 09:27 GMT-70 | Posted by jakatkin
Ed Smith Takes a Pot
On a flop of
, Luu led out and Smith called. Smith called again after the 
hit the turn, and led out at the after Luu checked.
When Luu called, Smith turned over
for a set and Luu mucked.
Started 29th May, 2009
