WSOP Event #3: Back-To-Back Success For Thang Luu

Photo credit: IMPDI for 2009 WSOP

Just a few days after its start, the World Series Of Poker 2009 already
sets new standards. The 918 participants turned Event #3 into the
biggest Omaha Hi/Lo Split-8 or Better tournament of all time and Thang
Luu proved time again that he's the secret master of this event.

Two victories and one second place in three years - that's Luu's record for this event, and Nola Dolla, WSOP media partner, already tried putting his achievement into words: "This feat has only been equaled by Johnny Chan back in the 1980s."

Luu had already won the event last year, where he cashed $243,342. This year, he won $263,135 in prize money - and together with his $147,726 for second place in the year 2007, this adds up to over $650,000 in winnings in this event alone.

Luu was the chip leader for most of the tournament, and even though he didn't join the final table as big stack, he was in control of the game and picked his spots wisely. Even Freddy Deeb couldn't really put up much of a fight, and when they were down to 3-handed play, Luu completely took over and basically steamrolled his opponents. At this point, even the last doubts of who would take the win were gone.

In the deciding hand, Ed Smith was already severely short-stacked, and he only had about one small blind left on the flop. The last few chips found their way into the pot and Luu showed for top pair. Smith held . The turn gave Smith a flush draw with the the , but the on the river made it a clean sweep for Thang Luu and a successful back-to-back victory of Event #3.

Sebastion "Luckbox" Ruthenberg is another player who always shows that he's a top-class all-rounder. After his bracelet in the Seven-Card-Stud Championship in 2008, he could now demonstrate his Omaha skills by taking tenth place for $16,829.

Here are the final table results:

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